EXHIBIT 23
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT is dated as of January 30, 2006, by and among
Vector Group Ltd., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), XxXxx Gamma Limited
Partnership, a Nevada limited partnership ("XxXxx Gamma" or "Seller") and the
Person whose name is set forth on EXHIBIT A hereto (the "Purchaser").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to purchase at the Closing (as defined
below) and the Seller desires to sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in
this Agreement (as defined below), such number of shares, $0.10 par value, of
common stock of the Company (the "Shares"), as set forth on EXHIBIT A attached
hereto, in a private resale transaction not involving any public offering;
WHEREAS, the Seller has retained the services of Jefferies & Company, Inc.
("Jefferies") to assist the Seller in connection with a private placement of the
Shares to be sold pursuant to this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Seller and the Purchaser have reached certain agreements with
regard to the foregoing transactions, all upon, and subject to, the terms and
conditions more particularly described herein.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
and agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, and unless the context requires a different
meaning, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
"Affiliate" means, with respect to a Person, (a) any director, executive
officer, general partner, managing member or other manager of such Person, (b)
any other Person (other than a Subsidiary) which directly or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such Person and (c) if such Person is an individual, any member of
the immediate family (including parents, spouse and children) of such
individual, any trust whose principal beneficiary is such individual or one or
more members of such individual's immediate family and any Person who is
controlled by any such member or
trust. The term "control" means (i) the power to vote 25% or more of the
securities or other equity interests of a Person having ordinary voting power
(on a fully diluted basis), or (ii) the possession, directly or indirectly, of
any other power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies
of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise.
"Agreement" means this Purchase Agreement, as amended or supplemented from
time to time.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on
which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law
or executive order to close.
"Closing" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.2.
"Closing Date" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.2.
"Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Commission Reports" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.5.
"Company" has the meaning assigned thereto in the Preamble.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Governmental Authority" means the government of any nation, state, city,
locality or other political subdivision of any thereof, any entity exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or
controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the
foregoing.
"Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit
arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), claim, priority, right of
first refusal or similar right, or other security agreement of any kind or
nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other
title retention agreement, any financing or similar statement or notice filed
under the Uniform Commercial Code or any other similar recording or notice
statute, and any lease having substantially the same effect as any of the
foregoing).
"Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on (a) the
management, business, results of operations, property or condition (financial or
otherwise) of the Company or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
"Organizational Documents" means with respect to a corporation, the
articles or certificate of incorporation and by-laws (or the memorandum and
articles of association, as the case may be) of such corporation; with respect
to a partnership, the certificate of partnership (or
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limited partnership, as applicable) and partnership agreement; with respect to a
trust, the trust agreement or document forming such trust; with respect to a
limited liability company, the articles of organization and operating agreement;
together with the analogous documents for any corporate, limited liability
company or partnership general partner, in each case, as amended up to the date
hereof.
"Per Share Purchase Price" equals $ 17.71, subject to adjustment for
reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other
similar transactions with respect to the Shares that occur after the date of
this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date.
"Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, trust,
limited liability company, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint
venture, joint stock company, Governmental Authority or other entity of any
kind, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
"Purchaser" has the meaning assigned thereto in the Preamble.
"Registrable Securities" means the Shares; provided, however, that
securities shall only be treated as Registrable Securities if and only for so
long as they (A) have not been disposed of pursuant to a registration statement
that is effective under the Securities Act, (B) have not been sold in a
transaction exempt from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of
the Securities Act so that all transfer restrictions and restrictive legends
with respect thereto are permitted to be removed upon the consummation of such
sale or (C) are held by a Holder (as defined in Article VII).
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Seller" has the meaning assigned thereto in the Preamble.
"Shares" has the meaning assigned thereto in the Recitals.
"Transaction Documents" means this Agreement and any other documents or
agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE OF COMMON STOCK
2.1 PURCHASE AND SALE OF THE COMMON STOCK. Subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, XxXxx Gamma agrees to sell 5,000 Shares and the Purchaser
agrees to purchase, on the Closing Date, the number of Shares set forth opposite
the Purchaser's name on EXHIBIT A for the Per Share Purchase Price.
2.2 CLOSING. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and
satisfaction (or waiver by the party for whose benefit such condition is
established) of the closing conditions set forth in Section 6.1, the sale and
purchase of the Shares shall take place at the closing (the
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"Closing") to be held at 5 p.m. New York City time on January 30, 2006, or at
such other time as the Seller and the Purchaser may agree in writing (the
"Closing Date"). The Closing shall occur at the offices of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP,
000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, or such other
location as the parties shall mutually agree.
2.3 PAYMENT. At the Closing, the Purchaser will pay the aggregate purchase
price set forth opposite its name on EXHIBIT A hereof by wire transfer of
immediately available funds in accordance with the Seller's wire instructions
set forth on EXHIBIT B hereto and the Seller will have the respective Shares to
be sold by the Seller transferred to the account of the Purchaser or its
designees through the Depositary Trust Company's Deposits and Withdrawal at
Custodian ("DWAC") program and direct the Company's transfer agent to reflect
such transfer in the records of the Company on the Closing Date or the
immediately next succeeding Business Day.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER
The Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser, the Company and
Jefferies as follows:
3.1 AUTHORIZATION; NO CONTRAVENTION. The Seller is duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing as a limited partnership, as applicable, under the
laws of the state of its formation. The execution, delivery and performance by
the Seller of this Agreement (a) is within such Seller's power and authority and
has been duly authorized by all necessary partnership action, (b) does not
contravene the terms of the Seller's Organizational Documents and (c) will not
violate or conflict with any requirement of law relating to the Seller.
3.2 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
the Seller, and this Agreement, and the other Transaction Documents to which the
Seller is a party, constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Seller enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by judicial
discretion in the enforcement of equitable remedies.
3.3 RIGHTS TO SHARES. The Seller owns and has valid and marketable title to
the Shares to be sold by the Seller, free and clear of all Liens and there are
no actions, suits, proceedings or claims pending, with respect to or in any
manner affecting the ownership of the Shares being sold by the Seller. Upon
delivery at the Closing by the Seller of the Shares to be sold by the Seller
pursuant to this Agreement, valid, marketable and unencumbered title to such
Shares, free and clear of any Liens, will pass to the Purchaser of such Shares.
3.4 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS. No notice to, consent of, or registration,
filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection
with the Seller's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
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3.5 NO REGISTRATION/NO GENERAL SOLICITATION. Based, in part, upon the
representations and warranties of the Purchaser in Article 4 of this Agreement,
the sale of the Shares to the Purchaser hereunder is not required to be
registered under the Securities Act. No general solicitation or general
advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) promulgated under the Securities
Act has been used by the Seller in connection with the offering of the Shares to
the Purchaser.
3.6 ACKNOWLEDGMENT REGARDING PURCHASER'S PURCHASE OF SECURITIES. Based upon
the assumption that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are
consummated in all material respects in conformity with this Agreement, the
Seller acknowledges and agrees that the Purchaser is acting solely in the
capacity of an arm's length purchaser with respect to this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby. The Seller further acknowledges that the
Purchaser is not acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Seller (or in
any similar capacity) with respect to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby and any advice given by the Purchaser or any of its
respective representatives or agents in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to the
Purchaser's purchase of the Shares. The Seller further represents to the
Purchaser and the Company that the Seller's decision to enter into this
Agreement has been based solely on the independent evaluation of the
transactions contemplated hereby by the Seller and its representatives.
3.7 PLACEMENT AGENT FEES AND EXPENSES. The Seller acknowledges that any
fees and expenses owed to Jefferies in connection with acting as placement agent
with respect to the purchase and sale of the Shares shall be the sole
responsibility of the Seller.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER
The Purchaser hereby severally represents and warrants to the Seller, the
Company and Jefferies as follows:
4.1 AUTHORIZATION; NO CONTRAVENTION. The execution, delivery and
performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement (a) is within the Purchaser's
power and authority and (b) will not violate or conflict with any requirement of
law relating to the Purchaser.
4.2 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
the Purchaser, and this Agreement, and the other Transaction Documents to which
the Purchaser is a party, constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of
the Purchaser enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by judicial
discretion in the enforcement of equitable remedies.
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4.3 ACCREDITED INVESTOR STATUS. The Purchaser is an "accredited investor"
as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D and a senior executive of the Company
or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The Purchaser hereby represents
that, either by reason of the Purchaser's business or financial experience, the
Purchaser has the capacity to protect the Purchaser's own interests in
connection with the purchase of the Shares. In addition, the Purchaser is
capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and
has the capacity to protect its own interest.
4.4 INVESTMENT PURPOSE; LEGEND. The Shares to be issued pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement are being or will be acquired for its own account and
with no intention of distributing or reselling such securities or any part
thereof in any transaction that would be in violation of the Securities Act or
the securities laws of any state, without prejudice, however, to the rights of
the Purchaser at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any of the
Shares under an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or
under an exemption from such registration available under the Securities Act. If
the Purchaser should in the future decide to dispose of any of the Shares, the
Purchaser understands and agrees that it may do so only in compliance with the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, as then in effect. The
Purchaser agrees to the imprinting, so long as required by law, of a legend on
certificates representing the Shares (or, if the Shares are not certificated, to
the placing of a proper notation) to the following effect:
"THESE SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT XX 0000 XX
XXX XXXXXX XXXXXX (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY
OTHER JURISDICTION. THE SHARES MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD TO UNITED STATES
PERSONS OR IN THE UNITED STATES UNLESS THEY ARE REGISTERED OR AN EXEMPTION
FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE."
4.5 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS. No notice to, consent of, or registration,
filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection
with the Purchaser's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.6 NO BROKERS OR FINDERS. No agent, broker, finder, or investment or
commercial banker or other Person or firm engaged by or acting on behalf of the
Purchaser in connection with the negotiation, execution or performance of this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein is or will be entitled to any
brokerage or finder's or similar fee or other commission as a result of the sale
of the Shares to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement.
4.7 OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK; VOTING AND OTHER AGREEMENTS. The Purchaser
does not have any agreements, arrangements or understandings with any other
Person (other than with other purchasers who are Affiliates of the Purchaser)
with regard to acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of the outstanding
Shares.
4.8 UNDERSTANDING OF RISK. The Purchaser recognizes that an investment in
the Company involves substantial risks. The Purchaser acknowledges that it has
carefully
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considered and has, to the extent the Purchaser believes the discussion
necessary, discussed with the Purchaser's professional, legal, financial and tax
advisers, the Purchaser's investment in the Company.
4.9 AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION. The Purchaser acknowledges that it has had
the opportunity to discuss with representatives of the Seller and the Company
the terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and the
Purchaser's investment in the Company. The Seller or the Company has made
available to the Purchaser all documents and information that the Purchaser has
requested relating to an investment in the Company.
4.10 OFFER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Shares have
been offered to it only by approach on an individual basis.
4.11 EXPERIENCE OF PURCHASER. By reason of the Purchaser's business or
financial experience, or that of the Purchaser's professional advisors, the
Purchaser is capable of evaluating information and data relating to the
Company's industry and the merits and risks of an investment in the Company and
of protecting its own interest in connection with an investment in the Company
and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Company.
4.12 RESALE OF SHARES. The Purchaser acknowledges that no representations
or promises have been made concerning the value of the Shares and the Purchaser
acknowledges that it may be required to bear the economic risk of its investment
in the Company for an indefinite period of time.
4.13 NO REPRESENTATIONS BY PLACEMENT AGENT. The Purchaser acknowledges that
Jefferies makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the
Purchaser regarding the accuracy or completeness of any information concerning
the Seller, the Company, the Shares or the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.14 PLACEMENT AGENT FEES AND EXPENSES. The Purchaser acknowledges that it
has been advised that any fees and expenses owed to Jefferies in connection with
acting as placement agent with respect to the purchase and sale of the Shares
shall be the sole responsibility of the Seller.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to the Seller, the Purchaser and
Jefferies as follows:
5.1 AUTHORIZATION; NO CONTRAVENTION. The Company is duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing as a corporation under the laws of the state of
Delaware. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this
Agreement (a) is within the Company's power and authority and has been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action, (b) does not contravene the terms
of the Company's Organizational Documents or any
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amendment thereof and (c) will not violate or conflict with any requirement of
law directly relating to the Company.
5.2 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
the Company, and this Agreement, and the other Transaction Documents to which
the Company is a party, constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of
the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by judicial
discretion in the enforcement of equitable remedies.
5.3 CAPITALIZATION. The capitalization of the Company is described in the
Company's Commission Reports. All of the Company's outstanding shares of capital
stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid for and are
non-assessable. No shares of capital stock of the Company, including the Shares
to be sold pursuant to this Agreement, are subject to preemptive rights or any
other similar rights of the stockholders of the Company or any liens or
encumbrances imposed through the actions or failure to act of the Company. Other
than as disclosed in the Commission Reports, there are no (i) outstanding
options, warrants, rights to subscribe for, puts, calls, rights of first
refusal, agreements, understandings, claims or other commitments or rights of
any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into,
exercisable for, or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock of the Company,
or arrangements by which the Company is or may become bound to issue additional
shares of capital stock of the Company (excluding those rights that have been
waived); (ii) agreements or arrangements under which the Company is obligated to
register the sale of any of its securities under the Securities Act (except as
contemplated under Article 7) or the resale of its securities (except those
obligations that have been complied with); and (iii) anti-dilution or price
adjustment provisions contained in any security issued by the Company (or in any
agreement providing rights to security holders) that will be triggered by the
sale of the Shares.
5.4 NO CONFLICTS; NO VIOLATION.
(a) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
hereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Shares) will not (i)
conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of its Organizational
Documents, (ii) violate or conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision
of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or
both could become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination,
amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture, or
instrument to which the Company is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of
any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including United States
federal and state securities laws and regulations and regulations of any
self-regulatory organizations to which the Company or its securities are
subject) applicable to the Company, except for such conflicts, breaches,
defaults, terminations, amendments, accelerations, cancellations and violations
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The Company is not in violation of its Organizational Documents and
the Company is not in default under any agreement, indenture or instrument to
which the Company
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is a party or by which any property or assets of the Company is bound or
affected, except for possible defaults as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) The Company is not conducting its business in violation of any law,
ordinance or regulation of any governmental entity, the failure to comply with
which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) The Company is not required to obtain any consent, authorization or
order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental
agency or any regulatory or self regulatory agency in order for it to execute,
deliver or perform any of its obligations under this Agreement in accordance
with the terms hereof, other than such as have been made or obtained, and except
for any filings required to be made under federal or state securities laws. All
consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations that the Company is
required to obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence have been obtained or
effected on or prior to the Closing Date.
5.5 COMMISSION REPORTS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Company has timely filed
all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be
filed by it with the Commission since January 1, 2005, pursuant to the reporting
requirements of the Exchange Act (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date
hereof and all exhibits included therein and financial statements and schedules
thereto and documents (other than exhibits) incorporated by reference therein,
being hereinafter referred to herein as the "Commission Reports"). The Purchaser
has had access to true and complete copies of the Commission Reports. As of
their respective dates, the Commission Reports and all other reports, schedules,
forms, statements and other documents filed by it with the Commission since
January 1, 2005 complied in all material respects with the requirements of the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as the case may be, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder applicable to the
Commission Reports, and none of the Commission Reports and all other reports,
schedules, forms, statements and other documents filed by it with the Commission
since January 1, 2005, at the time they were filed with the Commission,
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. As of their respective dates, the financial statements of the
Company included in the Commission Reports complied as to form in all material
respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and
regulations of the Commission with respect thereto. Such financial statements
have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States, consistently applied, during the periods involved (except
(i) as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes
thereto, or (ii) in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they
may not include footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly
present in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the
dates thereof and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods
then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end
audit adjustments).
5.6 WELL-KNOWN SEASONED ISSUER/S-3 STATUS. The Company is a "well-known
seasoned issuer" as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act and currently
meets the "registrant eligibility" requirements set forth in the general
instructions to Form S-3 to enable the
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registration of the resale of the Registrable Securities and, to the Company's
knowledge, there exist no facts or circumstances that could reasonably be
expected to prohibit or delay the filing or effectiveness of a registration
statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of the Registrable Securities.
5.7 NO GENERAL SOLICITATION. No general solicitation or general advertising
within the meaning of Rule 502(c) promulgated under the Securities Act has been
used in connection with the offering of the Shares to the Purchaser.
5.8 NO REGISTRATION. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and
warranties made by, and compliance with the covenants of, the Seller and the
Purchaser in this Agreement, and assuming the sale of the Shares is consummated
in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, no registration
of the Shares under the Securities Act is required in connection with the offer
and sale of the Shares by the Seller to the Purchaser as contemplated by the
Agreement.
5.9 NO MANIPULATION OF STOCK. The Company has not taken and will not, in
violation of applicable law, take any action outside the ordinary course of
business designated to or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result
in unlawful manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale
or resale of the Shares.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
6.1 PURCHASER'S OBLIGATIONS - LEGAL OPINION. The Purchaser's obligation to
purchase the Shares at the Closing is subject to the Company's counsel having
delivered a legal opinion to the Purchaser reasonably satisfactory to counsel to
Jefferies substantially in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT C.
ARTICLE VII
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
7.1 DEFINITIONS FOR ARTICLE VII. As used in this Article VII, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person (as defined below),
any other Person controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such Person (for the purposes of this definition "control," when
used with respect to any specified Person, shall mean the power to direct the
management and policies of such person, directly or indirectly, whether through
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms
"controlling" and "controlled" shall have meanings correlative to the
foregoing).
(b) "Business Day" means a day Monday through Friday on which banks are
generally open for business in New York.
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(c) "Holders" means the Purchaser holding Registrable Securities or any
person to whom the rights under Article VII have been transferred in accordance
with Section 7.9 hereof.
(d) "Indemnified Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.6(c).
(e) "Indemnifying Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.6(c).
(f) "Person" means any person, individual, corporation, limited
liability company, partnership, trust or other nongovernmental entity or any
governmental agency, court, authority or other body (whether foreign, federal,
state, local or otherwise).
(g) The terms "register," "registered" and "registration" refer to the
registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in
compliance with the Securities Act, and the deemed effectiveness of such
registration statement.
(h) "Registrable Securities" means the Shares; provided, however, that
securities shall only be treated as Registrable Securities if and only for so
long as they (A) have not been disposed of pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act, (B) have not been sold in a transaction
exempt from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act so that all transfer restrictions and restrictive legends with
respect thereto are permitted to be removed upon the consummation of such sale
or (C) are held by a Holder. (i) "Registration Expenses" means all expenses
incurred by the Company in complying with Section 7.2 hereof, including, without
limitation, all registration, qualification and filing fees, printing expenses,
escrow fees, fees and expenses of counsel for the Company, blue sky fees and
expenses and the expense of any special audits incident to or required by any
such registration (but excluding the fees of legal counsel for any Holder).
(j) "Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.
(k) "Registration Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4(a).
(l) "Selling Expenses" means all underwriting discounts and selling
commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities and all fees and
expenses of legal counsel for any Holder.
7.2 The Company shall file a registration statement covering the resale of
the Registrable Securities on a Form S-3 Registration Statement (the
"Registration Statement") with the Commission and effect the registration,
qualifications or compliances (including, without limitation, the execution of
any required undertaking to file post-effective amendments, appropriate
qualifications or exemptions under applicable blue sky or other state securities
laws and appropriate compliance with applicable securities laws, requirements or
regulations) immediately following the Closing.
7.3 All Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration,
qualification, exemption or compliance pursuant to Section 7.2 shall be borne by
the Company.
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All Selling Expenses relating to the sale of securities registered by or on
behalf of Holders shall be borne by such Holders pro rata on the basis of the
number of securities so registered.
7.4 In the case of the registration, qualification, exemption or compliance
effected by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall, upon
reasonable request, inform each Holder as to the status of such registration,
qualification, exemption and compliance. At its expense the Company shall:
(a) use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such registration,
and any qualification, exemption or compliance under state securities laws which
the Company reasonably determines to obtain, continuously effective until the
earlier of the following: (i) the second anniversary of the Effective Date or
(ii) the date all Shares may be sold under Rule 144 during any 90 day period.
The period of time during which the Company is required hereunder to keep the
Registration Statement effective is referred to herein as "the Registration
Period."
(b) advise the Holders promptly, but in no event later than five
Business Days:
(i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed
with the Commission and when any post-effective amendment thereto has become
effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for
additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any
proceedings for such purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect
to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities included
therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the occurrence of any event that requires the making of any
changes in the Registration Statement or the prospectus so that, as of such
date, the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein (in the case of the prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading;
(c) use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of
any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement at the
earliest possible time;
(d) promptly furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one copy
of such Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in
writing, all exhibits in the form filed with the Commission;
(e) during the Registration Period, promptly deliver to each Holder,
without charge, as many copies of the prospectus included in such Registration
Statement and any
12
amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably request; and the
Company consents to the use, consistent with the provisions hereof, of the
prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders
of Registrable Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the
Registrable Securities covered by the prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto. In addition, upon the reasonable request of the Holder and subject in
all cases to confidentiality protections reasonably acceptable to the Company,
the Company will meet with a Holder or a representative thereof at the Company's
headquarters to discuss all information relevant for disclosure in the
Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities, and will otherwise
cooperate with any Holder conducting an investigation for the purpose of
reducing or eliminating such Holder's exposure to liability under the Securities
Act, including the reasonable production of information at the Company's
headquarters;
(f) during the Registration Period, promptly deliver to each Holder,
without charge, (i) as soon as practicable (but in the case of the annual report
of the Company to its stockholders, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal
year of the Company) one copy of the following documents, other than those
documents available via XXXXX: (A) its annual report to its stockholders, if any
(which annual report shall contain financial statements audited in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America by
a firm of certified public accountants of recognized standing); (B) if not
included in substance in its annual report to stockholders, its annual report on
Form 10-K (or similar form); (C) each of its quarterly reports to its
stockholders, and, if not included in substance in its quarterly reports to
stockholders, its quarterly report on Form 10-Q (or similar form), and (D) a
copy of the full Registration Statement (the foregoing, in each case, excluding
exhibits); and (ii) upon reasonable request, all exhibits excluded by the
parenthetical to the immediately preceding clause (D), and all other information
that is generally available to the public;
(g) prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to
any Registration Statement, promptly take such actions as may be necessary to
register or qualify or obtain an exemption for offer and sale under the
securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any such Holders may
reasonably request in writing, provided that the Company shall not for any such
purpose be required to qualify generally to transact business as a foreign
corporation in any jurisdiction where it is not so qualified or to consent to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction, and do any and all other
acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in
such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement;
(h) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 7.4(b)(v)
above, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly
prepare a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement
to the related prospectus, or file any other required document so that, as
thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities included
therein, the prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(i) otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with
all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission which could affect the
sale of the Registrable Securities;
13
(j) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable
Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or market, if any, on which
equity securities issued by the Company have been listed; and
(k) use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps
necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities contemplated
hereby and to enable the Holders to sell Registrable Securities under Rule 144.
7.5 The Holders shall have no right to take any action to restrain, enjoin
or otherwise delay any registration pursuant to Section 7.2 hereof as a result
of any controversy that may arise with respect to the interpretation or
implementation of this Agreement.
7.6 (a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify each
Holder, each underwriter of the Registrable Securities and each person
controlling such Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act,
with respect to which any registration that has been effected pursuant to this
Agreement, against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or action in
respect thereof), including any of the foregoing incurred in settlement of any
litigation, commenced or threatened (subject to Section 7.6(c) below), arising
out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, prospectus, any amendment
or supplement thereof, or other document incident to any such registration,
qualification or compliance or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made,
not misleading, or any violation by the Company of any rule or regulation
promulgated by the Securities Act applicable to the Company and relating to any
action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such
registration, qualification or compliance, and will reimburse each Holder, each
underwriter of the Registrable Securities and each person controlling such
Holder, for reasonable legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in
connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss, damage,
liability or action as incurred; provided that the Company will not be liable in
any such case to the extent that any untrue statement or omission or allegation
thereof is made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder and stated to be
specifically for use in preparation of such Registration Statement, prospectus,
any amendment or supplement thereof, or other document incident to any such
registration, qualification or compliance; provided, further, that the Company
will not be liable in any such case where the claim, loss, damage or liability
arises out of or is related to the failure of the Holder to comply with the
covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement respecting sales of
Registrable Securities.
(b) Each Holder will severally, if Registrable Securities held by such
Holder are included in the securities as to which such registration is being
effected, indemnify the Company, each of its directors and officers, each
underwriter of the Registrable Securities and each person who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against all
claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof),
including any of the foregoing incurred in settlement of any litigation,
commenced or threatened (subject to Section 7.6(c) below), arising out of or
based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereof, incident to any such registration, or based on any omission
14
(or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse the
Company, such directors and officers, each underwriter of the Registrable
Securities and each person controlling the Company for reasonable legal and any
other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending
any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action as incurred, in each case, to
the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission or
allegation thereof is made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Holder and stated to
be specifically for use in preparation of the Registration Statement, or
prospectus; provided that the indemnity shall not apply to the extent that such
claim, loss, damage or liability results from the fact that a current copy of
the prospectus was not made available to the person or entity asserting the
loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the time such furnishing is
required by the Securities Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) a Holder's
aggregate liability pursuant to this subsection (b) and subsection (d) shall be
limited to the net amount received by the Holder from the sale of the
Registrable Securities and (y) the Holder shall not be liable to the Company for
any consequential damages, including lost profits, solely with respect to
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses to which the Company (or any
officer, director or controlling person as set forth above) may become subject
(under the Securities Act or otherwise), arising out of, or based upon, any
failure by the Company to comply with the covenants and agreements concerning
the sale or other disposition by each Holder of the Registrable Securities.
(c) Each party entitled to indemnification under this Section 7.6 (the
"Indemnified Party") shall give notice to the party required to provide
indemnification (the "Indemnifying Party") promptly after such Indemnified Party
has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may be sought, and shall
permit the Indemnifying Party (at its expense) to assume the defense of any such
claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, provided that counsel for the
Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or litigation,
shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (whose approval shall not
unreasonably be withheld), and the Indemnified Party may participate in such
defense at such Indemnified Party's expense, and provided, further, that the
failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not
relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Agreement, unless
such failure is materially prejudicial to the Indemnifying Party in defending
such claim or litigation. An Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any
settlement of an action or claim effected without its written consent (which
consent will not be unreasonably withheld). No Indemnifying Party, in its
defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each
Indemnified Party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement
which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the
claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability
in respect to such claim or litigation.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7.6 is held by
a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party with
respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense referred to therein,
then the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party
thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified
Party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying
Party on the one hand and of the Indemnified Party on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions which
15
resulted in such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party
and of the Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Indemnifying Party or by the Indemnified Party and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.
7.7 (a) Each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the
Company of the happening of any event requiring the preparation of a supplement
or amendment to a prospectus relating to Registrable Securities so that, as
thereafter delivered to the Holders, such prospectus shall not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, each
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Registration Statement and prospectus contemplated by Section 7.2 until
its receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus from the Company
and, if so directed by the Company, each Holder shall deliver to the Company all
copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of
the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of
receipt of such notice.
(b) Each Holder shall suspend, upon request of the Company, any
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and
prospectus contemplated by Section 7.2 during (i) any period not to exceed two
90-day periods within any one 12-month period the Company requires in connection
with a primary underwritten offering of equity securities and (ii) any period,
not to exceed one 45-day period per circumstance or development, when the
Company determines in good faith that offers and sales pursuant thereto should
not be made by reason of the presence of material undisclosed circumstances or
developments with respect to which the disclosure that would be required in such
a prospectus is premature or would have an adverse effect on the Company.
(c) As a condition to the inclusion of its Registrable Securities, each
Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and
the distribution proposed by such Holder as the Company may request in writing,
including completing a questionnaire in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT D,
or as shall be required in connection with any registration referred to in this
Article 7.
(d) Each Holder hereby covenants with the Company (i) not to make any
sale of the Registrable Securities without effectively causing the prospectus
delivery requirements under the Securities Act, if any, to be satisfied and (ii)
if such Registrable Securities are to be sold by any method or in any
transaction other than on a national securities exchange, Nasdaq or in the
over-the-counter market, in privately negotiated transactions, or in a
combination of such methods, to notify the Company at least two business days
prior to the date on which the Holder first offers to sell any such Registrable
Securities.
(e) Each Holder acknowledges and agrees that the Registrable Securities
sold pursuant to the Registration Statement are not transferable on the books of
the Company unless the stock certificate submitted to the transfer agent
evidencing such Registrable Securities is
16
accompanied by a certificate reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the
effect that (i) the Registrable Securities have been sold in accordance with
such Registration Statement and (ii) the requirement of delivering a current
prospectus has been satisfied.
(f) Each Holder agrees not to take any action with respect to any
distribution deemed to be made pursuant to such Registration Statement which
would constitute a violation of Regulation M under the Exchange Act or any other
applicable rule, regulation or law.
(g) At the end of the Registration Period, the Holders shall
discontinue sales of shares pursuant to such Registration Statement upon receipt
of notice from the Company of its intention to remove from registration the
shares covered by such Registration Statement which remain unsold, and such
Holders shall notify the Company of the number of shares registered which remain
unsold immediately upon receipt of such notice from the Company.
7.8 With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of certain
rules and regulations of the Commission which at any time permit the sale of the
Registrable Securities to the public without registration, so long as the
Holders still own Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its reasonable
best efforts to:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times;
(b) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act; and
(c) so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to
such Holder, upon any reasonable request, a written statement by the Company as
to its compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and of the Exchange
Act, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company if such
reports are not available via XXXXX, and such other reports and documents of the
Company as such Holder may reasonably request if such reports or documents are
not available via XXXXX in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the
Commission allowing a Holder to sell any such securities without registration.
7.9 The rights granted to the Holders by the Company under Section 7.2 may
be assigned in full by a Holder in connection with a transfer by such Holder of
its Registrable Securities, provided, however, that (i) such transfer may
otherwise be effected in accordance with applicable securities laws; and (ii)
such transferee agrees to comply with the terms and provisions of this
Agreement, and such transfer is otherwise in compliance with this Agreement.
Except as specifically permitted by this Section 7.9, the rights of a Holder
with respect to Registrable Securities as set out herein shall not be
transferable to any other Person, and any attempted transfer shall cause all
rights of such Holder therein to be forfeited.
7.10 With the written consent of the Company and the Holders holding at
least a majority of the Registrable Securities that are then outstanding, any
provision of this Article 7 may be waived (either generally or in a particular
instance, either retroactively or prospectively and either for a specified
period of time or indefinitely) or amended. Upon the effectuation of each such
waiver or amendment, the Company shall promptly give written notice thereof to
the Holders, if any, who have not previously received notice thereof or
consented thereto in writing.
17
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
8.1 INDEMNIFICATION. In consideration of the Purchaser's execution and
delivery of this Agreement and its acquisition of the Shares hereunder, and in
addition to all of the Seller's other obligations under this Agreement, the
Seller will indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser and any of his agents or
other representatives (including, without limitation, those retained in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively,
the "Indemnitees") from and against any and all actions, causes of action,
suits, claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, and
expenses incurred in connection therewith (regardless of whether any such
Indemnitee is a party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is
sought), and including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements (the
"Indemnified Liabilities"), incurred by an Indemnitee as a result of, or arising
out of, or relating to any breach of any representation or warranty made by the
Seller in Section 3 of this Agreement. To the extent that the foregoing
undertaking by the Seller is unenforceable for any reason, the Seller will make
the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the
Indemnified Liabilities that is permissible under applicable law.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 FEES AND EXPENSES. Each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its
advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses
incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement.
9.2 NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries
required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and sent by
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, a recognized overnight
courier service, telecopier or personal delivery, and shall be deemed given and
effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or
communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number specified on
the signature pages hereto prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on a Business
Day, (b) the next Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or
communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number specified in
this Section on a day that is not a Business Day or later than 5:00 p.m. (New
York City time) on any Business Day, (c) the Business Day following the date of
mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (d)
upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given, if
sent by personal delivery or certified or registered mail. The address for such
notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages attached
hereto.
9.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior
agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters,
which the parties acknowledge have been merged into this Agreement.
18
9.4 AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS. No provision of this Agreement may be waived or
amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by
the Seller and the Purchaser or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against
whom enforcement of any such waiver is sought. Unless expressly provided
therein, no waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or
requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the
future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision,
condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of either party
to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such
right.
9.5 CONSTRUCTION. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not
constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect
any of the provisions hereof. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed
to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no
rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
9.6 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. Except
as expressly set forth in Section 7.9, the Purchaser may not assign this
Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of the Seller.
9.7 NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement is intended for the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced
by, any other Person.
9.8 GOVERNING LAW. All questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement, and all disputes directly
arising under or with respect to this Agreement, shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New
York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof that would
cause or require the application of the law of another jurisdiction.
9.9 SURVIVAL. The representations, warranties, agreements and covenants
contained herein shall survive the Closing and delivery of the Shares.
9.10 EXECUTION. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement
and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and
delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not
sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by
facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid and binding
obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is
executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature page
were an original thereof.
9.11 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid
or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the
remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby and the parties will attempt to agree upon a valid
and enforceable provision that is a reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so
agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Agreement.
19
9.12 INDEPENDENT NATURE OF PURCHASER'S OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS. The
obligations of the Purchaser under this Agreement are independent of the
obligations of any other Person purchasing common stock of the Company from the
Seller on the date hereof, and the Purchaser shall not be responsible in any way
for the performance of the obligations of any such Person. Nothing contained
herein, and no action taken by the Purchaser pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to
constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or
any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers is in any
way acting in concert or as a group with any Person with respect to such
obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Purchaser shall be
entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without
limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement. The Purchaser has been
represented by its own separate legal counsel in its review and negotiation of
this Agreement.
9.13 FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each of the parties shall execute such documents
and perform such further acts (including, without limitation, obtaining any
consents, exemptions, authorizations, or other actions by, or giving any notices
to, or making any filings with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person)
as may be reasonably required or desirable to carry out or to perform the
provisions of this Agreement.
[Signature Pages Follow]
20
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Purchase Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.
COMPANY:
VECTOR GROUP LTD.,
a Delaware corporation
By:/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxx Xxxxxx
------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Address for notices:
Vector Group Ltd.
000 X.X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Milbank Tweed Hadley & XxXxxx LLP
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
S-1
SELLER:
XXXXX GAMMA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
a Nevada limited partnership
By: XXXXX GAMMA, INC., its general partner
By:/s/ Xxxxxxx X. XxXxx
------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. XxXxx
Title: President
Address for notices:
XxXxx Gamma Limited Partnership
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Akerman Senterfitt
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000-0000
Telecopy: 305-374-5095
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
S-2
PURCHASER:
XXXX X. XXXX
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Address for notices:
c/o Vector Group Ltd.
000 X.X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxx
X-0
EXHIBIT A
SCHEDULE OF SHARES PURCHASED
XXXXX
GAMMA XXXXX TRUST TOTAL SHARES AGGREGATE PURCHASE
PURCHASER SHARES SOLD SHARES SOLD PURCHASED PRICE
--------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxx 5,000 0 5,000 $88,550.00
A-1
EXHIBIT B
WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTION
B-1
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF MILBANK LEGAL OPINION
1. On the basis of the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and
assumptions set forth herein, and having regard to legal considerations which we
deem relevant, we are of the opinion that the offer, sale and delivery of the
Shares to the Purchaser by the Seller in the manner contemplated by the Purchase
Agreement does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (it being understood that we express no opinion as to any subsequent
resale of any Shares).
C-1
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF SELLING SECURITYHOLDER NOTICE & QUESTIONNAIRE
The undersigned beneficial holder of shares of common stock, par value
$0.10 (the "Common Stock" or the "Registrable Securities"), of Vector Group Ltd.
("Vector" or the "Company"), understands that the Company has filed or intends
to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Shelf Registration Statement") for the
registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the
terms of the Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") dated as of January
30, 2006, among the Company, XxXxx Gamma Limited Partnership, a Nevada limited
partnership, the XxXxx Family Irrevocable Trust U/A/D September 8, 1998 and the
Purchaser named on Exhibit A thereto. All capitalized terms not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Purchase
Agreement.
Each beneficial owner of Registrable Securities is entitled to the
benefits of the Purchase Agreement. In order to sell or otherwise dispose of any
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, a
beneficial owner of Registrable Securities generally will be required to be
named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the
related prospectus or in a prospectus supplement thereto, deliver a prospectus
to purchasers of Registrable Securities and be bound by those provisions of the
Purchase Agreement applicable to such beneficial owner (including certain
indemnification provisions, as described below). BENEFICIAL OWNERS THAT DO NOT
COMPLETE THIS NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE AND DELIVER IT TO VECTOR AS PROVIDED
BELOW WILL NOT BE NAMED AS SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS IN THE PROSPECTUS OR A
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THEREFORE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO SELL ANY
REGISTRABLE SECURITIES PURSUANT TO THE SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT. Beneficial
owners are encouraged to complete and deliver this Notice and Questionnaire
prior to the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement or immediately upon the
sale of such Registrable Securities so that such beneficial owners may be named
as selling securityholders in the related prospectus at the time of
effectiveness or in a prospectus supplement thereto. Any beneficial owner of
notes wishing to include its Registrable Securities must deliver to the Company
at the address set forth herein in a properly completed and signed Notice and
Questionnaire.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus or
in a prospectus supplement thereto. Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners
of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own securities law
counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a
selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related
prospectus or in a prospectus supplement thereto.
D-1
NOTICE
The undersigned beneficial owner (the "Selling Securityholder") of
Registrable Securities hereby gives notice to the Company of its intention to
sell or otherwise dispose of Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it and
listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under Item 3) pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement. The undersigned, by signing and returning this
Notice and Questionnaire, understands that it will be bound by the terms and
conditions of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Purchase Agreement.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the undersigned has agreed to
indemnify and hold harmless the directors and officers of the Company and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act, from and against certain losses arising in connection with
statements concerning the undersigned made in the Shelf Registration Statement
and the related prospectus (the "Prospectus") in reliance upon the information
provided in this Notice and Questionnaire.
The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the
Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and
complete:
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. (a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:
______________________________________________________________
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a)
above) through which Registrable Securities listed in Item 3
below are held:
______________________________________________________________
(c) Full Legal Name of The Depository Trust Company Participant
(if applicable and if not the same as (b) above) through which
Registrable Securities listed in Item 3 below are held:
______________________________________________________________
2. Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Telephone: ___________________________________________________
Fax: _________________________________________________________
Contact Person: ______________________________________________
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3. Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:
(a) Type and Principal Amount of Registrable Securities
beneficially owned:
______________________________________________________________
(b) CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities beneficially
owned:
______________________________________________________________
4. Indicate below if the undersigned is (a) a broker-dealer or (b) an
affiliate of a broker-dealer:
Except as set forth below, if the undersigned is an affiliate
of a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents and warrants
that it bought the Registrable Securities in the ordinary
course of business and at the time of the purchase had no
agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any
person to distribute the Registrable Securities.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
If you are (a) a broker-dealer or (b) an affiliate of a
broker-dealer who did not buy Registrable Securities in the
ordinary course of business and at the time of your purchase
had an agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly,
with any person to distribute the Registrable Securities, then
you will be identified as an underwriter in the Shelf
Registration Statement.
5. Beneficial Ownership of Company securities owned by the Selling
Securityholder:
Except as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned is
not the beneficial or registered owner of any securities of
the Company other than the Registrable Securities listed above
in Item 3.
(a) Type and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the
Selling Securityholder.
______________________________________________________________
(b) CUSIP No(s). of such Other Securities beneficially owned:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
6. Relationship with the Company:
Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of
its affiliates, directors or principal equity holders (5% or
more) has held any position or office or has had any other
material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or
affiliates) during the past three years.
State any exceptions here: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________
D-3
7. Plan of Distribution:
Except as set forth below, the undersigned (including its
donees or pledgees) intends to distribute the Registrable
Securities listed above in Item 3 pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement only as follows (if at all): Such
Registrable Securities may be sold from time to time directly
by the undersigned Selling Securityholder or, alternatively,
through underwriters or broker-dealers or agents. If the
Registrable Securities are sold through underwriters or
broker-dealers or agents, the Selling Securityholder will be
responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or
agent's commissions. Such Registrable Securities may be sold
in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing
market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices
determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. Such
sales may be effected in transactions (which may involve
crosses or block transactions) (i) on any national securities
exchange or quotation service on which the Registrable
Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, (ii)
in the over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions
otherwise than on such exchanges or services or in the
over-the-counter market, or (iv) through the writing of
options. In connection with sales of the Registrable
Securities or otherwise, the undersigned Selling
Securityholder may enter into hedging transactions with
broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the
Registrable Securities in the course of the hedging positions
they assume. The undersigned Selling Securityholder may also
sell Registrable Securities short and deliver Registrable
Securities to close out such short positions, or loan or
pledge Registrable Securities to broker-dealers that in turn
may sell such securities.
State any exceptions here: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________
NOTE: In no event may such method(s) of distribution take the
form of an underwritten offering of the Registrable Securities without the prior
agreement of the Company.
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that
it understands its obligations to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with
the prospectus delivery and other provisions of the Securities Act and the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and the
respective rules and regulations thereunder, particularly Regulation M, in
connection with any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement. The undersigned Selling Securityholder agrees that
neither it nor any person acting on its behalf will engage in any transaction in
violation of such provisions.
The Selling Securityholder hereby acknowledges its obligations
under the Purchase Agreement to indemnify and hold harmless certain persons set
forth therein.
In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or
any portion of the Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the
date on which such information is provided to the Company, the Selling
Securityholder agrees to notify the Company and to notify the transferee(s) at
the time of the transfer of its rights and obligations under this Notice and
Questionnaire and the Purchase Agreement. By signing below, the Selling
Securityholder consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in
its answers to items (1) through (7) above and the inclusion of such information
in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus or in a
prospectus supplement thereto. The Selling Securityholder understands that such
information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the
preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus or in
a prospectus supplement thereto.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SELLING SECURITYHOLDER'S OBLIGATION
UNDER THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE SUCH INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY
LAW FOR INCLUSION IN THE SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE SELLING
SECURITYHOLDER AGREES TO PROMPTLY NOTIFY THE COMPANY OF ANY INACCURACIES OR
CHANGES IN THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN WHICH MAY OCCUR SUBSEQUENT TO THE
DATE HEREOF UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE COMPANY IS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT. ALL NOTICES HEREUNDER AND
PURSUANT TO THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SHALL BE MADE IN WRITING BY HAND DELIVERY,
FIRST-CLASS MAIL OR AIR COURIER GUARANTEEING OVERNIGHT DELIVERY AS FOLLOWS:
D-4
To the Company:
Vector Group Ltd.
000 X.X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Once this Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling
Securityholder and received by the Company, the terms of this Notice and
Questionnaire, and the representations and warranties contained herein, shall be
binding on, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the
respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of the
Company and the Selling Securityholders with respect to the Registrable
Securities beneficially owned by such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item
(3) above. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the
State of New York.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given,
has caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in
person or by its duly authorized agent.
Dated:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Selling Securityholder
(Print/type full legal name of beneficial owner of Registrable Securities)
By:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Name:
________________________________________________________________________________
Title:
________________________________________________________________________________
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