Corporate Governance Guidelines
(as adopted December 15, 2022)
I. Introduction
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Vector Group Ltd. (the “Company”), acting on the recommendation of its Corporate Responsibility and Nominating Committee, has developed and adopted a set of corporate governance principles to promote the functioning of the Board and its committees and to set forth a common set of expectations as to how the Board should perform its functions.
II. Board Composition
The composition of the Board should balance the following goals:
The size of the Board should facilitate substantive discussions of the whole Board in which each director can participate meaningfully;
The composition of the Board should encompass a broad range of skills, expertise, industry knowledge, diversity of opinion and contacts relevant to the Company’s business; and
A majority of the Board shall consist of directors who the Board has determined have no material relationship with the Company and who are otherwise “independent” under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
III. Selection of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
The Board is free to select its Chairman and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) in the manner it considers in the best interests of the Company at any given point in time. These positions may be filled by one individual or by two different individuals. If the positions are filled by one individual, then there should also be a “Lead Director” (with appropriate powers and duties).
IV. Selection of Directors
Nominations.
The Board is responsible for selecting the nominees for election to the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company’s Corporate Responsibility and Nominating Committee is responsible for recommending to the Board a slate of directors or one or more nominees to fill vacancies occurring between annual meetings of stockholders.
Criteria.
The Board should, based on the recommendations of the Corporate Responsibility and Nominating Committee, select new nominees for the position of independent director considering the following criteria:
Personal qualities and characteristics, accomplishments and reputation in the business community;
Current knowledge and contacts in the communities in which the Company does business and in the Company’s industry or other industries relevant to the Company’s business;
Ability and willingness to commit adequate time to Board and committee matters;
The fit of the individual’s skills and personality with those of other directors and potential directors in building a Board that is effective, collegial and responsive to the needs of the Company; and
Diversity of viewpoints, background, experience and other demographics.
Invitation.
The invitation to join the Board should be extended by the Board itself via the Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Company, together with an independent director, when deemed appropriate.
Orientation and Continuing Education.
Management, working with the Board, should provide an orientation process for new directors, including background material on the Company, its business plan and its risk profile, and meetings with senior management. The Company encourages its directors to participate in continuing education programs to assist them in performing their Board responsibilities. Periodically, management should prepare additional educational sessions for directors on matters relevant to the Company, its business plan and risk profile.
V. Election Term
The Board does not believe it should establish term limits.
VI. Retirement of Directors
The Board does not believe it should establish a mandatory retirement age.
VII. Board Meetings
The Board shall have at least four meetings each year, with further meetings to occur (or action to be taken by unanimous consent) at the discretion of the Board. The meetings may consist of committee meetings, where appropriate, and the Board meeting. The agenda of each Board meeting will be prepared by the Chairman of the Board (or his or her designee). Any director may request that an item be included on the agenda or raise at any Board meeting subjects that were not on the agenda for that meeting. Management will seek to provide all directors with appropriate Board materials in advance of meetings, although the Board recognizes that this will not always be consistent with the timing of transactions and the operations of the business and that in certain cases it may not be possible. Materials presented to the Board or its committees should be as concise as possible, while still providing the desired information needed for the directors to make an informed judgment.
VIII. Executive Sessions
To ensure free and open discussion and communication among the non-management directors of the Board, the non-management directors will meet in executive sessions periodically, with no members of management present. The Chair of the Corporate Responsibility and Nominating Committee will preside at the executive sessions. Non-management directors who are not independent under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. may participate in these executive sessions, but the independent directors should meet separately in executive session at least once per year. The non-management directors will maintain such records of executive sessions as they deem appropriate, including records to enable the CEO to satisfy applicable certification requirements of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
IX. Committees of the Board
The Board has established three committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Human Capital Committee and the Corporate Responsibility and Nominating Committee. Each of these three committees must have a written charter satisfying the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. The Audit Committee must also satisfy the requirements of SEC Rule 10A-3. All directors, whether members of a committee or not, are invited to make suggestions to a committee chair for additions to the agenda of his or her committee or to request that an item from a committee agenda be considered by the Board. Each committee chair will give a periodic report of his or her committee’s activities to the Board. Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Human Capital Committee and the Corporate Responsibility and Nominating Committee shall be composed of directors who are not officers or employees of the Company, who the Board has determined have no material relationship with the Company and who are otherwise “independent” under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Audit Committee members must satisfy the additional eligibility requirements of SEC Rule 10A-3, and Compensation and Human Capital Committee members must satisfy the additional eligibility requirements imposed by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. The required qualifications for the members of each committee shall be set out in the respective committees’ charters. The Audit Committee shall have at least three members. A director may serve on more than one committee for which he or she qualifies.
X. Management Succession
The Compensation and Human Capital Committee is responsible for reviewing and assisting with the development of management succession plans, evaluating and making recommendations to the Board regarding potential candidates to become CEO, and evaluating and approving candidates to fill other senior management positions. The Compensation and Human Capital Committee shall provide reports to the Board on the management succession plans, as appropriate. The Board shall review and consider the plans and any recommendations of the Compensation and Human Capital Committee.
XI. Executive Compensation
Evaluating CEO Performance and Approving CEO Compensation
The Board, acting through the Compensation and Human Capital Committee, evaluates the performance of the CEO and the Company against the Company’s goals and objectives, and determines and approves the compensation level of the CEO.
Evaluating and Approving the Compensation of Management
The Board, acting through the Compensation and Human Capital Committee, evaluates and approves the proposals for overall compensation policies applicable to executive officers.
XII. Board Compensation
The Board should conduct a review at least once every three years of the components and amount of Board compensation in relation to other similarly situated companies. Board compensation should be consistent with market practices but should not be set at a level that would call into question the Board’s objectivity. The Company provides reasonable directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for directors and shall indemnify the directors to the fullest extent permitted by law and the Company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws.
XIII. Reviewing and Approving Significant
Transactions
Board approval of a particular transaction may be appropriate because of several factors, including
Legal or regulatory requirements,
the materiality of the transaction to the Company’s financial performance, risk profile or business,
the terms of the transaction, or
other factors, such as the entering into of a new line of business or a variation from the Company’s strategic plan.
XIV. Expectations for Directors
The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board in accordance with Delaware law. In all actions taken by the Board, the directors are expected to exercise their business judgment in what they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the Company. The Board has developed a number of specific expectations of directors to promote the discharge of this responsibility and the efficient conduct of the Board’s business.
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Commitment and Attendance
All independent and management directors should make every effort to
attend meetings of the Board and meetings of committees of which they
are members. Members may attend by telephone to mitigate conflicts. -
Participation in Meetings.
Each director should be sufficiently familiar with the business of the
Company, including its financial statements and capital structure, and
the risks and competition it faces, to facilitate active and effective
participation in the deliberations of the Board and of each committee on
which he or she serves. Upon request, management will make appropriate
personnel available to answer any questions a director may have about
any aspect of the Company’s business. Directors should also review the
materials provided by management and advisors in advance of the meetings
of the Board and its committees and should arrive prepared to discuss
the issues presented. -
Loyalty and Ethics.
In their roles as directors, all directors owe a duty of loyalty to the
Company. This duty of loyalty mandates that the best interests of the
Company take precedence over any interests possessed by a director. The
Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, including a
compliance program to enforce the Code. Certain portions of the Code
deal with activities of directors, particularly with respect to
transactions in the securities of the Company, potential conflicts of
interest, the taking of corporate opportunities for personal use, and
competing with the Company. Directors should be familiar with the Code’s
provisions in these areas and should consult with the Company’s counsel
in the event of any issues. -
Other Directorships.
The Company values the experience directors bring from other boards on
which they serve, but recognizes that those boards may also present
demands on a director’s time and availability and may present conflicts
or legal issues. Directors should advise the Chair of the Corporate
Responsibility and Nominating Committee and the CEO before accepting
membership on other boards of directors or other significant commitments
involving affiliation with other businesses or governmental units. The
Board generally considers it desirable for directors not to serve on the
boards of directors of more than three public companies (other than the
Company or a company in which the Company has a significant equity
interest) that require substantial time commitments, absent special
circumstances or specific approval of the Board. If a member of the
Audit Committee simultaneously serves on the audit committee of more
than two other public companies, the Board must determine that such
simultaneous service would not impair the ability of such member to
effectively serve on the Audit Committee, and must disclose such
determination in the Company’s annual proxy statement. -
Contact with Management
All directors are invited to contact the CEO at any time to discuss any
aspect of the Company’s business. Directors also have complete access to
other members of management. The Board expects that there will be
frequent opportunities for directors to meet with the CEO and other
members of management in Board and committee meetings and in other
formal or informal settings. Further, the Board encourages management
to, from time to time, bring managers into Board meetings who: (a) can
provide additional insight into the items being discussed because of
personal involvement and substantial knowledge in those areas, and/or
(b) are managers with future potential that the senior management
believes should be given exposure to the Board. -
Contact with Other Constituencies
It is important that the Company speak to employees and outside
constituencies with a single voice, and that management serve as the
primary spokesperson. -
Confidentiality.
The proceedings and deliberations of the Board and its committees are
confidential. Each director shall maintain the confidentiality of
information received in connection with his or her service as a
director.
XV. Evaluating Board Performance
The Board, acting through the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee,
should conduct a self-evaluation and an evaluation of each member of the Board
at least annually to determine whether it is functioning effectively. The
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee should periodically consider the
mix of skills and experience that directors bring to the Board to assess whether
the Board has the necessary tools to perform its oversight function effectively.
Each committee of the Board should conduct a self-evaluation at least annually
and report the results to the Board, acting through the Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committee. Each committee’s evaluation must compare the performance
of the committee with the requirements of its written charter, if any.
XVI. Reliance on Management and Outside Advice
In performing its functions, the Board is entitled to rely on the advice,
reports and opinions of management, counsel, accountants, auditors and other
expert advisors. The Board shall have the authority to retain and approve the
fees and retention terms of its outside advisors.