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Howard M. Lorber became our Chief Executive Officer in December 2005 after serving as our President, Chief Operating Officer and a director since November 2004. Mr. Lorber is also the President and Chief Executive Officer of our parent, Vector Group Ltd. and served as Vector’s President and Chief Operating Officer from January 2001 to December 2005 and has served as a director of Vector’s since January 2001. Mr. Lorber was Chairman of the Board of Hallman & Lorber Assoc., Inc., consultants and actuaries of qualified pension and profit sharing plans, and various of its affiliates from 1975 to December 2004 and has been a consultant to these entities since January 2005; a stockholder and a registered representative of Aegis Capital Corp., a broker-dealer and a member firm of the National Association of Securities Dealers, since 1984; Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1987 and Chief Executive Officer since November 1993 of Nathan’s Famous, Inc., a chain of fast food restaurants; a consultant to us and Liggett from January 1994 to January 2001; a director of United Capital Corp., a real estate investment and diversified manufacturing company, since May 1991; and Vice Chairman of the Board of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services since May 2001. He is also a trustee of Long Island University. | 