Icahn Reports New Stakes In Vector Group, El Paso - Filing

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn reported a new stake in Vector Group Ltd. (VGR), which makes Liggett and other cigarettes and owns the prominent New York-area real estate brokerage Douglas Elliman Realty LLC.

Icahn also reported a passive 7.6% stake in the energy company El Paso Corp. (EP) and appeared to exit positions in a number of pharmaceutical and energy companies, as well as toy maker Mattel Corp. (MAT). El Paso shares rose 2.9% in after-hours trading. Shares of Mattel fell 0.6%, and Vector was unchanged.

Icahn disclosed the holdings in a regulatory filings late Monday that showed his U.S. stock positions as of June 30.

However, Icahn had omitted some information on its holdings in the filing, an action some investment managers are permitted to take by the Securities and Exchange Commission when they're building or eliminating a position. Such "confidential treatment" prevents others from piggy-backing on their investment ideas.

Confidential treatment usually applies to positions being added by managers.

Icahn funds owned about 14 million shares of Vector Group, making it the largest shareholder in the Miami-based company. Vector Group shares rose 0.7% in late trading to $18.49.

The filings indicated Icahn-controlled funds sold their prior stakes in a number of companies, including: biotech company Amgen Inc. (AMGN); drug makger Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB); and biopharmaceutical company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (REGN).

Icahn also no longer reported stakes in power company NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) and natural gas company Southern Union Co. (SUG).

-By Paul Ziobro, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2194; [e-mail]