Company: XXII
Filing Date: 2025-06-10
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0001641172-25-014543
Chunk: 20

Company: 22nd Century Group, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-06-10
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 20
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any |     | $                              | 17,500 |     | $      | — |     | $                             | — |     | $            | — |     | $     | 17,500 |
| Anthony Johnson    |     | $                              | 17,500 |     | $      | — |     | $                             | — |     | $            | — |     | $     | 17,500 |

| (1) | All                                                                               
 amounts reflected as fees earned or paid in cash exclude the cash portion waived. |

| 11 |

<div align='center'>COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS</div>

This section contains a discussion of the material elements of compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer, and our other executive officers who were serving as executive officers of the Company on December 31, 2024. These individuals are identified in the Summary Compensation Table and other compensation tables that follow this section, and are referred to throughout this report as our “named executive officers.”

Executive Summary and Overview of 2024 Compensation

Our Company’s long-term success depends on our ability to fulfill the expectations of our customers and clients in a competitive environment and deliver value to stockholders. To achieve these goals, it is critical that we are able to attract, motivate, and retain highly talented individuals at all levels of the organization that are committed to our values and objectives.

We strive to provide compensation that is (a) linked to stockholder value creation, (b) reflective of the overall performance of the Company and each individual executive, and (c) considerate of the competitive market levels of compensation needed to recruit, retain and motivate top executive talent, while remaining consistent with the other objectives.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

The Company’s executive compensation program is based on the same principles that guide us in establishing all of the Company’s compensation programs:

| ● | Compensation                                                                                                                         
 fosters the long−term focus required for the Company’s success. In general, the compensation of Company executives includes          
 longer−term incentives because they are in a greater position to influence longer−term results.                                      |
| ● | Compensation                                                                                                                         
 reflects the level of job responsibility, individual performance, and Company performance. As employees progress to higher levels    
 in the organization, an increasing proportion of their pay should be linked to Company performance and stockholder returns because   
 those employees are more able to affect the Company’s results.                                                                       |
| ● | Compensation