Company: XXII
Filing Date: 2025-06-10
Form Type: PRER14A
Source: 0001641172-25-014371
Chunk: 2

Company: 22nd Century Group, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-06-10
Form: PRER14A
Chunk 2
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 a great position to build our company on the market opportunities of the tier 4 value consumer and the nicotine control consumer who would be a candidate for our branded and partnered VLN products.

Eventually we would like to create a low nicotine category that would separate all of our VLN branded SKUs from the standard cigarette category. This will take time and growth to create, but we believe this is possible.

Nicotine Harm

On the regulatory front, the FDA’s groundbreaking proposed reduced nicotine content rule is mid-way to the completion of the comment period, which ends in September. When the comment period concludes, we can determine the FDA’s direction on what could be the most meaningful and impactful tobacco harm reduction policy in a generation.

We have the only FDA authorized combustible cigarette that meets the new policy standard, and we are not waiting for nor dependent on the FDA to finalize their rule. We have developed an important technology in our low nicotine tobacco and VLN products, and there is a certain contingent of consumers today that want a choice with their nicotine consumption.

Financial Performance

In 2024 we restructured our operations to significantly lower our operating expenses to a level such that we can transition to a profitable company in 2025 as we get the planned traction in the branded products business. In addition, and importantly, we greatly improved our balance sheet as we paid down our debts to the tune of $18 million, which has us on the road to a debt free 22nd Century in 2026.

Looking Forward

We have rebuilt the foundation of our company to what we believe is a substantial, sustainable, and ultimately, profitable business model. This model features a suite of our branded products, which include Smoker Friendly, Pinnacle and VLN across a wider menu of SKUs, plus our high volume, low mix CMO customers for domestic filtered cigars and export cigarettes. Our sales are growing, our overhead costs are in line, and we are positioned to transition into a profitable company for the first time in the company’s history.

Lawrence Firestone

Chief Executive Officer

| 2025 PROXY STATEMENT | i |

<div align='center'>321 Farmington Road, Mocksville, North Carolina 27028

Notice of 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement</div>

TO THE HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICEthat the Annual Meeting of stockholders of 22nd Century Group, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at 2 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 1900, Miami