Company: XXII
Filing Date: 2025-06-10
Form Type: PRER14A
Source: 0001641172-25-014371
Chunk: 30

Company: 22nd Century Group, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-06-10
Form: PRER14A
Chunk 30
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-PEO NEO Compensation Actually Paid and Company Total Stockholder Return (“TSR”)

The following chart sets forth the relationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEO, the average of Compensation Actually Paid to our Non-PEO NEOs, and the Company’s TSR over the period covering fiscal years 2021 to 2024. A large component of our executive compensation is equity-based to align compensation with performance, but also includes other appropriate incentives such as cash bonuses that are designed to incentivize our executives to achieve annual corporate goals. We believe the equity-based compensation strongly aligns our PEO and Non-PEO NEOs’ interests with those of our stockholders to maximize long-term value and encourages long-term employment.

Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers

Currently, we do not have any employment agreements with our executive officers.

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<div align='center'>PROPOSAL NO. 2

ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION</div>

We design our executive officer compensation programs with the intent to attract, motivate, and retain industry-leading executives capable of achieving our key strategic goals. Our compensation programs are designed to be competitive with comparable employers and to align the interests of management with those of our stockholders by creating incentives for the achievement of specific corporate objectives and long-term value creation. We encourage you to closely review our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation” sections above for more information.

In accordance with SEC rules, you are being asked to approve an advisory resolution on the compensation of our named executive officers. This proposal, commonly known as a “say on pay” proposal, gives you the opportunity to endorse or not endorse our fiscal year 2024 compensation program and policies for our named executive officers. Although this vote is advisory and not binding on the Company, our Board and Compensation Committee will review and consider voting results in making future decisions about executive compensation programs.

| RESOLVED: | That                                                                                         
 the stockholders of 22nd Century Group, Inc. approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation 
 paid to the Company’s named executive officers as described in this proxy statement          
 under the headings “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive                     
 Compensation.”                                                                               |

<div align='center'>Our Board recommends a vote “FOR” approval, on an advisory basis, the 2024 compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as described in this proxy statement under the headings “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation.”</div>

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