Company: XXII
Filing Date: 2025-06-10
Form Type: PRER14A
Source: 0001641172-25-014371
Chunk: 14

Company: 22nd Century Group, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-06-10
Form: PRER14A
Chunk 14
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 franchise for Thermo Fisher (Invitrogen Corporation). Anthony has leveraged his business experience and numerous board positions to mentor technology startups and entrepreneurs, spur state and local job creation, and introduce STEM curriculum into early childhood education. Mr. Johnson is a founding board member of the Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative, which works to create positive change in the lives of low-income youth of color. Additionally, he serves as Michigan Street African-American Heritage Corridor Commissioner and was an Opportunities Council member for University of Buffalo. He holds an MBA from Manchester Business School, Manchester, UK, with an emphasis in international strategy, and a BA in biology from Fisk University, Nashville, TN. He is the Chair of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee.

Mr. Johnson will be resigning from the Board effective on the date of the Annual Meeting.

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<div align='center'>Commitment to Corporate Governance</div>

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors represents the best interests of our stockholders by overseeing the business and affairs of the Company. Members of the Board participate in quarterly Board and Committee meetings, engage with senior management of the Company, review, provide input, approve the Company’s strategic plan and principal issues, and discuss feedback from stockholders and other stakeholders.

Under the Company’s current Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, directors hold office for a term ending on the date of the third annual stockholders’ meeting following the Annual Meeting at which such director’s class was most recently elected until the earlier of their death, resignation, removal or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. Our Bylaws provide that the number of members of our Board of Directors may be changed from time to time by resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors currently consists of four (4) members with no vacancies. Following the meeting, the Board will consist of four (4) members with no vacancies, assuming the election of the director nominees.

Independent Directors

Our Board of Directors has determined that David Keys, Anthony Johnson, Lucille S. Salhany, and Andrew Arno are “independent” as defined by applicable Nasdaq Stock Market listing standards. Each director serving on the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of our Board also meets the more stringent independence requirements established by SEC and Nasdaq rules applicable to audit and compensation committees. Our Board has determined that no director or nominee has a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out their responsibilities as a director