Company: XXII
Filing Date: 2025-06-06
Form Type: PRER14A
Source: 0001641172-25-013953
Chunk: 79

Company: 22nd Century Group, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-06-06
Form: PRER14A
Chunk 79
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 obtain stockholder approval may discourage future investors from engaging in future financings with us. If these consequences occur, we may have difficulty finding alternative sources of capital to fund our operations in the future on terms favorable to us or at all. We can provide no assurance that we would be successful in raising funds pursuant to additional equity or debt financings.

<div align='center'>Our Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote “FOR” Proposal 9 to
approve the Voluntary Conversion Option in the Debentures pursuant to Rules 5635(b) and (d) of the Nasdaq Stock Market.</div>

| 49 |

<div align='center'>PROPOSAL NO. 10

THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF FREED MAXICK P.C. AS

THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR

FISCAL YEAR 2025</div>

The Audit Committee has appointed Freed Maxick P.C. (“Freed”) as our independent registered certified public accounting firm for the fiscal year 2025 and has further directed that the selection of Freed be submitted to a vote of stockholders at the Annual Meeting for ratification.

In selecting Freed to be our independent registered public accounting firm for 2025, our Audit Committee considered the results from its review of Freed’s independence, including (i) all relationships between Freed and our Company and any disclosed relationships or services that may impact Freed’s objectivity and independence; (ii) Freed’s performance and qualification as an independent registered public accounting firm; and (iii) the fact that the Freed engagement audit partner is rotated on a regular basis as required by applicable laws and regulations.

Our Audit Committee charter does not require that our stockholders ratify the selection of Freed as our independent registered public accounting firm. We are doing so because we believe it is a matter of good corporate governance practice. If our stockholders do not ratify the selection, our Audit Committee may reconsider whether to retain Freed, but still may retain the firm. Even if the selection is ratified, our Audit Committee, in its discretion, may change the appointment at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of us and our stockholders.

Representatives of Freed are expected to attend the Annual Meeting, where they will be available to respond to appropriate questions and, if they desire, to make a statement.

The Audit Committee, in accordance with its charter, must pre-approve all non-audit services provided by our independent registered