Exhibit 10.1


 





 


EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


 


THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(this “Agreement”) is made as of October 31, 2017, between 22nd Century Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation with its
office located at 9530 Main Street, Clarence, New York 14031 (the “Company”), and James E. Swauger, an individual residing
at 3655 Chucky River Road, Morristown, Tennessee 37813 (the “Employee”).


 


1.       Employment
Duties and Responsibilities


 


1.1       Position
and Title. The Company hereby agrees to employ the Employee in the position(s) and under the terms and conditions set forth
in Addendum A attached hereto and the Employee hereby accepts such position(s) and agrees to serve the Company, including Company
Affiliates (as defined below), in such capacity until this Agreement expires as set forth in Addendum A or this Agreement is earlier
terminated by one of the parties in accordance with the terms set forth in Section 4 below.


 


1.2       Company
Policies and Procedures. The Employee agrees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures of the Company and its Affiliates
(as defined below) for which notice of the policy or procedure has been given to Employee in writing by Company and acknowledgement
of receipt has been given in writing by Employee without material exception, and Employee agrees to perform his job duties to the
best of his ability.


 


1.3       Attention.
During the term of this Agreement, excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which Employee is entitled, Employee agrees
(i) to devote 80% of Employee’s full time, ability and attention to the business of the Company and its Affiliates (as defined
below), during normal working hours, and (ii) not to acquire, hold or retain, whether directly or indirectly, more than a two percent
(2%) passive investment interest in any business competing with or similar in nature to the business of the Company or any of its
Affiliates, except as otherwise provided below. For purposes of this Agreement, “Affiliates” shall mean any person
or entity that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under the common
control of, the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Company recognizes that Employee continues
to own and operate Vega Scientific (“Vega”), a consulting enterprise to third-party companies and, as such, the Company
agrees that Employee may continue to own and operate Vega and to devote up to 20% of normal working hours to this enterprise provided
that he does not perform services for other companies that are prohibited under Section 6.2 below).


 


2.       TERM
OF EMPLOYMENT


 


2.1       Effective
Date. The Effective Date of this Agreement shall be October 31, 2017.


 


2.2.       Term.
The term of this Agreement shall be set forth on Addendum A hereto, and the Company agrees to employ the Employee and the Employee
hereby agrees to serve the Company until the end of the Term of Employment, as defined hereunder, or, if earlier, until this Agreement
is terminated by one of the parties in accordance with the terms set forth in Section 4 below.


 






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3.       COMPENSATION


 


3.1       Base
Salary. Throughout the Term of Employment, the Company shall pay to Employee, and Employee shall accept from the Company, a
bi-weekly base salary in the amount set forth on Addendum A attached hereto (the “Base Salary”), payable on the Company’s
standard pay schedule. Employee’s Base Salary may not be decreased at any time during this Agreement without the express
written consent of the Employee. The Base Salary will be increased as set forth in Addendum A hereto, as well as in such other
amounts as the Company may determine in its sole discretion from time to time, but nothing herein shall be deemed to require any
such increase other than as set forth in Addendum A hereto.


 


3.2       Incentive
Compensation/Bonus. Employee may be eligible to receive a bonus based upon satisfactory achievement of personal performance
objectives and business performance objectives as may be determined by the Company and the Employee from time to time, and/or such
other incentive compensation arrangements that may be entered into between the Company and the Employee in the future.


 


3.3       Stock
Options/Restricted Stock Grants. Beginning in Q1 2019, Employee will be eligible for stock options and/or restricted stock
as may be awarded by the Company, in its sole discretion, from time to time, subject to the terms of the Company’s 2014
Omnibus Incentive Plan or any similar plan or agreement then being offered by the Company during the term of this Agreement.


 


3.4.       Expenses.
Employee shall be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable business expenses that are incurred in the furtherance of Company business
and are consistent with the Company’s policies for such expense reimbursement.


 


3.5       Benefits.
Employee will be eligible to receive health (single coverage), dental (single coverage), personal disability, retirement, and/or
other fringe benefits as are provided to similarly situated executives of the Company from time to time, as well as Employee may
participate in the Company’s 401(k) retirement plan, all as described in Addendum A hereto. Employee shall receive the relocation
benefits and other specified benefits described in Addendum A, and Employee shall be eligible for paid time off as described in
Addendum A.


 


4.       Termination
of Employment


 


Employee’s employment
with the Company may be terminated, prior to the expiration of the Term of this Employment Agreement as set forth on Addendum A
hereto, in accordance with any of the following provisions:


 


4.1       Termination
By Employee Without Good Reason. The Employee may terminate employment at any time during the Term of this Agreement by giving
thirty (30) days' notice in writing to the Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company. During the notice period, Employee
must fulfill all Employee’s duties and responsibilities set forth above and use Employee’s best efforts to train and
support Employee’s replacement, if any. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in Termination for Cause described
below, but otherwise Employee's salary and benefits will remain unchanged during the 30-day notification period. The Company, at
its option, may relieve Employee of all Employee’s duties and responsibilities at any time during the notice period, but
will, in such instance, be required to continue to maintain Employee’s pay and benefits through the remainder of the 30-day
notice period. In the event Employee terminates his employment with the Company under this Section 4.1, then (i) Employee shall
be entitled to receive only that Base Salary earned on or before the Employee’s last day of active service and other post-employment
benefits required by law or under Company policy, (ii) Employee shall not be entitled to receive any portion of any bonus for the
time period in which the termination occurs, and (iii) all of Employee’s unvested Time Vested Options and unvested Performance
Based Stock Options will not vest and will be forfeited.


 






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4.2(a)       Termination
By The Company Without Cause. The Company may terminate Employee’s employment without cause at any time during the Term
of this Agreement by giving the Employee thirty (30) days’ notice of such termination, during which period Employee will
continue to receive the compensation and benefits to which Employee would normally be entitled under the terms of this Agreement.
During the notice period, Employee must fulfill all of Employee’s duties and responsibilities and use Employee’s best
efforts to train and support Employee’s replacement, if any. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company, at its option, may
instruct Employee during such period not to undertake any active duties on behalf of the Company.


 


4.2(b)       If
Employee is terminated under this Section 4.2, within thirty (30) days following the conclusion of the notice period, the Company
shall provide a severance benefit to Employee as follows: Employee will continue to receive Employee's Base Salary then in effect,
paid in accordance with standard payroll practices for a period of six (6) months following termination. Under this Section, Employee
shall not be entitled to receive any portion of any bonus for the period in which the termination occurs; provided, however, that
as described in Addendum A hereto, (i) Employee’s unvested Time Vested Options will automatically vest on the date that Employee
is terminated under this Section 4.2, however, (ii) Employee’s unvested Performance Based Stock Options will not vest and
will be forfeited.


 


4.3          Termination By
The Company For Cause. The Company may, at any time and without notice (except as required below), terminate the Employee for
“cause.” Termination by the Company of the Employee for “cause” shall be limited to termination based
on any of the following grounds: (a) fraud, misappropriation, embezzlement or acts of similar dishonesty; (b) conviction of a
felony crime; (c) intentional and willful misconduct that subjects the Company to criminal or civil liability; (d) breach of the
Employee’s duty of loyalty to the Company or diversion or usurpation of corporate opportunities properly belonging to the
Company; (e) material breach by Employee of this Agreement and/or any other agreement entered into between the Company and the
Employee; and/or (f) willful and/or continued failure to follow any lawful and proper instructions or directions provided to Employee
by the Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company; provided, however, that Employee shall not be terminated for cause
under subsections (d), (e) or (f) above unless the Company first has provided Employee with written notice that the Company considers
the Employee to be in violation of Employee’s obligations under those subsections and Employee fails, within thirty (30)
days of such notice, to cure the conduct that has given rise to the notice.


 


In the event of a termination
by the Company for Cause, Employee shall be entitled to receive only that Base Salary earned on or before the Employee’s
last day of active service and other post-employment benefits required by law or under Company policy. Under this Section, Employee
shall not be entitled to receive any portion of any bonus for the period in which the termination occurs and (iii) all of Employee’s
unvested Time Vested Options and unvested Performance Based Stock Options will not vest and will be forfeited.


 






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		4.4	Termination by the Employee For Good Reason.



 


a.       This
Agreement may be terminated by the Employee upon notice to the Company of any event constituting "Good Reason" as defined
herein.


 


b.       As
used herein, the term "Good Reason" means (a) the failure of the Company to pay Employee’s compensation in accordance
with this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Employee; (b) the decision by the Company to require Employee to relocate
his personal residence during the Term of Employment; or (c) the failure of the Company to comply with the material terms of this
Agreement, including but not limited to the provisions of Section A of the Addendum; provided, however, that the Employee shall
not be deemed to have Good Reason pursuant to this provision unless the Employee gives the Company written notice that the specified
conduct or event has occurred and making specific reference to this Section 4.4 and the Company fails to cure such conduct or event
within thirty (30) days of receipt of such notice.


 


c.       In
the event the Employee terminates this Agreement under this Section 4.4, Employee shall be entitled to the severance benefits described
under Section 4.2(b) pertaining to Termination By the Company Without Cause.


 


4.5          Termination
By Death Or Disability. The Employee’s employment and rights to compensation under this Agreement shall terminate if
the Employee is unable to perform the duties of Employee’s position due to death or disability; and the Employee, or the
Employee’s heirs, beneficiaries, successors, or assigns, shall be entitled only to receive any compensation fully earned
prior to the date of the Employee’s last day of active employment prior to such death or incapacitation due to disability
and shall not be entitled to any other compensation or benefits, except: (a) to the extent specifically provided in this Agreement;
(b) to the extent required by law; or (c) to the extent that such benefit plans or policies under which Employee is covered provide
a benefit to the Employee or to the Employee’s heirs, beneficiaries, successors, or assigns. As detailed in Addendum A hereto,
Employee’s unvested Time Vested Options (if any) will automatically vest in the case of the Employee’s termination
of employment with the Company by death or disability. For purpose of this agreement, “disability” shall be defined
as the Employee’s failure, due to a mental or physical condition, to perform the essential functions of Employee’s
position for more than 180 days in any 360-day period.


 


4.6          Change
In Control and Termination Provisions.


 


(a)          If
within a three (3) year period following any Change in Control (as defined below) after the date hereof, there occurs any of the
following:


 


(i) any termination of
the Employee other than as set forth in Section 4.3 (Termination by the Company for Cause) or Section 4.5 (Termination by Death
or Disability),


 


(ii) any reduction in
the Base Salary or any other compensation as compared to such Base Salary or any other compensation as of the date immediately
prior to the Change in Control,


 


(iii) any
material diminution in the job responsibilities; or


 


(iv) any material, uncured
breach of this Agreement by the Company;


 






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then, at the option of the Employee, exercisable
by the Employee within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of any of the foregoing events, the Employee may resign his employment
with the Company (or, if involuntarily terminated, give notice of his intention to collect benefits under this Agreement) by delivering
a notice in writing (the “Notice of Termination”) to the Company, and the Employee shall be entitled to receive the
severance benefits described under Section 4.2(b) pertaining to Termination by the Company Without Cause provided that the Employee’s
unvested Performance Based Stock Options, as described in Addendum A, also will automatically vest on the date of such resignation.


  


(b)          Notwithstanding
any provisions now or hereafter existing under the Company’s 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan or any other stock option plan or
restricted share plan of the Company or any entity which directly or indirectly controls the Company, in the event of a Change
in Control, all options and all restricted shares provided and/or to be provided to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement, the
Company’s 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan and/or any other agreement between the Company (or any entity which directly or indirectly
controls the Company) and Employee shall be granted and shall immediately fully vest as of the date of such Change in Control with
such options and restricted shares being valued at the closing price of the common stock underlying such options and/or restricted
stock grants on the day prior to the day of the Change of Control or, in the event such common stock is not then traded and quoted
on a securities exchange or automated quotation system, then the value per share of such common stock shall be the higher of either
(i) the book value per share of such common stock, (ii) the price per share of such common stock on the effective date hereof,
or (iii) the average price per share of such common stock during the six (6) month period immediately preceding the date on which
such shares of common stock were no longer traded and/or quoted on a securities exchange or automated quotation system.


 


(c)          For
purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to exist if any of the following occurs after the
date hereof:


 


(i)       a
person, as defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (other than the Employee or a group including
the Employee), either (A) acquires thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of the
Company or any entity which directly or indirectly controls the Company, which securities have the right to vote in elections of
directors of the Company or any entity which directly or indirectly controls the Company, and such acquisition shall not have been
approved within sixty (60) days following such acquisition by a majority of the Continuing Directors (as hereinafter defined) then
in office, or (B) acquires fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of the Company
or any entity which directly or indirectly controls the Company, which securities have the right to vote in elections of directors
of the Company or any entity which directly or indirectly controls the Company; or


 


(ii)       Continuing
Directors shall for any reason cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors; or


 


(iii)       the
Company or any entity which directly or indirectly controls the Company disposes, by sale of stock, assets or otherwise, of all
or substantially all of the business of the Company or the business of any entity which directly or indirectly controls the Company
to a party or parties other than a subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company or any entity which directly or indirectly controls
the Company pursuant to a partial or complete liquidation of the Company or any entity which directly or indirectly controls the
Company; or


 






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(iv)       the
Board of Directors of the Company or any entity which directly or indirectly controls the Company approves the consolidation or
merger of the Company or any entity which directly or indirectly controls the Company with or into any other person or entity (other
than a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company or any other entity which is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company), or
any other person’s consolidation or merger with or into the Company or any entity which directly or indirectly controls the
Company, which results in all or part of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or any entity which directly or
indirectly controls the Company being changed in any way or converted into or exchanged for stock or other securities or cash or
any other property.


 


For purposes of this Agreement, the term
“Continuing Director” shall mean a member of the Board of Directors of the Company or any entity which directly or
indirectly controls the Company who either was a member of such Board of Directors on the date hereof or who subsequently became
a Director of the Company or any entity which directly or indirectly controls the Company and whose election, or nomination for
election, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Continuing Directors then in office.


 


5.       CONFIDENTIALITY
AND NONDISCLOSURE


 


5.1          Non-Disclosure
of Confidential Information. Employee recognizes that Employee’s position with Company is one of the highest trust and
confidence and that Employee will have access to and contact with the trade secrets and confidential and proprietary business
information of Company. Employee agrees that Employee shall not, while employed by Company or thereafter, directly or indirectly,
use for Employee’s own benefit or for the benefit of another, or disclose to another any trade secret or Confidential Information
(as defined below) of the Company, except such use or disclosure is required in the discharge of Employee’s duties and obligations
on behalf of the Company or may be legally compelled in accordance with any regulatory or litigation proceeding.


 


5.2          Definition
of “Confidential Information.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall include
proprietary or sensitive information, materials, knowledge, data or other information of the Company not generally known or available
to the public relating to (a) the services, products, Biological Materials (as hereinafter defined), customer lists, business
plans, marketing plans, pricing strategies, or similar confidential information of the Company, including but not limited to the
Company’s trade secrets, patents, intellectual property, systems, procedures, manuals, cost and pricing information, solicitations,
proposals, bids, contracts, confidential reports and work product prepared in connection with projects and contracts, supporting
information for any of the above items, the identities and records of government agencies and offices and contacts, contractors
and contacts, and subcontractors and contacts with whom the Company has done business or is seeking to do business, the identities
and records of vendors and suppliers of personnel, material and/or raw materials, all accounting and financial information, business
plans and budgets, and all other information pertaining to the business activities and affairs of the Company of every nature
and type; (b) the business of any Company customer, including without limitation, knowledge of the customer’s current business
or staffing needs; and (c) the identities and records of current or former employees of the Company or potential hires and their
compensation arrangements with the Company.


 






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5.3          Return
of Materials, Equipment and Biological Materials. Employee further agrees that all memoranda, notes, computer files, records,
drawings, reports or other documents, in any format, made or compiled by Employee or made available to Employee while employed
by Company concerning any Company activity shall be the property of Company and shall be delivered to Company upon termination
of Employee's employment or at any other time upon request. Employee also agrees to return to the Company and not retain any and
all equipment, including laptop computers, and Biological Materials belonging to the Company on or before Employee’s last
day of employment with Company.


 


5.4          No
Prior Restrictions. The Employee hereby represents and warrants to the Company that the execution, delivery, and performance
of this Agreement does not violate any provision of any agreement or restrictive covenant which the Employee has with any former
employer which is not a Company Affiliate (a “Former Employer”). The Employee further acknowledges that to the extent
the Employee has an obligation to the Former Employer not to disclose certain confidential information, Employee intends to honor
such obligation and the Company hereby agrees not to knowingly request the Employee to disclose such confidential information.


 


6.       Restrictive
CovenantS 


 


Employee acknowledges
that Employee’s services to be rendered hereunder are of a special and unusual character, which have a unique value to the
Company and that the Company will be investing time, effort, and expense in Employee. In view of the unique value to the Company
of the services of the Employee for which the Company has contracted hereunder, the investments by the Company in the Employee,
and as a material inducement for the Company to enter into this Agreement and to pay to the Employee the compensation provided
hereunder, Employee covenants and agrees as follows:


 


6.1.          Definitions.
The following definitions shall be applicable to each of the covenants set forth in this Section.


 


a.       Definition
of “Customer.”  As used herein, “Customer” is defined as any person or entity, including without limitation
a Government Agency, to whom Employee, directly or indirectly (e.g., the end user of the services if the Company is a subcontractor),
provided services while employed with the Company or with whom Employee interacted on behalf of the Company at any time during
Employee’s employment with Company.


 


b.       Definition
of “Prospective Customer.” As used herein, “Prospective Customer” shall mean any person or entity, including
without limitation a Government Agency, whom the Employee, at any time during the twelve (12) month period preceding the termination
of Employee’s employment, was involved in working on a proposal for, soliciting or making a proposal to, on behalf of the
Company, for the provision of services.


 


c.       Definition
of “Government Agency.” As used herein, “Government Agency” shall be limited to the division, department,
operating unit, group, or other appropriate sub-entity of an agency to which the Employee provided services while employed with
the Company or with whom Employee interacted on behalf of the Company at any time during Employee’s employment with Company.


 






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d.       Definition
of “Biological Materials.” As used herein, “Biological Materials” shall mean any plant, seed, propagule,
embryo, leaf, root and/or other plant part or tissue, and/or gene construct or fragment thereof, belonging to or produced for the
Company and/or its Affiliates, including any of the foregoing produced by Employee or produced by others during Employee’s
employment with the Company.


 


e.       Definition
of “Intellectual Property” As used herein, “Intellectual Property” shall mean any and all inventions,
developments, formulas, discoveries, concepts, trademarks, improvements, designs, innovations, data, processes, software, works
of authorship, know-how, plants, plant varieties (whether registered for plant variety protection or not), tobacco products, smoking
cessation aids, cannabis products, cannabinoids, cannabinoid products, drugs and ideas (whether patentable or not) directly or
indirectly related to the Company and/or its Affiliates (i) conceived or made by Employee, either alone or with others, while employed
by the Company or its Affiliates, that relate to the Company’s business or protectable interests as described in this Agreement
and/or (ii) conceived or made by Employee, either alone or with others, with the use of Confidential Information.


 


6.2          Covenants.


 


a.       Non-Competition
with Customers, Prospective Customers and Industry. During Employee's employment by the Company and for a period of two (2)
years after Employee ceases to be employed by the Company for any reason, then Employee will not (except on behalf of the Company),
directly or indirectly, as either an employee, contractor, or consultant, whether personally or through another entity, develop,
grow, make, offer, market, distribute, sell and/or advocate (on behalf of Employee or another company, but excluding the Employee’s
general public speaking or publishing activities) altered toxicant tobacco plants; very low nicotine tobacco plants; very high
nicotine tobacco plants; products made from altered nicotine tobacco plants; altered cannabinoid plants; or products made from
altered cannabinoid plants . Employee specifically recognizes and agrees that the restrictions set forth in this subsection are
reasonable. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.2(a), the Company recognizes that Employee has experience
in the tobacco industry as a prior employee of certain tobacco companies that market and sell combustible cigarettes, cigars, and
non-combustible tobacco products. The Company recognizes that Employee is now, and will continue to be, a consultant to third-party
companies; as such, Employee will retain the right to conduct his personal business with third party companies (including but not
limited to the right to seek employment from such third party companies), in areas not specifically excluded in this Agreement,
both during Employee's employment by the Company (within the provisions of Section 1.3 of this Agreement) and after Employee ceases
to be employed by the Company and such permitted activities shall not constitute a violation of this Agreement.


 


b.       Non-Interference With Customers
or Prospective Customers. Employee further agrees that, for the term of Employee’s employment and for a period of two
(2) years after Employee ceases to be employed by the Company, the Employee shall not undertake to interfere with the Company’s
relationship with any Customer, Prospective Customer, researcher, supplier, distributer, farmer and/or manufacturer. This means
that Employee shall refrain: (i) from making disparaging comments about the Company or its board, management or employees to any
Customer or Prospective Customer; (ii) from attempting to persuade any Customer, Prospective Customer, researcher, supplier, distributer,
farmer and/or manufacturer to cease or reduce doing business with the Company; (iii) from soliciting any Customer (excluding suppliers
and distributors), Prospective Customer (excluding suppliers and distributors), researcher, farmer and/or manufacturer for the
purpose of providing services competitive with the Company Business; or (iv) from assisting any person or entity in doing any of
the foregoing.


 






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c.       Non-Solicitation
and Non-Hiring of Employees. Employee agrees that, for the term of Employee’s employment and for a period of two (2)
years after Employee ceases to be employed by the Company, the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, as an employee, consultant,
contractor, principal, agent, or owner, on Employee’s own behalf or the behalf of another person or entity: (i) induce or
attempt to induce any person employed or otherwise retained by the Company to leave their employment or retention with the Company;
(ii) hire or employ, or attempt to hire or employ, any person employed by the Company; or (iii) assist or facilitate in any way
any other person or entity in the hiring or other retention of any person employed by the Company. The foregoing restriction shall
not apply to any person who was brought on by the Employee as a consultant or subcontractor to the Company at any time during the
Employee’s employment with the Company. This provision shall not limit the scope or the enforceability of the confidentiality
restriction prohibiting the use or disclosure of any information pertaining to current or former employees of the Company or potential
hires that was obtained in any manner during the period of Employee’s employment with the Company.


 


d.       Further
Covenants. Employee further agrees, for the term of Employee’s employment with the Company or any of its affiliates and
for a period of two (2) years after Employee ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its Affiliates, as follows:


 


(i) To disclose promptly
in writing to the Company (but to no others), in such manner as the Company may from time to time prescribe, all Intellectual Property,
whether patentable or not, developed during the Term of employment related to the Company. All such Intellectual Property shall
be the sole and exclusive property of the Company;


 


(ii) To assign and
convey to the Company, upon request, the complete worldwide right, title and interest in and to all Intellectual Property conceived
or made by Employee during the Term of employment related to the Company. Upon the request of the Company, Employee shall execute
such further assignments and other instruments as may be necessary or desirable to fully and completely assign all such Intellectual
Property to the Company and to assist the Company in applying for, obtaining and enforcing patents or copyrights or other rights
in the United States and in any other jurisdiction with respect to any such Intellectual Property;


 


(iii) To promptly deliver
to the Company any and all written records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings and any other form as may be specified by
the Company) documenting the concepts and/or actual reduction to practice of any such Intellectual Property developed during the
Term of employment related to the Company. Such written records shall at all times be and remain the sole property of the Company;


 


(iv) Employee shall
not be entitled to any payments or awards by reason of any patent application made by the Company or the granting of any patent
thereon and, in the event the Company is required by its contracts with its customers, including the United States Government,
to transfer rights to certain Intellectual Property to said customers, Employee also shall not be entitled to any payments or awards
by reason of any patent application made by any of said customers, or the granting of any patent thereon;


 






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(v) During the Employee’s
employment with the Company and thereafter, and subject to the Company’s agreement to compensate Employee for all reasonable
expenses in this regard, Employee shall do all lawful acts, including the execution of papers and giving of testimony that may
be necessary or helpful, in obtaining, sustaining, reissuing and renewing United States patents and foreign jurisdiction patents
on all such Intellectual Property and/or for perfecting and maintaining the title of the Company thereto; and to otherwise cooperate
with the Company in any controversy or legal proceedings relating to such Intellectual Property or to patent applications or patents
based thereon;


 


(vi) Insofar as reports,
papers and technical information created by Employee and/or the Company contain unique, proprietary, non-public, and/or copyrightable
material, the Employee agrees that the Company shall have the sole and exclusive right to disclose, publish, reproduce, distribute
and circulate said material, without cost or liability; and Employee hereby grants all rights of Employee therein to the Company
and Employee further releases the Company, its affiliates and its customers from any and all liability for disclosing, publishing,
reproducing, distributing and/or circulating any such materials; and


 


(vii) All information
and/or materials related to the Company and/or its business as created, in whole or in part, by the Employee during the course
of Employee’s employment with the Company and that relate to the Company shall be solely owned by the Company as “Works
Made for Hire”, as defined by the United States Copyright Act. To the extent any such works are not, by operation of law,
“works made for hire”, then Employee hereby assigns to the Company the sole and exclusive ownership of any and all
rights of copyright in such works, including, without limitation, all Intellectual Property developed during the Term of employment
related to the Company, and the Company shall have the sole right to obtain and hold in its own name all copyrights, copyright
registrations and similar protections that may be available in such materials, works and Intellectual Property.


 


6.3          Enforcement
and Remedies.


 


a.       Reasonableness
of Restrictions. Employee has carefully read and considered the provisions of this Section 6 and, having done so, agrees that
the restrictions set forth in such provisions (including, but not limited to, the time period of the restrictions) are fair and
reasonable and are reasonably required for the protection of the interests of the Company, its shareholders, directors, officers,
and employees.


 


b.       Severability
and Reformation. In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any portions of this Section 6 hereof shall be held to be
invalid or unenforceable, the remaining portions thereof shall nevertheless continue to be valid and enforceable as though the
invalid or unenforceable portions had not been included therein. In the event that any provision of this Section 6 shall be declared
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid due to overly broad, the parties do hereby authorize the court to reform the
offending provision so as to make it enforceable.


 


c.       Successors.
Employee specifically acknowledges and agrees that these covenants contained in this Section 6 shall be enforceable by any successor
to the Company.


 


d.       Extension
of Term of Covenant In Event of Breach. In the event Employee breaches any of the restrictions set forth in Section 6.2, then,
in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled, the duration of the restrictions shall be extended automatically
to one year from the latest date on which Employee shall have ceased to violate the covenants.


 






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e.       Additional
Remedies. In the event that Employee breaches any of the covenants contained herein, the Company shall be entitled to its remedies
at law and in equity, including but not limited to compensatory and punitive damages, and payment by Employee of the reasonable
attorneys’ fees, court costs, and other expenses incurred by the Company in enforcing the terms of this Agreement. The parties
also recognize that any breach of the covenants contained herein may result in irreparable damage and injury to Company which will
not be adequately compensable in monetary damages, and that in addition to any remedy that Company may have at law, the Company
may seek such preliminary or permanent injunction or decree as may be necessary to protect Company against, or on account of, any
breach of the provisions contained herein. In addition, Employee covenants and agrees that, if Employee violates any of the covenants
under Section 6.2 above, the Company shall be entitled to an accounting and repayment of all profits, compensation, commission,
remuneration or benefits which Employee, directly or indirectly, has realized and/or may realize from the transactions that give
rise to such violation(s).


 


7.          General
Provisions


 


7.1       Notices.
All notices and other communications required or permitted by this Agreement to be delivered by the Company or Employee to the
other party shall be delivered in writing, either personally, by a national overnight delivery service (such as FedEx or UPS) or
by certified or express mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, respectively, in each case being to the attention of the
Chief Executive Officer or President at the headquarters of the Company, or to the address of record of the Employee on file at
the Company. If notice is sent by overnight delivery service, it shall be deemed given and effective on the next business day after
it was deposited with a national overnight delivery service. If notice is sent by certified mail, it shall be deemed given and
effective on the third day after it was deposited in the mail.


 


7.2       Amendments:
Entire Agreement. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a writing executed by all of the parties hereto.
This Agreement, including any addenda hereto, constitutes the entire agreement between Employee and the Company relating in any
way to the employment of Employee by the Company, and supersedes all prior discussions, understandings and employment agreements
among Employee, Company and Company’s Affiliates with respect thereto.


 


7.3       Tax
Matters. All payments provided pursuant to this agreement are subject to reduction for applicable withholding and payroll taxes.
To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Agreement shall comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue
Code (the “Code”) and the Treasury regulations relating thereto, or with an exemption to Section 409A of the Code,
and payments, rights and benefits only may be made, satisfied or provided hereunder upon an event and in a manner permitted by
Code Section 409A. This Agreement shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with these intentions,
and to the extent that any regulations or other guidance issued under Code Section 409A would result in the Employee being subject
to payment of additional income taxes or interest under Code Section 409A, then the parties agree, to the extent possible, to amend
this Agreement to maintain to the maximum extent possible the original intent of the Agreement while avoiding the application of
such taxes or interest.


 






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7.4       Successors
and Assigns. This Agreement is personal to Employee and shall not be assignable by Employee. The Company may assign its rights
hereunder to (a) any corporation resulting from any merger, consolidation or other reorganization to which the Company is a party
or (b) any corporation, partnership, association or other person to which the Company may transfer all or substantially all of
the assets and business of the Company existing at such time. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding
upon and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.


 


7.5       Severability:
Provisions Subject to Applicable Law. All provisions of this Agreement shall be applicable only to the extent that they do
not violate any applicable law, and are intended to be limited to the extent necessary so that they will not render this Agreement
invalid, illegal or unenforceable under any applicable law. If any provision of this Agreement or any application thereof shall
be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of other provisions of this Agreement
or of any other application of such provision shall in no way be affected thereby.


 


7.6       Waiver
of Rights. No waiver by the Company or Employee of a right or remedy hereunder shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other
right or remedy or of any subsequent right or remedy of the same kind.


 


7.7       Definitions,
Headings, and Number. A term defined in any part of this Agreement shall have the defined meaning wherever such term is used
herein. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any manner the meaning
or interpretation of this Employment Agreement. In construing this Agreement, feminine or neuter pronouns shall be substituted
for those masculine in form, and vice versa, and plural terms shall be substituted for singular and singular for plural,
in any place where the context so requires.


 


7.8       Governing
Law. This Agreement and the parties' performance hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted under the laws of the State
of New York. Employee agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, County of Erie, and that venue
for any action arising out of this Agreement or the parties' performance hereunder shall be in a court of competent jurisdiction
located in and serving the State of New York, County of Erie.


 


7.9.       Attorneys’
Fees. In the event of a dispute arising out of the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall
be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.


 


 



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7.10       Construction
and Interpretation. This Agreement has been discussed and negotiated by, all parties hereto and their counsel and shall be
given a fair and reasonable interpretation in accordance with the terms hereof, without consideration or weight being given to
its having been drafted by any party hereto or its counsel.


 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the Company and the Employee have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.


 


 





	EMPLOYEE:	 	22nd Century Group, Inc.	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	By:	 	 
	James E. Swauger	 	Henry Sicignano, III	 
	 	 	President and Chief Executive Officer	 







 


 


 




    	 	Page 13 of 16	 



     


    

 


Addendum
A to 


Employment
agreement of JAMES E. SWAUGER


 


This Addendum A is
dated as of October 31, 2017 (the “Addendum”), to the Employment Agreement between 22nd Century Group, Inc., (“Company”)
and James E. Swauger (“Employee”), dated as of October 31, 2017 (the “Agreement). This Addendum shall be effective
on October 31, 2017 if Employee commences full-time work with the Company on or prior to that date.


 


		A.	Employee’s title for purposes of the Agreement shall be Senior Vice President of Science
and Regulatory Affairs. Employee shall commence his employment with the Company on October 31, 2017. In this role, Employee shall
report to the President, will have primary hiring and retention authority with respect to all personnel under his management, will
have primary decision-making authority with respect to all business issues under his responsibility, and will have direct involvement
with -- and responsibility for -- all budgetary issues in the Company’s Science and Regulatory Affairs business units.



 


		B.	Unless earlier terminated as provided in the Agreement, the term of the Agreement is for an initial
period of three (3) years, and thereafter the Agreement shall renew on an annual basis unless earlier terminated by the Company
or the Employee as provided in the Agreement.



 


		C.	Effective as of the date of this Addendum, Employee’s Base Salary for purposes of the Agreement
shall be equivalent to $250,000 per year (paid bi-weekly at a gross rate of $9,615.38 per pay period prior to required deductions
and withholdings) for the period immediately following the effective date of this Addendum. Thereafter, the Base Salary of Employee
may be increased, from time to time, in an amount as determined by the Company.



 


		D.	Pursuant to the Agreement, Employee shall be eligible for additional compensation and benefits
as follows: (i) cash bonuses, from time to time, in an amount as determined by the Company, and (ii) participation in the Company’s
2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan and/or any similar stock equity plan that the Company may establish after the date hereof. Generally,
both annual cash bonuses and equity incentive plan grants are awarded to employees in the first quarter of the calendar year. As
this the date of this Agreement is in the fourth quarter of 2017, Employee will be eligible to receive a cash bonus and an equity
incentive plan grant in the first quarter of 2019 and at future times as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors.



 


		E.	As a one-time inducement to accept the offer of employment from the Company, the Employee will
receive a grant of the following stock options after Employee executes the Employment Agreement and this Addendum:



 


		(i)	a stock option to purchase Nine Hundred Thousand (900,000) privately issued shares of the Company’s
common stock (the “Time Vesting Shares”) at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common
stock on the NYSE American on October 31, 2017, with such stock option grant being subject to Employee’s continued employment
with the Company that will vest as follows: (i) Three Hundred Thousand (300,000) of the Time Vesting Shares will be exercisable
on and after November 1, 2018, (ii) an additional Three Hundred Thousand (300,000) of the Time Vesting Shares will be exercisable
on and after November 1, 2019 and (iii) the final Three Hundred Thousand (300,000) of the Time Vesting Shares will be exercisable
on and after November 1, 2020.



 






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		(ii)	a stock option to purchase Three Hundred Thousand (300,000) privately issued shares of the Company’s
common stock (the “Performance Vesting Shares”) at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s
common stock on the NYSE American on October 31, 2017, with (i) One Hundred Thousand (100,000) of the Performance Vesting Shares
vesting and becoming fully exercisable if and when Employee is successful in submitting a complete Modified Risk Tobacco Product
(MRTP) application to the US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products for 22nd Century’s Very Low
Nicotine MRTP candidate on or before March 31, 2019, (ii) One Hundred Thousand (100,000) of the Performance Vesting Shares vesting
and becoming fully exercisable if and when the submitted MRTP application is submitted by FDA CTP to the FDA CTP TPSAC for review,
and (iii) with the remaining One Hundred Thousand (100,000) of the Performance Vesting Shares vesting and becoming fully exercisable
when and if Employee is successful in securing a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products on or before December 31, 2020 or before the termination of Employee’s
employment, whichever is earlier (provided that the date December 31, 2020 shall be modified in a corresponding fashion by any
decision to extend the required submission date of the MRTP to the FDA).



 


		(iii)	However, Employee’s outstanding and unvested options
for Time Vesting Shares and Performance Vesting Shares will automatically vest in accordance with the provisions set forth in
Article 4 of the Agreement.



 


		F.	Employee shall not be required to relocate his personal residence under the Agreement at any time
throughout the Term of Employment without his consent, which can be withheld by Employee in his sole discretion. However, Employee’s
primary place of business will be the Company’s Western New York headquarters and Employee will be required to be physically
present in the Company’s Western New York headquarters office not fewer than ten (10) days in each month throughout the Term
of the Agreement, excluding business travel days and vacation days. As a further inducement to accept the offer of employment from
the Company, to accommodate Employee’s desire to maintain his residences outside of New York State, the Company will rent
one-bedroom apartment at Coventry Green Apartments (4045 Coventry Green Circle, Clarence, NY 14221) and make that apartment available
exclusively to Employee for the duration of the Term of the Agreement. The Company will also reimburse Employee for the cost of
a mid-sized rental car (or provide Employee with the use of a Company vehicle) for the time Employee spends in Buffalo throughout
the Term of the Agreement. Employee will, however, be responsible for the cost of travel to and from Buffalo and Employee’s
out-of-state residence or other personal location. . The Company will reimburse Employee for the expense of all pre-approved Company
business travel.



 


		G.	As of the date of this Addendum, the Company pays 100% of Employee’s premiums for BlueCross
BlueShield GOLD PPO 7100 Insurance (single coverage). It is understood, however, that Employee will not require Company health
insurance in the year 2017 or the year 2018. Therefore, Employee will be eligible in Q1 2019, if he so desires, to receive health
insurance (single coverage), and dental insurance (single coverage) benefits as will be provided to similarly situated executives
of the Company.



 






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		H.	Employee may defer a percentage (up to the maximum permitted by law; $18,000 currently) of Employee’s
pre-tax salary to the Company’s 401(k) plan. As of the date of this Addendum, the Company makes per pay period Safe Harbor
non-elective contributions to each participant’s individual account in an amount equal to 3% of the participant’s gross
pay for the period, regardless of whether or not the Employee made elective deferrals to the plan. Employee must designate how
he would like his 401(k) account invested. Employee will be eligible for this plan at the 6-month anniversary of his start date
(i.e. if Employee begins employment on October 31, 2017, then Employee will be eligible to enroll in the Company’s
401(k) plan on May 1, 2018).



 


		I.	In addition to the Company’s six paid national holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day), Employee will be eligible for three weeks (15 business days)
paid vacation time in addition to five sick/personal days. (However, since the commencement date of Employee’s employment
with the Company is on October 31, 2017, then for the remainder of the calendar year of 2017 Employee will be eligible for three
(3) business days paid vacation in addition to two (2) sick/personal day).



 


 





	EMPLOYEE:	 	22nd Century Group, Inc.	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	By:	 	 
	James E. Swauger	 	Henry Sicignano, III	 
	 	 	President and Chief Executive Officer	 


 


 









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