As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 18, 2023.
File No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
22nd CENTURY GROUP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| Nevada | | 98-0468420 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or
Organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
500 Seneca Street, Suite 507, Buffalo, New York 14204
(Address of Principal Executive Office)( Zip Code)
AMENDED AND RESTATED 22nd CENTURY GROUP, INC. 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full title of the plan)
Peter Ferola, Esq.
Chief Legal Officer
22nd Century Group, Inc.
500 Seneca Street, Suite 507,
Buffalo, New York 14204
(Name and address of agent for service)
(716) 270-1523
(Telephone Number, including area code, for agent for service)
Copy to:
John J. Wolfel, Esq.
Foley & Lardner LLP
One Independent Drive, Suite 1300
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
(904) 359-2000
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ¨ | Accelerated filer ¨ |
| Non-accelerated filer x | Smaller reporting company x |
| | Emerging growth company ¨ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided under Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨
REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E
This Registration Statement relates solely to the registration of additional securities of the same class as other securities for which a Registration Statement on this form relating to an employee benefit plan is effective. Pursuant to Instruction E of Form S-8, this Registration Statement incorporates by reference the contents of the Registration Statements previously filed with respect to the Company’s 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-256616).
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following:
| (a) | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on March 9, 2023 (including the form 10-K/A filed on March 28, 2023); |
| (b) | Our definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 25, 2023; |
| (c) | Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 9, 2023 and August 14, 2023; |
| (d) | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 18, 2022 (including the Form 8-K/A filed on July 20, 2022 and the Form 8-K/A filed on March 10, 2023), March 3, 2023, March 10, 2023, March 31, 2023, April 5, 2023; April 21, 2023; June 21, 2023; July 6, 2023; July 7, 2023; and July 24, 2023; |
| (e) | The description of our common stock contained in or incorporated into our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed August 12, 2021, and any amendment or report updating that description. |
In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold (other than information deemed to have been “furnished” rather than “filed” in accordance with the Commission’s rules), shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the respective date of filing of such documents. Unless expressly incorporated into this Registration Statement, a report (or portion thereof) furnished on Form 8-K prior or subsequent to the date hereof shall not be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 8. Exhibits
| 3.2 | | Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the Commission on January 30, 2014). |
| 3.2.1 | | Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 28, 2015). |
| 4.1 | | Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2022) |
| 5.1 | | Opinion of Foley & Lardner LLP with respect to the legality of the shares being registered (filed herewith). |
| 10.1 | | Amended and Restated 22nd Century Group, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Appendix B to the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Commission on April 25, 2023) |
| 10.2 | | Form of Executive RSU Award Agreement under 22nd Century Group, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 21, 2021). |
| 10.3 | | Form of Director RSU Award Agreement under 22nd Century Group, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 21, 2021). |
| 10.4 | | Form of Option Award Agreement under 22nd Century Group, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 21, 2021). |
| 23.1 | | Consent of Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C. (filed herewith). |
| 23.2 | | Consent of Armanino LLP (filed herewith). |
| 23.3 | | Consent of Foley & Lardner LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). |
| 24.1 | | Power of Attorney (included in signature page hereto). |
| 107 | | Filing Fee Exhibit (filed herewith). |
Documents incorporated by reference to filings made by 22nd Century Group, Inc. under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are under SEC File No. 001-3633
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in Buffalo, New York, on this 18th day of August, 2023.
| | 22ND CENTURY GROUP, INC. |
| | |
| | By: | John J. Miller |
| | | Interim Chief Executive Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints John J. Miller and Peter Ferola, and each of them, as such person’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) and additions to this registration statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and hereby grants to such attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or such person’s substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated as of the 18th day of August, 2023.
| Signature | | Title |
| | | |
| /s/ John J. Miller | | Interim Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
| John J. Miller | | |
| | | |
| /s/ R. Hugh Kinsman | | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| R. Hugh Kinsman | | |
| | | |
| /s/ Nora B. Sullivan | | Director |
| Nora B. Sullivan | | |
| | | |
| /s/ James A. Mish | | Director |
| James A. Mish | | |
| | | |
| /s/ Richard M. Sanders | | Director |
| Richard M. Sanders | | |
| | | |
| /s/ Anthony Johnson | | Director |
| Anthony Johnson | | |
| | | |
| /s/ Lucille S. Salhany | | Director |
| Lucille S. Salhany | | |
| | | |
| /s/ Dr. Michael Koganov | | Director |
| Dr. Michael Koganov | | |
| | | |
| /s/ Andrew Arno | | Director |
| Andrew Arno | | |
