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 |
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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 |
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|
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/s/ John J. Miller |
|
Interim Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
John J. Miller |
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/s/ R. Hugh Kinsman |
|
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
R. Hugh Kinsman |
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/s/ Nora B. Sullivan |
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Director |
Nora B. Sullivan |
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/s/ James A. Mish |
|
Director |
James A. Mish |
|
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/s/ Richard M. Sanders |
|
Director |
Richard M. Sanders |
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/s/ Anthony Johnson |
|
Director |
Anthony Johnson |
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/s/ Lucille S. Salhany |
|
Director |
Lucille S. Salhany |
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/s/ Dr. Michael Koganov |
|
Director |
Dr. Michael Koganov |
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/s/ Andrew Arno |
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Director |
Andrew Arno |
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Exhibit 5.1
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ATTORNEYS AT LAW
ONE INDEPENDENT DRIVE, SUITE 1300
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202-5017
P. O. BOX 240
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32201-0240
904.359.2000 TEL
904.359.8700 FAX
www.foley.com |
August 18, 2023
22nd Century Group, Inc.
500 Seneca Street, Suite 507
Buffalo, New York 14204 |
|
Re: Registration
Statement on Form S-8
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as securities
counsel to 22nd Century Group, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the filing by the Company of a Registration Statement
on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the registration of 233,334
shares (“Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.00001, issuable pursuant to the Amended and Restated 22nd Century Group, Inc.
2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The common stock issuable pursuant to the Plan is referred to herein as the “Shares.”
In connection with this opinion,
we have examined and relied upon such records, documents, certificates and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate
to form the basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth including, but not limited to: (i) the Registration Statement, including the
Prospectus, and the exhibits (including those incorporated by reference) constituting a part of the Registration Statement; (ii) the Company’s
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as amended to date; (iii) the Plan; (iv) certain resolutions of the Board
of Directors of the Company relating to the Plan, the issuance of the Shares under the Plan, and the registration of the Shares; and (v)
such other proceedings, documents and records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to enable us to render this opinion. In all such
examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of signatures on original documents and the conformity to such original documents of all
copies submitted to us as certified, conformed or photographic copies, and as to certificates of public officials, we have assumed the
same to have been properly given and to be accurate. As to matters of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon statements and
representations of representatives of the Company and of public officials.
The opinions expressed herein
are limited in all respects to the federal laws of the United States of America and the applicable provisions of the corporate law of
the State of Nevada, and no opinion is expressed with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction or any effect which such laws may
have on the opinions expressed herein. This opinion is limited to the matters stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may
be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein.
Based upon and subject to
the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares are duly authorized and upon the issuance of the Shares as provided in the Plan,
the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the inclusion
of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we come within the category
of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules or regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in
this Registration Statement (No. 333- ____) on Form S-8 of 22nd Century Group, Inc. of our report, dated March 9, 2023, appearing in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of 22nd Century Group, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 9, 2023.
/s/ FREED MAXICK CPAs, P.C |
|
Buffalo, NY
August 18, 2023
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
We consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed
by22nd Century Group, Inc. of our report dated July 19, 2022 relating to the combined consolidated financial statements of GVB Biopharma
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
Armanino LLP
/s/ Armanino LLP
Woodland Hills, California
August 18, 2023
EXHIBIT 107
Calculation of Filing
Fee Tables
Form S-8
(Form Type)
22nd Century Group,
Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant
as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1: Newly Registered
Securities
Security
Type |
|
Security
Class Title |
|
Fee
Calculation
Rule |
|
Amount
Registered(1) |
|
Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Unit |
|
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price |
|
Fee Rate |
|
Amount of
Registration
Fee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity |
|
Common Stock, $0.00001 par value per share |
|
Other(2) |
|
233,334(3) |
|
$2.07(2) |
|
$483,001 |
|
$110.20
per
$1,000,000 |
|
$54 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Offering Amounts |
|
|
|
$483,001 |
|
|
|
$54 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Fee Offsets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Net Fee Due |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$54 |
(1) |
Pursuant to Rule 416 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) shall also cover any additional shares of 22nd Century Group, Inc.’s (the “Registrant”) common stock, par value of $0.00001 per share (“Common Stock”) that become issuable under the Registrant’s Amended and Restated 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”), by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, split-up, reorganization, consolidation or other similar transaction effected without the Registrant’s receipt of consideration, which results in an increase in the number of shares of outstanding Common Stock. |
(2) |
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based upon the average of the high and low prices of Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on August 16, 2023. |
(3) |
Represents 233,334 additional shares of Common Stock that were authorized for issuance under the Plan. |
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