22nd Century Group secures $9.5 million settlement for business interruption, advancing its growth in tobacco harm reduction.
Quiver AI Summary
22nd Century Group, Inc., a leader in tobacco harm reduction, has announced that it received $9.5 million from a settlement with its insurer related to business interruption from the Grass Valley incident in November 2022. CEO Larry Firestone remarked that this settlement marks a shift for the company from recovery to a growth phase, providing them with significant cash resources to advance their strategy. The company's focus is on expanding its core business, particularly its VLN products, which are low-nicotine cigarettes designed to help smokers control their nicotine intake. VLN cigarettes are noted for containing 95% less nicotine than traditional cigarettes and are the only low-nicotine combustibles authorized by the FDA. 22nd Century continues to emphasize its commitment to pioneering the tobacco harm reduction movement with proprietary technologies that reduce nicotine in tobacco plants.
Potential Positives
- Receipt of $9.5 million in cash proceeds from a settlement, strengthening the company's financial position.
- This settlement marks a transition for the company from cleanup efforts to a growth phase, indicating potential for future development.
- Continuation of focus on tobacco harm reduction with the expansion of VLN products, aligning with consumer demand and regulatory changes.
- VLN® cigarettes are the only low nicotine combustible products authorized by the FDA, enhancing the company's credibility and market position in the harm reduction movement.
Potential Negatives
- The press release prominently mentions the company's transition from a "clean-up" phase to a "growth phase," which may imply past challenges and a struggle to stabilize operations.
- Although the settlement of $9.5 million is a positive development, it is a direct result of a business interruption due to the Grass Valley incident, suggesting previous operational disruptions that could raise concerns about the company's reliability.
- The emphasis on expanding the VLN® product line and the FDA authorization hints at a significant reliance on regulatory approval, which can be uncertain and affects future growth prospects.
FAQ
What is the recent financial settlement received by 22nd Century Group?
22nd Century Group has received $9.5 million from an insurer for business interruption claims related to the Grass Valley incident.
How does this settlement impact 22nd Century Group's business strategy?
The settlement solidifies the company's transition from clean-up to growth, allowing them to focus on expanding their core business.
What are VLN® products and their significance?
VLN® products are reduced nicotine cigarettes designed to help smokers control their nicotine consumption and meet new tobacco regulations.
Is VLN® the only low nicotine cigarette authorized by the FDA?
Yes, VLN® is the only low nicotine combustible cigarette authorized by the FDA in the United States.
How does 22nd Century Group contribute to tobacco harm reduction?
22nd Century Group pioneers the tobacco harm reduction movement by offering low nicotine products that enable control over nicotine consumption.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$XXII Hedge Fund Activity
We have seen 4 institutional investors add shares of $XXII stock to their portfolio, and 1 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.
Here are some of the largest recent moves:
- ANSON FUNDS MANAGEMENT LP added 25,382 shares (+331.5%) to their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $191,126
- GROUP ONE TRADING LLC added 6 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $45
- BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ added 3 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $22
- COMERICA BANK added 1 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $7
- KIKER WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC removed 1 shares (-100.0%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $7
To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.
Full Release
MOCKSVILLE, N.C., Oct. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22nd Century Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: XXII), the only tobacco products company that has for 27 years led and continues to lead the fight against the harms of smoking driven by nicotine addiction, today announced receipt of $9.5 million in cash proceeds pursuant to its previously announced settlement agreement for all claims with its insurer for business interruption related to the Grass Valley incident that occurred in November 2022.
“This settlement closes another chapter of our past and solidifies our company’s transition from a clean-up to entering a growth phase. We now have a balance sheet with meaningful cash resources that will allow us to execute on our strategy.” said Larry Firestone, Chief Executive Officer of 22nd Century Group. “Our focus is solely on the growth of our core business, which includes further expanding our position in the tobacco harm reduction movement with our VLN products to meet the changing demands of the consumer and the new reality of the tobacco industry.”
22nd Century’s flagship VLN ® and Partner VLN ® reduced nicotine content cigarettes contain 22nd Century’s proprietary VLN ® tobacco grown with 95% less nicotine, a level shown in clinical studies to reduce the rate of smoking. These VLN ® based are the first and only combusted tobacco products to comply with the FDA’s proposed new Tobacco Product Standard for Nicotine Yield of Cigarettes and Certain Other Combusted Tobacco Products .
About 22 nd Century Group, Inc.
22nd Century Group is pioneering the tobacco harm reduction movement by enabling smokers to take control of their nicotine consumption.
Our Technology is Tobacco
Our proprietary non-GMO reduced nicotine tobacco plants were developed using our patented technologies that regulate alkaloid biosynthesis activities resulting in a tobacco plant that contains 95% less nicotine than traditional tobacco plants. Our extensive patent portfolio has been developed to ensure that our high-quality tobacco can be grown commercially at scale. We continue to develop our intellectual property to ensure our ongoing leadership in the tobacco harm reduction movement.
Our Products
We created our flagship product, the VLN ® cigarette using our low nicotine tobacco, to give traditional cigarette smokers an authentic and familiar alternative in the form of a combustible cigarette that helps them take control of their nicotine consumption. VLN ® cigarettes have 95% less nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes and have been proven to allow consumers to greatly reduce their nicotine consumption.
FDA Authorized
Our VLN ® cigarette is the only low nicotine combustible cigarette authorized by the FDA in the United States.
VLN ® is a registered trademark of 22nd Century Limited LLC.
Learn more at xxiicentury.com , on X (formerly Twitter) , on LinkedIn , and on YouTube .
Learn more about VLN ® at tryvln.com .
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to our full year business outlook. Forward-looking statements typically contain terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “consider,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “explore,” “foresee,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “preliminary,” “probable,” “project,” “promising,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding (i) our cost reduction initiatives, (ii) our expectations regarding regulatory enforcement, including our ability to receive an exemption from new regulations, and (iii) our financial and operating performance. Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth in “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 20, 2025 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 13, 2025 and August 14, 2025. All information provided in this release is as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Investor Relations & Media Contact
Matt Kreps
Investor Relations
22nd Century Group
[email protected]
214-597-8200
