UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

April 3, 2019

 

 

22nd Century Group, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

Nevada 001-36338 98-0468420
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     

8560 Main Street, Suite 4, Williamsville, New York

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

14221

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (716) 270-1523

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). 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 pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.     ¨

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On April 3, 2019, 22nd Century Group, Inc. (the "Company") entered into a Framework Collaborative Research Agreement (the “Agreement”) with KeyGene N.V. (“KeyGene”) under which KeyGene has agreed to work exclusively with the Company with respect to the Cannabis Sativa L. plant and all uses thereof (the “Field”) for an initial term of five (5) years and an option for an additional two (2) years in consideration of the Company paying KeyGene an aggregate of Six Million United States Dollars ($6,000,000) over the initial term of the Agreement, with a portion of such amount being contingent on KeyGene achieving certain milestone deliverables for the Company. The Company will exclusively own all results and all intellectual property relating to the results from this collaboration with KeyGene (“Results”). The Company will pay royalties in varying amounts to KeyGene relating to the Company’s commercialization in the Field of certain Results. The Company has granted KeyGene a license to commercialize the Results outside of the Field and KeyGene will pay royalties in varying amounts to the Company relating to KeyGene’s commercialization outside of the Field of the Results. The Agreement also includes customary termination provisions for both KeyGene and the Company as well as representations, warranties, and covenants by the parties that are customary for a transaction of this nature.

 

The foregoing description of the Agreement is summary in nature and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete terms of the Agreement, a copy of which will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s next Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Item 7.01.Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On April 9, 2019, the Company issued a press release announcing the matter described above. The Company is furnishing a copy of such press release as Exhibit 99.1 hereto, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01(d):Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit 99.1 Press Release, dated April 9, 2019.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

  22nd Century Group, Inc.
   
   
Date: April 9, 2019 By:  /s/ Thomas L. James
    Thomas L. James, Esq.
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary