22nd Century Joins Russell Microcap® Index

CLARENCE, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– 22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE MKT:XXII),
a plant biotechnology company that is a leader in tobacco harm
reduction, announced that, effective today, the Company joined the
Russell Microcap^® Index, when FTSE Russell reconstituted its
U.S. and global equity indexes.

Membership in the Russell Microcap Index, which remains in place for one
year, means automatic inclusion in the appropriate growth and value
style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell
indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style
attributes.

“We are pleased to be added to the Russell Microcap Index. Our inclusion
will generate further interest in the Company’s stock among those
investors in the investment community who may be less familiar with 22nd
Century Group,” explained Henry Sicignano, III, President and Chief
Executive Officer of 22nd Century Group.

Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional
investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment
strategies. Approximately $8.4 trillion in assets are benchmarked
against Russell’s US indexes. Russell indexes are part of FTSE Russell,
a leading global index provider.

For more information on the Russell Microcap Index and the Russell
indexes reconstitution, go to the “Russell Reconstitution” section on
the FTSE
Russell website.

About 22nd Century Group, Inc.

22nd Century is a plant biotechnology company focused on genetic
engineering and plant breeding which allows the increase or decrease of
the level of nicotine in tobacco plants and the level of cannabinoids in
cannabis plants. The Company’s primary mission in tobacco is to reduce
the harm caused by smoking. The Company’s primary mission in cannabis is
to develop proprietary hemp/cannabis strains for important new medicines
and agricultural crops. Visit www.xxiicentury.com
and www.botanicalgenetics.com
for more information.

About FTSE Russell

FTSE Russell is a leading global index provider creating and managing a
wide range of indexes, data and analytic solutions to meet client needs
across asset classes, style and strategies. Covering 98% of the
investable market, FTSE Russell indexes offer a true picture of global
markets, combined with the specialist knowledge gained from developing
local benchmarks around the world.

FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by
institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $12.5
trillion is currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. For over 30
years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and
investment banks have chosen FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their
investment performance and create investment funds, ETFs, structured
products and index-based derivatives. FTSE Russell indexes also provide
clients with tools for asset allocation, investment strategy analysis
and risk management.

A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and
management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by
independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is
focused on index innovation and customer partnership applying the
highest industry standards and embracing the IOSCO Principles. FTSE
Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group.

For more information, visit www.ftserussell.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This
press release contains forward-looking information, including all
statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the
intent, belief or current expectations of 22nd Century Group, Inc., its
directors or its officers with respect to the contents of this press
release, including but not limited to our future revenue expectations.
The words “may,” “would,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,”
“believe,” “intend” and similar expressions and variations thereof are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee
future results, levels of activity or performance. You should not place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date that they were made. These cautionary statements should be
considered with any written or oral forward-looking statements that we
may issue in the future. Except as required by applicable law, including
the securities laws of the United States, we do not intend to update any
of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to reflect
actual results, later events or circumstances, or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events. You should carefully review and
consider the various disclosures made by us in our annual report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, filed on March 8,
2017, including the section entitled “Risk Factors,” and our other
reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which
attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may
affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash
flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if
the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary
materially from those expected or projected.

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