Gio,
I must disagree with your statement that 2014 was a terrible year for XXII. While "XXII the stock" has been a disappointment to some (unless you are taking advantage of the low SP and adding to your position), I believe that "XXII the business" has had a very successful year. Just to name a few of their accomplishments, in the last 12 months XXII has acquired a 61,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Mocksville North Carolina, has become a participating member of the MSA, has reached an agreement with Smoker Friendly to sell RedSun cigarettes and manufacture the SF private label brand, and has contracted with Europe to manufacture and/or sell tobacco in several countries. So, while one may argue that "XXII the stock" has been adversely affected by delays, management issues, etc., I believe that "XXII the business" is in a much stronger position than it was back in March when the stock was trading at $6.00+.
I also believe that the current XXII management team has come a long way and learned a great deal over the past year. They will be more cautious with their predictions, especially with events that they don't have complete control over, and they will be more forthcoming with information that relates to shareholders.
That being said, I would be very surprised if XXII did not put out a press release before the end of the year. I suspect that those of you waiting for a "China Deal" to be announced will be disappointed. Henry made it very clear in the November CC that while it could happen in the first quarter of 2015, it is more likely to happen in the first half of 2015. What I do expect is an update on the SF deal involving the sale of RedSun and the manufacture of the SF private label brand. I would also expect to hear an update on the progress being made in Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, and the rest of Europe. Finally, I would expect to hear about new employees being hired, both at the Mocksville Plant and possibly at the headquarters in Clarence, New York. I couldn't help but notice a dumpster sitting outside the Clarence HQ for a couple of weeks or so earlier this month. It looked like they were adding office space, perhaps gearing up for telephone operators/order takers or something along those lines.
In closing, while I think that 2015 will be a phenomenal year for XXII, I also think that 2014 was a year to be proud of. The groundwork has been laid, and now it is time for the commercialization phase to begin. I am very confident in the current management team, and believe that they will continue to deliver until the share price reflects the success of the business model. This post is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold XXII stock. It is merely the opinion of one longtime share holder who is satisfied with the way things are progressing. Do your own DD before investing. Happy New Year to all.
AI
