Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has advised Japan Tobacco International (JTI) on its acquisition of Logic Technology Development LLC, one of the leading e-cigarette brands in the United States.

Founded in 2010, Logic sells a full range of high quality rechargeable, ready-to-use and disposable e-cigarettes. The transaction will be funded by the JT Group’s existing cash and loan facilities, with an expected minor effect on the Group’s consolidated performance for the fiscal year 2015. JT expects to complete the acquisition in the third quarter of the fiscal year 2015 following regulatory clearance. The executive management team of Logic will remain with the JT Group post-acquisition in order to benefit from their knowledge and experience of the US e-cigarette market.

The Freshfields deal team was led by partner and US corporate group head Matthew Herman, and senior corporate associates Paul Humphreys and Bryan Brooks, with support from corporate associates Mia White, Carlu Franceschini and Vinita Sithapathy. Antitrust advice was provided by partners Onno Brouwer and Bruce McCulloch, and associates Meredith Mommers, Frouke Heringa and Alvaro Pliego Selie. Tax partner, Claude Stansbury and Tax associate David Mitchell advised on tax matters, and EPB partner Howard Klein advised on employee benefits.

Matthew Herman commented, “This is an exciting transaction for JTI, as they become a leader in the US e-cigarette market with the acquisition of Logic, one of the top 3 leading brands in the US. Our ability to act for JTI in this deal, with inputs across our practices areas and around the world, represents the hallmark of our client service mission – to provide value-added advice to leading global corporations in their most important transactions."