Ballantyne Brands-owned Mistic e-cigarettes announces partnership with Alliance One International affiliate IOTO E-Liquids America to utilize IOTO's automated machine filling capability to fill all Mistic e-cigarette cartridges in US starting in August

Nevin Barich

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina , April 28, 2014 (press release) – Company Signs Letter of Intent with IOTO E-Liquids America, LLC, Transferring Filling, Assembly of Company’s E-Liquid to Greenville, N.C.

Mistic®, maker of high quality, value-priced electronic cigarettes and vapor products, today announced it plans to utilize IOTO E-Liquids America, LLC’s (an affiliate of Alliance One International, Inc. NYSE: AOI) automated machine filling capability to fill all of its cartridges for the Mistic brand of e-cigarettes in the United States beginning in August.

“With Mistic being one of the major players in the e-cigarette market, they already have demonstrated superior supply chain management capabilities, and with continued great product innovation teamed with experienced management, we are delighted that IOTO-ELA has been selected by Mistic to be a strategic supplier”

Mistic already produces all of its e-liquid in the U.S., including the bottling and filling of its HAUS™ branded e-liquid bottles. This strategic move will further strengthen the world-class supply chain management Mistic already brings to the electronic cigarette marketplace, making Mistic and HAUS the first American e-cigarette brands to be fully assembled and packaged in the U.S. on a national scale.

“This landmark deal will further streamline our production process and make Mistic the standard-bearer in the e-cig industry for world-class quality and supply chain management,” said John Wiesehan Jr., CEO of Mistic. “Our e-liquid is already made in the U.S. for both Haus and Mistic and the relocation of our automated product assembly to the U.S. from China will provide us with a highly skilled workforce, more oversight and increased operational efficiencies, making this a game-changing business decision that’s in line with our long-term strategy.”

Under the terms of the deal, IOTO E-Liquids America, known as “IOTO-ELA,” will fill and assemble Mistic brand cartomizers with the company’s automated cartridge filling machine. Mistic also is developing a new generation of U.S. made e-liquid with IOTO-ELA at its plant in Greenville, N.C. In addition to the automated cartridge filling, IOTO-ELA will utilize its bottling capability to fill bottles of Mistic’s HAUS™ Personal Vaporizer, which is available in five distinct blends -- American Blend, Cool Ice, Washington Red, Java, and Ocean Mist.

“With Mistic being one of the major players in the e-cigarette market, they already have demonstrated superior supply chain management capabilities, and with continued great product innovation teamed with experienced management, we are delighted that IOTO-ELA has been selected by Mistic to be a strategic supplier,” said Pieter Sikkel, president and CEO of Alliance. “IOTO-ELA is proud to be partnering with such a dynamic force in this exciting industry, and is confident in its ability to provide Mistic with additional resources it needs to grow its brands.”

IOTO-ELA’s U.S. manufacturing facility in Greenville will provide high-speed, automatic filling capabilities that are able to adjust to Mistic’s needs as the company grows its product line and distribution reach. Mistic will continue to import batteries, chargers, and other raw materials from China, while product assembly, packaging, and the filling of all e-liquids will be performed in the U.S.

About Mistic

Mistic® electronic cigarettes is a conscious-minded brand of high-quality vapor products, primarily sold through brick-and-mortar retail channels under the direction of its parent company, Ballantyne Brands. The company’s rechargeable and non-rechargeable e-cigarettes are sold in approximately 40,000 retail outlets and wholesalers across the U.S., including Walmart, Dollar General, Kangaroo Express, Circle K, Hess, Family Dollar, Winn Dixie/Bi-Lo and Food Lion, Hackney, McLane Company, Coremark, Nash Finch, Petrey, expanding to 60,000 stores with the introduction of its Haus™ Personal Vaporizer. Mistic continually works to provide customers with a more enjoyable vaping experience at a price below its competitors and much less than that of traditional cigarettes.

For more information on the company, visit www.misticecigs.com, follow on Twitter @MisticEcig, watch on YouTube, or like on Facebook at MisticElectronicCigarettes.

About Alliance One International, Inc.

Alliance One International is a leading independent leaf merchant. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.aointl.com.

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