Imperial Brands acquired Nerudia, a UK specialist in nicotine based e-liquids and regulatory compliance issues, Reuters said in a report citing an unnamed Imperial spokesman.

Nerudia is a private company founded in 2013 that is partly owned by Contraf-Nicotex-Tobacco (CNT), a German firm said to be the world’s largest provider of pharmaceutical grade nicotine. The acquisition will enhance Imperial’s innovation capabilities in next generation products, the company spokesman told Reuters.