Exponential sample-mean upper-tail rate ($I(a)=a-1-\log a$)

For independent unit-rate exponential random variables, the cumulant-generating function is $-\log (1-\theta )$ for $\theta <1$. Its Legendre transform of a cumulant-generating function is $I(x)=x-1-\log x$ for $x>0$ and infinite otherwise. The Cramér theorem gives the upper-tail logarithmic rate $-I(a)$ for $a>1$, and zero for $0\le a\le 1$. At the mean threshold the infima on both the open and closed upper half-lines are zero; below the mean the strong law of large numbers applies.