Coca-Cola acquires remainder of sports drink brand BodyArmor for £4.1bn

Coca-Cola is making a multibillion-dollar bet on the sports drink brand BodyArmor as part of a larger push to diversify its offerings.

Coke said it has paid 5.6 billion dollars (£4.1 billion) for the remaining 85% of BodyArmor – it originally bought a 15% stake in 2018.

The firm confirmed that BodyArmor is its largest-ever brand acquisition.

The deal is part of a multiyear effort at Coke to move beyond sugary soft drinks and into other categories such as juices, enhanced waters and sports drinks.

Coke bought the Fairlife milk brand in 2020 and Costa Coffee in 2019.

BodyArmor was founded a decade ago by Lance Collins, the founder of Fuze Beverage, and Mike Repole, who started the Smartwater and Vitaminwater brands.

Coke also bought Fuze and Mr Repole’s company – Energy Brands – in 2007.

Basketball star Kobe Bryant was an early investor in BodyArmor, becoming its third-largest shareholder and a member of its board in 2013.

In a statement, Mr Repole credited Bryant – who died in a 2020 helicopter crash – with the brand’s growth.

Coke announced the acquisition at 8.24am local time on Monday to honour Bryant, who wore the jersey numbers eight and 24 in his NBA career.

Bryant’s estate stands to gain 400 million dollars from the BodyArmor sale, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing anonymous sources.

Coke and BodyArmor would not confirm that amount.

With Coke’s 2018 investment, BodyArmor gained access to the company’s sprawling distribution network and sales skyrocketed.

BodyArmor had the third-highest market share in the US sports drink category in 2020, with 9.3%, according to Euromonitor.

PepsiCo’s Gatorade, the market leader, controlled 68%, while Coke’s Powerade brand was second with 14%.

Atlanta-based Coke said it will manage the BodyArmor brand as a separate business.

It will continue to be based in New York.