Coca-Cola will acquire a minority stake in BodyArmor, a company backed by retired basketball superstar Kobe Bryant, in an effort to battle Gatorade for the top spot in the sports drink market, the company announced on Tuesday.

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Under the agreement, BodyArmor will have the opportunity to gain access to Coca-Cola’s bottling system, with the potential for global expansion, the brand known for its soda said.

The investment will be part of the Coca-Cola North America Venturing and Emerging Brands investment portfolio and BodyAmor will still operate as an independent company with its co-founder, Mike Repole, and management team continuing to lead the business. Through the transaction, Coca-Cola will become the second-largest shareholder behind Repole. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“We’re challenging the status quo and bringing innovative, boundary-less thinking to our strategic relationships to ensure we are offering the products consumers want,” Coca-Cola North America President Jim Dinkins said in a statement.

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