(Editor's note: The original news release distributed contained errors that were later corrected, and we have edited our original story to reflect those changes.)

Axum Capital Partners, a private-equity firm focused on health and wellness-oriented food and beverage brands and operators and co-founded by former NFL player Muhsin Muhammad, has agreed to acquire a controlling interest in Barcode Performance Water.

Barcode is a plant-based, better-for-you performance and hydration drink brand with strong connections to the NBA, having been developed over several years by a former NBA director of performance and co-founded by another NBA player, Kyle Kuzma.

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, and it represents a significant milestone for the Barcode business, which has garnered plenty of celebrity advocates from Halle Berry to Kelly Rowland, Derrick Rose, Chelsea Gray and Carmelo Anthony, among others, the release noted. Current NBA star Victor Wembanyana has been featured in the brand's current marketing campaigns.

Muhammad chimed in on the brand’s potential opportunity in the marketplace, saying, “With the global health and wellness food and beverage market expected to exceed $2 trillion by 2033, Axum is reinforcing its commitment to backing category-defining health and wellness brands.”