Ball offloads Aluminium Cup assets to Ayna.AI, forming joint venture

USA – Ball, a leading provider of sustainable aluminium packaging solutions, has entered a joint venture (JV) with Ayna.AI to accelerate the growth of its Aluminium Cup category.

The newly formed entity, Oasis Venture Holdings, will oversee Ball’s Aluminium Cup operations, including commercial, supply chain, and manufacturing functions.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ayna.AI holds a 51% stake in the JV, while Ball retains the remaining 49%.

The JV’s headquarters will be based at Ball’s Aluminium Cup production facility in Georgia, US.

Ayna.AI CEO Gaurav Batra commented, “The Ball team’s exceptional work, combined with our unique engaged operator model, will drive even greater success for the Aluminium Cup, unlocking new opportunities for growth and innovation.”

As the majority stakeholder, Ayna.AI will focus on expanding the brand’s customer base and market reach.

Meanwhile, Ball will remain actively involved as a minority investor, ensuring continuity and support.

Ball has reassured customers that the transition will not affect existing orders, ensuring supply chain reliability and maintaining high customer service standards.

Ball Growth Ventures senior vice-president and president Jay Billings highlighted the strategic nature of the move, “In 2019, Ball made a strategic decision to expand the company’s offering by adding the Aluminium Cup to our portfolio, allowing Ball to create a new category for aluminium packaging.

“We believe that partnering with Ayna, with its deep expertise and experience in this space, is the natural next step in our transformation as we continue to bring best-in-class innovative products to our customers.”

This joint venture builds on Ball’s history of strategic partnerships, including its former glass business and its Ball Metalpack joint venture.

Ball’s expansion efforts in North America

In a separate development, Ball recently acquired Florida Can Manufacturing, a state-of-the-art aluminium can production facility in Winter Haven, Florida.

This acquisition strengthens Ball’s North & Central American supply network, improving its ability to meet the growing demand for sustainable beverage packaging solutions.

“The addition of Winter Haven aligns with Ball’s strategy to advance operational excellence and simplify sustainability for customers by providing scalable, aluminium packaging,” said Ron Lewis, Ball’s Chief Supply Chain & Operations Officer.

Ball Beverage Packaging North & Central America president Kathleen Pitre added, “By expanding our U.S. can production footprint, we are strengthening our ability to meet customer needs with greater agility and reliability—ensuring they have the packaging solutions they need, where and when they need them.”

With this latest acquisition, Ball continues to invest in infrastructure that supports the circular economy, reinforcing its position as a leader in sustainable beverage packaging.

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