HarbourView Equity Partners has led a $30 million investment in Lion Forge Entertainment, the indie outfit that specializes in kid and family entertainment.
The investment comes as Lion Forge is scaling up its content production activities. The Los Angeles-based company is home to HBO Max/Cartoon Network animated series “Iyanu,” which was recently renewed for a second season. Lion Forge is headed by David Steward II. Steward’s family office and investment firm Polarity joined in the fundraising round. Those two remain the majority owners of Lion Forge.
“We believe that content has the extraordinary power to influence the world,” said Harbourview CEO Sherrese Clarke. “This is a unique moment in the kids and family space and Lion Forge is seizing an opportunity to lean into its ability to tell compelling stories authentically and cultivate global franchises at scale. This synchronizes with our vision of how the next generation of multiplatform media companies can grow – by introducing fresh images, ideas and paradigms that reflect the evolving world in which we live and creating culturally authentic and socially relevant content.”
The investment in Lion Forge furthers Harbourview’s goal of investing in high-end production aimed for audiences who are underrepresented in the vast expanse of media.
“Sherrese is a trailblazing investor, leading a culture-driving company. Her knowledge and track record will be immensely additive as we continue to scale our company and properties,” said Steward. “This is a validating moment for our young company. The synergy between the shrewd investment strategy of HarbourView and the franchise-building blueprint at Lion Forge will enable us collectively to optimize opportunities at the nexus of entertainment, culture and content and grow into a category defining leader from a position of strength.”
HarbourView’s recent deals include an $85 million investment alongside Bpifrance in Animaj, the French AI-powered media company specializing in kids and family entertainment. It also struck a partnership with Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios, Flavor Unit and Jesse Collins Entertainment for a slate of hip-hop biopics starting with the life of Queen Latifah. HarbourView is also an investor in Charles D. King’s Macro content banner and in Mucho Mas Media, producer of the 2024 John Leguizamo starrer “The Long Game.”
Lion Forge’s activities include a first-look deal with Paramount’s Nickelodeon for animated series and features. Among the projects in the works are a Bob Marley & The Family Band series in partnership with the Bob Marley Estate. Lion Forge also has a pact with Penguin Young Readers publishing imprint of Random House, to develop series and features. The company also made a splash with the Oscar-winning 2019 short film “Hair Love.”
HarbourView itself recently closed $500 million in debt financing from private equity giant KKR through a private securitization backed by HarbourView’s considerable music and music publishing assets. Since its launch in 2021, HarbourView has scooped up more than 70 music catalogs that house more than 35,000 songs.
HarbourView’s deal with Lion Forge was facilitated by Participant Capital. Lion Forge is represented by Activist Artists Management.
(Pictured: David Steward II and Sherrese Clarke)