Harbourview Equity Partners leads a $30 million investment in Lion Forge Entertainment, an indie outfit specializing in KID and Family Entertainment.
Investment comes as Lion Forge expands its content production activities. The Los Angeles-based company is home to the HBO Max/Cartoon Network Animated series “Iyanu” and has recently been renewed for the second season. Lion Forge is led by David Steward II. Steward’s family offices and investment firm polarity took part in the funding round. These two remain the majority owners of Lion Forge.
“We believe that content has an extraordinary power to impact the world,” said Harbourview CEO Sherrese Clarke. “This is a unique moment in the space of children and families, and Lion Forge is seizing the opportunity to tell the fascinating stories genuinely and lean towards the ability to nurture global franchises on a large scale.
Lion Forge Investment in Forge is Harbourview’s goal to invest in high-end production targeting underrated audiences across the vast and vast range of media.
“Sherese is a pioneering investor and leads a cultural driving company. Her knowledge and track record is extremely addictive as we continue to expand our company and our fortune,” Steward said. “This is a valid moment for our young company. The synergy between Harborview’s wise investment strategies and Lion Forge’s franchise building blueprint allows us to optimize opportunities with entertainment, culture and content connections, and grow from strength positions to categories that define leaders.”
Harbourview’s recent deal includes an investment of $85 million along with Bpifrance from Animaj, a French AI-powered media company specializing in children and family entertainment. It also attacked Will Smith’s partnership with Westbrook Studios, the flavor unit Jesse Collins Entertainment, earning the hip-hop biopic slate that begins with Queen Latifah’s life. Harbourview is also an investor in Mancoma Media, a producer of Charles D. King’s macro content banner and 2024 John Legoisa Mosterer’s Long Game.
Lion Forge activities include a First-look agreement with Paramount’s Nickelodeon for animation series and features. Among the projects in the work is the Bob Marley and Family Band series, collaborating with Bob Marley Estate. Lion Forge also has an agreement with a young reader of Penguin who publishes the Random House engraving to develop the series and features. The company also splashed with the Oscar-winning 2019 short film “Hair Love.”
Harbourview itself recently shut down a $500 million debt loan from private equity giant KKR through private securitization, backed by Harbourview’s considerable music and music publishing assets. Since its release in 2021, Harbourview has scooped up over 70 music catalogs, houseing over 35,000 songs.
Harbourview’s deal with Lion Forge was driven by Participant Capital. Lion Forge is represented by activist artist administrators.
(Photo: David Steward II and Sherze Clark)
