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Clarion Capital Partners Partners With Vin Di Bona Productions and Venture 10 Studio Group to Form V10 Entertainment

New York, NY, January 23, 2023– Clarion Capital Partners, LLC (“Clarion”) announced that it has completed an investment in Vin Di Bona Productions and its affiliates (collectively, “VDBP”), the creator and producer of America’s Funniest Home Videos (“AFV”), one of the longest running and most successful television and digital franchises, from its founder, Vin Di Bona. VDBP will become the cornerstone of an exciting, Clarion-backed diversified entertainment company, V10 Entertainment (“V10”), led by John Stevens as CEO and Hans Schiff as President. In connection with the new VDBP partnership, V10 Entertainment acquired Stevens and Schiff’s content production company, Venture 10 Studio Group.

Vin Di Bona will remain CEO and President of VDBP and will continue to infuse the business with his passion, creativity and leadership. For over 30 years, AFV has been a mainstay in family entertainment, consistently delivering relatable and comedic content through a unique foundation of viewer-submitted videos and audience participation. AFV is in its 33rd season, making it one of the longest-running primetime entertainment shows in the history of ABC, and television generally.  

Building on AFV’s insight that unscripted, evergreen content can be elevated through great production, V10 Entertainment aims to position itself as a hub for monetizing unscripted content across a variety of video mediums. The proliferation of digital platforms and audience fragmentation have made it increasingly important for companies to be able to deliver content where it is best suited, whether on streaming services, television networks, video sharing websites, or social media. AFV is a leader in omnichannel distribution, and V10’s leadership team will be focused on expanding the studio through the acquisition and production of similar “must see” content.

“Vin Di Bona is one of the most successful and well-respected television producers of all time,” Stevens stated. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside him and his incredible team.” Schiff added, “There is no greater way to transition from a 25-year career in representation to production than with one of the finest producers in television.”

“As I approach my 55th year as a Producer/Director and Broadcaster, I can think of nothing more invigorating than beginning a bold, new chapter in my career,” states Di Bona. “Innovating new directions in television and media, my lifelong work, will continue as VDBP & V10 create comedy and life-reflective programs for a multitude of content-savvy viewers.”

“We are excited to partner with Vin and his team. VDBP is a legendary production company that has been a leader for decades,” said David Ragins, a Managing Director at Clarion. “We have developed a thematic focus on investing in video content that can be effective in multiple channels including traditional TV, CTV and digital. VDBP is Clarion’s first step in building a new, industry-leading platform.”

VDBP was represented by Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein, Lezcano, Bobb & Dang, and Loeb & Loeb LLP. Clarion was represented by Paul Hastings LLP. Venture 10 was represented by Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, LLP, Salem Partners and White Zuckerman Warsavsky Luna & Hunt.

 

ABOUT Clarion

Clarion Capital Partners is a New York based private equity firm that focuses on making equity investments in lower middle market growth companies. Clarion’s industry focus includes Media, Entertainment & Technology, Financial Services, Business & Healthcare Services, and Consumer & Retail.

Additional information on Clarion can be found at www.clarion-capital.com

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