Former Dick Clark Prods. CEO Allen Shapiro, Investor John Howard Launch Celebrands To Build Celeb-Driven Cos; Early Stakes In Aviation Gin, Kardashian Projects
Jill Goldsmith Co-Business EditorEXCLUSIVE: Entertainment industry veteran Allen Shapiro and long-time investor John Howard have launched Celebrands, a company that will create, acquire and grow consumer facing brands with celebrity owners and partners, the duo tells Deadline.They will be growing a business that started earlier with principal investments in three celebrity brands, Ryan Reynolds’ Aviation American Gin, Khloe Kardashian’s clothing line Good American and Kim Kardashian West’s intimate apparel venture, Skims.Celebrands has closed on approximately $90 million in financing with $89 million from investors including Endeavor Group, Saban Capital and Clementine Investments as well as Howard and Shapiro.