BUSINESSWOMAN AND GLOBAL SUPERSTAR ACQUIRES OWNERSHIP STAKE AND TAKES ON LEADERSHIP ROLE AS PART OF $20 MILLION GROUP INVESTMENT IN ONE OF SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT’S FASTEST-GROWING FRANCHISES
Kate Del Castillo (second from right) with (from left to right) Alberto Del Rio, Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren and Combate Americas President Jackie Hernandez at a press conference in Los Angeles today, Thursday, April 4, to announce Del Castillo’s acquisition of an equity stake in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise. Photo credit: Scott Hirano/Combate Americas, LLC.
FIRST BIG INITIATIVE WILL BE ‘REINAS DEL COMBATE’
THE FIRST ALL-WOMEN’S LINEUP IN HISTORY
TO AIR ON BROADCAST TELEVISION ON FRIDAY, APRIL 26 FROM LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK – April 04, 2019 – Kate Del Castillo, and premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports entertainment franchise, Combate Americas, announced today a landmark deal that redefines the world of combat sports. Del Castillo has acquired an equity stake in the company and is now an owner and significant shareholder of Combate Americas.
Her investment comes as part of a $20 million equity infusion from a powerhouse group of investors that also includes finance and sports industry leader Joe Plumeri, Ambassador Cliff Sobel and Irving Place Capital CEO John Howard.
Del Castillo will chair the advisory board, continue the company’s commitment to female empowerment and take on an active leadership role in growing the global MMA sports entertainment brand.
“Kate embodies the fierceness, tenacity and passion that defines the Combate Americas brand and its fighters.” says Campbell McLaren, CEO and Founder of Combate Americas. “Kate is now an equity partner and will take on a leadership role in the company and chairs our advisory board, joining our other prestigious investors including Chairman Joe Plumeri, Ambassador Cliff Sobel and John Howard,” he added.
Del Castillo said she was most drawn to Combate Americas’ embracement and development of Hispanic athletes, the tremendous opportunities it affords female fighters, its global media platform and its potential for the franchise to become the number two sport for Hispanic sports fans worldwide, after soccer.
“I am thrilled to join Campbell and the talented leadership team at Combate and will be relentless in helping Combate Americas reach its full potential as the second most popular sport.”
Del Castillo’s most immediate point of focus as an owner will be the upcoming ‘Combate de Reinas’ live television event at Galen Center in Los Angeles on Friday, April 26.
A watershed moment, the event will mark the first time in history that a combat sports event will feature an all-women’s lineup on broadcast television.
“’Combate del Reinas’ is a significant feat for women in sports,” said Del Castillo, “and is a clear testimony to the Company’s commitment to female empowerment which I am excited to champion!”
Del Castillo was represented in the deal with Combate Americas by Walter Mosley of Mosley and Associates, while Combate Americas was represented by attorneys Andrew Nightingale and Krista Whitaker of Proskauer Rose, LLP.