Authentic Brands Group has taken a majority stake in October’s Very Own, better known as OVO, in a deal that could mark a significant new chapter for Drake’s fashion business. The global brand management company now controls 51 percent of OVO’s intellectual property. At the same time, the Toronto-founded label will retain its creative identity and connection to the city where it began.
The agreement also brings Vince Holding Corp. into the business as OVO’s core global apparel and retail licensee. Drake will retain a 44 percent stake, while Vince Holding will hold the remaining 5 percent. Beyond the ownership structure, the partnership is designed to push OVO further into the U.S. market, expand its retail presence, and introduce the brand to major wholesale accounts beginning in 2027.
Drake Retains a Significant Stake as OVO Reshapes Its Global Structure
Authentic Brands Group has acquired a majority stake in Drake‘s lifestyle brand October’s Very Own, better known as OVO. https://t.co/VtjlW7hlX8
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 28, 2026
Founded in 2008 by Aubrey “Drake” Graham, Oliver El-Khatib, and Noah “40” Shebib, OVO has grown from a Toronto-based creative project into an internationally recognized lifestyle label. Its identity has long been closely tied to Drake, whose influence helped turn the brand’s owl logo and signature aesthetic into recognizable symbols within music and streetwear culture.
The new ownership arrangement does not change that creative foundation. OVO’s creative and design teams will remain in Toronto, keeping the brand’s core operations connected to its Canadian roots.
Authentic Brands Group’s majority position instead places greater emphasis on the business side of the label. Vince Holding Corp. will oversee global production, merchandising, logistics, and other operational functions. The company will also become responsible for OVO’s retail footprint under the new partnership.
OVO currently operates 12 standalone stores across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. That network provides the foundation for the next stage of the brand’s expansion.
Drake’s 44 percent stake also leaves him with a substantial financial and strategic interest in the label he helped build. While Authentic Brands Group now holds the majority position, the deal preserves a significant connection between the artist and OVO.
OVO Is Preparing for a Bigger U.S. Retail Push
Vince Holding Corp. has acquired the operating business of October’s Very Own (OVO), marking its first expansion beyond Vince as it builds a broader multi-brand retail platform.
Founded by Aubrey “Drake” Graham, Oliver El-Khatib and Noah “40” Shebib, OVO will retain its creative… pic.twitter.com/FqGy8TNjbr
— Traded: Venture Capital (@TradedVC) August 27, 2026
The most immediate focus appears to be expansion. Vince Holding plans to open three additional OVO stores in the United States in 2027, giving the brand a larger physical presence in one of the world’s biggest fashion markets.
Wholesale will follow. Starting in 2027, OVO is expected to enter major wholesale accounts, moving beyond its existing direct retail model and putting the brand in front of a wider pool of consumers.
That shift could be particularly important for OVO as the streetwear market continues to mature. The brand has already established cultural credibility through its relationship with Drake and its long-standing position at the intersection of music, fashion, and sports.
The challenge now is scaling that appeal without losing what made OVO distinctive in the first place.
Authentic Brands Group has built its business around acquiring and managing stakes in recognizable consumer brands, often using licensing and retail partnerships to increase its reach. Vince Holding, meanwhile, brings experience in apparel production and retail operations.
For OVO, the combination creates a structure that separates creative direction from the machinery required to grow internationally.
The result could be a significantly larger OVO footprint over the next several years. Yet with Drake maintaining 44 percent ownership and the creative team staying in Toronto, the brand’s next chapter is still closely connected to the people and place that shaped it.
Featured image: OVO
