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Related Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions Related Party Transactions
Ignite, LLC

In April 2004, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into agreements (as amended) with Ignite, LLC (“Ignite”) for distribution rights to certain films. Michael Burns, the Vice Chair and a director of the Company, owns a 65.45% interest in Ignite, and Hardwick Simmons, a director of the Company, owns a 24.24% interest in Ignite. During the year ended March 31, 2024, $0.3 million was paid to Ignite under these agreements (2023 - $0.4 million).

Business Combination
See Note 2 and Note 21 for a description of the Business Combination Agreement with Screaming Eagle. Harry E. Sloan, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, is also the Chairman of Screaming Eagle, and owns, directly or indirectly, a material interest in Eagle Equity Partners V, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, the Screaming Eagle sponsor. Mr. Sloan recused himself from the decisions to approve the Business Combination made by both the board of directors of Screaming Eagle and Lionsgate.

Voting and Standstill Agreement

As previously disclosed, on November 10, 2015, the Company entered into a voting and standstill agreement with Liberty Global plc (“Liberty Global”), Discovery Communications, Inc. (“Discovery”), Liberty Global Incorporated Limited, Discovery Lightning Investments Ltd. (“Discovery Lightning”), Dr. John C. Malone and affiliates of MHR Fund Management, LLC (“MHR Fund Management”) (as amended from time to time, the “Voting and Standstill Agreement”). In connection with the business combination described in Note 2 and Note 21, on the closing date, the Company, Lionsgate Studios, MHR Fund Management, Liberty Global Ventures Limited (f/k/a Liberty Global Incorporated Limited), Liberty Global Ventures Limited (f/k/a Liberty Global Incorporated Limited), Discovery Lightning Investments Ltd., Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. and funds affiliated with MHR Fund Management entered into an amendment to the Voting and Standstill Agreement (the “Amendment to the Voting and Standstill Agreement”) to add Lionsgate Studios as a party thereto such that, among other items, certain provisions of the Voting and Standstill Agreement apply to Lionsgate Studios as if it were the Company. Additionally, under the Amendment to the Voting and Standstill Agreement, the Company agreed to vote its common shares in favor of designees of Liberty Global, Discovery and MHR Fund Management to the board of directors of Lionsgate Studios.
Transactions with Equity Method Investees
Equity Method Investees. In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in related party transactions with equity method investees. These related party transactions primarily relate to the licensing and distribution of the Company's films and television programs and the lease of a studio facility owned by a former equity-method investee, for which the impact on the Company's consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of operations is as follows (see Note 1 and Note 5):
March 31,
20242023
(Amounts in millions)
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Accounts receivable$11.1 $14.8 
Investment in films and television programs(1)
2.2 7.9 
Other assets, noncurrent(1)
— 45.8 
Total due from related parties$13.3 $68.5 
Accounts payable(2)
$16.8 $16.8 
Other accrued liabilities(1)
— 6.7 
Participations and residuals, current5.5 7.5 
Participations and residuals, noncurrent1.3 2.0 
Deferred revenue, current0.1 — 
Other liabilities(1)
— 41.4 
Total due to related parties$23.7 $74.4 
Year Ended March 31,
202420232022
(Amounts in millions)
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Revenues$4.2 $6.1 $4.1 
Direct operating expense$5.0 $8.3 $6.5 
Distribution and marketing expense$0.8 $0.4 $0.2 
Interest and other income$— $1.7 $3.1 
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(1)As of March 31, 2023, the Company had certain operating leases related to a studio facility owned by an equity-method investee which was sold during the year ended March 31, 2024. Amounts related to these leases as of March 31, 2023 are included in the table above in investment in films and television programs, other assets - noncurrent, other accrued liabilities and other liabilities.
(2)Amounts primarily represent production related advances due to certain of its equity method investees.