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Description of Business, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Separation and Business Combination
Separation and Business Combination

On May 13, 2024, Lionsgate consummated the transactions contemplated by that certain business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), with Screaming Eagle Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SEAC”), SEAC II Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEAC (“New SEAC”), LG Sirius Holdings ULC, a British Columbia unlimited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (“Studio HoldCo”), LG Orion Holdings ULC, a British Columbia unlimited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (“StudioCo”), and other affiliates of SEAC. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement, the Studio Business was combined with SEAC through a series of transactions, including an amalgamation of StudioCo and New SEAC under a Canadian plan of arrangement (the “Business Combination”). In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, New SEAC changed its name to “Lionsgate Studios Corp.” and continues the existing business operations of the Studio Business of Lionsgate. The Company became a separate publicly traded company and its common shares, without par value (“LG Studios Common Shares”), commenced trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “LION” on May 14, 2024.
In connection with and prior to the Business Combination, Lionsgate and StudioCo entered into a separation agreement pursuant to which the assets and liabilities of the Studio Business were transferred to StudioCo such that StudioCo held, directly or indirectly, all of the assets and liabilities of the Studio Business (the “Separation”).
The Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Under this method of accounting, SEAC is treated as the acquired company and the Studio Business is treated as the acquirer for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the financial statements of Lionsgate Studios will represent a continuation of the financial statements of the Studio Business, with the Business Combination treated as the equivalent of the Studio Business issuing LG Studios Common Shares for the historical net assets of SEAC, substantially consisting of cash held in the trust account, accompanied by a recapitalization of the Studio Business equity. The historical net assets were stated at fair value, which approximated historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Business Combination are those of the Studio Business.
The Studio Business has been determined to be the accounting acquirer in the Business Combination because Lionsgate continues to hold a controlling financial interest.
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation
Upon the effective date of the Separation, the Company’s financial statements are presented on a consolidated basis, as Lionsgate completed the contribution of the Studio Business on such date. The unaudited financial statements for all periods presented, including the historical results of the Company prior to the Separation, are now referred to as the “condensed consolidated financial statements”.
For periods prior to the Separation, the Company operated as a segment of Lionsgate and not as a separate entity. The Company’s financial statements prior to the Separation were prepared on a carve-out basis and were derived from Lionsgate’s consolidated financial statements and accounting records and reflect Studio Business’s combined historical financial position, results of operations and cash flows as they were historically managed in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Prior to the Separation, a management approach was applied to determine the carve-out basis of presentation. In using the management approach, considerations over how the business operates were utilized to identify historical operations that should be presented within the carve-out financial statements.
For periods subsequent to the Separation, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Lionsgate Studios and all of its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries.
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S.GAAP for interim financial information and the instructions to quarterly report on Form 10-Q under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected in these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Operating results for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. The balance sheet at March 31, 2024 has been derived from the audited combined financial statements at that date, but does not include all the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read together with the Studio Business’ audited combined financial statements and related notes for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 as contained in Exhibit 99.1 of Amendment No. 2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 15, 2024 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Certain amounts presented in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
All revenues and costs as well as assets and liabilities directly associated with the business activity of the Studio Business were included in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Revenues and costs associated with the Studio Business were specifically identifiable in the accounting records maintained by Lionsgate and primarily represent the revenue and costs used for the determination of segment profit of the Motion Picture and Television Production segments of Lionsgate. In addition, prior to the separation, the Studio Business costs included an allocation of corporate general and administrative expense (inclusive of share-based compensation) which was allocated to the Studio Business as further discussed below. Other costs excluded from the Motion Picture and Television Production segment profit but relating to the Studio Business were generally specifically identifiable as costs of the Studio Business in the accounting records of Lionsgate and were included in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in periods prior to the Separation.
In connection with the Business Combination, on May 9, 2024, Lionsgate and StudioCo entered into a shared services and overhead sharing agreement (the “Shared Services Agreement”) which took effect upon the closing of the Business Combination. The Shared Services Agreement facilitates the allocation to the Company of all corporate general and administrative expenses of Lionsgate, except for an amount of $10.0 million to be allocated annually to the Starz Business of Lionsgate. The $10.0 million allocation of Lionsgate’s corporate general and administrative expenses to the Starz Business pursuant to the Shared Services Agreement is designed to reflect the portion of corporate expenses expended and reflective of the level of effort and costs incurred related to management oversight and services provided for the Starz Business post Separation with consideration of the anticipated separation of the Starz Business.
The corporate general and administrative expenses that are allocated to the Company pursuant to the Shared Services Agreement include salaries and wages for certain executives and other corporate officers related to executive oversight, investor relations costs, costs for the maintenance of corporate facilities, and other common administrative support functions, including corporate accounting, finance and financial reporting, audit and tax costs, corporate and other legal support functions, and certain information technology and human resources. In addition, the Separation Agreement and the Shared Services Agreement provide that officers, employees and directors of the Company will continue to receive awards of equity and equity-based compensation pursuant to the existing plans of Lionsgate. Such awards will be treated as a capital contribution by Lionsgate to the Company, with the associated stock based compensation expense for such awards allocated to the Company, see Note 13.
For periods prior to the Separation, the unaudited condensed combined financial statements of the Studio Business included allocations of corporate general and administrative expenses (inclusive of share-based compensation) from Lionsgate related to the corporate and shared service functions historically provided by Lionsgate. These expenses were allocated to the Company on the basis of direct usage when identifiable, with the remainder allocated on a pro rata basis of consolidated Lionsgate revenue, payroll expense or other measures considered to be a reasonable reflection of the historical utilization levels of these services.
Management believes the assumptions underlying these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, including the assumptions regarding the allocation of general and administrative expenses from Lionsgate to the Studio Business prior to the Separation, are reasonable. See Note 20 for further detail of the allocations included in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
In connection with the Business Combination, the Company entered into certain intercompany note arrangements, which mirrored the terms and amounts outstanding under Lionsgate’s credit facilities as previously reflected in the historical financial statements of the Studio Business prior to the Separation, see Note 7.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates made by management in the preparation of the financial statements relate to ultimate revenue and costs used for the amortization of investment in films and television programs; estimates related to the revenue recognition of sales or usage-based royalties; fair value of equity-based compensation; the allocations of costs to the Company for certain corporate and shared service functions in preparing the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for periods prior to the Separation on a carve-out basis; fair value of assets and liabilities for allocation of the purchase price of companies and assets acquired; income taxes including the assessment of valuation allowances for deferred tax assets; accruals for contingent liabilities; impairment assessments for investment in films and television programs, and goodwill. Actual results could differ from such estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Segment Reporting: In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance which expands public entities’ segment disclosures by requiring disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss, an amount and description of its composition for other segment items, and interim disclosures of a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and therefore will be effective beginning with the Company’s financial statements issued for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 and subsequent interim periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Income Taxes: In December 2023, the FASB issued guidance which expands income tax disclosures by requiring public business entities, on an annual basis, to disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation and provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. Additionally, this guidance requires all entities disaggregate disclosures by jurisdiction on the amount of income taxes paid (net of refunds received), income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense (or benefit) and income tax expense (or benefit) from continuing operations. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and therefore will be effective beginning with the Company’s financial statements issued for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Income Statement: In November 2024, the FASB issued guidance requiring public business entities disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to financial statements at interim and annual reporting periods. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and therefore will be effective beginning with the Company’s financial statements issued for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2028 and interim reporting periods beginning in fiscal 2029, with early adoption permitted. The disclosures required under the guidance can be applied either prospectively to financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date or retrospectively to any or all periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.