Noncontrolling Interests

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2025

12. Noncontrolling Interests

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

Redeemable noncontrolling interests (included in temporary equity on the consolidated balance sheets) primarily relate to 3 Arts Entertainment and Pilgrim Media Group (prior to the acquisition of additional interest in July 2024), as further described below.

Redeemable noncontrolling interests are measured at the greater of (i) the redemption amount that would be paid if settlement occurred at the balance sheet date less the amount attributed to unamortized noncontrolling interest discount if applicable, or (ii) the historical value resulting from the original acquisition date value plus or minus any earnings or loss attribution, plus the amount of amortized noncontrolling interest discount, less the amount of cash distributions that are not accounted for as compensation, if any. The amount of the redemption value in excess of the historical values of the noncontrolling interest, if any, is recognized as an increase to redeemable noncontrolling interest and a charge to retained earnings or accumulated deficit.

The table below presents the reconciliation of changes in redeemable noncontrolling interests:


	Year Ended
	March 31,
		2025		2024		2023
		(Amounts in millions)
Beginning balance		$	123.3	$	343.6	$	321.2
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests		(1.7)		(14.9)		(9.2)
Noncontrolling interests discount accretion		—		—		13.2
Adjustments to redemption value		(5.0)		83.4		78.4
Other(1)		—		(93.2)		1.7
Cash contributions (distributions)		0.5		(1.0)		(6.6)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest		(23.4)		(194.6)		(55.1)
Ending balance		$	93.7	$	123.3	$	343.6

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(1) In fiscal 2024, amounts represent the reclassification of a portion of the 3 Arts Entertainment redeemable noncontrolling interest from mezzanine equity to a liability, as further described below.

3 Arts Entertainment:

Accounting Prior to Acquisition of Additional Interest in January 2024. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had a redeemable noncontrolling interest representing 49% of 3 Arts Entertainment. The noncontrolling interest was subject to put and call options at fair value that were exercisable during the year ended March 31, 2024. The put and call options were determined to be embedded in the noncontrolling interest, and because the put rights were outside the control of the Company, the noncontrolling interest holder's interest prior to the modification discussed below was included in redeemable noncontrolling interest outside of shareholders' equity on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

The noncontrolling interest holders are employees of 3 Arts Entertainment. Pursuant to the various 3 Arts Entertainment acquisition and related agreements, a portion of the noncontrolling interest holders' participation in the put and call proceeds was based on the noncontrolling interest holders' performance during the period. Further, if the employment of a noncontrolling interest holder is terminated, under certain circumstances, their participation in distributions cease and the put and call value was discounted from the fair value of their equity ownership percentage. Accordingly, earned distributions were accounted for

as compensation and were being expensed within general and administrative expense as incurred. Additionally, the amount of the put and call proceeds subject to the discount was accounted for as compensation, and amortized within general and administrative expense and reflected as an addition to redeemable noncontrolling interest over the vesting period which ended in November 2022.

A portion of the purchase price of the controlling interest in 3 Arts Entertainment, up to $38.3 million, was recoupable for a five-year period commencing on the acquisition date of May 29, 2018, contingent upon the continued employment of certain employees, or the achievement of certain EBITDA targets, as defined in the 3 Arts Entertainment acquisition and related agreements. Accordingly, $38.3 million was initially recorded as a deferred compensation arrangement within other current and non-current assets and was amortized in general and administrative expenses over the five-year period ended May 29, 2023.

Acquisition of Additional Interest. On January 2, 2024, the Company closed on the acquisition of an additional 25% of 3 Arts Entertainment representing approximately half of the noncontrolling interest for $194.1 million. In addition, the Company purchased certain profit interests held by certain managers and entered into certain option rights agreements, which replaced the put and call rights under the previous arrangement by providing noncontrolling interest holders the right to sell to the Company and the Company the right to purchase their remaining (24%) interest beginning in January 2027.

The purchase of the additional 25% interest in 3 Arts Entertainment for $194.1 million was recorded as a reduction of noncontrolling interest which had previously been adjusted to its redemption value, which equaled fair value. At the completion of the purchase, a portion of the noncontrolling interest continued to be considered compensatory, as it was subject to forfeiture provisions upon termination of employment under certain circumstances, and the remaining portion represented the noncontrolling interest holders' fully vested equity interest. Under the new arrangement, the holders' right to sell their interest to the Company, and the Company's right to purchase the noncontrolling interest, are based on a formula-based amount (i.e., a fixed EBITDA multiple), subject to a minimum purchase price, rather than being based on fair value. Since the redemption features described above were based on a formula using a fixed multiple, the compensatory portion of the noncontrolling interest is now considered a liability award, and as a result, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, approximately $93.2 million was reclassified from mezzanine equity to a liability, and is reflected in "other liabilities - non-current" in the consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2024. In addition, because the new arrangement represented a modification of terms of the compensation element under the previous arrangement which resulted in the reclassification of the equity award to a liability award, the Company recognized incremental compensation expense of $49.2 million in the year ended March 31, 2024, representing the excess of the fair value of the modified award over amounts previously expensed. This incremental expense was reflected in "restructuring and other" in the consolidated statements of operations, and as a reduction of accumulated deficit in shareholders' equity, reflected in the "redeemable noncontrolling interests adjustments" line item in the consolidated statements of equity (deficit).

The redeemable noncontrolling interest balance related to 3 Arts Entertainment reflects the fully vested equity portion of the noncontrolling interest, which remains classified as redeemable noncontrolling interest outside of shareholders’ equity on the Company's consolidated balance sheets due to the purchase and sale rights beginning in 2027 which were determined to be embedded in the noncontrolling interest, and are outside the control of the Company. The redeemable noncontrolling interest is being adjusted to its redemption value through accumulated deficit through the sale or purchase right date in January 2027. Subsequent to the January 2024 transactions noted above, changes in the carrying value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest are reflected in the calculation of basic and diluted net income or loss per common share attributable to Legacy Lionsgate Studios Corp. shareholders, if dilutive, or to the extent the adjustments represent recoveries of amounts previously reflected in the computation of basic and diluted net income or loss per common share attributable to Legacy Lionsgate Studios Corp. shareholders (see Note 1).

The liability component of the noncontrolling interest is reflected at its estimated redemption value, with any changes in estimated redemption value recognized as a charge or benefit in general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations over the vesting period (i.e., the period from January 2, 2024 to the sale or purchase right date in January 2027). Earned distributions continue to be accounted for as compensation since such amounts are allocated to the holders based on performance, and are being expensed within general and administrative expense as incurred.

Pilgrim Media Group:

Accounting Prior to Acquisition of Additional Interest in July 2024.

As of March 31, 2022, the Company had a redeemable noncontrolling interest representing 37.5% of Pilgrim Media Group. The noncontrolling interest was subject to put and call options, such that the noncontrolling interest holder had a right to put and the Company had a right to call a portion of the noncontrolling interest, equal to 25% of Pilgrim Media Group, at fair value, exercisable for thirty (30) days beginning November 12, 2022. On November 14, 2022 the noncontrolling interest holder exercised the right to put a portion of the noncontrolling interest, equal to 25% of Pilgrim Media Group. In February 2023, the Company paid $36.5 million as settlement of the exercised put option, and recorded a reduction to redeemable noncontrolling interest of $55.1 million representing the carrying value of the noncontrolling interest purchased, with the difference between the carrying value of the noncontrolling interest purchased and the cash paid for the settlement of the put recorded as a reduction to accumulated deficit of $18.6 million. The noncontrolling interest holder had a right to put and the Company had a right to call the remaining amount of noncontrolling interest at fair value, subject to a cap, exercisable for thirty (30) days beginning November 12, 2024, as amended. Prior to the Company's acquisition of the remaining interest discussed below, the noncontrolling interest was presented as a redeemable noncontrolling interest outside of shareholders' equity on the Company's consolidated balance sheets, due to put and call options which were determined to be embedded in the noncontrolling interest, and because the put rights were outside the control of the Company.

Acquisition of Additional Interest. In July 2024, the Company acquired the noncontrolling interest holder’s remaining 12.5% of Pilgrim Media Group for approximately $13.5 million, and recorded a reduction to redeemable noncontrolling interest of $23.4 million, representing the carrying value of the noncontrolling interest purchased, with the difference between the carrying value of the noncontrolling interest purchased and the cash paid for the remaining interest recorded as a reduction to accumulated deficit of $9.9 million.

Other:

The Company has other immaterial redeemable noncontrolling interests.

Non-Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

Other:

In connection with the Company's investment in CP LG and acquisition of the acquired library and related assets and liabilities discussed in Note 3, on June 5, 2024, the Company recorded a noncontrolling interest representing approximately 49% of CP LG amounting to $33.6 million ($27.3 million at March 31, 2025). See Note 3 for further information.

In addition, the Company has other immaterial noncontrolling interests that are not redeemable.