Lionsgate has closed its acquisition of the Entertainment One (eOne) film and TV business from Hasbro for a purchase price of $375 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments, plus the assumption of production financing loans.
The sale includes the unscripted television production companies Renegade and Daisybeck, as well as Hasbro’s interest in the Canadian film and TV operations of Entertainment One Canada.
The acquisition adds 6,500 film and TV titles to Lionsgate’s library. It also diversifies and strengthens the company’s scripted and unscripted television businesses, extends its portfolio of brands and franchises and expands its presence in Canada and the U.K.
eOne produces the hit ABC franchise The Rookie, the Showtime series Yellowjackets and the long-running Discovery series Naked and Afraid.
The transaction also includes film development rights to Hasbro’s Monopoly brand.
“The eOne acquisition concludes a busy year in which we continued to execute our strategy of strengthening our studio business as we prepare for the separation of Lionsgate and STARZ into pure-play stand-alone companies,” said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer. “As we’ve conducted our integration planning, our analysis has reaffirmed our conviction that eOne will be a valuable and highly accretive addition to our business. We are pleased to welcome eOne’s talented group of employees to our Lionsgate family.”
