LIONSGATE REPORTS RESULTS FOR SECOND QUARTER 2018

Second Quarter Revenue is $941 Million, Net Income Attributable to Lionsgate Shareholders is $16 Million or Basic EPS of $0.07; Adjusted OIBDA is $109 Million

Company Reports $347 Million in Free Cash Flow in the Quarter

Media Networks Segment Profit Climbs 42% Compared to Prior Year Quarter on Pro Forma Basis; Motion Pictures Segment Profits Also Improve

SANTA MONICA, Calif. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 9, 2017 /CNW/ -- Global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) today reported revenue of $941 million, net income attributable to Lionsgate shareholders of $16 million, or basic EPS of $0.07 on 207.8 million weighted average common shares outstanding, and adjusted net income attributable to Lionsgate shareholders of $63 million, or adjusted basic EPS of $0.30, for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 (quarter ended September 30, 2017).  The Company also reported operating income of $30 million, adjusted OIBDA of $109 million and free cash flow of $347 million in the quarter and reduced corporate net debt by $332 million.

"Our strong performance in the quarter keeps us on track for our fiscal year expectations, and our robust free cash flow is enabling us to continue our consistent deleveraging ahead of schedule," said Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer.  "Starz continued to report strong overall subscriber gains, with its direct to consumer offering leading the way. Our ability to leverage our strengths, mitigate risk and focus on segments where we can continue to win puts us on a strong, profitable growth path."

Revenue in the quarter of $941 million increased 47% from $640 million in the prior year quarter.  Net income attributable to Lionsgate shareholders of $16 million, or basic EPS of $0.07 per share, compared to a net loss of $18 million, or basic loss of $0.12 per share, in the prior year quarter.  Adjusted OIBDA of $109 million and operating income of $30 million in the quarter compared to adjusted OIBDA of negative $24 million and operating loss of $58 million in the prior year quarter, respectively.

Second Quarter Results

With Lionsgate's acquisition of Starz, fiscal 2018 second quarter results are not directly comparable to prior reporting periods, so the following quarterly segment results will be discussed as compared to the prior year quarter on a combined pro forma basis.

Media Networks segment revenues increased 7% to $393.4 million.  Segment profits increased 42.2% in the quarter to $116.5 million on higher OTT revenues, lower programming costs and the licensing of Power.  The hit series Power continued its strong performance and Outlander premiered to record audiences at the end of the quarter.

Motion Pictures segment revenues declined 24% to $385.7 million primarily driven by fewer wide releases in the quarter. The Hitman's Bodyguard and The Big Sick, released in partnership with Amazon Studios, performed strongly at the domestic box office in the quarter (though revenue for The Big Sick was recorded on a net basis).  Segment profits improved to $8.9 million from a loss of $5.9 million last year as P&A costs declined compared to the prior year quarter.

Television Production segment revenues declined 4.7% to $168.7 million in the quarter from $177.1 million last year due to the timing of episodic deliveries of Orange is the New Black.  Segment profits declined 30.1% to $8.6 million from $12.3 million last year.

Lionsgate's backlog, or already contracted future revenue on the licensing of film and television product not yet recorded, was $1.3 billion at September 30, 2017.

Lionsgate senior management will hold its analyst and investor conference call to discuss its fiscal 2018 second quarter financial results at 5:30 P.M. ET/2:30 P.M. PT this afternoon, November 9. Interested parties may listen to the live webcast by visiting the events page on the Lionsgate corporate website or via http://services.choruscall.com/links/lgf171109ldOgQ2Fz.html. A full replay will become available this afternoon, November 9, by clicking the same link. 

ABOUT LIONSGATE

The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a global content platform whose films, television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next generation audiences around the world.  In addition to its filmed entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content drives a growing presence in interactive and location-based entertainment, gaming, virtual reality and other new entertainment technologies.  Lionsgate's content initiatives are backed by a 16,000-title film and television library and delivered through a global licensing infrastructure.  The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition of the Company's worldwide consumer base.  

For further information, Investors should contact:
James Marsh
310-255-3651
jmarsh@lionsgate.com

For Media inquiries, please contact:
Peter Wilkes
310-255-3726
pwilkes@lionsgate.com

The matters discussed in this press release include forward-looking statements, including those regarding the performance of future fiscal years.  Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results in the future could differ materially and adversely from those described in the forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the substantial investment of capital required to produce and market films and television series, increased costs for producing and marketing feature films and television series; budget overruns; limitations imposed by our credit facilities and notes; unpredictability of the commercial success of our motion pictures and television programming; risks related to acquisition and integration of acquired businesses; the effects of dispositions of businesses or assets, including individual films or libraries; the cost of defending our intellectual property; technological changes and other trends affecting the entertainment industry; litigation relating to the acquisition of Starz; other trends affecting the entertainment industry; and the other risk factors as set forth in Lionsgate's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 25, 2017, as amended in Lionsgate's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2017, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference.  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect any future events or circumstances.

Additional Information Available on Website

The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes contained in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, which will be posted on the Company's website at www.lionsgate.com/corporate/reports/sec-filings, when filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Trending schedules containing certain financial information will also be available at www.lionsgate.com/corporate/reports.

LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company's reportable segments have been determined based on the distinct nature of their operations, the Company's internal management structure, and the financial information that is evaluated regularly by the Company's chief operating decision maker. Following the Starz merger, the Company has added a new segment from the Starz business and realigned business operations within Lionsgate and Starz under three reporting segments and made some changes in what is included and excluded from segment profit.

The Company previously had two reportable business segments, consisting of the Motion Pictures and Television Production segments. Beginning in the quarter ended December 31, 2016, the Company now manages and reports its operating results in three reportable business segments: (1) Motion Pictures, (2) Television Production and (3) Media Networks.

As a result, the Company has presented prior period segment data in a manner that conforms to the current period presentation (see further discussion below).

Motion Pictures consists of the development and production of feature films, acquisition of North American and worldwide distribution rights, North American theatrical, home entertainment and television distribution of feature films produced and acquired, and worldwide licensing of distribution rights to feature films produced and acquired. As a result of the Starz merger, beginning December 8, 2016, the Motion Pictures segment includes Starz's third-party distribution business, which is substantially the same as the Motion Pictures existing business.

Television Production consists of the development, production and worldwide distribution of television productions including television series, television movies and mini-series, and non-fiction programming.

Media Networks (which was previously not a reportable segment) consists of (i) Starz Networks, which includes the licensing of premium subscription video programming to U.S. multichannel video programming distributors ("MVPDs") including cable operators, satellite television providers and telecommunication companies, and online video providers, and on an over-the-top ("OTT") basis (ii) Content and Other, which includes the licensing of the Media Networks' original series programming to digital media platforms, international television networks, home entertainment and other ancillary markets and (iii) Streaming Services, which represents the Lionsgate legacy start-up direct to consumer streaming services on its subscription video-on-demand ("SVOD") platforms which were moved under the Media Networks segment in connection with the Starz Merger.

In the ordinary course of business, the Company's reportable segments enter into transactions with one another. The most common types of intersegment transactions include licensing motion pictures or television production produced or acquired programming reported from the Motion Pictures and Television Production segments to the Media Networks segment, and certain fees charged to the Media Networks segment by the Television Production segment for the distribution of Media Networks' original series programming in ancillary markets. While intersegment transactions are treated like third-party transactions to determine segment performance, the revenues (and corresponding expenses or assets recognized by the segment that is the counterparty to the transaction) are eliminated in consolidation and, therefore, do not affect consolidated results.

LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)

Segment information by business unit is presented in the table below. The Media Networks segment reflects the Starz network business from the date of acquisition (December 8, 2016), and the Lionsgate direct to consumer streaming services on SVOD platforms for the historical periods presented.

LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)

The following table sets forth revenues and segment profit by product line for the Media Networks segment for the three and six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

PRO FORMA COMBINED SEGMENT INFORMATION

The following table sets forth segment information on a pro forma combined basis as if the Starz Merger and our segment reorganization occurred on April 1, 2016:

NOTE: The amounts above were determined by combining the historical financial information of Lionsgate and Starz for each respective period, applying the new Lionsgate segment structure, and applying the acquisition related accounting. However, the effects of purchase accounting are not part of the definition of segment profit, and have been excluded accordingly. In addition, the combined information does not apply any operating costs synergies. The amounts are presented for illustrative purposes and are not necessarily indicative of the combined financial results that might have been achieved for the periods had the acquisition taken place on April 1, 2016, nor are they indicative of the future combined results of Lionsgate and Starz.

LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

PRO FORMA COMBINED SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)

The following table sets forth revenues by product line on a pro forma combined basis for the Media Networks segment for the three and six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This earnings release presents the following important financial measures utilized by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (the "Company," "we," "us" or "our") that are not all financial measures defined by generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures, among other measures, to evaluate the operating performance of our business. These non-GAAP financial measures are in addition to, not a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with United States GAAP.

Adjusted OIBDA: Adjusted OIBDA is defined as operating income (loss) before adjusted depreciation and amortization ("OIBDA"), adjusted for adjusted share-based compensation ("adjusted SBC"), purchase accounting and related adjustments, and restructuring and other costs.

• Adjusted depreciation and amortization represents depreciation and amortization as presented on our consolidated statement of operations, less the depreciation and amortization related to the amortization of purchase accounting and related adjustments associated with the acquisition of Starz and Pilgrim Media Group. Accordingly, the full impact of the purchase accounting is included in the adjustment for "purchase accounting and related adjustments", described below.
• Adjusted share-based compensation represents share-based compensation excluding immediately vested stock awards granted as part of the Company's annual bonus program issued in lieu of cash bonuses (which are, when granted, included in segment or corporate general and administrative expense), and excluding the impact of the acceleration of certain vesting schedules for equity awards pursuant to certain severance arrangements, which are included in restructuring and other expenses, when applicable.
• Restructuring and other includes restructuring and severance costs, certain transaction related costs, and certain unusual items, when applicable.
• Purchase accounting and related adjustments represent the amortization of non-cash fair value adjustments to certain assets acquired in the acquisition of Starz and Pilgrim Media Group.

Adjusted OIBDA is calculated similar to how the Company defines segment profit and manages and evaluates its segment operations. Segment profit also excludes corporate general and administrative expense.

Free Cash Flow: Free cash flow is defined as net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, less capital expenditures, plus or minus the net increase or decrease in production loans. The adjustment for the production loans is made because the GAAP based cash flows from operations reflects a non-cash reduction of cash flows for the cost of films and television programs associated with production loans prior to the time the Company actually pays for the film or television program. The Company believes that it is more meaningful to reflect the impact of the payment for these films and television programs in its free cash flow when the payments are actually made.

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. Shareholders: Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. shareholders is defined as net income (loss) attributable to Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. shareholders, adjusted for share-based compensation, purchase accounting and related adjustments, restructuring and other items, loss on extinguishment of debt, and unusual gains or losses, net of the tax effect of the adjustments at the applicable statutory rate and net of the impact of the adjustments on non-controlling interest.

Adjusted Basic and Diluted EPS: Adjusted basic earnings (loss) per share is defined as adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. shareholders divided by the weighted average shares outstanding. Diluted EPS is similar to basic EPS but is adjusted for the effects of securities that are diluted based on the level of adjusted net income (loss), similar to GAAP.

LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Continued)

These measures are non-GAAP financial measures as defined in Regulation G promulgated by the SEC and are in addition to, not a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with United States GAAP.

We use these non-GAAP measures, among other measures, to evaluate the operating performance of our business. We believe these measures provide useful information to investors regarding our results of operations and cash flows before non-operating items. Adjusted OIBDA is considered an important measure of the Company's performance because this measure eliminates amounts that, in management's opinion, do not necessarily reflect the fundamental performance of the Company's businesses, are infrequent in occurrence, and in some cases are non-cash expenses. Free Cash Flow is considered an important measure of the Company's liquidity because it provides information about the ability of the Company to reduce net corporate debt, make strategic investments, dividends and share repurchases. Adjusted EPS is considered an important measure of the Company's business operations as, similar to Adjusted OIBDA, this measure eliminates amounts that, in management's opinion, do not necessarily reflect the fundamental performance of the Company's businesses.

These non-GAAP measures are commonly used in the entertainment industry and by financial analysts and others who follow the industry to measure operating performance. However, not all companies calculate these measures in the same manner and the measures as presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies due to differences in the methods of calculation and excluded items.

A general limitation of these non-GAAP financial measures is that they are not prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These measures should be reviewed in conjunction with the relevant GAAP financial measures and are not presented as alternative measures of operating income, cash flow, net income (loss), or earnings (loss) per share as determined in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of the adjusted metrics utilized to their corresponding GAAP metrics are provided below.

LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

TO ADJUSTED OIBDA

The following table reconciles the GAAP measure, operating income (loss) to the non-GAAP measure, Adjusted OIBDA:

LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

RECONCILIATION OF PRO FORMA COMBINED OPERATING INCOME

TO PRO FORMA COMBINED ADJUSTED OIBDA

The reconciliation of pro forma combined operating income to pro forma combined Adjusted OIBDA is as follows: