Davis Polk is advising MHR Fund Management LLC, a shareholder of Lions Gate Entertainment Inc., in connection with Lionsgate’s acquisition of Starz Entertainment LLC for a combination of cash and stock totaling $4.4 billion. The transaction, which is expected to close by the end of 2016, has been approved by the boards of directors of Lionsgate and Starz and will be submitted to their respective shareholders for approval as well as to regulatory authorities.

MHR Fund Management LLC manages in excess of $5 billion and takes a highly differentiated, control-focused, private equity approach to investing in distressed and undervalued middle-market companies, utilizing its proprietary approach to sourcing. Lionsgate is a premier next generation global content leader with a diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, international distribution and sales, branded channel platforms, interactive ventures and games, and location-based entertainment. Starz is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television networks (Starz Networks) and global content distribution (Starz Distribution), www.starz.com.

The Davis Polk corporate team includes partners Phillip R. Mills and Brian Wolfe and associates Darren M. Schweiger and Shaun Levor. Counsel Ann Becchina and associate Charles Shi are providing Section 16 advice. All members of the Davis Polk team are based in the New York office.

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