Lions Gate buys Artisan

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pablo007
Lions Gate Entertainment said Monday that it agreed to acquire Artisan Entertainment, a private independent film producer and distributor, for $160 million cash, plus the assumption of debt.

The proposed acquisition will create a company with more than 8,000 entertainment titles, the companies said.

The deal for Artisan, of Santa Monica, Calif., comes after an extensive five- month auction, which attracted interest along the way from suitors including comic-book publisher Marvel Enterprises, Harvey Weinstein's Miramax Films and a team led by ex-USA Films Chairman Scott Greenstein and buyout firm Thomas H. Lee Co., the New York Post reported Monday.

"We enter 2004 with our strongest theatrical slate ever with franchise properties like 'Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights' (co-produced with Miramax Films) and Marvel's incredible comic book legend 'The Punisher'," said Artisan Chief Executive Amir.

The proposed acquisition of Artisan is expected to close by the end of the year. It is subject to customary closing conditions, including antitrust regulatory approvals.

h0ck3yh0rr0r
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Raz
This belongs in Movies....moving...

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