Q4 Profit for Lionsgate

SANTA MONICA/VANCOUVER: While it recorded a fiscal year 2011 net loss of $53.6 million, Lionsgate notched up a fourth quarter profit of $46.1 million.

The wider full-year loss, on revenues of $1.58 billion, were attributed to  increased interest expenses, a $14.5 million non-cash loss related to last year’s deleveraging transaction and increased equity interest loss, mainly associated with its stake in EPIX. In Q4, meanwhile, the studio delivered a net profit of $46.1 million, as compared with a year-ago net loss of $22.3 million.

"Strong performances from our television business and our filmed entertainment library contributed to financial results that exceeded our preliminary estimates," said Jon Feltheimer, co-chairman and CEO of Lionsgate. "We were particularly pleased by near record international sales, reflecting the demand for content in the world marketplace, and rapid growth of high margin digital and on demand revenue. Our numbers going forward should reflect growing momentum in our film business from franchises like The Hunger Games, The Expendables and What to Expect When You’re Expecting that we expect will have the capacity to generate more consistent year to year motion-picture performance."