Alliance Films Acquires Lionsgate's Maple Pictures

Alliance Films will take over Lionsgate's Canadian distributor Maple Pictures. The deal, which is to be finalized soon, is said to be worth $38.5 million. The acquisition gives the Alliance group access to Maple's film library. The Alliance group will also distribute Lionsgate's motion picture films and television programing in Canada.

"We're delighted to partner with Alliance, an iconic brand in the Canadian filmed entertainment business, in a long-term relationship that assures that our product will be handled by an experienced team with unparalleled knowledge of the Canadian marketplace. This deal also allows us to sharpen our focus on our core assets that are critical to our growth trajectory, and it is an important step in the ongoing process of simplifying our business," said Lionsgate president and co-chief operating officer Steve Beeks.