Lionsgate and Starz have reached an agreement under which Lionsgate will acquire Starz for a combination of cash and stock totaling $4.4 billion.

Financing was provided by JPMorgan, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank.

PJT Partners is serving as lead financial advisor to Lionsgate. JPMorgan, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse are also serving as financial advisors to Lionsgate. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Dentons are serving as legal advisors to Lionsgate.

LionTree Advisors is serving as exclusive financial advisor and Baker Botts is serving as legal advisor to Starz. LionTree Advisors provided a fairness opinion to the board of directors of Starz. The Raine Group is serving as financial advisor and Weil, Gotshal & Manges is serving as legal advisor to the special committee of Starz’s board of directors. The Raine Group also provided a fairness opinion to the Special Committee of Starz’s board of directors.

The transaction significantly increases the combined company’s content creation capabilities, enhances its leadership in premium scripted programming and scales its global distribution footprint across mobile, broadband, cable and satellite platforms. It also paves the way for a broad range of new content partnerships and accelerates the growth of Lionsgate and Starz’s own OTT services. The acquisition is expected to generate significant revenue and cost synergies.