The female-led investor group that had agreed to buy The Weinstein Company’s assets pulled its offer and lead investor Maria Contreras-Sweet said the decision was made after the group “received disappointing information”.
Two sources familiar with the matter said that the investor group pulled the offer after discovering the Hollywood studio’s liabilities were higher than previously disclosed.
The Weinstein Company board said it would keep working to “determine if there are any viable options outside of bankruptcy”. Contreras-Sweet, a former Obama administration official, said she still believed in the vision of a studio led by women and will consider buying assets if they become available in bankruptcy court.
More than 70 women accused The Weinstein Company co-founder Harvey Weinstein, who was one of Hollywood’s most influential men, of sexual misconduct, including rape. Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone.
The Weinstein Company, which fired Harvey Weinstein in October, had been planning to file for bankruptcy when Contreras-Sweet struck the deal last week. The investors found that the company’s debt was $280 million rather than the $225 million previously disclosed, one of the sources said. A second person said that there were previously undisclosed obligations for royalties and other outstanding work payments, accounts payable and a commercial arbitration award.
“After signing and entering into the confirmatory diligence phase, we have received disappointing information about the viability of completing this transaction,” Contreras-Sweet said in the statement.
“We will consider acquiring assets that may become available in the event of bankruptcy proceedings, as well as other opportunities that may become available in the entertainment industry.”
In its statement, The Weinstein Company board said the claim that investors discovered new information was an “excuse”, it believed the buyer had never any intention of following through and said the company had been transparent about its financial condition.