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Weinstein Company assets sold to female-led group | Weinstein Company assets sold to female-led group |
(35 minutes later) | |
The company co-founded by disgraced US movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been bought and will now be run by a largely-female board. | The company co-founded by disgraced US movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been bought and will now be run by a largely-female board. |
Businesswoman Maria Contreras-Sweet is leading the investor group that is paying $500m for the company's assets, which include films and TV programmes. | Businesswoman Maria Contreras-Sweet is leading the investor group that is paying $500m for the company's assets, which include films and TV programmes. |
That figure includes a $90m victims' compensation fund. | That figure includes a $90m victims' compensation fund. |
Mr Weinstein is facing dozens of allegations of sexual abuse, including rape, but he denies non-consensual sex. | Mr Weinstein is facing dozens of allegations of sexual abuse, including rape, but he denies non-consensual sex. |
The Weinstein Company said at the beginning of this week that it would file for bankruptcy. | The Weinstein Company said at the beginning of this week that it would file for bankruptcy. |
However, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman stepped in and a deal to buy the assets, including a library of 277 films, was agreed on Thursday. | However, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman stepped in and a deal to buy the assets, including a library of 277 films, was agreed on Thursday. |
Some 150 employees who work for The Weinstein Company will be invited to join the new business. | Some 150 employees who work for The Weinstein Company will be invited to join the new business. |
Ms Contreras-Sweet said the new owners would "launch a new company, with a new board and a new vision that embodies the principles that we have stood by since we began this process last fall". | Ms Contreras-Sweet said the new owners would "launch a new company, with a new board and a new vision that embodies the principles that we have stood by since we began this process last fall". |
"Those principles have never wavered and have always been to build a movie studio led by a board of directors made up of a majority of independent women, save about 150 jobs, protect the small businesses who are owed money and create a victims' compensation fund that would supplement existing insurance coverage for those who have been harmed." | "Those principles have never wavered and have always been to build a movie studio led by a board of directors made up of a majority of independent women, save about 150 jobs, protect the small businesses who are owed money and create a victims' compensation fund that would supplement existing insurance coverage for those who have been harmed." |
The board of The Weinstein Company said: "We consider this to be a positive outcome under what have been incredibly difficult circumstances." | The board of The Weinstein Company said: "We consider this to be a positive outcome under what have been incredibly difficult circumstances." |
Ms Contreras-Sweet, who led the US Small Business Administration under President Barack Obama, will chair the new entertainment business. | Ms Contreras-Sweet, who led the US Small Business Administration under President Barack Obama, will chair the new entertainment business. |
In a letter she sent to The Weinstein Company last November, outlining her plans for buying the assets, she said: "I will be chairwoman of a majority female board of directors. | In a letter she sent to The Weinstein Company last November, outlining her plans for buying the assets, she said: "I will be chairwoman of a majority female board of directors. |
"Women will be significant investors in the new company and control its voting stock." | "Women will be significant investors in the new company and control its voting stock." |
Details about Mr Weinstein's alleged sexual abuse, including allegations of rape, emerged last October when The New York Times published a story detailing claims of harassment by the film producer stretching back over years. | Details about Mr Weinstein's alleged sexual abuse, including allegations of rape, emerged last October when The New York Times published a story detailing claims of harassment by the film producer stretching back over years. |
In her letter to the company, Ms Contreras-Sweet wrote: "As a long-time business leader and advocate for gender and racial equality, I have been profoundly affected by the recent revelations surrounding this company's leadership. | In her letter to the company, Ms Contreras-Sweet wrote: "As a long-time business leader and advocate for gender and racial equality, I have been profoundly affected by the recent revelations surrounding this company's leadership. |
"You must care, as I do, about the women who have suffered the indignities inflicted upon them. I feel compelled to take action to provide them some remedy for what they endured." | "You must care, as I do, about the women who have suffered the indignities inflicted upon them. I feel compelled to take action to provide them some remedy for what they endured." |
As part of the deal, the new entertainment group will take on about $225m worth of debt and will make a significant investment in the business, as well as setting up the compensation fund. | |
Commenting on the agreement, Mr Schneiderman told The New York Times: "As part of these negotiations, we are pleased to have received express commitments from the parties that the new company will create a real, well-funded victims' compensation fund, implement HR policies that will protect all employees and will not unjustly reward bad actors." |
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