Daniel Farey-Jones
May 16, 2023

Vice Media to keep operating amid sale process

Publisher files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and secures one buyer.

Vice Media: opened a virtual office in Decentraland last year
Vice Media: opened a virtual office in Decentraland last year

Vice Media has claimed it has secured enough money to keep operating both in the US and internationally while it finds a new owner over the space of the next two to three months.

The company said its brands, which include creative agency Virtue and media brands Vice, Vice News, Vice TV, Vice Studios, Pulse Films, Virtue, Refinery29 and i-D, “will continue to produce and deliver award-winning content across platforms”.

In a letter to international partners it emphasised that “Vice’s international operating subsidiaries will continue to operate as they have been” and “we have sufficient liquidity to support our continuing operations”.

The money to sustain operations has been released as part of a deal with Vice Media’s bondholders that gives them the right to buy the company for $225m but also allows other bidders to submit higher or better bids.

As part of the deal Vice Media today filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

It said it has filed several customary first day motions with the court seeking authorisation to support its operations during the court-supervised sale process, including the continued payment of employee wages and benefits without interruption and payment to vendors and suppliers on normal terms for goods and services provided on or after the filing date. It added it expects to receive court approval for these requests.

"Vice serves a huge global audience with a unique brand of news, entertainment and lifestyle content," Bruce Dixon and Hozefa Lokhandwala, Vice’s co-chief executives, said. "This accelerated court-supervised sale process will strengthen the company and position Vice for long-term growth, thereby safeguarding the kind of authentic journalism and content creation that makes Vice such a trusted brand for young people and such a valued partner to brands, agencies and platforms.

“We will have new ownership, a simplified capital structure and the ability to operate without the legacy liabilities that have been burdening our business. We look forward to completing the sale process in the next two to three months and charting a healthy and successful next chapter at Vice."

 

 

Source:
Campaign Asia

Related Articles

Just Published

11 hours ago

Cannes Lions entries rise 'reflecting strong global ...

Entries from Latin America are up by 16%.

11 hours ago

Campaign Cannes Global Podcast Episode 1: Lions and ...

Our editors from the UK, US, Canada and APAC give their tips ahead of Cannes Lions 2025.

11 hours ago

Lindsey Evans: 'See uncertainty as opportunity'

Ahead of Cannes Lions, the chief executives of the 'big six' holding companies and senior leaders give their views on a range of topics relating to creativity and business. Today, it’s the turn of Special Australia's Lindsey Evans.

2 days ago

Agency Report Card 2024: Ogilvy

Ogilvy APAC celebrated a strong creative year in 2024, clinching top regional honours at Cannes Lions. Yet operational headwinds, particularly in China, tested its resilience and reshaped its growth strategy.