參與制作電影《社交網(wǎng)絡(luò)》、《斗士》和《贖罪》等作品的相對(duì)論傳媒(Relativity)是一家美國(guó)的獨(dú)立電影公司,總部位于加州洛杉磯縣的西好萊塢。公司參與制作、發(fā)行了超過200部影片。有37部電影登上北美票房榜冠軍,58部電影的全球票房超過1億美圓??傆?jì)獲得過60個(gè)奧斯卡獎(jiǎng)提名。近期由于債臺(tái)高筑,經(jīng)營(yíng)不善,不得不申請(qǐng)破產(chǎn)保護(hù)。
測(cè)試中可能遇到的詞匯和知識(shí):
bankruptcy 破產(chǎn)
liability 債務(wù)
collapse 崩潰
helipad 直升機(jī)停機(jī)坪
retail 零售
閱讀即將開始,建議您計(jì)算一下閱讀整篇文章所用時(shí)間,并對(duì)照下方給出的參考值來估算您的閱讀速度。
By Matthew Garrahan in New York
Relativity Media,the Los Angeles-based entertainment group,has filed for bankruptcy protection after missing payments to lenders and running up as much as $1bn in liabilities.The filing is the biggest Hollywood bankruptcy since the collapse of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer four years ago. MGM emerged from bankruptcy with its debt holders in control of the company: its largest shareholder,Anchorage Capital,is the lead debt holder of Relativity Media.
The company will be auctioned off,with Blackstone and FTI Consulting running a process that will be overseen by the bankruptcy court. Relativity has received a commitment of $45m debtor-in-possession financing — funds which will keep it operating during the sale.Relativity,which released films such as Act of Valor and Immortals,was started by Ryan Kavanaugh,a colourful character who once earned the ire of neighbours by landing his helicopter on the rooftop emergency helipad of a nearby building.
Mr Kavanaugh raised hundreds of millions of dollars to invest in movie studio production slates. He initially earned millions of dollars in fees from the performance of those slates,and later expanded into production and distribution with backing from Elliott Associates,the New York hedge fund run by Paul Singer.
However relations with Elliott quickly soured. Ron Burkle,the retail billionaire — and a close friend of Bill Clinton — stepped in,backing the company. Relativity had scored with Limitless,starring Bradley Cooper,but failed to repeat the success,releasing a string of movies that underperformed.
Expansion into new lines of business,such as athlete representation,education and branding proved to be a further drain on the company's resources. In recent months it has lurched from crisis to crisis,seeking emergency financing deals in a bid to stay afloat.
Mr Kavanaugh is expected to stay with the company through the bankruptcy process. Relativity,which is cutting 75 jobs,is being represented in its bankruptcy filing by Sheppard Mullin,the law firm. The filing,in the Southern District of New York,reveals that the company has up to $1bn of liabilities.
“The actions we are announcing today will protect our valuable franchise and allow us to emerge as a stronger,more focused company,” Mr Kavanaugh said in a statement.
Mr Kavanaugh has been on the receiving end of a lawsuit filed recently by RKA Film Financing,a film promotion group,which accused the company of misusing funds. In its legal filing it called Mr Kavanaugh a “conman” who “through dishonesty and deceit,operated a scheme to defraud investors and convert and misappropriate their funds”.
Relativity fired back with a $200m countersuit,claiming that RKA was seeking to exploit its efforts to refinance the company.
1.Why did Relativity Media file for bankruptcy protection?
A.Making bad investments
B.Missing payments to lenders
C.Stock prices declining
D.Investor withdrawls
[1] 答案
2.Which of the following is mentioned as the biggest Hollywood bankruptcy?
A.MGM
B.Relativity
C.Paramount Pictures
D.Twentieth Century Fox
[2] 答案
3.What is the purpose of giving Relativity a commitment of $45m debtor-in-possession financing?
A.Paying off the company's debts
B.Helping Relativity make new investment
C.Covering the expenses of lawsuit
D.Keeping the company operating during the sale
[3] 答案
4.What did RKA Film Financing accuse Mr Kavanaugh of?
A.Doing illegal business
B.Appropriating public funds
C.Misusing funds
D.Stealing trade secret
[4] 答案
[1]答案:B.Missing payments to lenders
解釋:文章第一段提到相對(duì)論公司之所以申請(qǐng)破產(chǎn)保護(hù)是因?yàn)樵摴灸壳皞_(tái)高筑,且無能力償還借方。
[2]答案:A.MGM
解釋:文章第二段提到相對(duì)論破產(chǎn)是繼四年前米高梅破產(chǎn)之后好萊塢最大的破產(chǎn)事件。
[3]答案:D.Keeping the company operating during the sale
解釋:文章第三段提到該筆資金用于維持Relativity在破產(chǎn)清算等一系列手續(xù)過程中的運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)。
[4]答案:C.Misusing funds
解釋:文章倒數(shù)第二段提到RKA Film Financing因Mr Kavanaugh不當(dāng)使用資金而將之告上法庭。