US film studio Weinstein Company files for bankruptcy, cancels non-disclosure agreements

LOS ANGELES - US film studio The Weinstein Company, whose co-founder Harvey Weinstein has been accused of sexual harassment and assault, said Monday it has filed for voluntary bankruptcy and will sell its assets to a private equity firm.

The company also announced that it is ending all non-disclosure agreements that prevented victims of alleged sexual misconduct by the disgraced director and producer from talking about their experiences.

"Today, the Company also takes an important step toward justice for any victims who have been silenced by Harvey Weinstein," the statement said. According to reports, Weinstein had used non-disclosure agreements to silence his accusers.

The Weinstein Company will enter into an agreement with an affiliate of Lantern Capital Partners based in Dallas city in the state of Texas.

Earlier this month, an effort by a group of investors to buy the troubled company fell through after rounds of tough negotiations. The consortium was led by Maria Contreras-Sweet, head of the Small Business Administration in Barack Obama's government, and US billionaire Ron Burkle.

If the deal had been reached, the new company would include a compensation fund for Weinstein's accusers worth up to $90 million and hire a new board of directors, the majority of whom would be women.

The Weinstein Company, one of the most successful independent film studios in the United States, has produced Oscar-winning movies like "The King's Speech," "Django Unchained" and "The Reader."

But it began struggling financially since Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual harassment and assault by dozens of women in 2017.