Vice Media Group, the company popularly known for its websites such as Vice and Motherboard, said on Monday (May 15) it had filed for Chapter 11 protection to facilitate its sale.
The company said in a court filing that it listed both assets and liabilities in the range of US$500 million (S$669 million) to US$1 billion.
Vice also said the group agreed to the terms of an asset purchase agreement with a consortium of its lenders, which included Fortress Investment Group, Soros Fund Management, and Monroe Capital.
The consortium agreed to provide total purchase consideration of approximately US$225 million in the form of a credit bid for substantially all of the company's assets, in addition to the assumption of significant liabilities upon closing, the statement said.
The bankruptcy filing comes amid a challenging period for several technology and media companies, as they resort to downsizing in recent months due to a turbulent economy and a weak advertising market.
Vice has also obtained commitments for debtor-in-possession financing from the lenders, as well as consent to use more than US$20 million of cash that constitutes the cash collateral.