Hedge Fund-Backed Film Financing Gets Junk Rating

Date: Thursday, October 30, 2008
Author: FINalternatives

The latest Hollywood box-office bomb won’t be shown on the silver screen, but may appear as another red line in a hedge fund’s earnings statement.

Paramount Pictures’ Melrose I financing, back in large part by hedge funds, has been downgraded to junk by Moody’s Investor Service, according to Hollywood Reporter. The bonds have seen their ratings fall by six grades, from investment grade Baa2 to junk grade B3.

The ratings downgrade indicates that Moody’s think Melrose’s senior debt holders are in trouble, leaving hedge fund investors in serious danger of big losses.

Melrose I is backed by 26 Paramount films released between 2004 and 2005.