SPV GmbH is an independent German record label. Founded on January 1, 1984, it has slowly grown to be one of the largest independent distributors and record labels worldwide. It also has several sublabels that it produces and distributes, including the heavy metal labels Steamhammer, Synthetic Symphony, Oblivion, SPV Recordings/SPV America and Audiopharm. SPV's most successful artists include Sepultura, Kreator, Klaus Schulze, Rhapsody of Fire, Sodom, Evildead, Angra, Eric Burdon, Blackmore's Night, Whitesnake, Motörhead, Doro, Helloween, Kamelot, Iced Earth, Moonspell, Saxon, Monster... Magnet, Type O Negative, Skinny Puppy and Judas Priest. The managing partner, Manfred Schütz, decided to submit an application to commence insolvency proceedings on 25 May 2009 – roughly equivalent to Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the USA. In response to this, on 27 May 2009, the District Court of Hannover appointed the attorney Manuel Sack as the provisional insolvency administrator.
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