That's still a pretty wobbly basis for deciding whether the high-stakes marketing campaigns, which routinely run to $10 million or $20 million for smaller movies, are actually getting through.
His company recently bought a 49percentt stake in Market Vision, a minority-owned, multicultural company in San Antonio that specializes in marketing to Hispanic consumers.
The current agreement has the effect of insuring its equity stake against market risk.
Within 18 months, however, the company hopes to sell off that stake if market conditions are favorable.
Merchants Bank will sell 2.2 billion shares, or a 15percentt stake, when market conditions are suitable, the Shenzhen-based lender said.
Vodafone, which owns 15percentt of Cegetel, has signaled its interest, but few other telecommunications companies have the cash to make an offer, leaving Vivendi in the unpalatable position selling the stake below market prices.
People briefed on the talks said that investors were seeking to buy their stake at market price while Mr. Cayne was holding out for a premium closer to 20percentt.
Washington, who remains wealthy from his other ventures (see box), plans to buy a 40% equity stake, paying market prices for the stock.
Meanwhile, the food manufacturers behind the labeling have a lot at stake: The market for so-called functional foods and beverages or products that offer improved health through supplements or a combination of healthful ingredients was more than $30 billion last year.
Still, the company now finds itself in a tricky position, having demonstrated a desire to own more than its 45% stake in market leader Verizon Wireless, the mobile arm of Verizon Communications.
