Company Town

Film: Samuel Goldwyn Co. stock did not trade on the American Stock Exchange on Monday as company executives appeared close to formally disclosing that the independent film distributor is up for sale. Analysts have expected the company, known for such films as “The Madness of King George” and box-office dud “The Perez Family,” to be put on the block soon amid a severe cash crunch. Goldwyn lost $20.1 million in the year ended March 31. The company faces much greater competition from rivals such as Walt Disney Co.’s Miramax unit and Turner Broadcasting System’s Fine Line Features, which have deep-pocketed parent companies backing them up. Daily Variety said the cash-strapped company has abandoned its attempts to find a European partner, listing Viacom Inc.’s Paramount Pictures as the leading potential suitor, followed by Disney and Turner. Variety also said that Goldwyn has replaced investment banker Wertheim Schroeder with Furman Selz, with instructions to put it up for sale. Analysts have previously said that Goldwyn could probably fetch more than $100 million. Goldwyn has been the subject of takeover rumors for several months, with most of the speculation on potential buyers centering on Hallmark, the greeting card giant, which has been expanding into entertainment. Hallmark has previously denied that it plans to buy Goldwyn. Goldwyn’s stock last traded at $7.125.