"We have backed off from grabbing these guys by the neckties," Mr. Denton, who is president of Providence Capital, said yesterday.

Herbert A. Denton, president of Providence Capital, said, "It seems far-fetched, at best."

"Digital is an interesting situation because there are lots of moving parts here," said Mr. Denton, of Providence Capital.

An executive at Providence Capital declined to comment.

"It takes one of the clouds away from the company," the investor, Herbert A. Denton, the president of Providence Capital, said.

Ashland will also reimburse Providence Capital for up to $75,000 for expenses in pursuing its proxy challenge, he said.

Her father is the chairman of Providence Capital, a private investment fund in Moscow.

Mr. Denton of Providence Capital said.

Herbert A. Denton, an investment manager who is president of Providence Capital, said the earnings report was "a huge pie in the face to investors."

"The 10k's are going to make interesting reading," said Herbert Denton, president of Providence Capital, an investment firm.