The difference, several people close to the company said, was that private investors would share the risk of the purchase.

If the book had sold well, the investors would have shared in the royalties.

Participation mortgages allow multiple investors to share in a loan.

How would the city, the state, the private investors and the Mets' owners share that cost?

But some investors are not sharing in the enthusiasm, and this is where the efficient market question enters.

Institutional investors, the main users of the ratings, share that wish.

The financial team advising the county may ask all investors to share the loss equally.

Japanese investors apparently share this belief, whether it is based on fact or not.

But many other investors share similar concerns, albeit in less apocalyptic language.

The error came to light recently as investors shared the information on computer bulletin boards.