But sharply higher marketing expenses held profits slightly below expectations.

The 12b-1 fee lets a fund pay some marketing expenses from its assets.

The company said tough competition in foreign and domestic markets had required it to increase its marketing expenses.

For a $1 million property, marketing expenses could easily be, say, $5,000 to $7,000.

Named after a regulatory code, those fees cover marketing expenses.

Sony plans to increase its marketing expenses by 30% in 2012.

Typically, members pay $49 a year for each club, an amount that just about covers the marketing expenses needed to sign up the customer.

Three problems face the industry: slower growth in long-distance traffic, higher marketing expenses and the possibility of another price war.

The low gross, in comparison to its high production and marketing expenses, led some to call it a box office bomb.

The movie, according to producers, cost $106 million, not including marketing expenses.