At that time Boston Ventures is believed to have paid roughly the same multiple of cash flow.

Boston Ventures owns investments in companies such as Six Flags.

Boston Ventures owns the legal rights to the Petty Enterprises name currently.

Boston Ventures declined to comment, as did a Motown spokesman.

But he said he had chosen to leave because Boston Ventures asked him to sign a five-year contract.

Officials at Boston Ventures did not return a telephone call yesterday seeking comment on the transaction.

There was no immediate response from Boston Ventures.

Motown is now 87 percent owned by Boston Ventures, a venture capital firm.

Boston Ventures, which has bought and sold a number of media properties, acquired its initial stake in Motown four years ago for $61 million.

Time Warner purchased the remaining 50% in 1993, then in 1995 sold 51% of the corporation to Boston Ventures.