When Germany, the initial backer of the plant, declined to complete it after the war, Iran tried to secure aid from other countries.

For many of Mr. Henry's initial backers, that is a troubling possibility and the source of much of his remaining support.

But the project required hundreds of millions of dollars to complete, and neither his initial backers nor any other investors he approached would put up the needed cash.

Although he was able to pay his initial backers, the scheme dissolved when he was unable to pay later investors.

Lack of financing nearly shut down the film as the initial backers pulled out; financing was finally provided by then-Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi.

"There's only 400 people, and they only buy so much," said Michael T. Gunn, president of Township Stores and one of its initial backers.

He was also an initial financial backer of the multi manager 7IM which was subsequently sold to asset management company Threadneedle.

Thus a play can run indefinitely and appear to be a runaway hit, but close to a large financial loss for its initial backers.

The manager of Dave Matthews Band came on as an initial backer, simultaneously guaranteeing a headline act.

He may have been an initial financial backer, and remained a major shareholder.