Marvin Davis to Seek Control of Spectradyne

NEW YORK — Businessman Marvin Davis, recently rebuffed in an attempt to acquire a leading casino-hotel operator, said Tuesday that he will seek control of Spectradyne Inc., which supplies pay-per-view movie systems to hotels.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Davis said he owned 5.7% of Spectradyne’s shares and he and his partners had enough money to buy the company. He said he would prefer to negotiate an acquisition but would use other means if necessary.

On news of Davis’ intentions, Spectradyne’s stock climbed $5.25 a share to $35.25 in over-the-counter trading.

Spectradyne said it would have no comment until it receives a copy of Davis’ filing. The company, based in Richardson, Tex., is the leading provider of in-room entertainment to the lodging industry. Last year, it earned $6.9 million on revenue of $76.9 million.

Later in the day, the company said its board had hired Prudential-Bache to review the offer.

Davis made his fortune in the oil business but in recent years has sold off most of his oil properties and invested in entertainment concerns. Last month, the casino-hotel operator Resorts International rejected his $191-million takeover offer in favor of a bid by New York developer Donald Trump.

Analysts said it was difficult to predict the outcome of a bid by Davis without a specific price tag. Dennis McAlpine at Oppenheimer & Co. valued Spectradyne at about 10 times the projected 1987 cash flow of $4.30 per share.

Robert Williams at Eppler Guerin & Turner Inc. in Dallas noted that the company’s management does not own much of its stock. “They will either seek a white knight or work with Davis,” he said.