William F. White is preparing to sell its camera division to Panavision Canada as part of a deal that could lead to layoffs at the equipment giant sometime in the new year, Playback has learned.

Under the terms of a new multiyear agreement expected to close by Jan. 1, Panavision will move into Whites’ regional offices in Halifax, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Calgary as the companies join forces to market their equipment rentals.

‘I’ve sold them the camera department. We’re going to market ourselves as William F. White but we’ll be packaging William F. White production equipment with Panavision cameras,’ says Paul Bronfman, chairman and CEO of the Comweb group of companies, of which Whites is a member. ‘So, in effect, Panavision becomes our camera department.’

The deal puts a cloud over approximately 35 jobs at Whites.

‘A lot of our staff will end up with Panavision,’ says Bronfman. ‘I’m not exactly sure how many, but obviously we’re trying to minimize the job losses.’

Bronfman says the deal – initiated in the spring and negotiated by himself, Bill White and Panavision execs Ron Perelman, Bob Beitcher and Bill Zacharuk – is part of Whites’ return to its core business. It has little to do with the current production slump, he says.

‘This is a deal for the long term. It’s not to make a quick buck selling our cameras. That’s not the issue,’ he says.

-www.whites.com

-www.panavision.com