Both Gillette Co. and the investor group...

Both Gillette Co. and the investor group battling to win four seats on its board hinted at victory as the scramble for shareholder votes gave way to the ballot count that will determine the winner. Shareholder proxy ballots were filed at Gillette’s annual meeting in Andover, Mass., a key step in the four-month effort by Coniston Group to force a sale or merger of the Boston-based personal products company. Although preliminary results are not expected for at least a week, both Coniston principals and Gillette executives expressed optimism they would prevail.