RBS sued over Clear Channel - Business - Evening Standard
       

RBS sued over Clear Channel

Royal Bank of Scotland is one of six banks being sued over the failed $19.5 billion (£9.75 billion) takeover of US radio group Clear Channel Communications after they pulled out of a financing pact.

With worsening credit terms, the banks say they faced an immediate loss of $2.65 billion if they proceeded with the deal on its original terms.

They were to provide a private-equity consortium of Thomas H Lee Partners and Bain Capital Partners with more than $22 billion of financing, and earn more than $400 million in fees.

The private-equity firms are suing RBS, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and Wachovia for breach of contract. The banks say the case is "without merit".

The firms planned to use lines of credit to make short- term payments on $3.8 billion of existing Clear Channel debt. They claim the banks sabotaged the deal by changing financing terms in February.

The buyout firms are believed to have been alerted to the banks' change of heart as early as July, when an email not intended for their eyes was misdirected.

Comments

Don't Miss
Rock star: Erin Wasson

Rock star

Erin Wasson is the ultimate anti-supermodel
Maybe it’s because she’s a Londoner … Happy anniversary, Ma’am

Happy anniversary

The monarchy has become stronger and more respected in the past 60 years
Victoria Coren: My obsession with children, five proposals a week and why David and I are no power couple

Victoria Coren

David Mitchell and I are no power couple
The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition preview party

Summer party

Stars at the The Royal Academy of Arts
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity