Ahmanson Amends Suit to Block GW Merger

H.F. Ahmanson & Co. asked a Delaware court to stop Washington Mutual Inc.’s proposed purchase of Great Western Financial Corp., a thrift that Ahmanson wants to buy. The country’s biggest thrift made the request in Delaware Chancery Court, where the company is also trying to force GW’s board to drop its opposition to Ahmanson’s $6.79-billion takeover bid. The Irwindale-based parent of consumer bank Home Savings of America also asked Chancery Court to declare that GW’s agreement to merge with Washington Mutual discriminates unlawfully against Ahmanson. The thrift wants the court to order Great Western to treat it and other bidders equally. Earlier this month, Seattle-based Washington Mutual agreed to buy Chatsworth-based GW for $6.57 billion. Great Western executives weren’t available for immediate comment.