Spotlight: Ahmanson in 11th-Hour Court Hearing

H.F. Ahmanson & Co., running out of time in its takeover battle for Great Western Financial Corp., will try to derail Washington Mutual Inc.’s rival bid in court today. Delaware Chancery Court has set a hearing on a request by Ahmanson to delay a shareholder vote set for June 13 on Washington Mutual’s bid. Ahmanson claims Great Western violated its bylaws by setting the vote on the same day as a meeting to elect new directors. Ahmanson wants to elect three people backing its bid.