United Rentals Takes Cerberus to Court
Court Alerts
United Rentals filed a lawsuit against Cerberus Capital Management seeking to force the private-equity firm to follow through with its buyout of the rental-equipment company.
The suit comes after Cerberus said last week that it wanted to pay a $100 million break-up fee to end the deal, partly because of volatility in the credit markets. United Rentals has contended that there are no financing obstacles to the $7 billion buyout, nor any significant changes in its business.
United Rentals said Monday that RAM Holdings and RAM Acquisition, two acquisition vehicles formed by Cerberus, are violating the merger agreement and do not have the right to simply pay the break-fee and walk away from the deal.
The company called Cerberus' action a "naked ploy" to extract a lower price for the buyout. Cerberus said last week it was willing to negotiate a revised deal.
Through the lawsuit, filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery, United Rentals is seeking to consummate the merger agreement in accordance with its original terms.
With the suit, United Rentals joins Sallie Mae in launching a legal battle with its potential acquirers to force a buyout. Other companies, such as Harman and Acxiom, have seen their deals fall apart as turmoil in the credit markets affects private-equity firms' ability to raise financing.
Shares of United Rentals recently were down 37 cents, or 1.6%, to $23. The buyout had called for Cerberus to pay $34.50 a share for the company.
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Grounds for Divorce in Ohio - Sylkatis Law, LLC
A divorce in Ohio is filed when there is typically “fault” by one of the parties and party not at “fault” seeks to end the marriage. A court in Ohio may grant a divorce for the following reasons:
• Willful absence of the adverse party for one year
• Adultery
• Extreme cruelty
• Fraudulent contract
• Any gross neglect of duty
• Habitual drunkenness
• Imprisonment in a correctional institution at the time of filing the complaint
• Procurement of a divorce outside this state by the other party
Additionally, there are two “no-fault” basis for which a court may grant a divorce:
• When the parties have, without interruption for one year, lived separate and apart without cohabitation
• Incompatibility, unless denied by either party
However, whether or not the the court grants the divorce for “fault” or not, in Ohio the party not at “fault” will not get a bigger slice of the marital property.