NY judge orders trial in Clear Channel buyout fight

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York state judge said on Wednesday a dispute over financing the $20 billion buyout of Clear Channel Communications Inc (CCU.N) would go to trial on a breach of contract claim filed against six banks, according to a court filing.

Justice Helen Freedman, however, threw out three of the four claims against the banks, including claims of fraud and civil conspiracy. A date for the trial is yet to be set.

U.S. radio operator Clear Channel struck the deal to be bought by private equity firms Thomas H. Lee Partners THL.UL and Bain Capital for $39.20 a share at the peak of the private equity boom last year. The market has changed drastically since then, with the cost of financing leveraged loans skyrocketing.

The deal descended into litigation this year when THL and Bain filed complaints in New York and Texas against Citigroup Inc (C.N), Morgan Stanley (MS.N), Credit Suisse Group (CSGN.VX), Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (RBS.L), Deutsche Bank AG (DBKGn.DE) and Wachovia Corp WB.N to force them to fund the buyout. San Antonio-based Clear Channel joined them in the Texas suit, but was not a plaintiff in the New York case.

In New York, the private equity firms are seeking "specific performance" of a commitment letter detailing plans to fund the deal. Specific performance is when one party asks a judge to order another party to stick to a contract, and the issue remains part of the case going forward, according to Wednesday's filing.

The banks have argued New York courts hold that, except in cases involving real property, a party may not secure specific performance of a contract to lend money. They have also argued the letter calls for them to lend money pursuant to documents that are to be negotiated later. They argued the two sides were in talks when the buyers sued.

A spokesman for THL and Bain said in an e-mailed statement: "We are especially pleased that the court has confirmed that the banks may be forced under New York law to live up to the commitments they made to finance the Clear Channel transaction.

"The evidence we have presented thus far is just the tip of the iceberg of extensive documentation and days of testimony we will present at trial," the spokesman added.

In the Texas case, Clear Channel, THL and Bain claim "tortious interference" with the deal and seek damages exceeding $26 billion, according to the suit.

The banks on Monday filed a new motion asking the Texas court to dismiss that lawsuit against them, arguing it is "not ripe or justiciable". They argued the suit was based on events that have not -- and may not -- occur, as a June 12 deadline to complete the deal is still pending.

Bexar County State District Judge Joe F. Brown Jr in April had refused a separate request by the banks to dismiss the Texas lawsuit, as he set a June 2 trial date. In that request, the banks had argued the Texas case should be dismissed and folded into the litigation under way in New York.

Clear Channel's shares closed 43 cents lower at $29.52 on the New York Stock Exchange.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Braden Reddall)