JUNE 19, 2003

Trouble still bubbling for DaimlerChrysler

Daimler-Benz's takeover of Chrysler in 1998 continues to be a bone of contention with a federal judge in Delaware recently declaring that a lawsuit against the German giant can be seen as a class action. The disgruntled Chrysler shareholders are led by billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian. They are claiming that the Daimler-Benz management lied about the nature of the deal when they called it "a merger of equals" when in reality it was a takeover. Kerkorian has sworn to see justice done in the affair which could have an embarrassing effect in Jurgen Schrempp, the DaimlerChrysler boss, if the case is proven.