Great Western Suitor Can Aquire Stock

H.F. Ahmanson & Co. said it received regulatory permission to purchase more than $15 million in Great Western shares, part of its attempt to acquire Great Western Financial Corp.

Ahmanson launched a $6 billion hostile takeover bid on Feb. 17.

The decision by the Federal Trade Commission “enhances our flexibility as we move forward with our merger proposal,” Ahmanson said in a statement. The ruling allows Ahmanson to buy up to 15 percent of Great Western’s shares.

Great Western, seeking to fend off Ahmanson, Thursday agreed to be acquired instead by Washington Mutual Inc., a Seattle thrift which offered about $6.6 billion.