Griffin, Trump Resume Talks Over Resorts

Merv Griffin and Donald J. Trump resumed their on-again, off-again negotiations for control of Resorts International on Wednesday, a week after talks about the casino company collapsed amid mutual recriminations.

Terms of the discussion are roughly the same as those previously announced: Griffin, the former talk-show host turned businessman, would pay about $205 million, or $36 a share for most of the Atlantic City, N.J., company.

Griffin also would acquire Trump’s Class B shares in the company, which give the New York real estate developer 88% control of Resorts, and Trump would buy back the huge, unfinished Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City.

The price for Trump’s shares has not been disclosed.

Last week Trump, who is also chairman of Resorts and owner of the majority of the company’s class B stock, said he was voiding the deal because Griffin had been unable to prove he was able to finance the purchase of Resort’s stock.

But spokesmen for the two sides said at the time that the dispute revolved around the question of who would agree to concessions on parking spaces and other matters worth $35 million to $50 million.

“The fact that negotiations have resumed indicates that the two sides believe there’s a way to resolve those problems,” said Tom Gallagher, an attorney for Griffin Co.