Riviera Holdings Corp. let another deadline slip by Thursday without making a USD 4 million loan payment but said it is still in talks with Wachovia Bank about restructuring its debts outside of bankruptcy court. Phil Simons, the company's chief financial officer, said Thursday that the company isn't planning to file for bankruptcy this week because of the talks.

Beating rival bidders by USD 3 a share, real estate developer Ian Bruce Eichner (in partnership with Dune Capital Management) offered to pay USD 30 a share for Riviera Holdings Corp. The latter is owner of the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and the Riviera Black Hawk in Colorado. Riviera Holdings announced the bid today and officials said they will give the offer serious attention. Shares in Riviera Holdings jumped to USD 33 on Friday, a new 52-week high, during late afternoon trading on the AMEX.