RPT-Finmeccanica awaiting DRS reply on bid-sources

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ROME, May 12 (Reuters) - Italian aerospace and defence company Finmeccanica SpA (SIFI.MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is awaiting a reply from the board of DRS Technologies Inc. (DRS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on a bid and its board is likely to meet on Monday, sources told Reuters.

"It is very likely that on Monday the board will restart looking at the dossier after the responses that should have arrived from the DRS board by then," a source said.

Press reports said Finmeccanica was ready to spend 3.5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) to buy the Parsippany, New Jersey, company, but Finmeccanica has declined to comment on the offer.

Press reports had been unclear on whether the offer could be friendly or hostile, amid interest in DRS by other players in the industry.

The second source added that Finmeccanica could seek a 2 billion euro capital hike, but the first one denied this possibility. (reporting by Paolo Biondi)