BEA Systems says company worth $21 per share
NEW YORK, Oct 25 (Reuters) - BEA Systems Inc BEAS.O said on Thursday it would be willing to begin discussing a sale of the company at a price of $21 per share, setting a deal value well in excess of an offer from Oracle Corp (ORCL.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).
BEA said that Oracle had asked the company over the last several weeks for a price at which it would be willing to begin negotiations. Oracle has set a Sunday deadline for BEA to accept its offer of $17 per share, but BEA has so far rejected the approach.
BEA's board estimates that Oracle or another company would still see earnings benefit if it acquired BEA Systems at $21 per share or higher, the company said.
BEA sells programs that help connect business computer systems. (Reporting by Michele Gershberg, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)
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