Oracle throws toys out of pram at BEA refusal

DATABASE OLIGARCH Oracle said unless BEA Systems doesn't get its act together and soon, it won't pay $6.7 billion for the company any more.

BEA has played coy maiden to Oracle's bold advances and doesn't want to be its paramour.

Despite Oracle making the threat, BEA has just fluttered its corporate eyelashes, but now the big database firm wants to put the bid to shareholders.

They stand to gain 25 per cent more per share if winsome BEA finds herself dragged to the altar in a tryst, whether arranged, agreed to by the board, or in any other way. µ