WASHINGTON - Billionaire investor Carl Icahn said Friday a sale of BEA Systems Inc to a strategic acquirer would maximize the value of its shares and that he might seek to nominate directors to the software maker's board.

Icahn reported in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that he holds a 8.53 percent stake in BEA, or about 33.43 million shares.

He said he intends to meet with BEA's management to discuss a potential sale, as well as meet with other large shareholders.

BEA shares jumped as much as 5 percent on the Icahn news, reaching $13.40. However, that was still below their 52-week high of $16.77, reached on Oct. 31, 2006.

Icahn had previously reported that he held 7.94 million shares, or about a 2 percent stake, as of June 30.

He said in the filing Friday that his funds "believe that a strategic acquirer could utilize greater resources and market presence than the Issuer to advantage the Issuer's innovative technology and thereby profit from higher revenue growth and the elimination of duplicative costs."

Icahn also said he believes that consolidation in the technology industry is leading to increased competition that may place independent software vendors at a competitive disadvantage.

He said he may seek to have BEA Systems hold an annual shareholder meeting, as one has not been held since July 2006, and may seek to nominate directors. (Reporting by Karey Wutkowski)

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