CSC Seeks to Bar Bank From Takeover Role

Computer Sciences Corp. asked a federal court to bar Bear, Stearns & Co. from advising Computer Associates International Inc., claiming the investment bank received confidential information from a CSC business partner. CSC said Bear Stearns received proprietary information from its relationship with Equifax Inc., a former partner with CSC in a credit-services joint venture called CSC Enterprises. The El Segundo-based company said it believes the confidential information will be used by Bear Stearns to advise its current client CA, which is trying to acquire CSC in a $9.8-billion hostile takeover. CSC has rejected a friendly $108-a-share offer by CA and is advising shareholders to reject a tender offer at the same price. CSC also asked the court to order Islandia, N.Y.-based CA to not buy any CSC shares or take any other steps to acquire the computer services company. Bear Stearns officials were not immediately available for comment. In New York Stock Exchange trading, CSC shares fell 94 cents to close at $107; CA shares fell 50 cents to close at $46.13.