May 22 (Reuters) - Schneider Electric said on

Wednesday that discussions with U.S. engineering software

produce Bentley Systems ( BSY ) regarding a potential "strategic

transaction" have ended.

"Those discussions are now mutually terminated and no

transaction was agreed upon," Schneider said in a statement.

Reuters had reported in April that Bentley Systems ( BSY ) was

exploring options including a sale after attracting acquisition

interest, and that Schneider was interested in a deal.

Bentley, an engineering software company with a market

value of about $17 billion is family controlled through a

special class of shares.

The group formed a special committee of its board of

directors to explore options, sources close to the matter have

previously told Reuters.

Schneider's shares were up by 0.47% at 1234 GMT,

outperforming France's blue chip CAC 40 index, which was

down 0.76%.