US group Willamette has said it is willing to enter talks with hostile bidder Weyerhaeuser, if its rival increases its current 34 ($50)-per-share offer by several dollars per share (PrintWeek, 5 October).

But a letter sent by Willamette chairman William Swindells and president and chief executive Duane McDougall, which indicated its willingness to talk, prompted a terse response from Weyer-haeuser.

Weyerhaeuser chairman, president and chief executive Steven Rogel, who has led the hostile takeover battle against his former employer, said the firms existing offer was "a fair price".

"We are not going to increase our offer merely to begin discussions as that would not be productive," he added.