BERLIN, June 19 (Reuters) - Rocket Software said on Monday it was giving up its counteroffer for Software AG (SOWGn.DE) and selling its stake in the company to U.S. financial investor Silver Lake instead. Silver Lake had in April announced a 2.4 billion euro ($2.62 billion) takeover bid for Software AG, prompting a counteroffer from Rocket Software which is owned by private equity firm Bain Capital. "Unfortunately, we were not successful in our efforts," Rocket Software chairman Andy Youniss said in a statement. Rocket would sell and transfer its entire stake of 10.02% in Software AG for 32 euros per share, the company said. Silver Lake said it had as such now secured 41% of shares in Software AG, noting its cash offer to other Software AG shareholders remained open until June 28.

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Persons: Silver Lake, Silver, Andy Youniss, Christian Lucas, Alexander Huebner, Sarah Marsh, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Rocket Software, Software AG, Rocket, Bain Capital, Software, EMEA, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Sofware, Silver