<p style="line-height: 20.8px;"><span class="articleLocatio</span>n">Business software company Progress Software Corp is considering a sale as part of an exploration of strategic alternatives and has spoken to private equity firms about a potential deal, according to people familiar with the matter.</span> Progress Software is working with investment bank JPMorgan Chase & Co on a limited auction process that was open to only a small number of buyout firms, the people said this week. A leveraged buyout would be challenging because of the choppy debt markets, and there is no certainty the company's negotiations with potential buyers will lead to any deal, the people said.</p>