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To: limtex who wrote (2653)	6/18/1998 10:53:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 11568

limtex, the following Bloomberg newswire gives more promising news: WorldCom Close to Securing EU Permission for Its MCI Purchase Bloomberg News June 18, 1998, 7:02 a.m. ET WorldCom Close to Securing EU Permission for Its MCI Purchase Brussels, June 18 (Bloomberg) -- European Union regulators are nearing a decision to approve WorldCom Inc.'s proposed $40.2 billion purchase of MCI Communications Corp. after the companies this week offered further concessions to ensure they won't dominate the Internet, EU and company officials said. The European Commission's merger experts will present their verdict tomorrow to a committee of competition officials from the 15 EU countries. The committee is likely to recommend approval by the full 20-member commission. A member of the committee, who asked not to be named, said EU regulators are likely to change their original recommendation to block the acquisition -- made last week, before MCI agreed to sell more of its Internet activities -- before tomorrow's meeting. Aides to Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert have told the committee this week that talks with the companies are progressing, the member said. The Wall Street Journal Europe reported that the commission yesterday identified three additional concessions the companies must make to secure regulatory approval, and sent them by fax to competitors of WorldCom and MCI for comment. An EU spokesman, who asked not to be named, said regulators wouldn't ask competitors to comment on concessions unless WorldCom and MCI had already offered the concessions, though he wouldn't confirm that the fax was sent. An EU official close to the negotiations said Monday MCI had agreed in principle to sell all its Internet assets after its proposed sale of its wholesale Internet business to Cable & Wireless Plc failed to satisfy EU concerns. This week's negotiations were aimed at finding a way to transfer MCI's Internet-services customer accounts to the buyer without interfering with MCI's agreements to provide other telecommunications services to retail customers, the official said. An agreement would also have to include a guarantee from MCI that it won't try to lure its old customers back for a certain period following the sale, the official said. The commission, the EU's executive agency, is investigating the acquisition in tandem with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission. Mark Weeks, a spokesman for WorldCom in London, said the companies and EU regulators have made progress this week toward an agreement that would satisfy both sides. ''We're having ongoing and fruitful discussions with the European Commission, and we look forward to and are confident of a resolution,'' Weeks said. Though Weeks wouldn't comment on whether the companies expect preliminary approval tomorrow, he said comments by WorldCom Chief Executive Bernard Ebbers and MCI Chairman Bert Roberts earlier this week that they expect approval as early as tomorrow ''speak for themselves.'' If EU regulators and the advisory committee tomorrow decide to clear the acquisition, a final decision will be drafted and voted on by commission. A final ruling is expected on July 8. --Alison Jahncke in the Brussels bureau (32 2) 285 4300/jgn

To: limtex who wrote (2653)	6/18/1998 1:59:00 PM
From: ANANT	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 11568

limtex, AW and all: CNBC interview with QWST ceo QWST is one of the potential bidders for all the MCI internet properties. The other is Williams. Josepf Nacchio - ceo QWST: will take a look at if the price is right - depends on value - QWST has 1.4 B outstanding debt - spoken to people of wcom we have incomparable underlying network we will have synergies - data revolution and video rev. is here - ----------------------------- IMHO: It is amazing QWST is growing so fast with LCI in US and Some ENET ( ???) in Europe and selling licenses for providing fiber capacity almost every week. If QWST wins this bid, QWST could be a serious player in the internet market. After listening to the interview, i felt there will be tough negotiations of MCIC with the bidders. kind rgds ANANT