MCI WorldCom, C&W Settle Squabble

Cable and Wireless Plc. and MCI WorldCom, Inc. Wednesday settled a
dispute over Cable and Wireless’s purchase of MCI’s Internet business.

MCI WorldCom (WCOM) has agreed to pay Cable and Wireless (CWP)
$200 million in full and final settlement of the disputes.


The $200 million
payment is in addition to $23 million awarded to Cable and Wireless in
December by an independent arbitrator pursuant to post-closing adjustment
procedures in the parties’ agreement.

Cable and Wireless filed suit against MCI WorldCom a year ago alleging it
had not delivered what was promised when it bought the business,
particularly with regard to key personnel and customer information.

Mike McTighe, Cable and Wireless chief executive officer of global
operations, said he was pleased with the settlement and content to put this
episode behind the firm.

“The settlement of this dispute will enable us to totally focus on building
on our unique position in IP and accelerate our strategy of significant
expansion in the fast growing market of data and Internet services for
business customers,” McTighe said.

Cable and Wireless bought MCI’s Internet business in 1998 after antitrust
regulators ordered the sale as part of MCI’s merger with WorldCom.

MCI WorldCom is currently attempting to close its estimated $129 billion
merger with Sprint Corp. (FON).
Should the merger be approved, MCI WorldCom’s most immediate plans include
offering innovative broadband access and nationwide digital wireless voice
and data services on a global scale.

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