Qwest is making a last ditch attempt to acquire MCI after upping its bid to $9.75bn.

This "best and final offer" for a tie-up between US telcos MCI and Qwest is 30 per cent higher that the one made by Verizon and accepted by the company formerly known as WorldCom.

Earlier this month press reports suggested that MCI was holding out for an offer of $30 a share. Qwest's latest offer, as it happens, equates to $30 a share. If the "sources" behind that story are right, it might just be enough for MCI to turn its back on Verizon.

In a statement MCI execs said they would "review the revised proposal" and have until teatime on Saturday to decide whether or not to accept Qwest's final offer.

For Verizon, it remains committed to the deal. In a statement it said: "Notwithstanding the latest Qwest proposal, we continue to believe Verizon is the best partner for MCI. As we move through the proxy process, we will continue to assess the situation and intend to take the necessary steps at the appropriate time to secure shareholder approval and complete our pending transaction." ®

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