Short Take: WorldCom, MCI to respond to EU

WorldCom and MCI Communications yesterday received the European Commission's objections to their proposed $41.8 billion merger, and will respond to them at a hearing to be held May 12 and May 13, according to Bloomberg. The companies will have two weeks to prepare their responses and deliver them to the agency, which enforces European Union antitrust policy and recently extended its investigation into WorldCom's pending takeover of MCI.