ESpeed, the US Treasury bonds trading platform operator, has submitted the highest bid for MTS, the number one electronic platform for eurozone government debt, beating an offer from joint bidders Euronext and Borsa Italiana, which were thought to be the strongest contenders.

“ESpeed submitted the highest bid,” a person close to the sale said yesterday. “It was very close to the valuation of the operator.” Neither eSpeed, Euronext, nor Borsa Italiana would comment yesterday.