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UPS Inc. said its planned $6.5 billion purchase of Netherlands-based TNT Express will be completed in the first quarter of 2013, to allow European Union regulators additional time to review the deal.

European regulators resumed a probe of the planned deal — which was first announced in March — late last month,

“UPS and TNT Express remain committed to the offer and are working closely to fulfill all offer conditions,” the two said in a joint statement Wednesday.

UPS is ranked No. 1 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.