U.S., Europe Clear Deutsche Post Purchase of Exel

.S. and European antitrust officials have cleared Deutsche Post AG's acquisition of Britain's Exel Plc, which does about a third of its logistics business in the United States, Reuters reported.

Exel's board approved the deal in September to be purchased by Deutsche Post for 5.5 billion euros — about $6.7 billion — making it the world's largest logistics company. (Click here for previous coverage.)

U.S. antitrust authorities closed their review of the transaction without taking any action to block the deal, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said earlier this month, Reuters reported.

The acquisition would allow Europe's biggest postal operator to double its logistics business, adding Exel's operations in Britain, the United States and Asia, Reuters said. Exel's business includes operating warehouses and shipping car parts.

Exel Americas is ranked No. 1 on the TT Logistics 50 listing of the largest U.S. and Canadian logistics firms.