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PARK RIDGE, N.J. — Hertz Global Holdings just moved a step closer to acquiring Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group.

Hertz is hoping to grab DTAG, while Avis Budget Group waits in the wings and hopes DTAG will select its offer instead.

Less than a week after rival Avis Budget Group turned in a bid to buy Dollar Thrifty, Hertz revealed Monday that it has crossed another hurdle: the Canadian Competition Bureau gave antitrust regulatory approval for Hertz to buy Dollar Thrifty.

Hertz explained that it had filed a Competition Act notice on May 21, and then a month later, the waiting period expired without a second or supplementary request for information being issued.

So, the Competition Bureau sent a no-action comfort letter to Hertz on Tuesday of last week. As such, the Canadian regulatory condition in the Hertz-Dollar Thrifty merger agreement has been fulfilled, Hertz contends.

"Getting Canadian antitrust regulatory approval is another step in the process for us to successfully complete the merger with Dollar Thrifty, which we look forward to completing in the near future," stated Mark Frissora, Hertz chairman and chief executive officer.

He continued: "Dollar Thrifty's well-established presence in the value leisure segment of the U.S. and Canadian airport car rental markets, as well as other key international markets, complements Hertz's global presence in the business and premium leisure car rental segments."