'It is closer to them buying Flying Tiger. It gives them a presence in Europe in a way they were limited before.' FedEx's purchase of TNT, for which negotiations began 15 months ago, came after European anti-trust regulators in 2013 thwarted a UPS bid to buy TNT. The combination means substantially more revenue and employees for FedEx, which launched operations at Memphis International Airport in 1973. TNT has estimated 2016 revenues of about $7.8 billion, and analysts expect FedEx revenues to hit $50.1 billion. TNT has 56,000 employees, and FedEx's worldwide headcount is 340,000. The purchase wrapped up with a ceremony about 3:30 a.m. CDT in The Netherlands. FedEx Express president and chief executive David Bronczek joined David Binks, president of FedEx Express Europe and Tex Gunning, CEO of TNT Express, in a press conference at The Conservatorium Hotel Amsterdam.