The delay adds 20 working days to the original 8 July date for the European Commission (EC) to conclude its'Phase 2' investigation into the acquisition, part of which will see the US industrial giant take over Alstom’s global onshore wind operations and form joint ventures with it in offshore wind, hydro and grids.

The EC posted the extension on its website after the two sides jointly agreed for the extra time, a GE spokesman says.

“We