United Parcel Service Inc , the world's largest package-delivery service, said on Wednesday it has been contacted by the European Commission, which is probing price fixing in the shipping business.

We received on February 9 a statement of objections from the European Union containing the commission's preliminary view with respect to what they allege is anti-competitive behavior in the freight-forwarding industry, Norman Black, a spokesman for the Atlanta-based company said in an emailed statement.

We intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this proceeding against any allegations of wrong-doing involving UPS, he added.

European authorities have charged logistics companies including DHL , Panalpina

, Kuehne & Nagel and DSV with illegally fixing prices.

Officials at UPS's main U.S. rival, FedEx Corp said they had not been contacted by European Commission, or any other regulators, in connection with the investigation.

(Reporting by Helen Chernikoff, writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Bernard Orr)

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