MIDLAND, MI - The Dow Chemical Co. and Union Carbide Corp. said they expect the regulatory review of the companies' proposed merger to be completed in the second quarter of this year.

The companies late last year received a request for additional information from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. In addition, the European Commission launched a "second-phase" investigation of the merger in December; that review is expected to be completed in May. The merger was approved by Union Carbide shareholders on Dec. 1, 1999.