** Shares in PostNL PTNL.AS rise 3.2% after UPS's UPS.N Netherlands boss told local paper De Telegraaf that the U.S. group was not ruling out a takeover of the Dutch postal operator

** Michiel van Veen, managing director for UPS Benelux & France, said the company was looking to expand its market share across Netherlands and did not rule out a possible bid for PostNL

** "We grow through acquisitions or on our own and don't rule anything out," Van Veen told De Telegraaf

** Contacted by Reuters, PostNL and UPS were not immediately available for comment

** "The interview holds a short term negative but also a significant but more speculative positive for the (PostNL) shares," says ING

** The shares are on track for their best day since June 10 if gains hold

(Reporting by Dimitri Rhodes)

((Dimitri.Rhodes@thomsonreuters.com))