(Adds details throughout, context)
By Liz Hampton
March 16 (Reuters) - Australian investment bank Macquarie Group Ltd MQG.AX agreed to buy Cargill Inc's CARG.UL petroleum business, the commodities trader said on Thursday, the latest reshuffling of its business following an almost three-year slump in oil prices.
Macquarie operates a global oil business active in both financial and physical markets. The deal would expand its footprint by adding facilities in Geneva, Switzerland and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The companies did not disclose terms of the purchase and declined to comment further.
Reuters first reported the two were in deal talks on March 3. acquired business will report to Nick O'Kane, Macquarie's global head of energy markets.
The sale comes as Cargill has spent the past year streamlining operations amid a rout in global commodity prices. In January, sources had said that Cargill was planning to sell its U.S. gas and power business to commodities trader and investor TrailStone Group. company continues to operate its gas and power business, according to a company representative.
Following the sale, Cargill will continue to operate in the energy industry, including a risk management business, which as a registered swap dealer provides hedging services.
Many banks have exited physical oil trading in recent years following the implementation of the Dodd-Frank financial reform. President Donald Trump in February signed an executive order to scale back those regulations, a move that may better accommodate banks that wish to trade physical commodities.
J.P. Morgan acted as exclusive financial adviser to Cargill on its transaction with Macquarie.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Cargill profit jumps on strong meat demand, big U.S. crops