* GrainCorp among top pct gainers on Australian benchmark
* Competition regulator will not oppose deal with ANZ terminals
* Decision allows for demerger of malt division - analyst (Recasts, adds analyst comment and share movement)
By Shriya Ramakrishnan
Nov 15 (Reuters) - GrainCorp GNC.AX on Friday passed a major regulatory hurdle to sell its Australian bulk liquid terminals business to ANZ Terminals, propelling its shares around 8% higher.
The clearance from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) comes a day after GrainCorp posted its biggest annual loss in more than two decades. It had also warned of a weaker crop outlook in 2020 as it battles a three-year drought that has wilted its output. ACCC said it would not oppose the acquisition after ANZ Terminals agreed to divest its Osborne facility in south Australia, and GrainCorp agreed to retain its bulk liquid facility at Port Kembla in New South Wales.
The watchdog had extended its review on the sale by several months after expressing concerns about market concentration.
GrainCorp said the purchase price for the terminals would fall by A$18 million ($12.3 million) from the original A$350 million as it retained the Port Kembla facility. jumped as much as 8.4% to mark their best day in nearly a year, with analysts saying that the ACCC's decision puts GrainCorp one step closer towards completing a demerger of their malt division from its core grain business.
"Passing the regulatory hurdle does allow the demerger of the malt division, which is what the market wants," Damian Rooney, director of equity sales at Argonaut said.
"The company has put forth the vision that the demerger is better for the business, and they can then focus on individual elements. This is one step in the right direction."
GrainCorp said on Thursday it expected the scheme booklet for the demerger to be sent to shareholders in the first quarter of 2020, while flagging solid demand for its malt and brewing ingredients. ($1 = 1.4588 Australian dollars)