Regulator Approves Rumo's Takeover of Brazil Railway Firm ALL

Brazil's antitrust regulator Cade on Wednesday approved the takeover of the country's main railway operator America Latina Logistica SA by Rumo Logistica SA with restrictions to protect against unfair market advantages.

The lead Cade investigator on the case, Gilvandro de Araujo, said restrictions on the merger would include guarantees of third-party access to Rumo's two dry bulk terminals at Santos, Brazil's biggest port.

The restrictions are aimed at addressing concerns of sugar and grain producers and traders who fear the deal will create a monopoly on railway access to the port of Santos.

Araujo also said executives of Cosan SA, the sugar and ethanol producer that belongs to the same industrial group as Rumo, would not be allowed to take management positions at the merged company.

Shares of ALL and Rumo both rose between 9 percent and 12 percent in early trade as Cade officials met, and have clung near their highest levels since December after the approval.

Reporting by Nestor Rabello