Suncor and Petro-Canada get U.S. approval for merger

CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - U.S. antitrust authorities have approved Suncor Energy Inc's (SU.TO: Quote) C$18.4 billion ($15.2 billion) takeover of Petro-Canada PCA.TO, a ruling that reflects the companies' relatively small U.S. operations.

The Federal Trade Commission made the announcement on Wednesday in a listing of approved deals issued several times a week.

Suncor and Petro-Canada announced the deal in late March. It still requires approval by Canada's Competition Bureau.

The companies have no operational overlap in the United States. Suncor runs a refining and gasoline retailing business in Colorado, and Petro-Canada has an unconventional natural gas production business in the Rocky Mountain region.

Suncor Chief Executive Rick George has said he believes the biggest potential regulatory snag will involve retail gasoline sales in Ontario, where both companies have extensive service-station networks.

Suncor shares were off 73 Canadian cents at C$29.97 on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Wednesday morning. Petro-Canada fell 85 Canadian cents to C$36.85.

($1=$1.21 Canadian)

(Reporting by Jeffrey Jones and Diane Bartz; editing by Peter Galloway)