Melbourne, Sept 17 - Shareholders in Lion Nathan Ltd, Australia's second-largest brewer, approved a $3 billion takeover by Japanese brewer Kirin on Thursday, which will create Australia's largest food and drinks group.
The deal has already received enough proxy votes to give it 97.5 percent approval, the company said in a presentation to a shareholder meeting called to approve the offer.
Kirin Holdings already owned 47 percent of Lion and made an offer in May worth A$12.00 a share, or A$3.4 billion ($2.97 billion), for the rest of the group.
The takeover will allow Kirin to tie the maker of XXXX Gold and Hahn beers with its National Foods dairy and juice group in Australia, including the Dairy Farmers milk group, to make it the biggest single supplier to Australia's supermarkets.