Brewer Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) has said that its shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of a £10 billion takeover big from a consortium of Carlsberg and Heineken. The vote was taken at an extraordinary general meeting on Monday.

The takeover still requires court approval but is expected to go ahead on 28 April 2008.

S&N's business in the UK, Ireland, Finland, Portugal, Belgium and India will go to Heineken whilst the company's business in France, Greece, Russia, China and Vietnam will go to Carlsberg

Sir Brian Stewart, chairman of S&N told shareholders it was a momentous and historic day for Scottish & Newcastle, Britain's largest brewer and one of Scotland's oldest independent companies.

Sir Brian said, Though today may be an end, it is also a beginning; a new opportunity for our people across the globe - including many still based here in Scotland - to grow within a larger worldwide group.

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