April 16 (Reuters) - Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) Amatil CCL.AX said on Friday its independent shareholders voted in favour of Coca-Cola European Partners CCEPC.L , the European bottling arm of Coca-Cola KO.N , acquiring the Australian firm for A$9.93 billion ($7.68 billion).
CCEP sweetened its takeover offer in February to A$13.5 per share from A$12.75 after reports that Amatil's major shareholders viewed the earlier offer as too low. deal, which would be Australia's biggest this year, will combine two companies that bottle and distribute Coca-Cola drinks, and gives CCEP a platform to consolidate in Asia.
New Zealand's Overseas Investment Office gave its approval for the deal on Wednesday but it still requires an Australian court's approval, which is scheduled for a hearing next week. a stock exchange filing on Friday, Amatil said it expects to pay its shareholders a final dividend of A$0.18 per share at the end of this month. (https:// shares are expected to be suspended on the Australia securities exchange at close of trading on April 21, the company added.
($1 = 1.2933 Australian dollars)