Motorola Mobility shareholders give the nod to Google merger

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Back during the summer, Google decided that it has the OS wrapped up with Android and wanted to add hardware maker to its bag of tricks. That meant that the search giant went looking for a mobile device maker to gobble up. Google ended up going with Motorola and offered to buy the mobility side from Motorola for $12.5 billion.

The offer was accepted at the time by the Motorola board, but it still had to be approved by the various government regulators and by the shareholders. Google and Motorola are one-step closer to the buyout being complete with the shareholders for Motorola Mobility approving the merger with Google. Motorola says that its shareholders voted overwhelmingly to the tune of 99% of those at the special session agreeing to accept the merger deal.

Those that were at the special voting meeting represented 74% of all outstanding shares of Motorola stock. Motorola and Google expect the deal to close by the end of 2011 or early in 2012. The expectation is for early 2012. There are still other closing conditions that must be met for the merger to finalize, so it could take longer than expected.