Shareholders in the UK's 250-year-old brewer, most famous for John Smith's and Newcastle Brown ale, voted unanimously in favour of the takeover at a meeting in Edinburgh, after rejecting initial bids from the two European beer-traders at the end of last year.

Danish firm Carlsberg, which has breweries in Northampton and Leeds, will take on Scottish and Newcastle's overseas operations, including branches in France, Greece, China and Vietnam, as well as a 50/50 venture in Russia and the Baltics, and the brewer's stake in Baltic Beverages Holding (BBH).

The result would mean Carlsberg would take over Kronenbourg in France to automatically get 36 per cent of the market.

Meanwhile, Heineken is expected to continue Scottish and Newcastle's business in the UK, where the company has breweries in Manchester, Reading, Berkshire, Newcastle and Tadcaster.

Gareth Roberts, head of media at Carlsberg, said: "It's really positive news and from a global point of view, it creates the fastest growing beer brand in the world.

"What it has enabled us to do is to take some number one positions in countries where we weren't major players.

"From a UK point of view, it doesn't change much but this was a very important stage for us to get a positive result from. We're very confident now that everything will go through to final completion." Court approval for the decision is expected on April 28.