Cadbury PLC shareholders have voted to approve Kraft Foods Inc.'s roughly $19.5 billion offer to acquire the British candy maker.

The vote clears the last major hurtle to the creation of the world's largest confectionary company, greatly expanding Kraft's global reach.

Kraft said Tuesday that nearly 72 percent of Cadbury shareholders approved the deal.

The majority vote is the final hurdle in a months-long battle by the U.S. foodmaker to buy Cadbury.

Cadbury stockholders 500 pence cash and 0.1874 new Kraft shares for each of its Cadbury shares under the terms.

The deal does not require a vote by Kraft's shareholders. It is expected to close this month.