Foster’s shareholders have approved brewing giant SABMiller’s A$11.5 billion takeover bid for the Australian company.

Foster's said more than 99 per cent of shareholder votes cast at a meeting in Melbourne today supported the deal.

Australia's competition regulator has already approved London-based SABMiller's bid.

The takeover now needs to win the approval of the Victoria state Supreme Court before it can go ahead.

Foster's chairman David Crawford said though the ownership of Foster's is changing, its beer and brands will still be
produced in Australia.

Foster's owns seven of the top 10 beer brands in Australia. SABMiller's brands include Grolsch, Peroni and Miller Lite.

SABMiller expects its biggest takeover deal to close by the end of the year and put it at the head of the Australian beer market with a near-50 per cent share.