Synthes shareholders approve J&J's takeover of medical device company

Synthes, Inc., shareholders, meeting at the company's headquarters in Solothurn, Switzerland, voted to approve the proposal by Johnson & Johnson to take over Synthes for $21.3 billion in cash and stock.

"The shareholders approved the proposal to adopt the agreement and plan of merger as outlined in the invitation," Synthes said in a statement.

Synthes has facilities and a U.S. headquarters in Chester County.

The companies hope to close the deal in the first half of 2012.

The European Union is reviewing the deal to examine the anti-trust effects on the market for screws, plates and other devices to fix bones broken through trauma or wear and tear. The EU set a new deadline of April 2 to rule on the acquisition, which would be the largest in the history of J&J.

Synthes board chairman Hansjorg Wyss, his family and two family-controlled trusts said in proxy statements previously filed by J&J that, as dominant shareholders, they would vote in favor of the deal.