黑洞社区

Barratt and Redrow shareholders have approved the former鈥檚 plan to buy its smaller rival in a 拢2.5bn deal creating a 拢7.5bn turnover business. 

Both housebuilders held meetings this morning to approve or reject the recommended all-share deal. 

More than 99% of shareholders at the pair voted in favour of the move. 

When the deal was announced in February, Barratt鈥檚 board said it would generate annual pre-tax cost savings of at least 拢90m by the third year after the completion. 

Barratt has previously said up to 10% of staff, which would be around 850 jobs, at the enlarged group could lose their jobs as a result.

Under the deal, Barratt shareholders will own around two-thirds of the share capital of the combined group, to be known as Barratt Redrow, with shareholders of Redrow owning the remaining third. 

It now only remains for regulators to approve the deal.  

The Competition and Markets Authority announced in March that it had opened an investigation into the deal and whether it 鈥渕ay be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition鈥�. 

Between them the pair delivered more than 22,000 homes last year.  

Barratt is already the largest housebuilder in the UK in terms of income while Redrow ranked seventh in 黑洞社区鈥檚 Top 50 Housebuilders list last year, which ranks firms by turnover. 

>> Read more: Barratt鈥檚 acquisition of Redrow: the numbers and key players

>> Read more: Barratt deal would not have been necessary if not for 鈥榙ire鈥� housing market, says Redrow founder 

An 鈥渋nvitation to comment鈥� issued by the CMA reached its deadline on 2 April. 

Barratt and Redrow are also among eight housebuilders being probed by the watchdog over potential 鈥渁nti-competitive behaviour鈥�.