(Updates throughout)
LONDON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell and BGGroup shareholders are expected to vote on the merger ofthe two companies on Jan. 27 and 28, respectively, the firmssaid on Monday.
Shareholder approval is the final remaining hurdle to clearShell's takeover of its smaller rival, one of the largest energydeals in a decade that will create the world's most powerfulliquefied natural gas (LNG) trader.
Worth $70 billion at the time of the offer in April, it isworth about $53 billion at current market valuations.
BG asked Britain's High Court on Monday for approval topublish its scheme document and to convene the shareholdermeetings, the companies said.
Court approval is expected on Tuesday, the companies said,followed by the publication of BG's scheme document and theShell shareholder prospectus.
Following shareholder approval, the delisting of an acquiredcompany's shares typically takes around 10 working days. Thismeans Shell's takeover of BG could complete in mid-February. (Reporting by Karolin Schaps in London and Noor Zainab Hussainin Bengaluru; editing by Jason Neely)