TOKYO, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Takeda Pharmaceuticalshareholders approved on Wednesday its $59 billion takeover ofLondon-listed Shire, a Takeda spokesman said, creating aglobal powerhouse with a stronger drugs pipeline but one that issaddled with massive debt.
Takeda will be joining the ranks of the world's top 10drugmakers and gaining expertise in rare diseases through thedeal, the biggest overseas acquisition by a Japanese company.
It will also become one of the most indebted. In addition toissuing new shares, the company has secured $30.9 billion inbank loans.(Reporting by Takashi Umekawa; Editing by Chris Gallagher andMuralikumar Anantharaman)