NEW YORK — Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. said Thursday that shareholders have approved the railroad’s sale to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway.
The shareholder vote is the last major step before the $26.3 billion purchase of the nation’s second-largest railroad.
When the deal officially closes today, it will be Berkshire’s largest-ever acquisition.
BNSF chief executive Matt Rose said 70 percent of shares cast approved the deal.
“Tomorrow begins the first century of ownership of BNSF by Berkshire Hathaway,” Buffett said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to every day of it as our railroad does its part to ensure the future prosperity of the country.” Berkshire Hathaway agreed last fall to pay $100 per share for the 77.4 percent of BNSF shares it didn’t already own. Samantha Bomkamp, The Associated Press
