SAN FRANCISCO, July 31, 2008 (AFP) - Electronic Data Systems shareholders on Thursday approved a tie-up with Hewlett-Packard, voting almost unanimously to go through with the 13.9 billion dollar takeover.

In May, HP inked a deal to buy the Texas-based technology company for 25 dollars per share but it needed approval by shareholders as well as US and foreign regulators.

The deal is expected to create a global powerhouse in computer services to compete against IBM.

'I am pleased that our stockholders have followed the recommendation of the EDS board of directors and supported the combination of EDS and HP,' EDS chief executive Ron Rittenmeyer said in a release.

'Not only does the combination of these two great companies create immediate value for our stockholders, it also enhances our ability to achieve our customers' needs.'

The proposed acquisition got clearance on July 25 from the European Commission and a deadline for scrutiny by US regulators expired in June.

EDS expects the transaction to close in August. Northern California-based HP is among the world?s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling 110.4 billion dollars for the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2008.