First Choice shareholders have cleared the company’s proposed merger with the tourism division of Thomson owner TUI AG.

The board of First Choice announced the result earlier today. Completion of the merger is now expected on September 3.

Earlier this year, TUI Travel group said the merger of Thomson and First Choice would not lead to mass closure of high-street agencies.

Thomson UK managing director Peter Rothwell said there was little overlap of the two companies’ shop networks, with only 200 out of 1,100 retail outlets in direct competition.