Fiat-1899
Fiat shareholders today approved the merger of Fiat S.p.A. and Chrysler Group into Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.

The margin was well above the required two-thirds majority with only 8% of shareholders opposing the merger.

The only remaining barrier is the possibility that all the shareholders voting against the merger could exercise their buyout rights, which would exceed the €500 million (~$671 million) cap on funding for buyouts.

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of the newly merged company has been counting on approval of the merger and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange to provide the needed cash for his aggressive five-year plan.

The vote means the end of Fiat's history as an Italian automaker just 21 days after the company celebrated the 115th anniversary of its founding in Turin in 1899.