The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Sept. 5, edition that Canadian Western Bank shareholders have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a sale of the company to National Bank of Canada. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe reports that the Edmonton-based Canadian Western Bank reported that 99.78 per cent of the vote at the special meeting on Tuesday was in favour of the all-share deal. The two banks announced the proposal in June, which would see Montreal-based National Bank take over mid-sized Canadian Western Bank at a valuation of approximately $5-billion. The deal represented a more than 100-per-cent premium to where Canadian Western Bank was trading before the announcement. If approved, the takeover would see National Bank expand further westward as it takes on Canadian Western Bank's Alberta and B.C.-focused operations. Regulatory approval is still required, but if secured, the deal is expected to close next year.