Montreal ? Shareholders of Canada’s biggest brewer, Molson Inc., on Friday voted overwhelmingly in favor of merging with Adolph Coors Co., the third-largest brewery in the United States.

The $6 billion merger would form the world’s fifth-largest brewery if Coors shareholders also approve the deal Tuesday, as widely expected.

The combined Molson Coors Brewing Co., with headquarters both in Montreal and Denver, would own brands that include Coors Original, Coors Light, Keystone, Molson Canadian and Carling.

Molson officials said that more than 80 percent of the shareholders agreed to the merger, whose chances were increased earlier this month after the brewers dramatically increased a special dividend to persuade wavering Molson shareholders to approve their deal.

“Molson management and the board are very pleased that shareholders have supported the merger and understood the strategic and economic value of the transaction,” Molson Chairman Eric Molson said in a statement after the vote, which took less than 45 minutes.

He said the merger creates a company “with the operational scale and the financial strength to compete in the rapidly consolidating global beer market.”

Warren Chippindale, a former director of Molson, said shareholders understood that it was likely the best offer they would get.

“I think that it was generous of the Molsons to offer the special dividends and not take it for themselves,” Chippindale told reporters after voting himself. He shrugged off concerns that yet another Canadian industry was being dominated by U.S. interests.

“It’s a big world, and that’s where the market is,” he said. “I would rather see this kind of a merger than a takeover by a Miller or something like that.”

The brewing giant SABMiller PLC had indicated it would be interested in making a bid for Molson should the pending merger with Coors fall through.