According to a company release, of the 55.1 million commonshares outstanding, 69.8% voted for the merger; of the total commonshares that cast a vote, 99% voted in for the merger. The move putsthe deal on the path for an Oct. 22 closing date.

Equity adds it will "declare at a future date a pro rateddividend on the company's common shares subject to the satisfactionor waiver of the closing conditions to the merger. The record datefor the pro rated dividend will be the close of business on thelast business day prior to the merger effective time." The dividendwill be paid on the third business day after the merger closes.

Both parties entered into a definitive mergeragreement on June 20, as GlobeSt.com previously reported.Under the deal, Whitehall will take all outstanding common sharesof Equity Inns for $23 per share, cash. The price is a premium ofapproximately 28% over Equity Inns' 90-day average closing shareprice, Equity executives said at the time, and a premium ofapproximately 19% over the REIT's closing price on June 20.