BLOOMFIELD, Conn.—Cigna Corp. (NYSE: CI) announced that during a special shareholder meeting held Dec. 3, its shareholders voted to approve the adoption of the merger agreement with Anthem, Inc. dated July 23, 2015.

Approximately 99 percent of the votes cast voted in favor of the mega-merger of the two health care giants, which represented approximately 82 percent of Cigna's total outstanding shares of common stock as of the close of business on Oct. 22, 2015, the record date for the special meeting.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2016, pending the receipt of customary approvals, including certain state regulatory approvals and expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, Cigna said.