A cash lifeline for troubled outsourcing firm Miller Fisher was today accepted by shareholders.

They voted at an extraordinary general meeting to accept the deal giving Halifax Bank of Scotland a 49.9% stake in Miller Fisher.

The vote confirms that the banking group will buy 13.25 million shares. The stock can be converted into shares that carry voting rights.

The deal, revealed in December by Insurance Times, is worth £13.3 to Miller Fisher.

Miller Fisher chief executive Malcolm Hughes said it would give the company extra capital to invest in growth.

"This is excellent news for the company and for shareholders alike, drawing a line under some of the difficulties that we undoubtedly faced during 2001.

"We have been very encouraged by the reaction of shareholders towards the restructuring deal and by the way in which the industry has reacted.

"We have already secured a number of new clients following the December announcement and can now look forward with confidence to 2002."

Miller Fisher's share price was unchanged this afternoon at 3.55p.

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