Jan 6 (Reuters) - Comerica ( CMA ) shareholders on Tuesday approved a $10.9 billion sale to larger rival Fifth ‌Third Bancorp, according to two people ​familiar with the vote, ignoring ‍an activist hedge ⁠fund's calls ⁠to block the deal after having ‌initially urged the ​bank to put itself up for sale.

At the ⁠special meeting, ‍a ​preliminary tally showed 97% of Comerica ( CMA ) shareholders voted in favor ‍of the deal while 2.2% voted against it, according to one of the people, who asked not ​to ‍be named because the vote is confidential. The merger ​will create the ninth-largest U.S. bank with $288 billion in combined assets.

Comerica ( CMA ) did not return multiple requests for comment.