CHARLOTTE, N.C. AP-Merrill Lynch & Co. shareholders on Friday approved the investment bank’s sale to Bank of America Corp., in a move that will create the nation’s largest financial-services firm.

During a special shareholders meeting at company headquarters in New York, Merrill shareholders approved the sale of the company to the Charlotte, N.C.-based bank. Bank of America shareholders are set to vote on the acquisition at 11 a.m. EST.