Norway-based survey outfit Wavefield Inseis got a step closer to having a Franco-Norwegian base on Monday, CGGVeritas announced most of its takeover target’s shareholders showing support for its merger deal.

Despite Wavefield staff stating their desire to stay independent, it appears shareholders have offered 70 percent of their shares to Paris-based CGGVeritas. CGGVeritas declared success on Monday for its voluntary seven-to-one offer of shares to Wavefield, and the company unveiled a new share issue to cover its mandatory offer for remaining Wavefield shares.

“Together, we are now an even more robust company,” said CGGVeritas chief exec Robert Brunck in a statement.

New CGGVeritas stock will be transferred to cooperating Wavefield shareholders by Friday, Dec. 19th, 2008. Once CGGVeritas owns 90 percent of Wavefield equity, its board will launch a “squeeze-out” of whatever shares remain by February 2009.

Tags: CGGVeritas, TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company, Wavefield InSeis ASA