It's D-Day for the airport vote

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board looks set to get the 40 per cent acceptances it needs to succeed in its bid for Auckland International Airport with the latest count showing it now holds a 38.75 per cent stake - including the 0.78 per cent stake it already owns.

However the other requirement for success - a majority of votes cast by shareholders - looks far from certain.

While the latest count shows a sizeable majority (68.26 versus 31.24 - see graphic at right) in favour of the deal, those numbers don't reflect the "no" votes by Manukau City and Auckland City.

Even with Infratil's last minute acceptance of the deal, the numbers look tight for the Canadians in the run-up to tonight's deadline for the deal.

Fears that the Canadians won't get enough votes were reflected in yesterday's share price, which fell 9c to close at $2.19, well short of the offer price of $3.65 cents per share.