NORWALK, Conn. (AP) -- Research equipment maker Applied Biosystems Inc. said Monday its shareholders will meet in October to vote on the previously announced proposed $6.7 billion buyout by competitor Invitrogen Corp.

Directors for Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen signed off on the deal in June, though shareholders for both companies must also approve the transaction for it to be completed.

Applied Biosystems shareholders will vote at an Oct. 16 meeting which will be open to investors of record as of Sept. 5.

Invitrogen scheduled a meeting on the same day for its shareholders to vote on the buyout. The meeting will be held at the company's Carlsbad, Calif., headquarters and will open to investors of record as of Sept. 5.

Invitrogen makes a broad range of biochemicals and equipment used in government, academic and corporate medical research labs. The combined company will focus on developing technologies to uncover links between genes and illnesses.

The transaction has been approved by U.S. antitrust regulators. It still requires approval by European regulators.