Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) shareholders Wednesday approved what is the final step toward a spinoff of the company's manufacturing operations, in a deal designed to improve AMD's balance sheet and refocus the company on designing chips instead of making them.

More than 94% of shareholders voted to allow AMD to issue stock and warrants that will effectively let the company spin off its manufacturing facilities into a joint venture known as the Foundry Co., formed with the Advanced Technology Investment Co., an Abu Dhabi investment fund.

The deal includes an investment by Mubadala Development Co., also of Abu Dhabi, of roughly $800 million.

Shares of AMD traded recently at $2.46, up 9 cents, or 3.8%.

Last week, the Sunnyvale, Calif., maker of chips for computers and servers postponed a scheduled shareholder meeting because the company failed to meet the required 50% quorum.

Roughly 97% of the votes cast before the earlier meeting were in favor of the deal.

-By Jerry A. DiColo; Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5670; jerry.dicolo@dowjones.com