WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIF. – Stockholders of the Dole Food Co., Inc. have approved a previously announced merger agreement that will take the company private. Under the agreement, David H. Murdock, chairman and chief executive officer of Dole, will acquire the approximate 60.5% of the company’s outstanding stock that he and his affiliates do not already own for $13.50 per share in cash. Votes for the merger totaled about 63.8 million shares, or 70.6% of Dole’s outstanding shares of common stock.