Yes, they had to go to the "shareholders" to reach the 50.1% majority they needed to railroad through the the vote.
The other shareholders, many who have loyally watched their stock decline over the years, might have liked to record their vote of approbation or disapproval as a matter of record. Guess they've learned how much their stockholder rights count
But hey, as the company pointed out, this saved money (which could better be spent to give our underpaid CEO another raise?)