The controversial ?3.9bn takeover of British shipping company P&O by Dubai Ports World, the state-owned United Arab Emirates group, finally cleared its last legal hurdle in the UK on Monday.

The Court of Appeal in London refused Miami-based Eller & Co, which opposed the deal, permission to appeal against clearances for the legal and financial measures necessary to implement the takeover. Those clearances were given by a High Court judge, after several days of argument, last week.