Cadbury has backed a higher £11.5 billion recommended takeover offer from its US suitor Kraft Foods.
Philadelphia cheese maker Kraft said it had the support of the Cadbury board after tabling a revised offer worth 840p a share.
Kraft boss Irene Rosenfeld said the food giant had "great respect for Cadbury's brands, heritage and people" as it outlined details of the deal.
Cadbury bosses had described Kraft's previous hostile approaches as "derisory", but chairman Roger Carr said of the new bid: "We believe the offer represents good value for Cadbury shareholders and are pleased with the commitment that Kraft Foods has made to our heritage, values and people throughout the world.
"We will now work with the Kraft Foods management to ensure the continued success and growth of the business for the benefit of our customers, consumers and employees."
But Kraft faces strong opposition from UK trade unions amid job loss concerns.
Cadbury employs around 45,000 people in 60 countries, with 5,600 staff at eight manufacturing sites in the UK and Ireland, including a facility in Somerdale near Bristol, which is currently scheduled to close, as well as its Bournville factory near Birmingham.
Trade union Unite fears that some 7,000 jobs at Cadbury would be threatened if the takeover goes ahead, because of a "colossal" £22 billion of debt it believes would swamp the group.
But within minutes of the Cadbury board's approval of the deal being announced, Gordon Brown moved to reassure workers at the chocolate maker that their jobs are safe.
The Prime Minister insisted the Government is "determined jobs in Cadbury can be secure", saying: "We are determined that the levels of investment that take place in Cadbury in the United Kingdom are maintained and we are determined that, at a time when people are worried about their jobs, that jobs in Cadbury can be secure."
