UPDATE 2-Viterra sees pause after ABB acquisition

* Areas of interest in Southeast Asia

* Court approval final stage of takeover

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Sept 9 - Viterra Inc <VT.TO>, Canada's largest grain handler, will pause to integrate ABB Grain Ltd <ABB.AX> before seeking new acquisitions, its chief executive said on Wednesday after shareholders of the Australian company approved the A$1.6 billion ($1.4 billion) deal.

The company will have C$350 million ($324 million) to C$750 million in capital available for acquisitions, depending on which option of cash and shares ABB shareholders select, Viterra CEO Mayo Schmidt said in a conference call with reporters.

"There are areas of interest throughout Southeast Asia," Schmidt said. "There's no shortage of opportunities. The key is the discipline to move methodically through them and of course act at the appropriate time."

Shareholders have until Sept. 18 to decide whether to accept options weighted toward cash or shares, he said.

It's been two years since the company's last major acquisition -- taking over Canadian grain handler Agricore United in 2007 -- and Schmidt said the company needs to take time to integrate ABB into its operations.

ABB shareholders voted in favor of Viterra's A$1.6-billion ($1.4 billion) shares-and-cash bid on Wednesday, giving the Canadian company access to a Southern Hemisphere crop supply that presents Viterra with a hedge against weather-related risks. It also gives Viterra access to Southeast Asia, a key destination for ABB's wheat and barley exports.

ABB's board will ask Australia's federal court on Thursday to approve the takeover, which would be the final stage.

Viterra stock on the Toronto Stock Exchange was up 0.5 percent in early trading.

($1=$1.08 Canadian)