Bank of Queensland is focused on its policy of strong organic growth, especially outside Queensland, and is continually looking for strategic mergers and acquisitions judged to be complementary to the Bank’s business.
Members Equity Bank Limited
On 1 July 2021, BOQ completed the purchase of Members Equity Bank Limited (ME Bank) from 25 Australian industry superannuation funds. Consideration for the transaction was $1.325bn and was fully funded by an equity raising of $1.35bn.
The acquisition was strategically aligned to the transformation of the BOQ Group and a milestone in its multi-brand strategy to create a real alternative to the big banks. It will deliver material scale, portfolio diversification and enable the acceleration of the Retail Bank’s digital strategy
ME Bank operates as a standalone brand within the BOQ Group.
Investec Bank (Australia) Limited
On 31 July 2014 BOQ completed the acquisition of Investec Bank (Australia) Limited, including its Professional Finance and Asset Finance & Leasing businesses. Purchase consideration for the transaction was $440 million, including an estimated $230 million to capitalise the business.
The acquisition is a strong fit with BOQ’s four strategic pillars, giving BOQ a leading position in attractive specialist segments and materially increasing the size and footprint of our Business Bank, providing further diversification by geography and industry sector.
BOQ Specialist (previously Investec Professional Finance) operates as a separate division of BOQ’s Business Bank. The Asset Finance & Leasing business merged with the existing BOQ Finance business.
Virgin Money Australia
On 30 April 2013 BOQ completed the purchase of Virgin Money (Australia) Pty Ltd (VMA). Consideration for the transaction was approximately $40 million, including the payout of around $10 million in VMA obligations and the issue of around $30 million in fully-paid ordinary BOQ shares to a Virgin Group subsidiary.
The VMA acquisition gives BOQ increased geographic and income diversity and allows BOQ to expand its distribution footprint through a globally recognised brand and a business with proven capability in online customer acquisition and product distribution.
VMA will continue to operate as a standalone business within the BOQ Group.
CIT Group (Australia) Limited and CIT Group (New Zealand) Limited
In July 2010, the Bank completed the purchase of CIT Group (Australia) Limited and CIT Group (New Zealand) Limited (collectively "CIT Australia and New Zealand"), paying a combined total for purchase consideration and refinance of debt of $475 million.
This vendor finance business works with manufacturers, dealers and resellers to provide leasing and financing packages to consumers, businesses, government agencies and education providers.
The CIT Australia and New Zealand business has been combined with BOQ's existing equipment and debtor finance businesses to form the business line, BOQ Finance.
Home Building Society Limited
On Friday, 30 November 2007, Bank of Queensland Limited (BOQ) welcomed a decision by shareholders in Home Building Society Ltd (Home) to overwhelmingly support the $600 million merger between the two financial institutions, which has been implemented by way of a Scheme of Arrangement.
At the Scheme meeting held in Perth, the merger was supported by 94.39% of Home shareholders who voted on the Scheme of Arrangement.
The vote in support of the merger was substantially above the required 75% approval threshold.
Final Court approval for the Scheme of Arrangement was given at a Federal Court hearing held on Tuesday, December 4, 2007.
Home Chairman Tony Howarth joined the Board of BOQ following implementation of the merger.
Under the Scheme, Home Shareholders received 0.844 new BOQ shares plus $2.80 cash for each Home share they owned. This represents a total consideration of $17.99 per Home Share based on BOQ’s closing share price of $18.00 on Thursday, 29 November 2007 and a substantial premium of 28% based on Home’s closing share price of $14.11 on the last trading day prior to announcement of the Merger.
Full integration of Home Building Society into Bank of Queensland is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has published a Class Ruling to assist former Home Shareholders in dealing with the tax implications of the merger.
Pioneer Permanent Building Society
BOQ purchased Pioneer Permanent Building Society during the 2006 - 2007 financial year with full integration completed in November 2007.
Mackay Permanent Building Society
In August 2007, Bank of Queensland announced a recommended proposal for all the shares in Mackay Permanent Building Society Limited which valued Mackay Permanent at $53.2 million.
On 14 November 2007, Wide Bay Australia Limited (WBB) increased the scrip consideration it had offered under a conditional takeover bid. On Friday November 16, 2007, the Mackay Permanent Board announced that it had withdrawn its recommendation that Mackay Permanent shareholders vote in favour of Bank of Queensland's merger proposal.
Bank of Queensland announced on 19 November 2007 that it does not intend to increase its offer for Mackay Permanent.
