Shareholder pushes for Bendigo, BoQ merger
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited (ASX: BEN) and Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX: BOQ) have benefited from the positive sentiment towards the Australian financial sector in yesterday's trading. However, one shareholder holds strong sentiments against both banks standing on separate grounds.
Botique investment manager, Wilson Asset Management, holds shares in both banks but has a higher stake with Bendigo. The group's chairman Geoff Wilson said, “We're long-suffering Bendigo shareholders and we're annoyed and frustrated they did not accept the original BoQ offer when it arrived three years ago.”
Wilson explained Bendigo should have chosen the BoQ offer rather than merging with the Adelaide Bank. “From my perspective, there's a clear logic for the two (Bendigo and BoQ) to merge,” he insisted.
Wilson further said, “I think the boards have got to realise they are there to do their best by the shareholders... Bendigo Bank has destroyed their shareholders' value in the last three years.”
The investment manager considers his shares short of institutional value then said, “The directors would be removed if there was a strong institutional presence.”
Bendigo's share price went up 2.6 percent at $9.09 and BoQ's stocks also gained 2.03 percent at $10.57.