Huntington Bancshares announced the signing of a definitive agreement for Huntington National Bank to purchase Bloomfield Hills, MI-based Macquarie Equipment Finance (MEF-US). With approximately $500 million of annual originations, MEF-US is the largest standalone, vendor independent provider of specialized technology financing with customer-centric asset management services in the U.S.

Huntington will acquire Macquarie Equipment Finance’s U.S. business from its ultimate parent company, Sydney, Australia-based Macquarie Group.

Under the terms of the agreement, Huntington will acquire approximately $900 million of assets and assume approximately $630 million of debt, securitizations, and other liabilities. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to Huntington’s earnings in the first year and is anticipated to be completed by March 31, 2015.

“The acquisition of Macquarie Equipment Finance is an important expansion of Huntington’s current capabilities, adding a national technology and healthcare platform to help drive our ongoing growth,” said Stephen D. Steinour, Huntington Bancshares chairman, president and CEO. “We will be able to now provide broader credit solutions helping corporate and middle market businesses to grow. Importantly, we will also extend our asset finance capabilities to small businesses throughout our region as a result of the acquisition.”

The transition will be seamless for customers who will continue to interface within the converting Macquarie Equipment Finance workforce, under the same executive management team leadership. The acquisition will add more than 165 jobs to Huntington’s colleague base.

“Huntington’s proven track record as a leading equipment finance solutions provider will integrate well with Macquarie Equipment Finance’s similar high standards of service,” said Rick Remiker, commercial banking director for Huntington and the company’s senior executive overseeing the equipment finance function. “We have organically grown Huntington Equipment Finance by more than 200% over the past five years. We look forward to further growth opportunities in partnership with our new executive leaders following successful completion of the acquisition.”

“We are very enthusiastic to join Huntington and are excited about what this acquisition means for our customers and partners,” said Gregory Goldstein, president of Macquarie Equipment Finance.