(New Zealand) As speculation builds as to which Australian bank will eventually fork out for National Bank of New Zealand at least one kiwi family is determined to keep it away from the avaricious Aussies.Waikato-based businessman Phil Verry and his son Martin have been busily building a consortium to raise funds to bid for the bank which has involved jetting off to Europe to secure funding.
The Verry’s aptly-titled Black Horse Holdings consortium has been in discussions with a European financial institution which has “assured funding” according to reports.
The family has also appointed Gavin Barnes, formerly with ANZ and a fellow of the Australasian Institute of Banking and Finance, to head up the bid.
The former mayor of Hamilton Margaret Evans has also been enlisted to drum up community support for Black Horse Holdings’ pitch at NBNZ.