Dorchester Pacific investors have exercised more options than the financial services firm was expecting and it has asked major shareholders whether they are willing to sell down their stakes in a placement. About 134 million options were converted to shares at 12.5 cents apiece, or $16.75 million, out of a total 150 million, Dorchester said in a statement. That was …

Heartland New Zealand, which gained bank registration in December, has cut its earnings expectations after deciding to take the management of distressed assets in-house. It was more upbeat about growth in 2014. The Christchurch-based lender expects net profit of $7 million in the 12 months ending June 30 after taking an $18 million charge on writing down the value of …

The New Zealand dollar fell as signs of a pickup in US economic growth spurred demand for the greenback. The kiwi dropped as low as 79.63 US cents early this morning, dipping below 80 cents for the second time in a week, and recently traded at 80.17 cents from 80.55 cents at 5pm in Wellington yesterday. The trade-weighted index slipped …