March 24 (Reuters) - Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX :
* WESTPAC REVIEWING NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS
* HAVE ALSO ANNOUNCED CONSOLIDATION OF OUR INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS IN ASIA.
* ASSESSING APPROPRIATE STRUCTURE FOR ITS NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS AND WHETHER A DEMERGER WOULD BE IN BEST INTERESTS OF SHAREHOLDERS.
* WESTPAC IS IN VERY EARLY STAGE OF THIS ASSESSMENT AND NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE
* GIVEN CHANGING NZ REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIREMENT TO SEPARATE CO'S NZ & AU BUSINESS OPERATIONS, APPROPRIATE TO ASSESS STRUCTURE FOR THESE BUSINESSES