KEY POINTS:
A party that had shown an interest in buying Sky City Entertainment announced today it had completed due diligence but was not ready to make a formal bid.
The unnamed party remains "highly interested" in New Zealand's biggest casino operator and would like to make "a compelling offer" soon, Sky City said in a statement to the New Zealand stock exchange.
The party is "highly optimistic of securing financing in the very near term," Sky City said, citing a letter from the group.
Sky City said it wasn't expecting any other offers for the company in the near term.
The company's shares dropped 15 cents, or 3 per cent, to $4.80.
