Japanese lender Iyogin Holdings (TYO:5830) said discussions on a potential business integration with Ehime Bank (TYO:8541) are underway, confirming the matter is on the agenda for its board meeting on Friday.
The company said, however, that recent media reports suggesting the two regional lenders are in the final stages of merger talks were not based on any official announcement by Iyogin, according to a statement.
Earlier, Nikkei Asia reported that Iyogin and Ehime Bank plan to merge under a joint holding company by April 2027.
The combined group would have about 12 trillion yen in assets, making it one of Japan's 20 largest regional banking groups and serving about 70% of corporate clients in Ehime Prefecture, the report said.