Line and SoftBank's Z Holdings to merge - Nikkei

(Reuters) - Japanese internet firm Z Holdings Corp <4689.T> and messaging app operator Line Corp <3938.T> are set to merge, aiming to create an e-commerce giant spanning finance, retail and other services, the Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday.

SoftBank, which controls Z Holdings, and South Korea's Naver, which owns Line, are in the final stage of negotiations towards their units' integration, the report said, citing sources.

Z Holdings, formerly known as Yahoo Japan, and Naver did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

(Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)