Japan's Orix denies talk of merger with Credit Saison

TOKYO, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Japan's largest leasing company Orix Corp (8591.T) denied on Thursday it was in merger talks with credit card firm Credit Saison (8253.T).

"There is nothing going on. There have not been even talks on a merger or alliance (with Credit Saison)," Orix deputy president Haruyuki Urata said at a media briefing on its earnings. Financial sources said last week the two were in talks to create a finance group with $106 billion in assets, in a further sign of consolidation in the country's hardpressed consumer lending sector. [ID:nN04518742]

Urata said Orix was not interested in a merger with Credit Saison, adding that expanding its retail business was not high on its priority list.

But it was open to acquisitions in the real estate sector.

Urata said Orix had been approached with various proposals on possible acquisitions, including real estate and companies, and would look positively at those it deemed suitable. (Reporting by Taiga Uranaka)