A proposed merger between Japan's Shinsei Bank Ltd. (8303.TO) and Aozora Bank Ltd. (8304.TO) might not take place because the two's biggest shareholders oppose the plan, Jiji Press reported, without citing sources.

Both Shinsei's lead shareholder, J.C. Flowers & Co., and Aozora's top shareholder, Cerberus Capital Management L.P., opposed the plan because they didn't think that bringing together the two midsized banks would boost profitability much, the Japanese news agency reported on its Web site.

The two banks will continue trying to convince its shareholders but will also explore other tie-up and cooperation possibilities other than a merger, Jiji reported.

A person familiar with the matter said Saturday that the two banks are in talks to merge to create Japan's sixth-largest bank with assets of more than Y18 trillion ($190 billion).

 
   -Tokyo bureau, Dow Jones Newswires, 813-6895-7550