Nippon Paper Industries Co., Japan's second largest paper maker, and Daishowa Paper Mfg. Co., the fourth largest, are negotiating to integrate their operations by jointly setting up a holding company by April 2001, industry sources said Saturday.
The two paper makers are expected to approve the plan by the end of this month at their respective board meetings.
If realized, the new entity would be equal in size to Oji Paper Co., the nation's largest, with sales of 2.2 trillion yen on a consolidated basis.