Reports surfaced on Friday that Japan’s NEC, Hitachi and Casio Computer are in talks to merge their cell phone operations, but the companies were not confirming those reports.

“Reports concerning a mobile terminal business were published within certain media,” NEC said in its statement. “However, this is not an official announcement by NEC.” 

Hitachi said the articles weren’t based on Hitachi’s decision or disclosure. A Casio spokesman also told Bloomberg the report was not based on an announcement or decision by the companies.

Earlier, the Yomiuri newspaper said NEC could split off its mobile phone division and merge it with an existing joint venture between Hitachi and Casio. A merger of the companies would create Japan’s second-largest cell phone maker, after Sharp, based on shipments.

Meanwhile, Sony’s joint venture with Ericsson last month reported its fourth consecutive quarterly loss.