KB Financial Group Inc. (105560.SE) Thursday said it isn't in talks to acquire Prudential Financial Inc.'s (PRU) South Korean brokerage unit, Prudential Investment & Securities, contrary to an earlier report by online news provider Edaily.

"It is groundless that we are in talks," said Choi In-seok, a spokesman at KB Financial. He didn't elaborate.

Prudential Investment's spokesman said he doesn't know anything about the reported sale or talks.

Edaily reported Prudential Financial has hired Deutsche Bank for the sale of the unit.

In February 2004, U.S.-based Prudential Financial bought an 80% stake in South Korea's Hyundai Investment & Securities Co. for KRW355.5 billion. The company became Prudential Investment.

-By Shin Jung-Won, Dow Jones Newswires; 822-2198-2240; jung-won.shin@dowjones.com