Dec 26 (Reuters) - Alibaba Group Holding ( BABA ) is

nearing a deal to merge its South Korean operations with

E-Mart's e-commerce platform in a transaction that

would value the new joint venture at about $4 billion, Bloomberg

News reported on Thursday.

Talks are still ongoing and an agreement may take longer to

be reached, the report added, citing people familiar with the

matter.

(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Abinaya

Vijayaraghavan)