(March 23 – 09:30 ET) – CIBC World Markets has established a strategic alliance with Asian brokerage, CLSA Emerging Markets of Hong Kong. CLSA is a brokerage and investment bank serving the Asian region, except Japan. Together, CLSA and CIBC will offer Asian businesses and governments access to North American capital markets and vice versa.

The agreement encompasses all Trans-Pacific activities but will not extend to domestic investment banking. The firms will offer: cross border equity and equity-related finance in the North American markets, and corporate advisory and M&A expertise for North American clients in Asia.

The venture targets for the alliance include media, telecommunications, technology, healthcare, financial services, resources, power technology, consumer growth and industrial companies. Primary markets will include China, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. Equity-raising structures will either be via Asia/U.S. dual listings or solely in the American markets via NASDAQ and NYSE listings.

CLSA is the 65% owned emerging markets arm of France’s Credit Lyonnais Bank with the remaining 35% owned by CLSA employees.
-IE Staff