Hong Kong-based CLSA, a well-known brokerage across Asia, will cease to operate under its current name next year, more than ten years after its acquisition by China’s Citic Securities, according to a Financial Times report. Senior staff have been told the firm will switch fully to the Citic name from the second quarter of 2027. Citic Securities, a major state-owned Chinese financial group, bought the brokerage in 2013.
The change ends a brand known for its distinct blue-and-yellow identity and independent approach in regional markets. Founded in 1986 by journalists Gary Coull and Jim Walker, CLSA expanded by using its flexible structure and non-traditional roots to compete with larger firms. Its annual investor events in Hong Kong, Tokyo and other centres drew high-profile speakers including former US presidents, central bankers and entertainers.
The rebranding reflects Citic’s effort to integrate CLSA more closely with its own corporate culture. Last month, the firm’s Japan conference dropped its long-standing “Investor Forum” title and was renamed “Access Japan 2026.” Strained Japan-China relations also affected the event, as Chinese travel advisories limited attendance. Several senior bankers in CLSA’s Japan operations resigned shortly afterward.
