New Platform Offers Retail Investors Opportunities to Monetise Equity Holdings

Citi and Maybank Securities have announced a strategic partnership to introduce the Citi Securities Lending Access (CSLA) platform to Singapore, enabling retail investors to engage in global securities lending. This collaboration allows Maybank Securities clients to lend their global equity holdings through Citi’s advanced platform, offering them a way to earn a share of fees from borrowers.

The CSLA platform provides investors with the opportunity to monetise otherwise idle assets by participating in the securities lending market. Alexander Thorhauge, head of retail business at Maybank Securities, highlighted the benefits: “With the launch of securities lending, our retail clients now have a unique opportunity to generate additional returns from their existing portfolios.”

The partnership will leverage Maybank Securities’ extensive client base in South-east Asia with CSLA’s innovative digital technology, which integrates Citi’s platform with Sharegain’s technology. This marks the first introduction of CSLA in Asia, bringing an accessible and efficient securities lending option to retail investors.

Originally launched in 2021, CSLA uses digitisation to simplify the securities lending lifecycle, helping broaden participation in the market. Eusebio Sanchez, head of execution services for Japan, North Asia, Australia and South Asia at Citi Securities Services, explained: “With CSLA, Citi is enabling a broader base of market participants to reap the benefits of securities lending. In addition to benefiting our clients and their underlying customers, the solution gives borrowers access to new pools of untapped securities.”

The collaboration between Citi and Maybank Securities signifies a step forward in democratising securities lending by creating more opportunities for retail investors to diversify their portfolios and generate income.