CITIC Securities, the largest mainland brokerage by assets, is in talks to acquire a minority stake in Hong Kong-based brokerage CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets in a bid to expand business overseas, the Century Weekly magazine reported yesterday.

The securities firm is likely to purchase a small stake because the target company's asking price is high and the two sides have yet to reach a final purchase agreement, the report said.

"The brokerage business is pretty competitive in Hong Kong. Many Hong Kong securities firms are turning to the mainland for good cash-rich buyers and this creates opportunities for us," a source close to CITIC Securities told China Daily.

Analysts said the move signaled CITIC's intention to fast forward its investment plans in international financial markets by cornering the forefront market in Hong Kong and accelerate overseas expansion of the mainland's securities industry.

"CITIC Securities is speeding up its strategic investment planning in international markets and other securities houses with solid capital strength will likely follow suit," said Ning Yu, an analyst at Dongguan Securities.

"If successful, the acquisition will open a door for CITIC Securities to the international market and prepare it for the program that will allow mainland investors to directly buy Hong Kong-listed stocks," he said.

Ning noted that price negotiations would be key for the two sides to reach a final agreement. But the deal initially would bring limited financial contribution to CITIC Securities' annual profit, which hit $1.32 billion in 2009.

The company's efforts to expand overseas were halted by the breakout of the global financial crisis in 2008, which caused it to cancel a deal to buy into troubled US investment bank Bear Stearns through a share swap worth $1 billion.

But a senior executive of CITIC Securities said the brokerage would not give up on any potential overseas acquisitions.