Citigroup is considering listing its shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange to make it easier to buy Japanese companies and to accelerate its plans to expand in the Asian powerhouse.

Citigroup is considering listing its shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange to make it easier to buy Japanese companies and to accelerate its plans to expand in the Asian powerhouse. "Citigroup is committed to Japan for the long-term and has been reviewing its business strategies which could include listing Citigroup on the TSE. We have not yet, however, made any decisions at this stage of the study," said a Citigroup spokeswoman. Last month Citigroup unveiled plans to establish a Japanese holding company, under which it will place its banking operations. The US banking giant lost its private banking license in 2004 after high profile compliance failings were discovered. Japanese regulations on mergers involving share swaps are to be relaxed from May, giving foreign firms another method to acquire Japanese companies. Citigroup owns a 4.87 per cent stake in Nikko Cordial, Japan's third biggest brokerage by revenue. It also operates an investment banking joint venture with Nikko Cordial, called Nikko Citigroup. Last week Citigroup announced that it is changing its name and selling its red umbrella logo to insurer St Pauls Travellers, as it moves to unite its businesses under the name “Citi” and the red arc branding currently used by the Citibank retail banking business. Separately, back in the US, James Bridgman was named managing director and global market manager for the central region of Citigroup Private Bank in Chicago.