Maybank Kim Eng will collaborate with Korean brokerage Daishin Securities to expand its equities footprint in Asia and provide its clients with access to the South Korean stock market.

Chief executive officer John Chong said South Korea is the leader in consumer electronics innovation and a key player in the automotive industry, and the Korean Stock Exchange is home to many of these companies.

"As Asean's investment bank, we not only bring investments into Asean, we are also constantly seeking out investment ideas and opportunities for our Asean clients within and beyond the region," he said.

"Together with our partnerships with Taiwan's Cathay Securities, Japan's Mizuho Securities, as well as our presence in Hong Kong, we now have comprehensive coverage of the key capital markets in Asia."

Maybank Kim Eng is the fully-owned investment banking arm of Maybank, South-east Asia's fourth-largest bank by assets.

The Maybank Kim Eng group of companies comprises businesses stretching around the globe with offices in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Britain and the United States.

Maybank Kim Eng provides services in corporate finance, debt markets, equity capital markets, derivatives, retail and institutional securities broking and research.