(Yicai Global) Jan. 23 -- Montage Technology inked a pre-listing tutoring deal with Citic Securities as part of the Chinese chip unicorn's plan to list on the country's A-share stock market, according to Jiemian News.

Montage completed a joint-stock reform in October last year as it transformed from a limited liability company into a stock corporation. Listing counseling is a necessary procedure for the firm to submit an initial public offering application. China Securities Regulatory Commission will issue acceptance after the sponsor has completed counseling.

With registered capital of CNY1 billion (USD147 million), Shanghai-based Montage mainly provides chip solutions for cloud computing and artificial intelligence, central processing units, memory modules and memory interface units.

The firm originally listed on the Nasdaq in 2013 before going private as a joint venture between Shanghai Pudong Science & Technology Investment and China Electronics Investment Holdings in a USD693 million deal in November 2014. The company posted an operating income of CNY122 million and net income of CNY25.1 million for the first three quarters of 2014.

Shanghai Executive vice-mayor of Shanghai, visited the firm in November last year after President Xi announced plans to set up a tech innovation board in the city. Shanghai Municipal Party Committee Secretary Li Qiang also hosted the company and other sci-tech innovation firms at a symposium on Jan. 3.

CITIC Securities' team is rich in experience and consists of eight people, according to filing regarding the tutoring. The firm also sponsored Beken Integrate Circuit and the company's IPO application was green-lighted earlier this month.