Sharon Lim

Wolseley, a private equity firm in Sydney, is backing the expansion plans of Freshmax, a fruit and fresh produce distributor based in New Zealand.

Shinhan Financial Group of Korea has narrowly beaten Hana Bank and MBK Partners to a $7 billion acquisition of Korea’s LG Card Co.

MBK Partners, a North Asia-focused private equity manager, is competing with Goldman Sachs, Carlyle and KKR for Taiwan’s top cable TV operator in a transaction estimated to fetch about $1.4 billion.

Helion Venture Partners has raised $140 million for its debut India-focused venture fund from which it has made a $2.2 million investment in a software company.

VinaCapital, a Vietnam-focused private equity firm, has invested about $43 million from two funds under its management in a Hilton hotel.

The Carlyle Group has made an offer to buy over 3 million shares in India-listed Allsec Technologies for $17 million in a non-binding agreement.

New measures governing foreign acquisitions in China mean transactions will come under greater scrutiny, but the new rules have not spelled out what investments are off-limits.

3i, Europe’s largest listed private equity business, is poised to invest $25.8 million in Vijai Electricals, an Indian manufacturer of power transmission and distribution equipment.

Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia is acquiring over 10 million shares in an affiliate of Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group in a transaction worth $89 million.

A new private equity division of Credit Suisse has concluded its first investment in Asia with the acquisition of a 10 percent stake in India’s Binani Cement, a cement maker.