Siddharth Poddar

The Chinese brokerage house and the US boutique investment bank are teaming up as CSI Partners to raise $500m for a China-focused growth capital fund. Former Bear Stearns Asia chairman Donald Tang will lead the firm, which will also advise on cross-border M&A.

Vietnam Opportunity Fund has sold its entire stake in food and beverage company Masan for more than $20m, generating a return of 2.5 times its original investment.

The debt-laden Australian infrastructure asset manager appointed voluntary administrators after investors in New Zealand voted against a restructuring plan that included a possible debt for equity swap.

The government-backed fund of funds investor has supported the Endeavour Growth Fund, which will raise up to NZ$420m for investments in tech companies.

Vibhav Panandiker has been hired to lead the Asian mid-market arm's private equity investments in Southeast Asia and India, while Cathy Zhang will oversee investments in Greater China.

As private equity reaches a critical mass in Asia, the role of national and regional private equity associations has become more important, writes Siddharth Poddar.

The Delhi-based private equity firm has acquired 7.6 million MphasiS shares on the open market for about INR1.3bn. This is the second time the firm has invested in the BPO and IT service provider, after diluting much of its stake in 2006.

The troubled Japanese bank, which was bailed out by US private equity firm JC Flowers for a second time in November 2007, is reportedly looking to raise about ¥50bn.

The New Zealand-focused private equity firm has raised NZ$82.5 million for its second retail fund, which will invest alongside its fourth buyout fund. Direct Capital aims to raise NZ$250m for the two funds combined.

Standardising reporting and valuation methods are key drivers of the IVCA's move to adopt voluntary guidelines for the Indian private equity industry.