Siddharth Poddar

Venture investments worth $600m were made in Israeli technology companies in the third quarter of 2008, the highest quarterly figure in eight years. But such high rates of investment are not expected to continue given the global financial crisis.

The Dhaka firm is raising between $50m and $75m to invest in Bangladesh's financial services, manufacturing and consumer demand-driven sectors. In the future, it will raise a Bangladesh infrastructure fund.

The Australian venture capital firm is targeting A$200m for its fourth fund. A final close is expected by March 2009.

The China-focused venture capital firm is reportedly seeking commitments of RMB2bn from limited partners based mainly in eastern China.

Nexus India Capital has led a group of venture firms including DFJ in providing $5.5m to D.light Design, which aims to do away with polluting fuel-based lighting.

Mainland China's largest pension fund is reportedly looking to invest between RMB 20 billion and RMB 30 billion in the Chinese Bank. China's sovereign wealth fund CIC invested $20 billion in the same bank last December.

The advisory and investment firm, which is currently investing out of a $76m fund, has promoted Juan Ignacio Cifre to partner and has also appointed two associate partners. Delta was founded in late 2006 by a group of ex-Oliver Wyman employees.

The private equity firm is reportedly negotiating a 47 percent stake in Deccan Chargers, a Hyderabad-based cricket team, in what will be the first private equity investment in an Indian sports franchise. The deal is estimated to be worth $20m.

TPG and Global Infrastructure Partners have reportedly offered to invest more than A$1bn in the Australian ports operator through the purchase of convertible notes, after their initial buyout bid for the company was rejected.

Three large deals that have recently fallen apart show private equity activity in Asia is not immune to the global financial crisis, writes Siddharth Poddar.