Ten-Arrows Co., Ltd., now known as Charle Co., has officially announced the failure of the tender offer bid by Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia. The buyout faced a number of setbacks, with resignations of the company’s founding family members being the latest mishap. (Japan)

Focus Media Holdings Ltd. ('Focus Media'), in which The Carlyle Group ('Carlyle') holds an approximate 1.2% stake as at the end of September 2008, announced its merger with SINA Corp. The acquired assets represent 73% of Focus Media's gross profits for the nine months ending September 2008. (People’s Republic of China)

Partners Group announced an additional US$1.1 billion for its Asia-Pacific programme. The total amount raised represents a combination of its private equity fund of funds, Partners Group Asia-Pacific 2007, LP, as well as several investment vehicles that will invest in Asia. (Pan-Asia)

The London-based Eredene Capital Plc is planning to launch a US$300 million Indian infrastructure fund, while, at home, the Pyramid Saimira Group is close to launching a private equity fund that targets the film industry, according to media reports. The film fund will have an initial capital pool of 2.5 billion rupees (US$51.7 million). (India)

Japan Industrial Partners Inc. is setting up its latest buyout fund with a target fund size of ¥70 billion (US$ 777.5 million), according to Jiji Press. Japan Industrial Partners Inc. was formed in 2002 with Mizuho Securities Co Ltd, NTT Data Corp and Bain & Co Japan Inc. being its principal investors. (Japan)

London-based Terra Firma Capital Partners could clinch its first deal in Australia. According to media reports, it is in discussions to purchase Consolidated Pastoral Company for an estimated A$425 million (US$299 million). (Australia)

U.S.-based Canaan Partners has joined hands with Accel Partners India ('Accel India') to invest in Chakpak Media Pvt. Ltd., operator of an Indian online entertainment community with a primary focus on movies. The transaction sum was not disclosed. Earlier, Accel India had also made a commitment to the company. (India)

Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia has clinched its first deal in India through a 1.82 billion rupees (US$38.5 million) commitment to Biotor Industries Ltd. The latter is the world's largest fully-integrated manufacturer of castor oil. (India)

The Blackstone Group announced that it has acquired a minority stake in Nuziveedu Seeds Pvt. Ltd. for an undisclosed amount. Nuziveedu Seeds is a leading firm in the research & development, production and marketing of hybrid seeds for field crops such as cotton, corn, rice, and sorghum. (India)

Northstar Pacific Partners, an affiliate of TPG, has completed an agreement with PT Bakrie & Brothers Tbk. It will commit US$575 million to take over the debt and collateralised shares previously held by Oddickson Finance in order to become an equity holder of Bakrie & Brothers’ assets. (Indonesia)

Nomura Principal Finance Co., Ltd. announced its intention to invest an additional ¥50 billion (US$553 million) into Skylark Co., Ltd. The move is a part of the Japanese investor's efforts to turn around and restructure Skylark after dismissing its former president in August last year.
       In 2006, Nomura Principal Finance partnered with CVC Asia Pacific to take control of the chain restaurant operator for an approximate US$3.3 billion. (Japan)

JACO Solarsi Limited, a Xiamen-based solar grade silicon producer, has reportedly obtained US$10 million from HSBC Asian Ventures Fund 3 Limited, which is managed by HSBC Private Equity Asia ('HSBC PE'). (People's Republic of China)

Renaissance Private Equity Fund, managed by Daewoo Securities and Woongjin Capital, is to take a 24.09% in Eugene Investment & Securities Co., Ltd. after the latter announced its choice of preferred bidder’s results. The transaction is expected to be completed in late January. (South Korea)

The US-based KaloBios Pharmaceutical, Inc. has enlisted Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, Genzyme Ventures, Australia's GBS Ventures; Singapore BioInnovations Pte. Ltd., and MPM Capital as investors in its latest round of financing. It raised US$32 million. (Offshore)

Credit Suisse Private Equity is believed to have sold all of its oldings in Binani Cement Ltd. for an undisclosed amount.
       In August 2006, Credit Suisse Private Equity invested 1.5 billion rupees (US$32 million), or 73 rupees per share in the Indian cement manufacturer which was trading at 32.2 rupees per share on 29th December 2008. (India)

Mr. John Brakey has resigned as the head of Macquarie Investment Management Limited. He will be replaced by Mr. Michael Lukin. (Australia)

Dr. James Yi-Chung Hung has replaced Dr. Knut Eichler, who had been head of BASF's Corporate Venture Capital Asia Pacific arm. (Hong Kong)