CITIC Securities International, a subsidiary of CITIC Securities Co., has joined hands with the US-based Evercore Partners to set up a strategic cooperation. To be known as CITIC Securities International Partners Limited, the joint venture will focus on cross-border M&A advisory services and managing a China-focused private equity business. (People's Republic of China)

Coca-Cola Co.'s proposed plan to take over China Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd. ('Huiyuan') was rejected. In an official document released by the Ministry of Commerce, it cited negative impact to fair market competition as the reason.
       In June 2006, Warburg Pincus committed US$65 million to Huiyuan. (People's Republic of China)

Oriental Century Ltd., an education management services provider, was suspended from trading when its executive chairman and chief executive officer admitted having "inflated sales and cash balances, and had diverted unspecified sums to an interested party" over the years.
       Oriental Century counts UOB Venture Management, Technopreneur Investment Pte Ltd as well as Raffles Education Corp. as its investors. (People's Republic of China)

Macquarie Funds Group announced the final closing of its latest private equity fund of funds with a capital commitment of US$380 million which comprises of Macquarie Asia Pacific Private Equity Fund and Macquarie Asia Pacific Co-Investment Fund. They will seek opportunities in primary funds and secondary transactions, as well as making co-investments in Asia. (Pan-Asia)

SVB Financial Group is to set up a joint venture guidance fund management firm and a venture capital fund with the Shanghai Yangpu District Government. Their respective fund sizes are unknown. The funds are to focus on investing in technology-related small and medium enterprises. (People's Republic of China)

Catalyst Investment Managers Pty. Ltd. announced the final closing of its second fund, Catalyst Buyout Fund 2 ('Catalyst Fund 2'), at A$438 million (US$289.3 million). Added to this is an incremental co-investment programme of up to A$160 million. (Australia & New Zealand)

South Korea's first fund to focus on green economic growth, Green Growth Fund, will be co-managed by the US-based C Change Investments Management LLC and Korea Investments & Securities Co., Ltd. The fund will be launched mid year, with a capital pool of US$130 million and has a global investment focus. (Global)

The UK-based Terra Firma Capital Partners has completed the acquisition of a 90% interest in the Packer family's Consolidated Pastoral Company, Australia's second largest beef producer. According to market estimates, the transaction could be over A$400 million (US$250 million). (Australia)

Norwest Venture Partners has invested approximately 775.5 million rupees (US$ 15 million) into OnMobile Global Ltd. which is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. The target company, which provides value-added services for mobile phones, had previously enlisted Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank AG as its investors. (India)

Tikona Digital Networks Pvt. Ltd. has reportedly raised 2.4 billion rupees (US$45.7 million) in aggregate from Goldman Sachs, Indivision Capital Management and Oak Investment Partners representing a combined equity stake of approximately 70%. Tikona builds next generation wireless broadband services for home and enterprise customers in India. (India)

The Carlyle Group ('Carlyle') will increase its equity interest in Willcom Inc. ('Willcom') to 65% that would represent a capital deployment of ¥5 billion (US$52 million). Willcom is a personal handyphone system service operator and first received funds from Carlyle back in 2004. (Japan)

Goldman Sachs Group has teamed up with MBK Partners and Owl Creek Asset Management ('consortium') to assume full control of USJ Co., Ltd., the operator of Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. Based on their offer price of ¥50,000 (US$508.8) for each USJ Co. share, the consortium will deploy around ¥111.2 billion for this buyout.
       In 2005, Goldman Sachs reportedly invested ¥20 billion in USJ. (Japan)

China Merchants Technology Holdings Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of China Merchants Holdings Co., Ltd., has invested US$10 million in AMTT Digital Service Group which is based in Beijing, and provides digital services to hotels. (People's Republic of China)

3i Group and Prax Capital Management are reportedly in talks with potential investors to dispose of their holdings in Little Sheep Group Ltd. In mid 2006, the financial investors had invested an aggregate US$25 million in Little Sheep which operates Mongolian-style hot pot chain restaurants across China. (People's Republic of China)

VinaCapital has sold its entire stake in Masan Group, a leading fish, chili and soy sauce producer in Vietnam. The sale generated a return multiple of 2.5 times for the investor. (Vietnam)

Mr. Scott Kalb has been appointed as the new Chief Investment Officer for Korea Investment Corporation. (South Korea)

Mr Larry Klane is to join Korea Exchange Bank as its next President and Chief Executive Officer. He will be replacing the outgoing Mr. Richard Wacker who joined the bank since 2005. (South Korea)