Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the Malaysian government's investment arm, has committed US$150 million to the newly-launched Fajr Capital Limited, a Dubai-based Islamic investment firm which focuses on providing Shari'ah-compliant financial services and complementary opportunities in the broader economy in major Muslim regions. (Australia)

International Finance Corporation is considering to invest in Belstar Investment and Finance Pvt. Ltd. which is seeking to raise 175 million rupees (US$3.6 million) in order to transform itself from a non-governmental organisation to a for-profit microfinance company. (India)

Actis, a global emerging market specialist, announced the final closing of its Actis Infrastructure Fund II, at US$750 million. The fund is fully-sponsored by CDC Group, the UK government's fund of funds investment operation. It targets the infrastructure sector in Africa, South and South-East Asia. (Global)

Rabo Equity Advisors ('Rabo') has recently logged three deals. It has acquired a 26% stake in Geepee Private Ltd., an edible oil maker.
      Separately, Rabo also committed a total of 487 million rupees (US$10.8 million) and invested in LT Food Ltd., an exporter of basmati rice, as well as its wholly owned subsidiary. (India)

Nexus Venture Partners has invested US$10 million to Eka Software Solutions, a software company that provides commodity trade and risk management solutions. The software company was recently selected as one of India's top ten emerging software companies by India's trade body, Nasscom. (India)

Nokia Growth Partners has invested US$10 million in Web18 Holdings, Cayman Limited ('Web18'), the internet arm of Television Eighteen India Limited. The list of websites that Web18 offers includes: MoneyControl.com, CommoditiesControl.com and JobStreet.com. (India)

Taiyo Pacific Partners has accumulated over a 5% stake in Nippon Ceramic Co., Ltd. which offers ceramics and semiconductor materials. It is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
      Taiyo Pearl Fund, managed by Taiyo, is an activist fund. (Japan)

Primus Financial Holdings and China Strategic Holdings ('consortium') have reportedly won the bid to assume full control of Nan Shan Life Insurance, the Taiwan insurance business of American International Group, Inc., according to the Economic Daily of Taiwan. The transaction is estimated at more than US$2 billion.
      Days before the report surfaced, China Strategic Holdings, which is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, denied having won the bid to be a shareholder in the insurance company. (Taiwan)

China Pharma Limited ('China Pharma'), a joint venture between Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia ('MSPEA') and the controlling shareholders of Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group Ltd ('Sihuan'), is set to assume full control of Sihuan. This followed China Pharma having received 95% of shares being tendered. MSPEA is to commit S$68.7 million (US$34.35 million) to this deal. Sihuan is a manufacturer of cardio cerebral vascular drugs in China. (People's Republic of China)

CHAMP Private Equity and Castle Harlen, Inc. will exit their investment in United Malt Holdings ('UMH') for a total of A$757 million (US$673.7 million). The buying party is GrainCorp Ltd., an Australian storage and exporting group that focuses on the flour milling business. The divestiture concludes a three years investment holding period on UMH. (Australia)

Apollo Precision, which had earlier enlisted IDG Capital Partners ('IDG Capital') as its investor, will become a publicly-listed company through a share swap arrangement with RBI Holding Limited, a toy manufacturer. Upon completion of this exercise that will represent a HK$4.18 billion (US$536.2 million) consideration, IDG Capital will continue to hold a stake in the enlarged company that will be renamed as Apollo Solar Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (People's Republic of China)

Yingde Gases Group Co., Ltd. ('Yingde') was listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong on 8th October 2009. In 2006, Baring Private Equity Asia invested in the supplier of gas. At Yingde's initial public offering, the private equity firm sold a portion of its holdings. (People's Republic of China)

Warburg Pincus has recently reduced its holding in Kasen International Holdings Ltd. ('Kasen') through disposal of shares on the public market. Kasen is China's leading leather maker. Between 2003 and 2004, Warburg Pincus committed an aggregate US$37 million to the company. (People's Republic of China)

Tong Yang Life Insurance Co., Ltd. ('Tong Yang') was listed on the Korea Stock Exchange on 8th October. At Tong Yang's IPO, Vogo Investment ('Vogo') sold a fraction of its holdings and is estimated to have returned an approximate US$15.5 million to its coffers. Vogo was first known to have invested in Tong Yang back in 2006. (South Korea)