International Finance Corporation is considering an allocation of up to US$20 million to LeapFrog Financial Inclusion Fund, a greenfield fund which will invest in micro-insurance providers in Africa and Asia. LeapFrog Investments Ltd., the manager of this greenfield fund, is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Global)

International Finance Corporation may commit as much as US$70 million to PT Jakarta International Container Terminal ('JICT'), the largest container terminal in Indonesia. JICT is seeking to raise US$160 million. (Indonesia)

China Investment Corporation has completed a US$300 million commitment to Russia-based Nobel Oil Group ('Nobel').
      Separately, the Hong Kong-listed Kaisun Energy Group Ltd. is planning to take over Nobel Holdings Investments Ltd, an entity that owns all of Nobel's assets in Russia. (People's Republic of China)

International Finance Corporation is considering a commitment of up to US$20 million to Ascentool Inc., which designs innovative equipment and technology solutions in the thin film deposition space of the solar energy value chain. IFC is to co-invest with Tsing Capital. (People's Republic of China)

IDG Ventures India has teamed up with Qualcomm Ventures to invest US$3 million in mobile entertainment service provider, Apalya Technologies Pvt Ltd., which provides media and entertainment related services for mobile phones. (India)

Matrix Partners India has invested 200 million rupees (US$4.3 million) in Ver Se Innovation Private Limited, a mobile classified services provider that is based in Bangalore. (India)

Caspian Advisors Private Ltd. has participated in the recent 250 million rupees (US$5.4 million) investment in Micro Housing Finance Corporation Limited ('MHFC') along with the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. MHFC provides housing finance for lower income households in urban India. (India)

Integral Corporation, a restructuring fund management firm, has agreed to invest in the bankrupt high-end fashion brand Yohji Yamamoto Inc. It is currently seeking authorisation from the Tokyo District Court for the carve-out and transfer of Yohji's businesses. No transaction sum was disclosed. (Japan)

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., GIC Special Investments Pte Ltd. and China International Capital Corporation Ltd. announced their aggregate US$160 million commitment to Far Eastern Leasing Co. Ltd. The latter provides financial leasing services and is a subsidiary of Sinochem Group, the country's leading chemical company. (People's Republic of China)

Standard Chartered Private Equity announced having invested US$17.5 million in Mnet Media Corp., a leading media and music company that is listed on KOSDAQ. CJ Corporation, major shareholder of Mnet Media, has also joined the private equity house in providing capital to Mnet Media. (South Korea)

Pipavav Shipyard Limited ('Pipavav') has recently made its debut on Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange. Between 2006 and 2008, Pipavav raised US$90 million in aggregate from a long list of financial investors including 2i Capital PCC, The Blackstone Group, Standard Chartered Private Equity and Jacob Ballas India Pvt. Ltd. None of these investors disposed of their holdings at Pipavav's initial public offering. (India)

MKS Partners ('MKS') has sold its remaining 52% stake in Fukusuke Corporation ('Fukusuke') to Toyota Tsusho Corporation for an undisclosed sum. In 2003, MKS completed a buyout of Fukusuke Corporation, a sock manufacturer, which had filed for creditor protection. (Japan)

Sun Capital Partners, Inc. has sold Tarami K.K. to MUL Principal Investments Company Limited for an undisclosed amount, concluding a 2-year investment holding period in the company. Earlier this year, Sun Capital's Japan operations had ceased its investment programme. (Japan)

Chongqiang Shangshe Group New Century Department Store, which had earlier raised capital from Hony Capital, could be acquired by its sister affiliate, Chongqing Department Store Co., Ltd. No transaction sum was disclosed. (People's Republic of China)

Digital Media Group ('DMG'), backed by a long list of investors, including Globi Partners and Oak Investment Partners, will be sold to VisionChina Media Inc., which is paying US$160 million for this acquisition.
      NASDAQ-listed VisionChina Media Inc. counts Milestone Capital Management and Goldman Sachs as its investors. (People's Republic of China)

Mr Akhil Awasthi, previously a partner in Baring Private Equity Partners (India) Ltd., has joined Tata Capital as the Managing Partner of the firm. (India)

Dr Kai Fu Lee, founder of Innovation Work, has joined WI Harper Group as Chairman of the firm's Global Advisory Board. (People's Republic of China)

Mr Wei Zhu, Senior Managing Director of CVC Asia Pacific (Beijing) Limited, has resigned. (People's Republic of China)

Mr Lionel Irwin Pincus, founder and retired chairman of Warburg Pincus, has passed away on 10th October, 2009 after a long illness, according to a statement issued by the global private equity firm. (U.S.A.)