The Australian Taxation Office is to pursue the recovery of tax and related penalty charges that amounted to A$678 million (US$633.7 million) in the matter relating to TPG's sale of its holdings in Myer Holdings Ltd. (Australia)

Bohai Industrial Investment Fund has made a strategic alliance with the Sichuan government and will participate in the restructuring of the province's trust companies. Currently there are four trust companies in Sichuan, and three of them are dormant in their operations. (People's Republic of China)

China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co., Ltd., which counts The Carlyle Group and Prudential Financial Holdings as its foreign shareholders, has received approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission to become a listed company on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Its listing is expected to take place before the end of the year.(People's Republic of China)

CDC Group plc is assessing Bangladesh as the next frontier where it could develop private equity. It may appoint the Sweden-based Brummer & Partners to invest in Bangladesh. (Bangladesh)

Teacher Retirement System of Texas has reportedly committed US$100 million each to Squadron Capital Management Ltd. and Morgan Creek Capital Management LLC to invest in private equity firms that focus on emerging Asian economies, according to Bloomberg. (Pan Asia)

International Finance Corporation may be joining other investors to invest an aggregate 350 million rupees (US$7.5 million) in AU Financiers (India) Private Ltd., an institution that provides loans mainly to those in semi-urban and rural areas. (India)

Daiwa SMBC Capital Co., Ltd. has joined hands with a subsidiary of Saigon Securities Inc. to set up a seven-year life fund. It has an initial capital of ¥800 million (US$9.1 million) and will invest in high-growth enterprises in Vietnam. (Vietnam)

Kunwu Jiuding Capital Co., Ltd. has reportedly launched a fund that targets the medicine sector. It will be the second fund in this industrial sector. Earlier, CCB International (Holdings) Ltd. was known to have launched a similar kind of fund. (People's Republic of China)

Simon Murray & Co. and Wuxi Guolian Financial Investment Group Co. Ltd. have launched the Simon Murray & Co. Guolian Renminbi Fund, a Rmb100 million (US$14.6 million) joint venture fund. Simon Murray & Co. is owned by Mr Simon Murray, a founder of the Hong Kong-based private equity firm GEMS. (People's Republic of China)

Beijing Private Equity Investment & Development Fund, the first fund of funds sponsored by state-owned organisations, announced having raised Rmb2 billion (US$292.9 million) since its inception earlier in the year. (People's Republic of China)

The Hina Group and China Capital Management Group Inc. have launched a US$100 million joint venture fund that will invest in new generation technology applications and software development. (People's Republic of China)

CHAMP Ventures Pty Ltd. has completed the buyout of the Asia Pacific arm of Aberdeen-based TSMarine (Contracting) Ltd. for an undisclosed sum. The investment marks the first for the firm in the oil and gas industry. (Australia)

Walden International and Nadathur Holdings and Investments Pvt. Ltd. have invested an aggregate US$10 million in CoOptions Technologies Ltd., a provider of information technology solutions customised for rural markets in India. (India)

Baring Private Equity Partners India Ltd. has participated in the offering of equity shares by ReaMetrix, Inc. through a US$2.1 million commitment. Headquartered in the USA, ReaMetrix develops medical diagnostic solutions for the biotechnology sector. (India)

The Global Environment Fund announced its US$46.3 million commitment to Greenko Group plc, a renewable energy generation company. The Hyderabad-based power company focuses on developing biomass, hydro-electric and wind assets in India. (India)

Japan Industrial Partners, Inc. is in talks to acquire a stake in Yamaha Livingtec Corporation ('YLT'), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation. YLT is Yamaha Corporation's housing fixtures and equipment subsidiary, and is primarily engaged in the production and sale of kitchen and bathroom systems. (Japan)

China Longyuan Power Group Corp. Ltd. has secured a commitment of up to US$100 million from WL Ross Group, LP as one of its cornerstone investors. In addition, China Investment Corporation will also invest up to HK$3.1 billion (US$397.4 million) in Longyuan. (People's Republic of China)

Sequoia Capital China has invested in the first round of financing of www.OkayBuy.com.cn, an online retailer of footwear. Neither party disclosed the transaction details. (People's Republic of China)

DEN Networks Ltd., backed by Standard Chartered Private Equity Ltd. and IL&FS Investment Managers Ltd., made its public debut on the Indian bourses recently. Its stock closed at 163.10 rupees (US$3.50) each on its first day of trading, representing a 16.4% decline from its offering price. (India)

7 Days Group Holdings Ltd. (‘7Days'), backed by Warburg Pincus and Actis, made its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange on 20th November. 7 Days is a leading budget hotel chain operator in China. (People's Republic of China)

Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd. is reportedly planning to acquire Ku6.com ('Ku6'), an online video-sharing platform and news services provider. Ku6 is backed by a host of private equity investors, including Draper Fisher Juverston and DT Capital. (People's Republic of China)

The Shenzhen Stock Exchange recorded the listings of three companies backed by private equity investors:
      

(1) Guangdong Haid Group Co., Ltd. an animal food and aquatic feed processor that had earlier received capital from CDH Investments.

      

(2) Zhongli Science & Technology Group Co., Ltd. which is backed by Suzhou Venture Group and Suzhou Guofa Venture Capital Co., Ltd

      

(3) Vtron Technologies Ltd. that had earlier raised funds from Shenzhen CITIC Union Venture Capital Co., Ltd. and Guangzhou Venture Capital Ltd.
(People's Republic of China)

Affinity Equity Partners has sold its holdings in TheFaceShop Korea Co., Ltd. to LG Household & Health Care. The private equity firm is estimated to receive net proceeds of 278.5 billion won (US$241 million) for this investment made back in November 2005. (South Korea)

Mr Alvin Ho, former Managing Director and co-product head of CLSA Capital Partners has joined Chepstow Capital Advisors Ltd. as a Managing Director. (Hong Kong)