The remaining childcare centres of ABC Learning Centres Ltd. have been sold to GoodStart, a non-profit company established by a group of charitable organizations. According to domestic reports, Goodstart will pay around A$100 million (US$110.3 million) to take over 678 centres. (Australia)

The German-based First Climate AG will invest 500 million rupees (US$11.3 million) in Lahari Power & Steels Ltd., a clean energy company. First Climate AG is an integrated carbon asset management company, which invests in greenhouse gas abatement projects. (India)

Edelweiss Capital Ltd. announced the first closing of its Edelweiss Special Opportunities Fund LLC, which has secured US$105 million in commitments from investors. The closed-end fund will seek special investment opportunities in India with a focus on alternative assets. (India)

Zurich-based Adveq Holding will form a joint venture company with Dalian United Holding Co., Ltd. The 50:50 joint venture will be the first non-government backed private equity fund of funds that will invest in renminbi-denominated funds. (People's Republic of China)

HSBC Private Equity (Asia) Ltd. has recently joined the International Finance Corporation and Intel Capital to invest an aggregate 700 million rupees (US$15.1 million) in Financial Information Network and Operations Ltd., a smart card technology provider that facilitates disbursement of loans and collection of deposits in India. (India)

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. may invest 5.5 billion rupees (US$117.5 million) in affiliates of Max India Ltd. (‘Max India’), a conglomerate that has businesses in life insurance and healthcare, according to local reports. Currently, International Finance Corp. and Warburg Pincus are Max India's shareholders. (India)

The US-based DCM has led the latest round of financing by deploying US$4 million to Tonchidot Corporation. ITOCHU Technology Ventures has also participated in this investment round. (Japan)

Sequoia Capital China ('Sequoia') has reportedly invested Rmb30 million (US$4.4 million) in a Chinese children's learning website, www.aobi.com. Earlier, Sequoia had partnered with Legend Capital to invest in a Chinese tutoring service company. (People's Republic of China)

Actis is joining KS Energy Services Ltd. in consolidating several of the latter's subsidiaries under a newly incorporated KS Distribution Pte. Ltd. Actis will invest S$142 million (US$102 million) in this new venture. (Singapore)

Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad Group and Kuwait-listed Al-Aman KSCC, have entered into a conditional subscription agreement with Pacific Healthcare Holdings Ltd. for a transaction worth S$12.2 million (US$8.8 million). (Singapore)

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., which had earlier raised capital from Goldman Sachs, Daiwa Securities SMBC Principal Investments Co., Ltd. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation will come under the control of Panasonic Corp. The acquisition will require a total capital deployment of ¥403.8 billion (US$4.5 billion) from Panasonic. (Japan)

China Nuokang Bio-Pharmaceutical Inc. ('Nuokang') made its debut on NASDAQ and raised US$45 million. Sequoia Capital China did not dispose of its holdings, while the Swiss-based HBM BioVentures sold half of its interest in Nuokang. (People's Republic of China)

Concord Medical Services Holdings Ltd., backed by The Carlyle Group, was listed on the New York Stock Exchange on 11th December. It is China’s largest radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging provider. Its stock was priced at US$11 per American Depositary Share. (People's Republic of China)

GIC Special Investment Pte Ltd. ('GIC SI') has further pared down its holdings in Li Ning Co., Ltd. ('Li Ning'), a leading sports apparel producer in China. In this latest sale, GIC SI sold 1.5 million shares and took its stake in Li Ning to less than 5%. (People's Republic of China)

Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd., backed by The Carlyle Group and Temasek Holdings, was listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong on 9th December. The Shenzhen-based real estate developer offered its shares at HK$3.45 (US$0.45) each and the first day closing stood at HK$3.44 per share. (People's Republic of China)

Shenzhen Keybridge Communications Co., Ltd., which counted IER Venture Capital Co., Ltd. ('IER') as its long term investor, was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on 9th December. IER did not dispose of its holdings in its invested company’s initial public offering. (People's Republic of China)