Sharon Lim

Morgan Stanley’s Asia private equity group has raised $1.5 billion for the firm’s third Asia-focused fund, underlining the US bank's renewed commitment to the asset class.

The Carlyle Group has beefed up its Japanese buyout team with the appointment of a co-head and a chairman commencing October and November respectively.

Pacific Equity Partners has agreed to acquire Hoyts in a transaction that values the cinema business with operations in Australia and New Zealand at A$440 million. This comes on the heels of a smaller take-private deal proposed by Navis Capital.

Temasek, the Singapore sovereign fund, has lost three senior investment executives in a week. Jimmy Phoon, the chief investment officer of the investment firm in Singapore, is leaving. Hong Kong’s Frank Tang, Temasek China dealmaker, has also resigned with his colleague Terry Hu.

Actis is switching tack with the launch of a global fund, aiming for a $1.25 billion global umbrella vehicle alongside four regional side-funds, the largest pool of capital in its history.

CVC Capital Partners is ending a joint venture with Citi for its third Asian fund. CVC Asia Pacific Fund III is expected to close well above a $4 billion target.

Actis, the emerging market buyout investor, has hired Lim Meng Ann, a former China-based GIC Special Investment executive to head its China operations. Lim replaces Chin Bay Chong, who left Actis at the start of the year.

China is reportedly close to approving the launch of a Singapore-China private equity fund that aims at boosting investments at Suzhou Industrial Park.

Aureos has invested $5 million in a semiconductor business in the Philippines, one of the least frequented private equity destinations in Southeast Asia.

Macquarie Bank and MBK Partners, a North Asian buyout group, have abandoned the fight for a Korean cable TV operator and instead teamed up to acquire it in a deal worth $3 billion.