Asia-Pacific

Governor: US infrastructure begs investment

The Governor of Pennsylvania, Edward Rendell, calls for more public-private partnerships amid warnings that American infrastructure is ‘crumbling’ and needs more than $1.6tr in improvements.

Sharia-compliant MENASA fund holds $200m first close(3)

Bahrain’s Ithmaar Bank, Shamil Bank and the Islamic Investment Company have held a first close on their mutli-strategy private equity fund targeting $500 million.

Oil-rich MENA funds to hit $9 trillion

The unrelenting rise of sovereign wealth and a promising outlook for MENA private equity funds were among the key talking points at PEI’s Middle East Private Equity Forum in Dubai.

Financial services M&A veteran joins Carlyle

UBS investment banker Olivier Sarkozy has joined The Carlyle Group’s recently formed financial services team. The team aims to exploit low valuations in the financial services sector, which has been hit by recent worldwide credit market problems.

Agribusiness firm launches PE operations

Recently renamed Continental Grain has launched a private equity group, led in part by Quadrangle co-founder David Tanner.

Lord Malloch-Brown says industry can help end poverty(2)

The UK's Minister for Asia, Africa and the UN called on emerging markets managers not to shirk their social and enviromental responsibilities in the countries where they invest.

Istithmar takes Barneys for $942m(3)

Dubai-based private equity firm Istithmar has emerged with high-end retailer Barneys New York for a purchase price of $942m, after a month-long bidding war with Japanese clothing retailer Fast Retailing.

Kleiner Perkins launches $100m 'iFund'

Apple has passed over its original backers, Sequoia Capital and Venrock, and selected Kleiner Perkins to lead the company’s first product-focussed venture fund.

Global firms dominate the PEI Awards

In spite of the credit crunch, the global mega funds took centre stage in the Private Equity International Awards 2007. Mid-market resilience also found favour with voters in the only truly democratic private equity awards.

ECP, Truffle pay $53m for Moroccan mines(4)

Emerging Capital Partners, in partnership with Truffle Capital, has acquired a third African mining company with its $53 million purchase of Morocco’s Compagnie Miniere de Touissit.