Siddharth Poddar

Real estate remains the most popular alternative asset class among pension funds despite a 4% fall in assets under management in 2008, according to a Watson Wyatt survey. Allocations to private equity and infrastructure rose by 4% each.

Less than two months after acquiring Oriental Brewery in a blockbuster deal, KKR is selling half the brewer to Affinity Equity Partners for $400m.

The global buyout firm has moved Nathaniel Taylor from its Menlo Park office to Mumbai, where it established an office in January.

The Chinese brokerage house and the US boutique investment bank are teaming up as CSI Partners to raise $500m for a China-focused growth capital fund. Former Bear Stearns Asia chairman Donald Tang will lead the firm, which will also advise on cross-border M&A.

None of the sale's proceeds have been used to cash out Apax GPs, but rather will be re-invested in a permanent capital vehicle that will invest in Apax funds.

Managing director Hemal Mirani has quit the Boston-based fund of funds manager, reportedly to join a ‘large buyout firm’ in Asia.

MYOB’s board has approved the terms of an amended take-private offer that values the company at A$450m, A$13m more than the previous offer.

Highland Capital Partners has hired technology specialists and former Intel Capital senior executives John Hsin and Kuantai Yeh, just five months after Intel launched its second China fund.

The US firm is targeting $100m for its first Asian fund. Unlike other fund managers with grand expansion plans for Asia, Riverside is staying away from India and China.

The Cleveland, Ohio-headquartered firm has acquired a Korean preschool operator, its second deal in Asia, and its 20th in 2008.