Private equity investments up in Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific ex-Japan private equity investment tripled from $3.7 billion in the first half of 2008 to $9.5 billion by the end of the year, according to data from Thomson Reuters.

China and India were on top of the pack with 318 and 267 deals, respectively. Together they accounted for $7.7 billion or 82% of the year's investments. South Korea followed with $639 million which was 7% of the total investments for the year. Australia had more deals than Korea at 109 to Korea's 23, but only had $511million in investments, or 5% of the total.

The top industries that attracted investments were business services with 65 deals and a value of $854 million, next was manufacturing with only 18 deals but a value of $815 million. Alternative energy came in at sixth place with 23 deals and a value of $449 million. The smallest investments were seen in biotech equipment and scientific instrumentation with a couple of deals at just $1.3 million and $600,000, respectively.

Last year's top private equity deal was a buyout/acquisition for Jeonju Paper in South Korea -- a deal valued at $787 million.

The biggest venture capital deal was for Daye Nonferrous Metals in China with a disclosed round amount of $150 million.

Hong Kong was the top fundraiser last year, with $14.7 billion accumulated in 21 funds. Thomson Reuters reported in the second quarter that Hong Kong had raised $9.3 billion from eight funds.