Private equity looks east.

HOW Malaysia can carve a niche in the private equity world and lead in the largely untapped Islamic private equity market.

THE Malaysian private equity market has gained momentum in the last five to six years amid the private equity boom across Asia. Prior to 2000, only a few deals were reported. However, in the past decade, many Malaysian companies have enjoyed private equity funding, including companies such as Shangri-la, Scomi Oilfield, Courts Mammoth, Magnum Corp, Celebrity Fitness, Konsortium Logistik, Green Packet and Tanjung Offshore, to name a few.

Most recently, news reports of the Carlyle Group's RM1.9 billion bid for Malaysian-based fast food chain operator QSR Brands put Malaysia in focus for private equity investors.

As attractive as Malaysia is as an investment destination for private equity funds, little is said about the formation of private equity funds beyond the domestic players.

Here we explore how Malaysia can carve a niche in the private equity world.

China is cleverly 'domesticating' the private equity …