Singapore, Sept 07: The British-based Standard Chartered Bank is hunting for low-risk private equity deals in India and three other Asian centres where rising wealth and consumption are stoking demand for capital. The 18-month-old Standard Chartered Private Equity is looking at mid-sized firms in sectors like pharmaceuticals and auto components, while shunning riskier long-term infrastructure or real estate projects, said its global head, Karam Butalia.
"We are conservative. We are kind of boutique and we are looking at bang for the buck over here," the 49-year-old Butalia said. He once taught economics in Delhi University and then spent 24 years with Citigroup in Asia.

Cheap valuations and deregulation moves by Asian governments have drawn private equity funds from the U.S. and Europe to the Asian region in the past few months.
US-based investment fund Lone Star signed a $1.2 billion deal in late August to take control of Korea Exchange Bank. The deal came days after U.S. equity fund Ripplewood Holdings agreed to buy Japan Telecom Holdings Co.'s fixed line operations for $2.2 billion. Bureau Report