Singapore:Indiancompanies attracted $2.2 billion in private-equity investments last year, themost in the Asia-Pacific region, said a Thomson Financial report released today (Feb5,2007).

The firms received the investments in 143 deals. Chinesecompanies emerged second with $1.7 billion from 145 deals, and Singapore wasthird with $1.5 billion from 17 deals.

Australiatook the fourth spot with $915.5 million from 91 deals, followed by Taiwan with$477.2 million from 14 deals.

Investments in South Korean firms amounted to $306.3 millionand $271.5 million went into New Zealand companies from 12 and 13 deals,respectively.

Loans to finance Asia-Pacific projects reached recordvolumes in 2006, the report added. The region posted $39.2 billion in borrowingfrom 153 issues, an 82.6 percent increase from the previous year.

The transportation sector raised the most.

Australian companies were the most active borrowers withproceeds worth $10.7 billion from 41 issues. Indiaand Japanwere ranked second and third with $8.9 billion and $4.6 billion, respectively.