MALAYSIA - FINANCE - Malaysia revises Islamic equity standards

www.reuters.com - (Reuters) - Malaysia's securities commission is revising its guidelines for equities which qualify for Islamic investment, in a move that could increase the appeal of the country's sharia-compliant funds industry to Gulf investors.
Under the previous standards, investment was banned or restricted in companies that were involved in industries deemed to be unethical, such as gambling, alcohol and tobacco.
These restrictions are now being made more stringent, so that a lower level of exposure to those industries is unacceptable for Islamic investment, according to a statement by the securities commission on Monday.
The revised guidelines also include two new financial standards which filter out excessively cash-rich and debt-ridden companies, in order to limit exposure to interest payments and pure monetary speculation, which are unacceptable in Islam. (source)

FINANCE - KFH plans $300 mln fund, seeks Indonesian assets

By Liau Y-Sing, Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR - Islamic fund manager KFH Asset Management will launch a $300 million fund to invest in consumer, healthcare and education businesses by end 20120, its private equity head said on Monday.

KFH Asset Management, a subsidiary of the Malaysian unit of Kuwait Finance House , would raise money from Gulf investors for the fund which would also invest in waste management and light manufacturing companies, Lew Oon Yew said.

FINANCE - Islamic Private Equity Firms Encouraged to Revisit their Business Model

Manama 03 October 2010: Islamic private equity firms face a reality check post the financial crises, said Ashar Nazim, Director and Head of Islamic Financial Services at Ernst and Young, speaking today at the Islamic Financial Services Board summit, titled Business Models in Islamic Finance - Challenges and Opportunities in Bahrain.

CONFERENCES - Malaysia Must Be In The Position To Offer A Strong Range Of Investable Asset Classes

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia, as an international Islamic financial centre, must be in the position to offer a strong range of investable asset classes for the global investment market.

EVENTS - Islamic Venture Capital Conference To Update Investors On Market Trends

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- The two-day Third Islamic Venture Capital and Private Equity Conference beginning Tuesday would act as a platform for venture capitalists and private equity investors to keep them updated with global market trends and Islamic alternative investments in the region.