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Sarovar Hotels, a mid-market hotel group backed by Bessemer Venture Partners and New Vernon Private Equity, is looking at an IPO or a second round of private equity funding. The company plans to raise about Rs 250-300 crore ($62.5-75 million), according to DNA (Via Sify). Sarovar is setting up 23 new properties at an investment of over Rs 500 crore, while it will contribute about Rs 150 crore. Last year, Sarovar had raised $8.5 million from Bessemer Venture Partners and New Vernon through an equity dilution of about 24 per cent.

Asipac, a company involved in urban infrastructure project planning, development management and property marketing, plans to raise funds from PE firms, reports DNA. The Bangalore-based company is looking at divesting 20 per cent. DNA says the new investors want to pick up 20 per cent in Asipac at a valuation of Rs 185 crore ($45 million). (It's strange these numbers are coming out before the deal!). The company has an order book of Rs 10,226 crore ($2.5 billion). The company had raised Rs 8 crore from Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd (BCCL) at a valuation of Rs 80 crore, the report says.

Financial Technologies, the promoter of commodity exchange MCX, is planning to raise capital from private equity funds to bankroll its expansion. According to NDTV Profit, FTIL may consider selling 10 per cent equity. The deal may value MCX at $1.2 billion, the report says. MCX is believed to have has lined up expansion plans such as setting up warehouses, and it needs capital. An IPO is also delayed.

Kantilal Chhaganlal (Kaycee) Securities is another broking firm looking to sell stake to private equity funds. Gaja Capital Partners, an private equity firm floated by Gopal Jain of formerly View Group, is in talks with the Mumbai-based broking firm, reports The Economic Times. ET says it could be about $40 million-worth deal. It is not clear if it's the valuation or the size of the deal. Kaycee has both the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange memberships, and also offers retail and institutional broking in equities, commodity broking, wealth management services and mutual fund distribution services. Besides it plans to foray into investment banking and services specifically targeted at NRIs.

Apollo Hospital Enterprises is still eyeing the UK assets of European healthcare provider Capio Hospitals. After Apax Partners - which has an indirect stake in Capio's Nordic parent - picked up stake in Apollo last week for $104 million, there were fears that European regulators will stall an attempt by Apollo to acquire Capio. Pratap Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals has reportedly said that Apollo was only interested in the UK assets of Capio, which included a network of 22 hospitals. The regulation would have triggered only if the equity ownership by Apax in Apollo was above 21 per cent, Reddy said (DNA Money).