Singapore: Indian companies attracted $2.2 billion in private-equity investments last year, the most in the Asia-Pacific region reported the Thomson Financial.

The firms received the investments in 143 deals. Chinese companies emerged second with $1.7 billion from 145 deals, and Singapore was third with $1.5 billion from 17 deals.

Australia took 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 million and $271.5 million went into New Zealand companies from 12 and 13 deals, respectively.

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

The transportation sector raised the most.

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