CANADA/US - Apax Partners, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board have teamed up to purchase Kinetic Concepts in a $6.3bn deal.

AUSTRALIA - The A$20bn ($21.3bn) REST Industry Super raked in a 9.5% return for its default strategy in the year ended 30 June.

US - The US government could default on $20bn of social security checks scheduled to go out on 3 August unless congress is able to come to terms on how to raise the $14trn debt limit, President Barack Obama said yesterday.

CHILE - Chilean pension funds reached $153bn in assets in June, up 11% from the previous year, according to data released by the pension regulator.

CHILE/CANADA - The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan plans to bid to increase its stakes in two Chilean water utilities.

JAPAN - Chuo Mitsui Asset Trust and Banking has emerged as the Government Pension Investment Fund's (GPIF) largest external manager over the past year, while AXA Rosenberg has disappeared from the list.

BlackRock has hired the National Employment Savings Trust's Paul Gilbody as head of DC consultant relations in an effort to increase its footprint in the UK DC market.

BlackRock hires NEST's Gilbody; Aviva Investors; Liongate; Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa; Ignis; HSBC Asset Management; Towers Watson; Acadian; Cardano; LGIM; Mercer

The European Insurance and Occupational Pension Authority will seek industry comments on Europe's IORP directive as it prepares its advice to the European Commission.

EUROPE - The European Insurance and Occupational Pension Authority (EIOPA) will seek industry comments on Europe's IOPRPs directive as it prepares its advice to the European Commission.