North America

US/CANADA - Shareholders of US-based technology company SonicWALL approved a US$717m acquisition deal involving the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.

CANADA - Canadian pension funds lost 3.2% in the second quarter, but a weak dollar helped shield against even steeper falls in the international equity markets, according to data by RBC Dexia Investor Services.

US - The California State Teachers' Retirement System posted returns of 12.3% for the year ended June 30 but said losses from the financial crisis remain on the books.

US - The American International Group has agreed to pay US$725m to settle a class action suit brought by three Ohio pension funds alleging bid-rigging, stock price manipulation and accounting fraud.

CANADA/UK - The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Onex, Canada's biggest publicly traded buyout firm, are examining Tomkins' accounts after signalling they may bid about £2.9bn ($4.4bn) for the British maker of auto parts and window frames.

UK - UK private equity firm Candover Investments has confirmed that talks over its sale to a Canadian pension fund have broken down after three months.

AUSTRALIA/CANADA - The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has bid A$3.5bn (US$3.1bn) for Macquarie-backed Australian toll road operator Intoll Group.

US - States may face increased retirement- fund deficits and pressure to stop skipping pension contributions under proposals being reviewed by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.

UK/CANADA - The UK's Pensions Regulator has issued a Financial Support Direction against companies in the Canada-based Nortel grou,p requiring them to provide support for the UK scheme, which had a £2.1bn (US$3.1bn) shortfall on a buyout basis.

CANADA - The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has been criticised by environmentalists for investing C$250m (US$239) in an Alberta tar sands company.