Allianz SE, the holding company of the Allianz Group, is reported to be in talks to acquire Danish credit management firm Capital Four.
According to Bloomberg, which cited “people with knowledge of the negotiations”, the preliminary talks between the German insurer and Capital Four “could still be delayed, or fall apart”.
Allianz told Alternative Credit Investor that it does not comment on “market rumors”, while a spokesperson for Capital Four said its policy is to “not comment on market rumours or speculation”.
Read more: AllianzGI appoints new private markets head
Bloomberg cited an interview in May, in which AllianzGI’s chief executive Tobias C. Pross said he is pushing ahead with the firm’s expansion into private markets and would consider acquisitions.
In May, Allianz Global Investors, which manages €98bn (£82.6bn) in private markets assets, appointed Edouard Jozan as the new head of AllianzGI Private Markets.
Meanwhile, Capital Four manages more than €23bn across six strategies, including private debt, infrastructure, and high yield, its website states.
At the end of March, Capital Four announced the final close of its fifth private debt vintage, after reaching its hard cap of €3bn.
Read more: SEB launches private debt fund with Capital Four
There has been increasing M&A activity in the private credit space, as firms look to expand their capabilities in this fast-growing segment of the market.
Earlier this month, Franklin Templeton confirmed it will acquire a majority interest in Apera Asset Management, a pan-European private credit firm with over €5bn in assets under management, for an undisclosed sum.
