
Allianz in Talks to Buy Private Credit Manager Capital Four
Allianz SE is in talks to buy European credit manager Capital Four, people with knowledge of the negotiations said.
The German insurer is holding preliminary discussions with Capital Four, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. The talks could still be delayed or fall apart, the people added.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


American Military News
an hour ago
- American Military News
‘Have a nice day, DJT!': Trump's breakup with Musk devolves into a war of insults
President Donald Trump's friendship and political alliance with Elon Musk, the world's richest man, who fueled Trump's campaign with record amounts of cash before working at the White House by his side until last week, appears to be over, with both men leveling searing criticism against one another in a sharp public row. Musk had been criticizing the Trump administration over its signature legislation, the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' for its projected impact on the national debt throughout last week. But his calls to 'kill the bill' on Wednesday prompted Trump, speaking to media from the Oval Office, to respond in kind. 'Elon and I had a great relationship, I don't know if we will anymore,' Trump said Thursday. 'And he hasn't said bad things about me personally, but I'm sure that'll be next. But I'm very disappointed in Elon.' Musk, responding on his social media platform, X, took credit for Trump's election victory. The billionaire entrepreneur, whose companies also include SpaceX and Tesla, contributed over $280 million to Trump and other Republicans during the 2024 presidential campaign. 'Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,' Musk wrote. 'Such ingratitude.' Matters only deteriorated as the day progressed. After meeting with the German chancellor, Trump wrote on social media that the 'easiest way' to save billions in federal spending would be to 'terminate Elon's government subsidies and contracts.' 'Make my day,' Musk shot back, before claiming in a subsequent post that Trump had withheld the full release of FBI files on Jeffrey Epstein, the late child sex offender, because they would implicate the president himself. 'Time to drop the really big bomb: Trump is in the Epstein files,' Musk wrote. 'That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!' The exchange broke open a feud that had been simmering for weeks out of public view. In private, Musk had relayed concerns over the bill to the president, while expressing disagreement with several other policies, including the establishment of an artificial intelligence campus in the Middle East and Trump's announcement of global tariffs. 'I agree with much of what the administration does, but we have differences of opinion,' Musk said in a more muted tone last week, speaking in an interview with CBS. 'You know, there are things that I don't entirely agree with. But it's difficult for me to bring that up in an interview because then it creates a bone of contention,' he added. 'So then, I'm a little stuck in a bind, where I'm like, well, I don't wanna, you know, speak up against the administration, but I also don't wanna take responsibility for everything this administration's doing.' In the Oval Office, Trump said he believed that Musk had turned on him after he rejected Musk's recommendation for the head of NASA, a position that could benefit SpaceX, Musk's spaceship company. He also said that Musk opposed provisions of Trump's megabill that would phase out tax credits for electric vehicles. 'Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here. Better than you people. He knew everything about it — he had no problem with it. All of a sudden he had a problem, and he only developed the problem when he found out that we're going to have to cut the EV mandate, because that's billions and billions of dollars,' Trump said. 'People leave my administration and they love us, and at some point, they miss it so badly, and some of them embrace it, and some of them actually become hostile,' Trump added. 'I don't know what it is.' But Musk denied he had been shown the bill, responding on X that he wouldn't mind if the EV provisions remain in the text so long as others, which he said would balloon annual deficits, are cut. 'This bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!' Musk wrote. 'Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill.' The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released an assessment on Wednesday estimating that the 'big, beautiful bill,' which has passed the House and is under consideration in the Senate, would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, and result in 10.9 million Americans losing health insurance coverage over the same period. At the beginning of the administration, Trump put Musk in charge of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a White House program that intended on cutting federal spending and reducing the deficit. Musk's tenure in the role, designated as a special government employee, ended last week. On X, Musk posted a collection of past remarks from Trump warning against growing deficits and congressional actions increasing the debt ceiling, adding, 'where is this guy today?' 'Either you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill,' Musk added. 'Slim and beautiful is the way.' ___ © 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Ford's Hot Hatch Is Now Officially History
The end is here for Ford's last hot hatch as the company confirmed to Motor1 that every factory build slot for the Focus ST is spoken for. "All Focus ST factory orders until the end of production have now been reserved," European communications manager Finn Thomasen said. Dealers across the Continent may still have a few unclaimed cars hiding in back lots, but once those are gone-and when Focus production stops in November-the book will officially close on Ford's 45-year hot-hatch chapter. The Focus joins a growing list of Ford passenger cars already in the rear-view mirror. The Fiesta bowed out in 2023, the Mondeo in 2022, and the tiny Ka back in 2020. Without them, Ford's European portfolio is dominated by crossovers such as the Puma and Kuga. The shift has taken a bite out of sales: through April, Ford moved 149,601 vehicles in the EU, U.K., and EFTA markets-down 2.2% year-over-year and less than a third of Volkswagen's haul over the same period. Even Hyundai and Kia have pulled ahead, underscoring how much ground Ford has ceded without its affordable hatchbacks. Yes, the seventh-generation Mustang still flies the performance flag, but it's hardly a volume play. EU taxes punish engines bigger than two liters, dogging the 5.0-liter V-8, while the smaller 2.3-liter EcoBoost was pulled from European order books at the end of 2020. The pony car, therefore, lives on as a niche halo, not a substitute for the daily-drivable, budget-friendly thrills once delivered by ST-badged Fiestas and Focuses. Whether Ford ever revisits the hot-hatch formula likely depends on batteries, not boost pressure. Former Ford of Europe boss-now VW sales chief-Martin Sanders has hinted that the Blue Oval could tap further into Volkswagen's MEB electric platform, the foundation for the forthcoming Explorer and Capri EVs. VW has already promised an electric GTI; a battery-fueled Fiesta ST or Focus ST revival isn't unthinkable if the economics line up. For now, though, enthusiasts must look to the used market or pivot to rival brands still flying the internal-combustion hot-hatch flag. The Fiesta Supersport of 1980 lit the fuse; the Escort RS, Fiesta XR2, and decades of ST variants kept the fire roaring. With the Focus ST's curtain call, the combustion-powered Ford hot hatch becomes history. What replaces it, if anything, will almost certainly hum rather than howl. Until that day arrives, the faithful will remember the glory years and, if they're lucky, snag one of the last STs before they're gone. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sunderland Reject Dortmund's Bid for Jobe Bellingham Amid Ongoing Talks
Sunderland Standing Firm as Dortmund Pursue Jobe Bellingham Quiet Confidence Behind Stubborn Negotiations AFC Sunderland's resolve is being tested, and so far, they're not blinking. According to Sky Sports Germany, Borussia Dortmund's pursuit of Jobe Bellingham is active but far from complete. The Bundesliga giants' latest offer, reportedly under €25 million, has been firmly rejected by the newly promoted Premier League side. The report also states that 'Sunderland is proving to be a tenacious negotiator.' Advertisement Negotiations are ongoing, with BVB representatives Sebastian Kehl and Lars Ricken engaged in discussions with Sunderland's Kristjaan Speakman and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus. The German side is expected to return with an improved offer. Despite the standoff, there is a sense of quiet optimism. 'All parties remain optimistic that the deal will close soon,' Sky reports. The idea of a €30 million package, including add-ons, may yet be the key to unlocking the deal. Photo IMAGO Why Dortmund Are Keen This isn't just about sentimentality. While the Bellingham surname carries immense weight in Dortmund, after Jude Bellingham's outstanding spell before joining Real Madrid, this move is centred on Jobe's potential, not his brother's legacy. Advertisement Now 18, the younger Bellingham has carved his own path. In his first full season at Sunderland, he has shown maturity beyond his years and a versatility that appeals to clubs with high ambitions. He can operate as a central midfielder, No.10, or even in wider areas. Dortmund, famed for developing young talent, see him as another long-term project. Reports from Sky Sports confirm that 'Bellingham has agreed a five-year contract with Dortmund.' Timelines and Club World Cup Planning The deal's timing is crucial. Bellingham has been selected for England's U21 European Championship squad and is due to travel to Slovakia. However, 'If there is a breakthrough in the negotiations – this has been agreed – Bellingham would travel to Dortmund and then also to the Club World Cup in the USA.' Advertisement It's a clear sign of intent from Dortmund, not just for the future but also for the present. They want Bellingham involved immediately, potentially using the Club World Cup as a platform for integration. Photo: IMAGO Sunderland's Position of Strength Sunderland's stance is more than just financial prudence, it's reflective of a club with a long-term vision. Having returned to the Premier League, they are no longer content to be a stepping stone. Jobe Bellingham may ultimately leave, but it will be on Sunderland's terms, at the right price, and with the right future guarantees. This negotiation is not only about one player, it is about perception, leverage, and ambition. Our View – EPL Index Analysis For Sunderland, this negotiation feels like a moment of arrival. For too long, the club has seen talent depart on cut-price deals. Now, they're holding firm. While losing a player of Bellingham's promise would sting, the insistence on a deal that reflects his market value signals real intent. There's belief that this club can both develop stars and drive a hard bargain. Advertisement On the other hand, for Borussia Dortmund, the deal makes perfect sense. It mirrors their usual model, spotting emerging talent, offering a step up, and integrating with patience and purpose. Having Jude's legacy in their locker only adds sentimental weight. But this isn't just a name play, Jobe fits Dortmund's blueprint: young, tactically adaptable, and with significant resale potential. If €30 million is indeed the magic number, it represents a calculated gamble for Dortmund and a statement of growth from Sunderland. One way or another, this is a deal that speaks volumes about both clubs.