Macquarie was allegedly in takeover talks with private equity giant Carlyle Group, but the discussions "fizzled", according to reports from US outlet Semafor. Macquarie sold its European and North American public investments business to Nomura in April for $2.8 billion. Macquarie said it would retain its public investments business in its home market of Australia and continue to operate and invest in a full-service asset management business across public and private markets. At the time of the sale, head of Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) Ben Way said the move signalled the business' move towards private markets. "We are proud of the public investments business we have built and grown over many decades.