Janus Henderson said yesterday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Rantum Capital, a Frankfurt‑based private markets investment manager, strengthening its presence in Germany and accelerating its ambitions in private markets across Europe.

Founded in 2013, Rantum Capital focuses on providing private debt and private equity financing solutions to family and entrepreneur‑owned small- and mid‑sized companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (the DACH region). The firm has raised around €1.2bn ($1.4bn) of capital across its private credit and private equity strategies.

Ali Dibadj, chief executive officer of Janus Henderson, said: “As client demand for private markets continues to grow, we are very excited to announce the acquisition of Rantum Capital, which expands our private credit and private equity capabilities in Europe, a strategically important region for the firm.”

“This transaction reflects our focus on diversifying into high‑demand areas while also amplifying our existing strengths, including our institutional client relationships, to better support our clients’ evolving needs.”

The acquisition will increase Janus Henderson’s scale and local presence in the Germany, while Rantum’s established relationships with institutional investors, including pensions, insurers and family offices, will extend Janus Henderson’s reach across the DACH region, according to a statement by the asset manager.

Rantum is expected to play a central role in the build‑out of Janus Henderson’s pan‑European private credit platform, leveraging its 13‑year track record and experienced investment team.

The acquisition also enhances Janus Henderson’s capabilities in private equity, complementing the firm’s broader private markets strategy. Rantum’s private equity expertise has the potential to support future product development.

A distinctive element of Rantum’s platform is its industrial partner network, a group of highly experienced former board members and senior executives from leading German companies, according to the statement.

The acquisition builds on Janus Henderson’s recent expansion in private markets, following the acquisitions of NBK Capital Partners in the Middle East and Victory Park Capital in the US in 2024, and the firm’s pre-IPO investment strategies, and represents a further step in developing differentiated private markets capabilities across key regions.

Alex Veroude, head of fixed income at Janus Henderson, said: “[This transaction] builds on the private markets capabilities we have been expanding globally, including Victory Park Capital in the US and NBK Capital Partners in the Middle East, and complements our broader offering, including our securitised and ETF capabilities, allowing us to offer a wider range of credit solutions to clients.”

Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed and the acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026 subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.