Janus Henderson continues PM expansion with acquisition

Janus Henderson is continuing to strengthen its presence in private markets across Europe with the acquisition of a $2 billion private markets investment manager in Germany.

Rantum Capital is set to be bought out by Janus Henderson for an undisclosed amount. The transaction is expected to close in Q326 pending regulatory and other customary approvals.

Founded in 2013, Rantum Capital has been 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 raised around $2 billion (€1.2bn) of capital across its private market strategies.

Upon completion, Rantum Capital will play a central role in the build-out of Janus Henderson's pan-European private credit platform, it said.

The acquisition also enhances Janus Henderson's capabilities in private equity, complementing the firm's broader private markets strategy, with Rantum Capital to support future product development.

Commenting, Janus Henderson chief executive Ali Dibadj said the acquisition comes at a time when demand for private markets continues to rise

"... 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," Dibadj said.

"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."

Meanwhile, Janus Henderson head of fixed income Alex Veroude said the deal builds on previous transactions of NBK Capital Partners in the Middle East and Victory Park Capital in the US in 2024

"We are delighted to have the Rantum team join Janus Henderson. They have built a strong private markets platform with a proven track record and deep relationships in Germany and across the DACH region," Veroude said.

"As clients seek differentiated exposure to private credit, this transaction strengthens our ability to meet that demand."

As part of the transaction, Janus Henderson will adopt Rantum Capital's industrial partner network to provide deep sector insight, strengthen sourcing and enhance local credibility, the firm said.

Rantum Capital co-founder and managing director Dirk Notheis added: "We are very pleased to be joining Janus Henderson, a company with a strong culture and entrepreneurial approach."

"By combining our local and private markets expertise with Janus Henderson's global distribution platform, we will be able to create even more value for our investors in the future and expand our offering across Europe".