- Business
- DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA operates as a leading European asset manager with global reach, providing active, passive, and alternative investment solutions to retail, institutional, and corporate clients worldwide. The company offers a comprehensive range of products including equities, fixed income, cash management, multi-asset strategies, real estate, infrastructure, private equity, and sustainable investments; key brands encompass DWS for actively managed funds, Xtrackers for ETFs and passive products, and RREEF for alternative assets such as real estate and infrastructure funds. Founded in 1956 and headquartered at Mainzer Landstraße 11-17 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, DWS manages approximately EUR 1,054 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2025, with operations spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and Asia Pacific.
DWS specializes in tailored solutions across liquid and illiquid asset classes, including co-investments, emerging markets, direct buyouts, secondaries in private equity, and structured capital solutions; it also provides pension assets management in Germany, insurance asset management, and one of Europe's largest ETF/ETP platforms. In private equity, the firm targets follow-on equity for mergers and acquisitions, minority stakes for liquidity, and flexible capital for continuation vehicles. With around 4,900 employees globally, DWS emphasizes sustainable investing, integrating ESG factors into a significant portion of its offerings.
Recent developments include extending a nearly 25-year distribution partnership with Deutsche Vermögensberatung (DVAG) through 2035 for actively managed products in Germany and Austria; launching a strategic private credit cooperation with Deutsche Bank to enhance origination and investment opportunities across asset-based finance and direct lending; and signing a memorandum of understanding with Al Mirqab Capital for a German Opportunities Mandate. In November 2025, DWS agreed to acquire a 40% stake in NIAIF alongside NAMI to expand its alternatives platform; earlier, it partnered with OMERS Infrastructure to acquire Italy's Grandi Stazioni Retail and secured a residential portfolio from PANDION AG in German cities. These moves, alongside record assets under management and strong net inflows in 2025, underscore DWS's focus on alternatives growth and strategic alliances.