Janus Henderson Debuts AA-A CLO ETF with $100M Guardian Seed

Janus Henderson Investors has launched the Janus Henderson AA-A CLO ETF (JA), securing $100 million in seed capital from The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America as part of the firms’ previously announced strategic partnership.  

JA is designed to provide access to high-quality AA to A rated collateralized loan obligations and will be managed by portfolio managers John Kerschner and Nick Childs, with Jessica Shill joining the portfolio management team. 

The new fund broadens Janus Henderson’s CLO lineup by targeting a segment that sits between its JAAA and JBBB ETFs from both a return and risk standpoint. “Securitized markets are proving to be a bright spot for investors right now—offering competitive yields and diversification,” said Kerschner, who also serves as global head of securitized products. “JA seeks to allow investors to position portfolios for resilience and growth in an evolving economic landscape.” 

The launch coincides with the 10-year anniversary of Janus Henderson’s ETF business and the founding of the Janus Detroit Street Trust, which holds the firm’s ETF suite. That platform has grown to nearly $38 billion in assets under management across 15 active ETFs as of December 31, 2025, while Janus Henderson overall manages about $493 billion in assets, including roughly $65 billion in securitized strategies.