Nomura is acquiring Macquarie Group's U.S. and European public asset management businesses for $1.8 billion, marking the Japanese investment bank's most ambitious expansion abroad since its failed purchase of Lehman Brothers' assets.

This would increase the assets under management of Nomura's investment management division to $770 billion, up from the $590 billion currently.

Japanese financial services group Nomura agreed to acquire Macquarie’s U.S. and European public asset management businesses in a $1.8 billion all-cash deal.