Harrison Street Integrates European Platform With Roundshield Partners, Launches HSAM Europe With $10 Billion in AUM

Harrison Street announced July 20 the integration of Harrison Street Europe into Roundshield Partners and the rebranding of the combined business as HSAM Europe, creating a unified European investment platform with assets under management in excess of $10 billion.

The move consolidates two previously distinct European operations — Harrison Street's equity-focused European business and Roundshield's asset-backed credit platform — under a single brand, leadership structure, and operating model. Harrison Street, which manages $109 billion in assets globally across real estate, infrastructure, and credit strategies, acquired a majority interest in Roundshield in July 2025. The partners of Roundshield retain a significant minority interest in the combined platform.

Leadership Structure and European Footprint

HSAM Europe will be led by Driss Benkirane and Paul Bashir as Co-Heads of Europe. Benkirane, who founded Roundshield in 2013, will also serve as Chief Investment Officer, with responsibility for investment strategy across the HSAM Europe platform. Bashir, who previously served as CEO of Harrison Street Europe, will continue to oversee the firm's existing equity business while focusing on capital formation and product development. Herbert Beckmann will retain his responsibilities as CFO and COO of the integrated platform.

The unified team now exceeds 90 professionals across Europe, with offices in London, Berlin, Geneva, Jersey, Luxembourg, Madrid, and Munich.

"This is a pivotal moment for Harrison Street, as we unify our European business under a single brand, culture, and operating platform, positioning HSAM Europe to become a powerhouse across diverse strategies and asset classes in the European market," said Christopher Merrill, Co-Founder and Global CEO of Harrison Street Asset Management.

Benkirane said the combination positions the platform to deliver capabilities beyond what either organization could achieve independently. "RoundShield has been dedicated to delivering exceptional performance through asset-backed credit and private capital solutions since 2013," he said. "Now, as a larger force in the market as part of HSAM Europe and with the depth of talent across both teams, we will be well positioned to introduce new capabilities for our investors beyond what either platform could achieve alone."

Bashir added: "Bringing together the incredible talent, experience and market knowledge of our two highly accomplished organizations will enable HSAM Europe to capitalize on the growing opportunities for investment across core, opportunistic, and private debt strategies on behalf of our investors."

European Private Debt Fund Launches Alongside Platform Integration

The formation of HSAM Europe coincides with the launch of the HSAM European Private Debt Fund, an evergreen vehicle focused on senior secured, real estate-backed lending across Western Europe. The fund has already completed its first investment: senior secured financing to refinance and support the continued stabilization of a newly renovated hotel in the United Kingdom.

The strategy has also assembled a pipeline of opportunities across multiple European markets and sectors, including living, hospitality, and logistics, according to the firm. Harrison Street described the pipeline as reflecting both the breadth of HSAM Europe's origination capabilities and growing demand for flexible mid-market financing solutions.

About the Firms

Harrison Street Asset Management is headquartered in Chicago, Toronto, and London, with more than 600 employees across offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm serves more than 1,100 institutional investors and more than 300 registered investment advisors through closed-end, open-end, and specialized investment vehicles.

Roundshield Partners, now operating as the European credit and tactical opportunities arm of Harrison Street Asset Management, was established in 2013 and is focused on European asset-backed credit opportunities and private capital solutions on behalf of pension funds, endowments, foundations, and other institutional investors.

Sources:
Harrison Street Asset Management press release, July 20, 2026. harrisonst.com