Who we are
Our 22-year history
Building strategic long-term value for investors
Throughout Round Hill Capital's history, we have focused on accommodation as it is a fundamental need for human beings and a consistent asset class.
As a result, we became one of the first pan-European accommodation investors specialising in modern living which includes multi-family, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), build to rent (BTR), co-living and senior living.
Below are some highlights of our journey so far.
2024
- In 2024, CIM Group became a key shareholder of a newly formed entity comprised of the majority of assets and relationships managed by Round Hill Capital. With $28bn assets under management, CIM Group’s investment positions the business for accelerated growth, building on Michael Bickford and his team’s strong investment track record across Europe. The business benefits from CIM Group’s scale and infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency.
2024
- In early 2024, we sold the Nido Living business to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments). The transaction represented a successful disposal for Round Hill Capital, having owned the business for 12 years and built up a respected brand with modern student accommodation sites across Europe and an operational platform that welcomed multiple thousand student residents annually.
2023
- The final close of flagship fund, ERIF II (European Residential Income Fund II), was held in 2023 with total fund commitments of €440 million. The comingled fund focusses on European multifamily assets supported by strong market fundamentals and demographic trends and is backed by institutional investors from Asia, Europe, the US and Canada.
2022
- Round Hill makes history in Portugal, acquiring the largest purpose built student accommodation and co-living portfolio in Portugal in 2022 from Smart Studios. The €200m deal added over 2,000 beds from nine PBSA and co-living residences in Lisbon and Porto to the Iberian portfolio.
2021
- Round Hill form a strategic joint venture with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPP Investments”) investing in excess of €1BN to create one of the largest European student accommodation partnerships.
2020
- Round Hill and QuadReal complete a deal to acquire €123.5M Dublin PRS scheme, Blackwood Square, a major new PRS development in Dublin.
2019
- Round Hill launches Round Hill Ventures – an impact conscious venture capital fund focussed on built environment technologies.
- Round Hill complete the sale of 9,544 residential units in the Netherlands to Heimstaden AB for €1.4BN – the largest residential real estate transaction recorded in the Netherlands.
- Round Hill’s expanding logistics platform acquires four logistics warehouse developments in Spain as part of the expansion of its Southern European Logistics platform.
2018
- Round Hill expand European operations by opening offices in Finland, Ireland and Portugal.
- In line with a new Finnish residential strategy, Round Hill acquire a residential portfolio comprising 3,263 units.
- As part of the continuing investment in student accommodation through multiple strategies, RHC acquire a UK student accommodation portfolio comprising 1,815 units and also expand the Dutch PBSA development pipeline with sites in Groningen and Utrecht by 2,658 units.
- Round Hill make first acquisition into the Italian industrial and logistics sector.
2017
- Round Hill expand into the US market opening offices in both Boston and Palm Beach.
- A strategic joint venture with Starwood Capital is formed to invest in the UK student housing market with an initial portfolio acquisition of 1,595 beds.
- Round Hill purchase the largest mixed-use portfolio development in Portugal consisting of student housing, residential, hotel, retail and F&B.
- As part of Round Hill's new German residential strategy focusing on the acquisition of residential portfolios in the greater metropolitan areas, we complete the acquisition of a 770-unit portfolio in Berlin along with a 114-unit portfolio in Hamburg.
2016
- Expanding the geographical footprint by entering the Nordic market, Round Hill makes its first acquisition into the logistics and industrial sector with a portfolio consisting of 18 assets across Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
- Round Hill launch first Venture Opportunities Platform and close on four investments in the property technology sector.
- Continued acquisition of additional residential portfolios in the Netherlands sees Round Hill become one of the largest private landlords in the country.
2015
- Through the purchase of RPG Byty, RHC becomes one of the largest private landlords in the Czech Republic.
- Round Hill expands its presence in the student housing market closing on another premium asset in West Hampstead, London.
- Round Hill establishes a presence in the Spanish residential market through Project Palo Alto, a prime residential development on the Costa Del Sol.
2014
- Round Hill becomes the first foreign investment firm to commence building a significant portfolio of Dutch residential real estate assets post the financial crisis with over 9,600 units.
2012
- Round Hill is one of the first movers into the UK student accommodation space purchasing three premium London assets in Spitalfields, King’s Cross and Notting Hill with over 2,500 beds.
2011
- Round Hill expands its presence in Germany, creating a country-wide team of vertically integrated investment, asset and property managers that manage over 50,000 units.
- Round Hill moves into the European office sector with the acquisition of prime assets in Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
2007-2010
- Round Hill assume corporate management of Vitus Group, a leading German residential operator, with over 30,000 units spread across seven operating companies.
2002-2006
- Round Hill Capital is founded by Michael Bickford in 2002 in London.
- The company makes its first acquisitions into a variety of assets, including Swiss industrial, UK senior living and German office.
