Harrison Street Securities (HSS), a real estate securities investment management firm, has been selected as the new sub-advisor to the Aston/Fortis Real Estate Fund. The fund has been renamed the Aston/Harrison Street Real Estate Fund. The assignment took effect June 30.

The Aston/Harrison Street Real Estate Fund is part of Aston’s family of funds, which has 24 mutual funds with more than $9 billion in assets under management. The fund’s focus is on the management of U.S. REIT securities. Headquartered in Chicago, Aston collaborates with independent money managers to distribute institutional-quality investment products to the mutual fund and managed account markets.

HSS is an affiliate of Chicago-based Harrison Street Capital, an investment management firm whose primary focus is on managing real estate assets on behalf of institutional and high-net-worth investor groups. Harrison Street Capital currently manages more than $3 billion on behalf of three closed end real estate funds and a public REIT securities business.

Along with servicing the U.S. institutional market via separate accounts and comingled funds, the addition of a domestic sub-advised mutual fund gives Harrison entrée into the U.S. retail marketplace.

“We are very fortunate to now have access to a deeper pool of potential new investors, says Chris Zollo, senior vice president and head of client service and marketing for HSS. “Aston is well respected and has a great reputation in the RIA [registered investment advisor] and institutional marketplace, making this partnership very appealing. It should provide great visibility for us.”

With approximately $475 million in assets under management, HSS is well positioned for future growth, says Reagan Pratt, principal and co-portfolio manager.

“Partnering with Aston allows us to serve the dynamic retail and defined contribution marketplace alongside Aston,” emphasizes Pratt. “Prior to this union, smaller individual investors had no way to access Harrison Street’s products or benefit from our differentiated, disciplined and successful investment approach.”