Episode 335: REITs Look Increasingly to International Markets for Life Sciences Exposure

REITs active in life sciences real estate are increasingly looking to complement their domestic portfolios with holdings in international markets where world-class scientists and strong infrastructure are creating a “vibrant ecosystem,” says Travis McCready, head of life sciences, Americas markets, at JLL.

“The life sciences market is increasingly going global, and from a REIT perspective, it's going global faster,” McCready told Nareit’s REIT Report. “I can't think of any of the leading REITs, publicly traded or private, that are simply looking at portfolios in the U.S. anymore. Everyone is looking for exposure across the Atlantic and across the Pacific.”

In addition to seeking ways to deploy capital, REITs are taking advantage of international markets that are “incredibly effective” at creating conditions ripe for life sciences innovation, McCready said.

Elsewhere in the podcast, McCready noted that from a venture capital standpoint, things are looking “quite good” for the life sciences market. However, “where the picture seems to change radically is when you start looking at the public markets, particularly IPOs, which for the life sciences ecosystem is somewhat of the lifeblood and the way that capital and exits are created.”