Kayne Anderson Reportedly Set To Close $2.5B Fund With Eye Toward MOB

In a move underscoring growing demand for medical office, Kayne Anderson Real Estate is set to close a $2.5 billion fund expected to spend approximately half of its money on the asset class, the Wall Street Journal reported this week, citing sources familiar with the fund. 

While medical office buildings sales volume slowed in 2020, they performed better than most asset classes during the pandemic. A report from Colliers earlier this spring noted that MOB investment decreased 12.2% year-over-year in 2020 to hit $11.1 billion, while cap rates fell 20 basis points to 6.5%. But when compared to overall CRE, which posted a 32% decline in sales volume overall, those numbers look good.

“Cap rate stability reflects the continued desirability of healthcare as it became one of the most essential sectors in 2020,” Colliers said in the report, noting that investors view MOB as safe and durable even in the face of economic shockwaves.

The sector also saw an increase in activity in Q4, with sales volume rising to $3.6 billion from $2.1 billion in Q3.  Private equity investment led acquisition activity last year, accounting for 67% of total volume.

Investors may find, however, that supply will be an issue for the sector this year: aside from new construction, the market has a somewhat limited supply of investable inventory, according to Colliers, with healthcare systems holding nearly two-thirds of all healthcare real estate. The firm notes that with 30 million new square feet of new space expected this year, demand is still expected to outpace supply.

Experts also note that investors looking to repurpose office assets for medical uses should know that “it’s really not that easy,” according to Pete Bulgarelli, president and CEO of Lillibridge Healthcare Services and executive vice president, office, Ventas, who made the comments on CBRE’s ‘The Weekly Take’ podcast. The issue boils mostly down to the way in which physicians deliver care and utilize their space.

There are some headwinds that could slow the asset class’ performance.

Medical office REITs could face some disruption as changes like telemedicine continue to change the way care is provided. While the overall impact of telehealth is still TBD, a recent BTIG notes that some features are already becoming clear. 

“This trend is partially reorganizing the system by bringing care to the patient rather than the patient to the healthcare while treating them as a consumer,” BTIG analysts wrote. “Recent years have seen a continued push to move care to the lowest acuity setting, and with advancing technology that setting might increasingly be the patient’s home.”