Creating compelling opportunities for sophisticated investors who understand the dynamics at play. In a recent conversation on Peachtree Point of View, CEO Greg Friedman speaks with Christopher Marinac, Director of Research at Janney Montgomery Scott to explore how regulatory shifts, bank consolidation, and the rise of private credit are reshaping capital deployment in commercial real estate.
Regional and community banks are actively cleaning up their balance sheets, particularly around office exposure. Marinac notes that banks have already reserved for problem assets and are now focused on resolution. "Q3 coming up on reporting in October, as well as in the year end, fourth quarter, you're going to see a lot of losses taken at banks just to get rid of those office loans that are on the books."
This creates a dual opportunity: distressed asset acquisition for value investors and increased demand for alternative capital sources as banks reduce certain exposures.
Banks are increasingly recognizing that partnership models with private credit funds offer better risk-adjusted returns than direct lending in certain scenarios. "If a bank is willing to offer 50% or 55% leverage and a private credit fund is willing to do 70 or 65, that's a material difference," Marinac explains.
For borrowers, this means access to more flexible capital structures. For investors in private credit strategies, it signals growing institutional acceptance and deal flow.
After the turbulence of 2023 and early 2024, capital is flowing again. Marinac observes, "Liquidity is everywhere. Liquidity has actually stepped up another leg in the past 60 to 80 days." Banks need to deploy capital, but they are doing so selectively with improved underwriting standards and stronger debt service coverage requirements.
Smart investors should position themselves where capital scarcity still exists, particularly in transitional assets, value-add opportunities, and sectors where traditional bank lending remains constrained.
• Distressed Opportunities Are Materializing: Bank portfolio sales and charge-offs will accelerate through year end, creating acquisition opportunities for prepared capital.
• Private Credit Partnerships Are Essential: The relationship between banks and private lenders is evolving from competitive to collaborative, expanding financing options.
• Regulatory Environment Is Easing: The shift in administration is creating more favorable lending conditions, but banks remain disciplined after recent stress.
The next 12 to 18 months will define who capitalizes on this transition. Investors with dry powder, operational expertise, and strong lending relationships will find significant value creation opportunities as the market recalibrates.
Listen to the full conversation on the Peachtree Point of View podcast to hear more insights from Chris Marinac on bank consolidation trends, maturity wall strategies, and where lending appetite is strongest today.
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ATLANTA (Oct. 13, 2025) – Peachtree Group (“Peachtree”) announced today the launch of a new equipment finance division, further broadening its credit platform and reinforcing its ability to provide flexible equipment lease financing across industries, including commercial real estate and hospitality.
The division will be led by seasoned executives Brian Shaughnessy and Roger Johnson, who together bring more than 60 years of experience in equipment finance, specialty finance and portfolio acquisitions. They will be joined by experienced industry executive Dennis Shields, further strengthening the team’s depth and expertise. Shields spent the last 15 years with Meridian Leasing, helping to grow its profitable leasing business.
“This launch is more than the start of a new business line. It continues relationships that span more than 15 years,” said Greg Friedman, Peachtree’s managing principal and CEO. “We have known and worked alongside Brian and Roger for well over a decade, watching them build reputations as trusted leaders in equipment finance. Their arrival marks both a reunion and a natural extension of our long-standing ties.”
This new platform represents a progression of Peachtree’s established private credit ecosystem. Many of the firm’s commercial real estate clients also require equipment financing, particularly in hospitality, where Furniture, Fixtures,and Equipment (FF&E) play a critical role in new developments. By building on the firm’s long-standing history and applying proven expertise from its principals’ experience financing essential use equipment, Peachtree is positioned to deliver tailored financing solutions that address client needs across multiple sectors and industries.
The launch highlights Peachtree’s ability to adapt its platform to fill gaps left by traditional lenders while keeping long-term client relationships at the center of its strategy.
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“Large banks continue to pull back from serving small and mid-sized businesses, leaving a significant void in the market,” Friedman said. “Our new platform allows us to step in with creative financing solutions, whether that means helping medical facilities upgrade technology or supporting hotels with FF&E for new developments, so businesses can access the capital they need to grow.”
Shaughnessy, who joins as president and principal of the equipment finance division, is a senior executive with more than 35 years of experience in financial services and investment banking. He was most recently co-founder and CEO of IMT Commercial, an alternative portfolio and asset acquisition and management firm.
Johnson, who will serve as executive vice president and principal, is a 30-year portfolio acquisitions and commercial lending veteran. He has a proven track record of developing profitable relationships with C-suite decision-makers at a wide range of financial institutions. Both Shaughnessy and Johnson founded and grew IMT Commercial Credit into a top 120 equipment finance business.
The new unit will initially focus on financing lease transactions ranging from $500,000 to $10 million with terms generally between 24 and 84 months. By leveraging Peachtree’s established credit expertise, infrastructure and balance sheet strength, the division aims to deliver competitive financing options while ensuring timely funding and long-term client relationships.
“Equipment finance requires a deep understanding of the assets, from valuation to structuring and exit strategies,” said Shaughnessy. “Our team brings decades of specialized knowledge that allows us to evaluate risk effectively and deliver certainty of execution for clients.”
Johnson added,“Leasing involves extensive coordination with clients, vendors and lenders, and our goal is to make the process seamless. Clients can count on us not only to secure financing but also to manage the details that keep projects moving forward.”
“Equipment finance is a relationship-driven business where execution matters,” Shields, senior vice president, said. “Our goal is to combine decades of industry expertise with Peachtree’s deep credit platform to offer reliable, creative solutions to clients who are often underserved in today’s lending environment.”
ATLANTA (September 2, 2025) - Peachtree Group ("Peachtree"), a leading commercial real estate investment firm overseeing a diversified portfolio of more than $8 billion, has been named to two prestigious growth rankings, underscoring the firm’s momentum as a leading force in commercial real estate investment.
Inc. revealed that Peachtree Group earned a place on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., marking the third consecutive year the firm has been honored. The Inc. 5000 list provides a data-driven look at the most successful independent and entrepreneurial businesses across the nation.
In addition, the Atlanta Business Chronicle recognized Peachtree Group asan honoree in its 30th annual Pacesetter Awards, which celebrate the fastest-growing privately held companies based in metro Atlanta. Honorees were evaluated on revenue and employee growth from 2022 through 2024 and ranked using a growth index formula to ensure fair comparison across companies of varying sizes.
“We are in the business of identifying and capitalizing on mispriced risk, and in today’s environment of disruption and dislocation, that has created strong tailwinds for our growth,” said Greg Friedman, Peachtree’s managing principal and CEO. “These recognitions validate our ability to execute in complex markets, and we see significant opportunity ahead as we continue to scale our platform. We believe the next several years will be among the most compelling investment environments in recent history.”
Peachtree Group remains focused on delivering innovative investment strategies and strong results for its stakeholders while expanding its presence across the U.S.
Explore Peachtree Group's latest commercial loan transactions and financing options.
Peachtree Group is a direct balance sheet lender focused on funding first mortgage loans. Our areas of expertise include:
We lend to all commercial real estate asset classes and are actively providing financing for:
See below for some of the most recent loan transactions from Peachtree Group, including:
Need Financing? Contact us at lending@peachtreegroup.com.
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