This content is adapted from a Bisnow National Opportunity Zones Digital Summit panel moderated by Greg Friedman, CEO of Peachtree Group, featuring Matt Peurach, Partner at Seyfarth Shaw, and Michael Torhan, Tax Partner at EisnerAmper.
The Opportunity Zones program is entering a transformative phase. With OZ 2.0 making the program permanent and introducing enhanced incentives for rural investments, sophisticated investors need to understand how these changes impact both existing holdings and future deployment strategies.
The 2026 Valuation Challenge
For investors who deployed capital into OZ 1.0 funds, December 31, 2026, deferral deadline is approaching rapidly. This creates a critical planning imperative around asset valuation.
"When the deferral period is up, you're paying tax on the lesser of the amount that you put into the OZ fund or the fair market value of your interest on December 31, 2026," explains Matt Peurach. Given commercial real estate valuations have declined approximately 20% on average since 2021, many investors may benefit from establishing current fair market values through formal appraisals.
Michael Torhan emphasizes the importance of documentation: "Fair market value throughout the tax code and throughout case law is generally what would a buyer and seller be willing to exchange for. Obviously, if the asset is still being held, you would want to get some kind of appraisal, some valuation report, really to support that number, to support the tax reporting position."
OZ 2.0 Creates Permanent Framework
The most significant change under OZ 2.0 is permanency. Rather than a fixed endpoint, the program now offers rolling five-year deferral periods for new investments beginning in 2027.
"Under OZ 2.0, you've got a fixed five-year rolling deferral period. So, it kind of doesn't matter from that perspective when you're putting your gains into the OZ fund, you get to defer it for five years," notes Pierock. This structural change eliminates the diminishing returns problem that plagued late-stage OZ 1.0 investments.
Additionally, new Qualified Rural Opportunity Funds offer supercharged benefits. Investments in designated rural zones qualify for a 30% discount on deferred gains versus the standard 10%, along with relaxed substantial improvement requirements. The new rural zone maps will be released in July 2026, creating strategic opportunities for investors who can position assets in advance.
Strategic Considerations for 2025-2026
The transition period between OZ 1.0 and OZ 2.0 presents unique challenges. Investors realizing capital gains today face a compressed timeline, as Pierock points out: "If I'm a taxpayer that realized a capital gain and I'm interested in pursuing a tax mitigation strategy for that and I want to do an opportunity zone investment, number one, I only have one 180 day period to put my gain into an OZ fund."
Furthermore, zone redesignations every 10 years under OZ 2.0 introduce new uncertainty. Projects currently in development within existing zones may face questions about grandfathering if their zone loses designation. While guidance is expected, proactive engagement with state offices regarding zone designations becomes critical for developers with multi-year timelines.
For commercial real estate investors and developers, the message is clear: the Opportunity Zones program remains one of the most powerful tax incentives available, but maximizing benefits requires sophisticated structuring, proactive valuation planning, and close attention to the evolving regulatory framework.
Key Takeaways
Listen to the full discussion on the Peachtree Point of View podcast for deeper insights into structuring Opportunity Zone investments, navigating state-level conformity issues, and capitalizing on the permanent OZ framework. To learn more about Opportunity Zones, read the article “Opportunity Zones 2.0: What Investors Need to Know About the New Tax Law (2025 Update)”. It summarizing a conversation between Greg Friedman and Jason Watkins, partner at Novogradac & Company and chair of the national Opportunity Zones working group.
Please note, this podcast does not provide legal or tax advice. Before investing in any tax-advantaged program, consult with your CPA or a tax attorney to ensure you are eligible to benefit from the program's tax advantages.
.png)
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.
.png)
“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.”
애틀랜타 (2025년 9월 2일) - 80억 달러 이상의 다각화된 포트폴리오를 감독하는 선도적인 상업용 부동산 투자 회사인 Peachtree Group (이하 “Peachtree”) 이 두 개의 권위 있는 성장 순위에 이름을 올렸으며, 이는 회사가 상업용 부동산 투자의 선두 주자로서의 모멘텀을 잘 보여줍니다.
주식회사 피치트리 그룹이 한 자리를 차지했다고 밝혔습니다. 2025 주식회사 5000 리스트 미국에서 가장 빠르게 성장하는 비상장 기업 중 하나로 3년 연속 이 회사가 영예를 안았습니다.Inc. 5000 목록은 미국 전역에서 가장 성공적인 독립 및 기업가 기업을 데이터 기반으로 보여줍니다.
또한, 애틀랜타 비즈니스 크로니클 제 30회 피치트리 그룹을 수상자로 선정 페이스세터 어워즈메트로 애틀랜타에 본사를 둔 가장 빠르게 성장하는 비상장 기업을 기념합니다.수상자는 2022년부터 2024년까지의 매출과 직원 성장을 기준으로 평가되었으며, 성장 지수 공식을 사용하여 순위를 매겨 다양한 규모의 기업 간에 공정한 비교가 이루어지도록 했습니다.
Peachtree의 최고 경영자 겸 CEO인 그렉 프리드먼 (Greg Friedman) 은 “우리는 가격이 잘못 책정된 위험을 파악하고 활용하고 있습니다. 오늘날 혼란과 혼란이 만연한 환경에서 성장에 강력한 순풍이 불었습니다.” 라고 말했습니다.“이러한 인정은 복잡한 시장에서 우리가 실행할 수 있는 능력을 입증하며, 플랫폼을 지속적으로 확장해 나감에 따라 상당한 기회가 기다리고 있습니다.우리는 향후 몇 년은 최근 역사상 가장 매력적인 투자 환경이 될 것이라고 믿습니다.”
Peachtree Group은 이해관계자들에게 혁신적인 투자 전략과 강력한 성과를 제공하는 동시에 미국 전역으로 입지를 확장하는 데 계속 집중하고 있습니다.
피치트리 그룹 는 경쟁력 있는 조건, 사내 대출 서비스 및 다양한 프로젝트를 수행할 수 있는 유연한 자본을 제공하는 전국적인 직접 대차표 대출 기관입니다.
Peachtree는 미국 전역의 모든 부문의 자격을 갖춘 상업용 부동산 소유주에게 풀스택 부채 솔루션을 제공합니다.우리는 교량, 건설, 메자닌, 주 등을 우선합니다. CSPACE, 영구 및 앤 파이낸싱.
가장 최근의 대출 거래 중 일부는 아래를 참조하십시오. 피치트리 그룹 호텔 대출, 소매업, 다가구, 산업, 직장 포함여기를 클릭해 찾아주세요 포트폴리오.
%252520%252520(1).gif)
파이낸싱이 필요하세요? lending@peachtreegroup.com 으로 문의하세요.
.gif)
피치트리 그룹 남쪽 캘리포니아에 위치 263회 객실을 갖춘 이중 브랜드 도시의 분위기를 위해 50.4백만 달러의 첫 번째 모기지와 2240만 달러의 캐빈 공간 평가 청정 에너지 (CPACE) 파이낸싱을 시작했습니다.이 시니어 대출과 CPACE 서버 모두 완벽하게 정리할 수 있는 능력을 입증하기 위해 피치트리 그룹의 경쟁 우위를 확보합니다.
신용 시장의 혼란이 계속되는 가운데, 피치트리 그룹은 23일 만에 단 4천만 달러 규모의 CPACE 대출을 받았습니다.
피치트리 그룹 후원사와 함께 캘리포니아 새크라멘토의 지역에 있는 인기 있는 소매점을 산업 건물로 전환했습니다.
피치트리 그룹 스폰서와 함께 ############################################################
피치트리는 수상 경력에 빛나는 호텔 대출 기관입니다. 문의하기 거래에 대해 논의하기 위해서요
