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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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