In a recent episode of the Peachtree Point of View podcast, CEO Greg Friedman sat down with Joshua Harris, managing partner and executive producer and Emily Crooke, director investment strategies for Peachtree Group to discuss an often misunderstood but highly profitable investment strategy: film finance.
While Peachtree Group is widely recognized for its commercial real estate investments, many aren't aware of the firm’s growing media finance division. As Greg explains, this expansion stems from the core philosophy of uncovering niche and non-traditional opportunities where risk is mispriced to its advantage, driving outsized returns on its investments.
What makes Peachtree's approach to film finance unique? Unlike traditional film investors who take substantial creative risk hoping for the next blockbuster, Peachtree operates strictly as a senior lender. Drawing on his 25+ years of experience in financial services and media finance, Josh has developed a conservative underwriting approach that mirrors Peachtree's private credit lending strategy.
"People don't understand the difference between investing in film and lending in film," he explains. "We're not making an investment of capital into something that's just based off a script."
Instead, Peachtree advances against three forms of collateral:
1. Distribution agreements from major players like Netflix, Sony, and Amazon
2. Tax incentives from film-friendly states and countries
3. Carefully selected unsold territories with significant intrinsic value
Emily frames it simply: "In film finance, it's really, in simplistic terms, accounts receivables-based lending." She compares it to pre-selling condo units to use as collateral for construction financing.
A critical risk mitigation factor is the requirement for completion guarantees. Every Peachtree-financed film is protected by an AAA-rated bond company that monitors production spending and guarantees [on-time, on-budget] delivery. This eliminates both creative risk (will the film be good?) and production risk (will the film be finished?).
The result? Debt investments with equity-like returns. By leveraging their expertise and banking relationships, Peachtree achieves "strong 20s and 30s percent" yields at the investment level.
With approximately a dozen completed films ranging from $5 million to $80 million budgets, Peachtree Group is scaling up to finance around 12 films annually. The portfolio already includes an $80 million Guy Ritchie film hitting theaters this summer.
For investors seeking diversification with similar risk-reward profiles to private credit lending commercial real estate, this emerging alternative presents an intriguing opportunity. The complete podcast offers deeper insights into how Peachtree's disciplined underwriting approach translates to this growing asset class.
Listen to the full episode of Peachtree Point of View to learn more about this innovative investment strategy that delivers "equity type outcomes" with carefully managed downside protection.
The Fabulous Four starring Bette Midler, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Megan Mullally and Susan Sarandon is the latest film financed by Peachtree Group.
Read more about this feel-good comedy in Variety.
The North American rights to Peachtree Group financed movie "The Surfer" a psychological thriller starring Nicolas Cage – have been acquired by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions.
Shot and set in Australia, the film also stars Julian McMahon, Nic Cassim, Miranda Tapsell, Alexander Bertrand, Justin Rosniak, Rahel Romahn, Finn Little and Charlotte Maggi.
Read more on Deadline.
Peachtree financed movie "Mary" starring Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins as King Herod and emerging Israeli actress Noa Cohen as Mary has wrapped production in Morrocco.