Summary:
- Peachtree acquired PMC Commercial Trust, a direct lender of SBA 7(a) loans.
- The firm will offer SBA 7(a) loans from $50,000 to $5 million.
- Barry Berlin and Laurie Ivy will lead PMC’s lending integration and oversee daily operations.
PEACHTREE GROUP ACQUIRED First Western SBLC, which operates as PMC Commercial Trust, a Dallas-based direct lender of Small Business Administration 7(a) loans. The company also appointed Barry Berlin and Laurie Ivy to lead PMC’s lending integration and oversee daily operations.
PMC will continue operating under its existing name following the transaction, which was approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Peachtree said in a statement. With the acquisition complete, Peachtree will offer SBA 7(a) loans from $50,000 to $5 million for business acquisitions, real estate purchases, equipment, working capital and refinancing.
PMC, an indirect subsidiary of Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation, is one of 12 Small Business Lending Companies licensed by the SBA to originate 7(a) loans. It was founded in 1983 by Dr. Fred Rosemore, grandfather of Peachtree CEO and Managing Principal Greg Friedman.
“This marks an important step forward for our credit business,” said Friedman. “Founded more than four decades ago by my grandfather, PMC brings a strong legacy into Peachtree that strengthens our ability to deliver fast, flexible SBA financing while maintaining the disciplined underwriting that defines our platform.”
In November, Atlanta-based Peachtree, led by Friedman, Jatin Desai, managing principal and CFO and Mitul Patel, principal, announced plans to acquire the Dallas-based SBA lender.
New team in place
Berlin will oversee the integration of PMC’s lending business and serve as senior advisor for government-regulated lending, the statement said. He previously served as CEO of PMC, managing director of finance at CIM Group and CFO and secretary of Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation.
Ivy, president of PMC since 2020, will join Peachtree and continue overseeing SBA operations while assisting Berlin with platform integration.
Friedman said Laurie brings operational expertise and continuity to the PMC platform.
“Barry adds decades of experience across government-regulated lending and credit oversight,” he said. “Together, their complementary roles will support a thoughtful integration and disciplined growth strategy.”
Ivy said demand for SBA financing continues to accelerate as small business owners seek certainty, speed and trusted execution.
“Becoming part of Peachtree gives us the capital resources, infrastructure and long-term commitment needed to responsibly scale the platform while continuing to support entrepreneurs who rely on SBA loans to grow,” she said.
Berlin said Peachtree has built a differentiated investment platform with the scale discipline and entrepreneurial mindset to grow through changing market cycles.
Peachtree Group ended 2025 ranked 14th among nearly 70 sponsors raising Delaware Statutory Trust equity, reflecting the growth of its DST platform three years after inception. It completed six debt-free DST acquisitions totaling $200 million last year.
