No Cap by CRE Daily Building a Niche in Opportunity Zone Capital w/ Ackman-Ziff
Mar 29, 2026
50:53
Season 6, Episode 1: Season 6 of the No Cap Podcast kicks off with a masterclass in Opportunity Zone (OZ) equity. Jack and Alex sit down with Jordan Brustein & Andrew Rudy from Ackman-Ziff to explore how they’ve carved out a unique niche in structured finance.
Jordan and Andrew break down the creative evolution of the OZ market, detailing innovative preferred equity structures that solve the 10-year hold challenge for developers. From ground-up developments to post-CO recapitalizations, learn how these capital market experts are resetting the clock on distressed assets and preparing for the next era of "OZ 2.0." Whether you're a developer or an investor, this episode is a must-listen for navigating today's complex financing environment.
Shoutout to our sponsor, Appfolio. The growth engine transforming how firms handle investor relations and distributions.
TOPICS
00:00 – Introduction
01:54 – Ackman-Ziff's History and Focus on Structured Finance
03:21 – Carving a Niche in the Opportunity Zone Space
04:35 – Structuring Preferred Equity for a 10-Year Hold
08:55 – Financing Ground-Up Development with OZ Pref
14:52 – The Math: 10-Year Outlook and Positive Leverage
18:05 – Opportunity Zone Fundamentals and Tax Benefits
21:28 – Strategic Recaps: Injecting New OZ Equity Post-CO
25:13 – Navigating Qualified Opportunity Zone Compliance
30:10 – OZ 2.0: Future Outlook and Global Gain Trends
37:21 – Case Study: $200M Recapitalization in Washington D.C.
48:41 – The Cycle of Common Equity vs. Private Credit
For more episodes of No Cap by CRE Daily visit https://www.credaily.com/podcast/
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NoCapCREDaily
About No Cap Podcast
Commercial real estate is a $20 trillion industry and a force that shapes America’s economic fabric and culture. No Cap by CRE Daily is the commercial real estate podcast that gives you an unfiltered ”No Cap” look into the industry’s biggest trends and the money game behind them. Each week co-hosts Jack Stone and Alex Gornik break down the latest headlines with some of the most influential and entertaining figures in commercial real estate.
About CRE Daily
CRE Daily is a digital media company covering the business of commercial real estate. Our mission is to empower professionals with the knowledge they need to make smarter decisions and do more business. We do this through our flagship newsletter (CRE Daily) which is read by 65,000+ investors, developers, brokers, and business leaders across the country. Our smart brevity format combined with need-to-know trends has made us one of the fastest growing media brands in commercial real estate.
Jordan and Andrew break down the creative evolution of the OZ market, detailing innovative preferred equity structures that solve the 10-year hold challenge for developers. From ground-up developments to post-CO recapitalizations, learn how these capital market experts are resetting the clock on distressed assets and preparing for the next era of "OZ 2.0." Whether you're a developer or an investor, this episode is a must-listen for navigating today's complex financing environment.
Shoutout to our sponsor, Appfolio. The growth engine transforming how firms handle investor relations and distributions.
TOPICS
00:00 – Introduction
01:54 – Ackman-Ziff's History and Focus on Structured Finance
03:21 – Carving a Niche in the Opportunity Zone Space
04:35 – Structuring Preferred Equity for a 10-Year Hold
08:55 – Financing Ground-Up Development with OZ Pref
14:52 – The Math: 10-Year Outlook and Positive Leverage
18:05 – Opportunity Zone Fundamentals and Tax Benefits
21:28 – Strategic Recaps: Injecting New OZ Equity Post-CO
25:13 – Navigating Qualified Opportunity Zone Compliance
30:10 – OZ 2.0: Future Outlook and Global Gain Trends
37:21 – Case Study: $200M Recapitalization in Washington D.C.
48:41 – The Cycle of Common Equity vs. Private Credit
For more episodes of No Cap by CRE Daily visit https://www.credaily.com/podcast/
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NoCapCREDaily
About No Cap Podcast
Commercial real estate is a $20 trillion industry and a force that shapes America’s economic fabric and culture. No Cap by CRE Daily is the commercial real estate podcast that gives you an unfiltered ”No Cap” look into the industry’s biggest trends and the money game behind them. Each week co-hosts Jack Stone and Alex Gornik break down the latest headlines with some of the most influential and entertaining figures in commercial real estate.
About CRE Daily
CRE Daily is a digital media company covering the business of commercial real estate. Our mission is to empower professionals with the knowledge they need to make smarter decisions and do more business. We do this through our flagship newsletter (CRE Daily) which is read by 65,000+ investors, developers, brokers, and business leaders across the country. Our smart brevity format combined with need-to-know trends has made us one of the fastest growing media brands in commercial real estate.