Sabal Financial Group Is Designated a Commercial Mortgage Special Servicer by Morningstar Credit Ratings

NEWPORT BEACH, CA--(Marketwire - Aug 13, 2012) - Sabal Financial Group, L.P., a privately held diversified financial services firm, has received designation by Morningstar Credit Ratings, LLC as a rated Commercial Mortgage Special Servicer. Morningstar assigned its "MOR CS3" ranking based upon Sabal's successful performance in special servicing assignments and resolutions emanating from bank portfolio acquisitions and through its participation in FDIC structured sales.

"The Special Servicer rating is an important next step in meeting the sophisticated needs of our investors and clients and an important building block as Sabal expands to meet market opportunities," said Pat Jackson, CEO of Sabal Financial Group.

Morningstar addressed several key factors in its assessment of Sabal, citing the firm's high level of industry experience among management and asset management teams. Sabal's operational infrastructure and portfolio administration capabilities also contributed to the designation, as did the firm's high level of automation and centralized data management.

The Morningstar rating recognizes Sabal's expertise and growing presence as a third-party asset manager and special servicer. Given Sabal's past success resolving higher balance assets involving more complex workout structures, Morningstar concluded that Sabal is "capable of managing CMBS special-servicing assignments" with "sufficient capacity to meet current special servicing volumes" and "some excess capacity if portfolio volume should increase."

Sabal services a portfolio of approximately $3.75 billion in commercial real estate and construction/land development loans, a figure that has nearly doubled since December 31, 2011. In addition to acquiring non-performing real estate loan portfolios, Sabal provides bank credit advisory services, portfolio management and builder construction financing.

 "Our rating as Special Servicer is a natural progression in the business direction of Sabal and supports our expansion and is a tangible indication of our expertise in providing a complete solution for our investors," said Jackson.

About Sabal Financial Group

Sabal Financial Group, L.P. is a nationwide diversified financial services firm specializing in the acquisition, valuation, management and servicing of commercial real estate and acquisition, development and construction (ADC) loans and mortgages. Sabal Financial Group provides credit advisory services and loan portfolio management and performance assessments for investment and commercial banks, including capital assessment based upon portfolio and ALLL analysis. Sabal also provides construction and A&D loans to established middle-market residential builders in California, Washington and Oregon. Sabal Financial Group is a privately held company that has approximately $3.75 billion under management and is led by a senior management team with extensive banking and real estate expertise in both the governmental and private sector. Sabal Financial Group is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA, with offices in Pasadena, CA, Miami, Washington, DC, Greenville, SC and New York City. www.sabalfin.com