NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings has upgraded Sabal Financial Group, L.P.'s (Sabal) commercial special servicer rating to 'CSS3+' from 'CSS3'.
The upgrade reflects the company's continued resolution experience across various commercial real estate asset types, including non-performing CMBS transactions, and recent improvements to the servicing platform. Sabal continues to demonstrate commitment to the commercial loan servicing platform by using retained earnings to perform enhancements to the company's technology infrastructure and systems, and grow and develop staff through new hires and the development of a formal training program named Sabal University.
The special servicer rating also reflects Fitch's assessment of the company's strong senior management and experienced senior asset managers, effective internal control environment and governance around asset management resolutions and servicing functions, as well as the firm's experience managing, repositioning, and liquidating real estate assets, particularly small balance commercial assets, and the company's financial condition.
Sabal Financial Group, L.P., established in 2009 by the founder of IndyMac Commercial Lending Corporation, is a financial services company with three business lines: credit advisory services (including third party servicing of commercial and construction portfolios), loan portfolio investments and real estate lending. The company primarily services portfolios of distressed and performing assets acquired by funds of Oaktree Capital, which owns a significant non-controlling equity stake in the company.
Sabal's commercial real estate servicing platform has grown to 82 total servicing staff from 48 in 2012. Sabal actively services a portfolio of 1,829 loans totaling $2.5 billion as of Sept. 30, 2014. The company has seen run-off of 5% (by loan count) from Dec. 31, 2012 to Sept. 30, 2014 in its active special servicing portfolio, a common theme for Fitch rated special servicers albeit a smaller number compared to other servicers.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
--'U.S. Commercial Mortgage Servicer Rating Criteria' Feb. 14, 2014;
--'Rating Criteria for Structured Finance Servicers' Jan. 30, 2014.
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
Rating Criteria for U.S. Commercial Mortgage Servicers
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=735382
Rating Criteria for Structured Finance Servicers
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=731750
Additional Disclosure
Solicitation Status
http://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=980167
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