California-based ""Milestone Asset Resolution Company, LLC"":http://www.milestonearc.com/, a diversified financial services management firm, announced several changes last week regarding the expansion of its business operations following a corporate investment from ""Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P."":http://www.oaktreecapital.com
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Oaktree will acquire a non-controlling equity position in the company.
According to a statement, Milestone will be known going forward as ""Sabal Financial Group, L.P."":http://www.sabalfin.com
It now specializes in the acquisition and valuation of portfolios of real estate loans, concentrating on commercial real estate loans and commercial and residential acquisition, development, and construction (ADC) loans.
Sabal currently manages loan portfolios with a total principal balance of approximately $2 billion.
The new investment capital enables Sabal Financial Group to expand its operating platform in response to an increase in asset valuation assignments and the growing market for the sale of performing and non-performing loan portfolios.
[COLUMN_BREAK]""This relationship with Oaktree is an important next step in our growth strategy to extend our presence in the acquisition, valuation, and servicing of real estate-based loans nationwide,"" said R. Patterson Jackson, CEO of Sabal Financial Group.
""This investment makes the Oaktree funds more attractive purchasers of small balance performing and distressed loans while positioning Sabal Financial Group as a dominant firm in this space,"" Jackson added.
Sabal will also provide financial guidance to investment and commercial banks, including capital assessments based on portfolio and allowance for loan and lease loss (ALLL) analysis. The company performed more than 85 bank valuations over the past 24 months.
""Sabal Financial Group has full capability in all phases of the asset life cycle and is well capitalized to meet growing market opportunities,"" said Jackson.
Sabal will continue to increase its bank consulting business and plans to grow its assets under management and develop a nationwide lending operation to provide debt capital for commercial real estate and select commercial ADC projects.
""We are actively pursuing the acquisition of commercial and residential real estate loan portfolios and are pleased to be working with Pat Jackson and his team,"" said John Brady, managing director at Oaktree.
Brady added, ""We have high regard for the unique asset valuation and management expertise at Sabal Financial Group and look forward to capitalizing on their skills and expertise in the marketplace to grow our investment position in the acquisition of loan portfolios.""