(Mark Your Calendars: RealShare Distressed Assets 2011, October 4-5 in Dallas).

NEWPORT BEACH, CA-Sabal Financial Group has acquired a $158 million loan portfolio of the failed FirsTier Bank of Louisville, CO from the FDIC's Small Investor Program. Sabal, formerly Milestone Asset Resolution Company LLC, reports that the portfolio consists of performing and non-performing commercial real estate loans and commercial acquisition, development and construction loans and credit facilities.

The acquisition represents the first sale transaction under the FDIC’s pilot Small Investor Program and represents the commercial loan component of a larger $297 million loan sale mandated by the FDIC for the assets of FirsTier, which the FDIC seized in January. According to R. Patterson “Pat” Jackson, CEO of Sabal Financial Group, the portfolio "uniquely matches the broad expertise of Sabal in the management of small balance distressed assets.” Jackson says the deal also builds on Sabal's existing relationship with the FDIC.