Sabal Capital Partners is not slowing down. The firm has been on a fierce expansion campaign. In its latest move, Sabal has secured ratings with S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings, along with Morning Star, the firm's existing rating agency. According to CEO and founder Pat Jackson, the move cements Sabal's institutional status and lending strength.

"Having three rating sends a very clear message starting at the loan level that we are expanding in the right way," Jackson tells GlobeSt.com. "That is an accumulative effect. Our processes are buttoned up; we are rated; we are reviewed. All of these things together give confidence to the investor community and to borrowers. We are not just growing but we are a company that is committed to growing the right way. That is the important thing."

Jackson says that the ratings support both the company's lending business—which includes 1,500 CRE loans valued at $4.3 billion—as well as its distressed asset investment business. "We have always been a huge participant in the distressed debt business," he says. "As we go into a distressed asset cycle, banks want to do business with institutional quality businesses. Even if they are selling a loan off of their books because it is non-performing, they at one point had a relationship with that borrower and they want to know that borrower is being dealt with in a professional way."