Replies to post #8120 on Redwood Group International (RDWD)

[The Rainmaker]

Kensington Cross SIVC's Newest Funding Partner


SIVC connect the dots, February 5th they announced this
SIVC-S3 Investment Company Secures Full Operational Financing for 2008 and Implements Strategy for Re-Listing on the OTCBB
Tuesday February 5, 10:00 am ET


DANVILLE, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Feb 5, 2008 -- S3 Investment Company, Inc. (Other OTC:SIVC.PK - News), a holding company with two subsidiaries doing business in the China market,today announced that it has received a financing commitment, which results in the S3 being fully funded for 2008 and is implementing a strategy by which the company will apply for reinstatement to the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) market. The funding covers all corporate expenses for the 2008 calendar year and would eliminate the need for any equity transactions to finance S3 operations for the year.
As part of the financing terms, S3 will complete the audited financial reports required to file for an OTCBB listing. The audited financials to be filed are expected to include annual reports for the 2006, 2007 and 2008 calendar years.

Then today they revealed where the funding is coming from

SIVC) S3 Investment Company Announces Redwood Capital Agreement With Kensington Cross for Transactions Ranging From $20 - $100 Million
Market Wire - February 26, 2008 11:40 AM ET

S3 Investment Company, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: SIVC), a holding company with two subsidiaries doing business in the China market, today announced that its Redwood Capital subsidiary has entered into a long-term agreement with Kensington Cross Ltd., a Delaware domiciled boutique investment banking firm with offices in Beijing, China, to fund private equity transactions.

Redwood Capital is in the business of assisting private Chinese companies to access the U.S. capital markets through reverse mergers into U.S. public companies.

Kensington Cross and Redwood Capital together offer current and potential clients enhanced equity and joint venture alternatives transactions ranging from $20 million to $100 million (US).

Kensington Cross is expanding its operations into China and Latin America and is currently working on transactions in Costa Rica and China involving international flag hotels and industrial development projects respectively.


Kensington Cross, Ltd.
Type of firm
VC Firm
Year found 1986
Number of employees >8 Number of satellite offices 0
Fee for VC seekers equity
no fee
success fee
Amount () or (%) Fee for investors no fee
Amount () or (%)
Description of service We have a talent for knowing the right time to take advantage of opportunities for business growth. As a private equity firm, we provide guidance and capital through equity, mezzanine and debt financing to companies ready to capitalize on growth opportunities. By creating a long-term partnership with a company's management and shareholders, we work together to achieve success. We are a perfect match for companies with long-term vision focused on pursing new, exciting and high growth opportunities, and for entrepreneurs with a passion for innovation and achievement. A flexible and creative financing approach sets us apart from the rest; creating customized financial solutions for each portfolio company based on its unique strategic and financial plan. We are not limited by in the box structures or inflexible rate of return requirements. We seek only to achieve a risk-adjusted and market-based financial return, which may be significantly less than traditional venture firm requirements.
Country 0ther
Geographical Preference Europe
Eastern and North Asia
Southeastern Asia
Southern Asia
Central and South America
Country Preference
State/Province Preference
Industry Preference
Financing Stage Preference
Solution/Assistance Provide Equity financing
Private equity placement
Commercial loans
Venture development (mentoring startups)

Number of investors/brokers 100
Total fund under management N/A Total fund available for investment 1,000,000,000+
Minimum investment amount for a single project 5,000,000 Maximum investment amount for a single project 350,000,000
Number of projects invested 10 Number of projects as lead investor 2
Number of projects went IPO 7
Project selection criteria Companies who have market advantage and are targeting rapid growth. Companies who have compelling offerings which enable rapid market penetration through intellectual property, patents, and trade secrets, local, etc.
Minimum current annual revenue n/a Minimum expected annual sale growthrate na/
Minimum estimated marketsize n/a
Is board representation required flexible Number of investment executives 5
Examples of successful investment Consulting in connection funding of $500,000,000 for a minority owned nationwide telecommunications network. Funding and consulting on an $18,000,000 expansion for a polymer recycling and distribution company in the United Kingdom.

Contact
Name Frederick S. Gnesin
Title EVP
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]
Email [e-mail]
Country 0ther

More info on Kensington Cross

Profiles

Frederick. S. Gnesin, Managing Director
Mr. Gnesin is the lead member of the Kensington Cross due diligence committee. As such Mr. Gnesin brings to bare 40 years of accounting and securities law expertise, including mergers and acquisitions. For approximately 5 years subsequent to 17 years as a manager and a partner in the New York offices of two CPA firms, he served as executive vice president for a major private investment firm where he was in charge of operations for their bank acquisition, equipment leasing, oil and gas, maritime, and real estate construction and development divisions. He was approved for directorship of two banks by the FHLB for 11th District in California.

Immediately prior to forming Kensington Cross with Mr. Michael J. Piazza, Mr. Gnesin successfully directed the efforts of a commercial and residential mortgage banking firm serving clients throughout the United States and Canada. Mr. Gnesin was one of the first mortgage firms to establish an Internet marketing presence. He also developed a unique stratified database used in the identification of appropriate funding sources, including conventional national and international banking, venture capital, private resources, niche and conduit relationships.

Mr. Gnesin lectured for the NYSSCPA's and was the chairman of several committees. He was in charge of technical compliance for approximately 100 clients, 60 of which were publicly held companies on the American and New York Stock Exchanges. He has authored articles for technical journals and has been interviewed and the subject of articles for several prominent Newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal, Denver Real Estate Journal and the Asbury Park Press.

Michael J. Piazza, Senior Vice President
He has worked with Mr. Gnesin for approximately 20 years. For the past 20 years, Mr. Piazza has worked exclusively in the private investment banking and mortgage industries serving clients throughout North America and internationally. He is primarily responsible for securing commercial loans to and for borrowers with funding sources represented by our conduits-major foreign banks, US banks, insurance companies, and other institutional and private funding sources. He has developed a strong knowledge of European, Caribbean and Central American markets.

Mr. Piazza researches and maintains relationships with financial institutions that specialize in appropriate funding of areas that address the needs of our clientele. He oversees the management-consulting services with respect to our client's corporate operations, finances and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to entering the investment banking industry, Mr. Piazza established an expertise in corporate communications and public relations, specializing in the concept through completion of media campaigns for corporate exposure on both television and radio.

Early in Mr. Piazza's career, as a broadcast news professional, he anchored, wrote, edited and produced news for all three divisions of CBS Radio, Inner City Broadcasting, Air America Radio and wrote for The Today Show, MSNBC-Radio and Good Morning America. This unique talent coupled with financial background, has given him the ability to communicate the needs of our clients in the most succinct and effective manner, thereby reducing response time from correspondents, conduits and others in the financial community.

Dean Chinnery, Vice President
Mr. Dean Chinnery is a member of Kensington Cross' Project Finance and due Diligence committees. He holds responsibility for client development, with specific expertise in the marine and heavy equipment arena. Additionally Mr. Chinnery oversees leasing of heavy equipment and construction finance consulting for our West Coast operations. He provides initial project analysis and field underwriting to determine the efficacy of prospective client opportunities.

Formerly, Mr. Chinnery opened the Seattle office for the Pacific Rim for the Cummins Engine and Case Equipment financing joint venture. He was a member of the marine advisory counsel for Cummins Northwest and Cummins Marine. Responsible for full operational control of business of this division with over 180 employees. He implemented the captive finance market for Cummins through the joint venture of Cummins Case credit. Immediately prior to joining Kensington, he worked for the CitiGroup in the Northwest.

His experience in the oil and gas industry in the Midwest along with the aforementioned broad based financing experience has added to the overall growth and dimension of the Kensington team of professionals.

Adam Lusterborghs, Vice President
He comes from a diversified background in finance and is responsible for developing and profiling hedge funds, funding sources both equity and debt for domestic and international projects. He directs operations of the European office, performing management consulting services with respect to operations and financial controls. Immediately prior to joining Kensington Cross, Mr. Lusterborghs established Advanced Funding Solutions, Inc. serving as its CEO. This commercial brokerage firm served clients throughout the United States as well as internationally. It provided capital and mergers and acquisition advisory services, including preparation of requisite offering materials, asset based lending and financing conduits for several US and international funding organizations along with advisory services for clients seeking debt restructuring and negotiations with their lenders.

At the outset of his professional life, Mr. Lusterborghs worked for the National Taxpayers Union Foundation and Advest, Inc. in Washington, D.C. as its Research and Marketing Associate. He developed adjusted cost analysis of legislation presented before congress and its resultant implications on GDP and taxpayer related issues. Mr. Lusterborghs holds NASD licenses Series 55 (Equity Trader), Series 4 (Branch Manager), Series 4 (Options Principal) Series 9 (NYSE Options Principal), Series 7 (Broker/Dealer), Series 63 (Uniform Broker Multi-State).

Michael O'Neil, Vice President
Mr. O'Neil background includes over 25 years in numerous manufacturing sectors as director of finance and chief financial officer. As a member of Kensington's project evaluation committee, Mr. O'Neil performs management-consulting services with operational oversight and financial streamlining. He is also instrumental in the creation of a brokerage network within the US and Canada through joint venture agreements.

While living in Hong Kong, he functioned as the chief financial officer for an international holding company with $180,000,000 in annual revenues. Mr. O'Neil selected key business partners, developed joint ventures in China and negotiated all agreements with PRC for power plant facilities. His expertise in the field of international finance, specifically the Far East's emerging markets, uniquely positions Kensington's performance capabilities in the Far East.

Rosemarie T. Ottomanelli, Vice President
Ms. Ottomanelli is project finance analyst with Kensington Cross with over 25 years of diversified experience in real estate finance, banking and the capital markets dealing with complex and sophisticated real estate finance transactions including securitized transactions, workouts, restructurings, due diligence analysis, etc. Clients have and continue to include commercial banks, domestic investors, investment banks, the FDIC and IRS. Ms. Ottomanelli was a senior appraiser at the New York office of the Real Estate Advisory Group, an operating unit of American Appraisal Associates. She was responsible for rendering real estate valuation and advisory services. Her background includes real estate portfolio asset management (including, and not limited to, Starrett City in Brooklyn, New York which contains 5,000 apartments).

While at the The Long Term Credit Bank of Japan Ms. Ottomanelli was the Finance Operations Officer of a $1.1 trillion Commercial and Industrial securitized portfolio. For six years she was an Adjunct Assistant Professor with New York University, and, the City University of New York (the Zicklin School MBA program and The Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute). She has also served as a Finance Officer for developers of congregate-care facilities, multifamily properties, senior housing and industrial and hospitality related properties. She has real estate development experience from the ground up, including market analyses, financial analyses and budgeting, design conceptualization, management of the development process including presentation before municipal and other regulatory boards, and participation in the construction and leasing process. She launched and authored a significant housing program for the State of New York. Ms. Ottomanelli experience includes international business analyst for Marsh & McLennan Cos. (formerly, Sedgwick) and a position as a government relations researcher for Sony Corporation of America.

Ms. Ottomanelli holds a MS in Real Estate from New York University (concentrations: Development and Investment; Valuation and Analysis), a MA in Sociology (concentration: Applied Research Methods) from Appalachian State University (University of North Carolina), and a BA in Sociology from Wagner College. She is a contributor a major finance text (Brueggeman and Fisher's Real Estate Finance and Investment, 12th edition) and editor of other real estate texts. She was the moderator for a panel entitled "Profiting from the High-Net-Worth Investor Perspective on Real Estate Opportunities" sponsored by the Institute for International Real Estate at their Annual Real Estate Investment Forum. She was a mentor with the Financial Women's Association Baruch College Mentoring Program and a past Vice President of The International Real Estate Federation ("FIABCI") - New York Council 2001 to 2002.

Ralph Pierno, Vice President
Mr. Pierno joined Kensington Cross as project finance specialist after spending over 20 years in the finance industry. As a vice president for UBS Paine Webber he supervised loan origination for the firm; he originated or, underwrote and/or closed over $2,000,000,000 of retail, office, industrial, and multi-family loans for major national and regional owner/developers throughout the United States and abroad. He managed loan portfolio and analyzed portfolio concentration and risk assessment.

Mr. Pierno acted as a national real estate developer of major office buildings and hotels. He was a member of four-man team that developed major national projects. He also prepared pro-forma analysis and made presentations thereof to the public and national international lenders.

During his early career, Mr. Pierno maintained his combat pilot status; in charge of the aviation detachment; commanding officer - communications unit; naval liaison officer for State of Connecticut; commanding officer USS Kennedy Unit; Commanding Officer - naval air station - Norfolk, VA unit. He has flown helicopters and large transports.

David Bisbee, Chairman of Advisory Board
Mr. Bisbee, formerly a vice president of Kensington, now serves and Chairman of the Advisory Board. He and has known and worked with Mr. Gnesin for over 20 years, inclusive of his years spent with Met Life, where was previously a vice president underwriting real estate transactions. At Met Life he originated, underwrote and/or closed over $1,000,000,000 of retail, office, industrial, and multi-family loans for major national and regional owner/developers from Boston to California. He closed loans for General Motors Pension Trusts in co-venture with Met Life. He is easily adept in all phases of lending, from leasing to other asset based lending. He was directly responsible for increasing a major New York bank's loan portfolio by over 400%. He started a small business-lending program including bank's participation in SBA 7(A) loan guarantees, and became the sixth largest SBA lender among over 50 banks in the New York region. Mr. Bisbee's unique understanding of the middle market and small client needs has been welcome in broadening Kensington's services to those clients.

Enrique Orvananos, Senior Advisory Board Member
Mr. Orvananos, partner in GBX of Mexico, joined Kensington as a Senior Advisory Board Member after spending 30 years in the business world as an entrepreneurial analyst and development specialist. Subsequent to his graduation as Systems Engineer from the prestigious National University of Mexico, where he wrote his thesis on the "Model for Prediction of Electric Energy Consumption" which was used by the Federal Electric Company of Mexico, he went on to obtain his MBA from the world acclaimed IPADE "Instituto Panamericano de Alta Direccion de Empresas) at Mexico City. Early in his career, Mr. Orvananos created the first interconnection of credit card validation for BANAMEX during the early pre ATM era. He was responsible for the creation of the Society of Rural Production in Lagos de Moreno, Mexico; as well as the creation of a chain of 300 retail clothing outlets, located in all Mexican beach resorts. He has created new products from fish skins for the use in footwear, leatherwork and accessories.

Mr. Orvananos, amongst his many achievements, has been responsible developing legal and significant methods of reducing of tax payments through a combination of payment deferrals and inflation adjustments (ITV). He has lived and worked in Canada, the United States and France throughout his career and for 10 years (through the year 2000), while residing in Mexico, as Director of IBM's SMB Professional Services in Mexico, he was responsible for developing the fastest growing segment of IBM's business in Mexico. He designed and implemented the restructuring of IBM's business strategy in Mexico (which included systems integration, outsourcing software development and I/T consulting practice). He was the project leader with regard to the foregoing, as well as the person responsible for acquiring two new companies for IBM and growing both subsidiaries by more than 500% (over a mere three years) to become the Latin American leader serving the midsize market with respect to SW application services and business I/T solutions.

Throughout his career, which most recently includes the co-founding of GBX, Mr. Orvananos has represented the entrepreneurial innovation and extraordinary drive in developing strategic alliances, successful business plans, implementation of such plans, providing financial and management guidance both nationally and internationally to that clientele that spans a broad array of industries and sectors from ranging from finance, real estate to manufacturing. Through GBX, he is most recently dedicated to developing the opportunities that exist within his Country of Mexico and throughout the Americas as a whole.

Jose (Pancho) Francisco Alvarado Duran, Senior Advisory Board Member
Mr. Alvarado, partner in GBX of Mexico, joined Kensington as a Senior Advisory Board Member after spending 35 years in the business world as an engineer, entrepreneur and financial and management consultant. As a graduate with a Chemical Engineering degree from Universidad Iberoamericana of Mexico, he furthered his studies in Brazil where he specialized in industrial engineering with specific emphasis in wastewater and solid waste treatment. He returned to his native Leon, Mexico and became the Director General of 50-year-old leather Tannery Company and became the President of the Latin American Association of Chemists and Leather Technicians. For six years he was also the President of National Association of Tanners A.C. and Latin America Correspondent for the International Union (IULTCS) held in Paris, France.

Mr. Duran founded an international company specializing in marketing leather and shoes. He has lectured and written extensively regarding the leather goods, tanning and related chemical industries and is recognized as a leading international authority with respect thereto. His expertise in business in not merely associated with the leather and chemical industries, however, but rather that of an entrepreneur, business developer and project developer within the community of Leon, Mexico and throughout Mexico. This heavily industrialized community of Leon (population of approximately 2,000,00 people) have recognized his significant contribution to the economic vitality that exists there today. As such, he served as the Executive Director of the Industrial Park of Leon, perhaps the most important industrial park in the city and the region. It has been a model for other industrial parks throughout Mexico.

Throughout his career, including the co founding of GBX, Mr. Duran has represented the exceptional commitment to business and community development. He is regarded by the business community of Leo, Mexico as one of its honored and revered citizens; bring to the equation a record of proven success in industry and business development through thoughtful and well conceived financial and management consulting services.

Maria Teresa De La Torre C., Senior Advisory Board Member
Ms. De La Torre, is a partner in GBX of Mexico focusing her attention primarily on the Guadalajara and Jalisco regions of Mexico. She joined Kensington as a Senior Advisory Board Member having spent approximately 18 years in the business world as a financial corporate executive, attorney and entrepreneur. She is a director of a loan and leasing company and a financial and management consultant. She started her working career as an academic scholar in what would seem to be the unlikely field of Anthropology and Archeology, taught English and appraised antiques and objects d'art. Her earlier multi-disciplined background has obviously added to her acumen in the business and financial world in which she has been functioning with great success for more almost two decades. She has worked for Central Financiera, Casa Cambio Intermex and Arrendadora L& L as a corporative executive as well as taught English and worked at the National Institute of History and Anthropology as a laboratory archeologist.

Ms. De La Torre is a graduate of Guadalajara Autonoma University with a degree in Anthology; she also holds a degree as a financial solicitor from Instituto de Especializacion para Ejectutivos S.C. of Guadalajara and is an attorney and graduate from the Guadalajara State University law school. Her proficiency I English and German were decidedly influence by certification from Cambridge University in Oxford England and the Goethe Institute in Guadalajara, respectively.

Throughout her career, Ms. De La Torre has represented herself with highest business and academic achievements. She is highly regarded as a leading professional and businessperson by the business community of Guadalajara and the State of Jalisco. Kensington is honored to have her as a member of Advisory Board.