November 1, 2009

EVENT ALERT: December 2 -- See below!

A landowner with a Wal-Mart sized 50-acre piece of property across from a growing community college is seeking a co-investor to inject up to $2 million in the project.

An online media firm with a 30% EBITDA, while generating 400 million page views and 40 million unique visitors per month, is looking for a strategic partner . For more information please contact Tim Rhine. trhine@pointebreak.com

More than a dozen people with ties to Orange County's apparel industry joined together for a private networking event on October 27 at the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Irvine. Headlined by Project Runway contestant Gordana Gehlhausen, the group featured Tyler Rose swimsuit CEO Nichole Carroll - whose design was featured in Sports Illustrated's 2009 swimsuit issue - as well as Taryn Rose CFO Andy Berry, Indochine USA president Bertrand Haure, former Rip Curl CFO Matt Szot, publicist extraordinaire Mary Beth Kellee and others.

Gehlhausen, who is advancing steadily on Project Runway this season, is looking to develop her lines for distribution into national retail channels. The designer, who is said to be based in South Caroline in the show, works from downtown San Diego.

Speaking of apparel, a highly experienced manufacturing and retail executive has secured near-global rights to a denim with ballistic-like durability but jeans-like feel. The executive, now putting a team and financing together.

Riverside-based Best, Best & Krieger has retained RSM McGladrey as its accounting firm.

Legendary automotive entrepreneur Steve Saleen has landed financing for his new firm, SMS Supercars, from Citizens Business Bank. Saleen, who sold controlling interest in his Saleen Inc. to private equity firm Hancock Park Associates in 2004 and then left the firm in 2007, opened his new company in Corona earlier this year. SMS started re-building Dodge Chargers, but has since expanded to Ford Mustangs and expects to work on the new Chevy Camaro. Earlier this year Saleen sued the firm that acquired rights to the Saleen brand from Hancock.

CitizensTrust and the Orange County commercial banking arm of Citizens Business Bank are opening an office at 2010 Main Street in Irvine.

Event Alert: THE NEW RULES OF FINANCE December 2, 2009 at Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa. Partners include CPA firm Wright Ford Young, attorneys Freeman Freeman & Smiley as well as CBB and CitizensTrust. Doors open at 4:30 pm with a hosted bar. RSVP to paulthiel@yahoo.com.