Worldwide Finance Awards 2024 www.acquisition-international.com • Worldwide Finance Awards 2024 Best Mortgage Brokerage 2024 – South Carolina Applying for a mortgage is a highly situational process, which means that reaching the best deal depends on many personal factors, so getting there relies on the personal touch. Timeless Mortgage is the face of personalized mortgage brokerage in South Carolina. The team leverages a vast array of products, presenting them simply, transparently, and is always guided by the client’s best interests. Also featuring:
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Contents 5 Timeless Mortgage: Best Mortgage Brokerage 2024 – South Carolina 6 Financial Markets Online: Best Trading Educator 2024 & Most Innovative Forex & Trading Education CEO 2024: James Bentley 8 Business and Accounting Solutions Inc: Excellence Award for Interim & Outsourced CFO Services 2024 – Colorado 10 The Cyber Edge: Leading Strategic Cyber Services Provider 2024 - Israel 12 Rizolve Partners: Best Privately- Owned Corporate Strategic Advisory Firm 2024 - Ontario 13 KBC Asset Management NV: Asset & Investment Management Firm of the Year 2024 - Belgium 14 Global Islamic Financial Services Firm: Corporate Finance Firm of the Year 2024 - MEA 15 Renaissance Asia: Investment Banking & Fund Management Experts of the Year 2024 – Hong Kong 16 Hudson Hedge Capital: Best Wealth Management Firm 2024 – Dubai 17 VERITAS Professional Services: Accounting Firm of the Year 2024 - Sierra Leone & Client Service Excellence Award 2024 18 Graham Abogados: Best Boutique Corporate & Transactional Law Firm 2024 – Mexico 19 Sanath Accounting & Taxation Services: Accountancy Firm of the Year 2024 – Sydney 20 Bas & More Bookkeeping and Virtual CFO Services: Most Innovative Bookkeeping Company 2024 - Melbourne 21 The Forex Library: Excellence Award in Global Finance News 2024 22 Novum Global Ventures Pte Ltd: Best Automated Trading Software Company 2024 - Singapore 23 Heritage Tax Company: Best Tax Preparation & Advisory Firm 2024 - Maine 24 AllConnecticut Insurance Brokers: Insurance Brokerage of the Year 2024 – New England 25 Gresham Street Partners: Property Tax Advisory of the Year 2024 – UK 26 Sartori and Co: Best Currency Risk Management Advisory Firm 2024 - Australia 27 Firth Finance & General: Home Credit Provider of the Year 2024 - Northern Ireland 10 6 15
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5 | Acquisition International, Worldwide Finance Awards 2024 Best Mortgage Brokerage 2024 – South Carolina imeless Mortgage’s mission is simple: to provide exceptional service and simplify the mortgage application process. What this means to the team is making homeowners comfortable, presenting the best possible mortgage options, and breaking them down as required. With the sheer variety of products available, often steeped in mystifying fine print, applying for a mortgage can add stress to an already turbulent time in life. Timeless Mortgage’s expert team eases the burden by discussing clients’ unique needs and matching them with the optimal product. “ Our daily goal is to save you time, money, and stress during your mortgage loan process. No matter what your situation is. By taking out the middleman in this process, we can stay competitive for you and have access to more lending resources to customize every transaction according to your goals and needs. ” The company works with a diverse range of clients, including first-time buyers, seasoned real estate investors, and homeowners seeking to refinance. This first involves meeting to discuss their needs, which include every piece of the mortgage puzzle: what is their available down payment? What monthly payments can they afford? Is this a short-term investment or a forever-home? There are numerous questions to ask, but the team is made up of industry veterans who know just how their answers inform the process. For every client, and without exception, the team works according to its values. Timeless Mortgage’s people strive for integrity, excellence, and a client-centric approach, always presenting accurate information with diligence and professionalism. It aims to deliver personalized service and tailored mortgage solutions, empowering clients every step of the way by breaking down terminology and thoroughly explaining products. All of this is geared not just towards providing clients the best possible solutions but building long-term relationships on a foundation of trust. “ Our focus is on doing what’s best for our clients. We take the time to understand their unique financial situations and goals, tailoring our mortgage solutions to meet their needs effectively. We provide them with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions by offering guidance and explanations in plain language. ” Maintaining relevant service demands that Timeless Mortgage keeps a finger on the pulse, always observing industry trends, market conditions, and regulatory changes. The Southeast’s housing market poses unique challenges; hurricanes and natural disasters, seasonal market variations, and rising house prices all contribute to a shifting mortgage landscape. In this dynamic coastal market, the brokerage serves its clients as an anchor of stability, remaining agile in navigating these concerns to maintain upto-date knowledge of how they will affect mortgage options. Achieving this mission requires that the team works collaboratively, empowering one another to share ideas and make use of the diverse expertise available. It takes a close-knit team of advisors, processors, and support staff to provide quality service, which means acknowledging and celebrating everyone’s role in delivering it. Effective communication is the cornerstone of that mission, so the Timeless Mortgage team remains open and accessible to clients and colleagues alike. Building on its momentum from previous years, the brokerage aims to set new records in 2024 for client satisfaction. With an increasing client base and range of available products and services, it will continue to evolve with market conditions to drive long-term growth. To name one of these developments, the team anticipates possible interest rate relief in the near future, which in turn means it is preparing to assist clients with waves of refinancing. Thanks to explorations into new technologies, these processes may also be made much simpler, translating to enhanced service and newfound client ease. Timeless Mortgage is excited to finish 2024 in record-breaking fashion. Through participating in community initiatives, it will continue to give back to the community and play its part to strengthen the social fabric of its regions. As the team grows, its shared vision is to remain adaptable and always lead the way in matching clients with the perfect mortgage products. Contact: Nathan Landers Company: Timeless Mortgage Web Address: www.timelessmortgage.com Applying for a mortgage is a highly situational process, which means that reaching the best deal depends on many personal factors, so getting there relies on the personal touch. Timeless Mortgage is the face of personalized mortgage brokerage in South Carolina. The team leverages a vast array of products, presenting them simply, transparently, and is always guided by the client’s best interests. T
6 | Acquisition International, Worldwide Finance Awards 2024 Best Trading Educator 2024 & Most Innovative Forex & Trading Education CEO 2024: James Bentley inancial Markets Online teaches people how to navigate the world of forex to ensure that traders who are serious can achieve their financial goals. It offers a service that is 5-star rated across multiple platforms, including Google and Trustpilot. They employ an open-door policy enabling access to one-to-one trading sessions with leading experts and the environment of a professional trading floor. FMO’s in person courses are designed to assist people from beginner level and up, with an introduction course that takes place online. Courses range from a very brief insight into how the financial markets work, to Ofqual regulated advanced diplomas in financial trading at Level 5, which is the equivalent of a UK national degree. Their programmes focus purely on the traders’ development, assisting them on their journey to becoming fully competent in the financial markets. All programmes come complete with coaching from senior traders, who are themselves all members of leading technical analyst organisations STA (the Society of Technical Analysis), IFTA (the International Federation of Technical Analysis), and CISI (the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment). Its open-door policy for all traders across its live trading floor means that everyone is encouraged to join in. It’s not just confined to senior team members, even beginners can participate in the live trading action. Financial Markets Online considers that judging from the current state of the nation, with a rise in the cost of living, and uncertainty abounding, there has never been a better or more important time to take advantage of a second income. It is confident to declare that from as little as one hour a day’s dedicated focus, it can teach new traders how to win back their time through the capacity of trading forex. In a nutshell, forex refers to the process of changing one currency into another, for various reasons such as commerce, trading, or tourism. It is a portmanteau word made up of the words foreign and exchange. For trading purposes, the way forex works is traders speculate on the changing exchange rates by converting large sums of money from currency to currency. “As a forex trader you need to stay on top of your trades and your emotions. Take the market seriously, understand yourself, and by using our trading tips you can become a wellrounded trader. ” Financial Markets Online supports a wide spectrum of trading styles and asset classes. Being a part of the FMO also gives individuals the opportunity to cover various trading styles and asset classes from short term trading, swing trading, position trading, and investment theory of stocks, exchange traded funds, options, futures commodities, and currencies. As a FMO member, clients will become an active part of a trader community, and show a commitment to success through efforts to continuously improve their professional skills. The top forex experts at Financial Markets Online have decades of trading experience all with a wealth of knowledge ready to share. One of the key aspects FMO offers is live trading events, sometimes with up to 500 people in attendance. The senior team teaches a simple strategy to apply within the live markets, using real money, and producing real results. It is cognisant of the unfortunate fact that the financial trading industry is known for sharks, but using its skills and judgement to overcome barriers effectively has put FMO in the fortunate position of owning social proof of its trustworthiness, with amazing referrals that have positioned it as the number one trader training centre in the UK. FMO are proud to operate in a transparent manner, which is emphasized by its daily routines. For instance, most days the trading floor will be home to about 15-18 traders, with a further 10 clients who pop in to trade live alongside the team. All of the programmes it offers Financial Markets Online are the leading trader training institute in UK and UAE teaching thousands of traders globally how to successfully navigate the financial markets using simple, low risk trading strategies taught by industry experts with decades of individual trading experience. FMO is a VTCT & KHDA approved trader training centre that runs courses from beginner to advanced level, mainly live but also online. They have live trading floors in Chelsea Harbour, London and Dubai, UAE where students visit to spend time with professional traders. F
Best Trading Educator 2024 & Most Innovative Forex & Trading Education CEO 2024: James Bentley come with a one-to-one mentor built in, who will be there to hold new traders hands for every step of the way. The company’s forex trading courses have been designed directly from the trading floor by senior traders. The strategies it teaches cover all trading levels, and are in use daily by traders. They have been backtested for decades, and have proved their ongoing consistency across all asset classes. To make it easier for new and intermediate level traders to become confident, it has shortened and simplified the processes. Financial Markets Online offers a Fast Track course with a personal introduction to trading. It will help create a bespoke trading plan, a platform set up for clients, and also offers a 90-day free trial to get them up and running. It will look at all sorts of aspects of trading, including a module on trading psychology. This concerns the mental state of mind and emotions of a trader, and examines how that can influence the success or failure of a trade. FMO also offers a 3-day forex masterclass, consisting of a crash course to becoming successful in the markets. Day 1 looks at goal setting and the creation of a trading plan. Day 2 looks at moving averages, candlestick formations, risk management and scaling. Day 3 is when the previous 2 days of intensive theory is put into practice with a full day of live trading, starting with the European market open. Day 3 is the client’s practical experience, when they will stand on a trading floor surrounded by successful traders. So far, FMO’s record is 28 winning trades out of 32 and 285 pips banked. A pip is an acronym for percentage in point, or price interest point. It is the smallest whole unit price move an exchange rate can make. Additional courses available at FMO include an online seasonality course, where forex will be examined according to stocks and commodities using seasonality / historical performance. There’s also an advanced trading course, for clients wanting to take their training and trading that extra step further. The Financial Markets Online is certainly going from strength to strength, and this has been further reinforced by its success in the recent Worldwide Finance Awards winning Best Trading Educator 2024. Furthermore, with its CEO James Bentley winning Most Innovative Forex & Trading Education CEO 2024, we’re set to see the business’ success skyrocket even further. Winning Best Trading Educator 2023 – London & Best Forex Education Provider 2023 – London in last year’s Worldwide Finance Awards, James Bentley and Financial Markets Online are continuing to prove themselves as one of the best in the industry. We look forward to seeing what comes next. Well done to Financial Markets Online and its dedicated trading team. It truly is such an exciting world to be a part of, and its ability to grow such amazing knowledge far and wide is hugely commendable. Company: Financial Markets Online Web Address: https://financialmarketsonline.com Contact Name: James Bentley
8 | Acquisition International, Worldwide Finance Awards 2024 ounded in 2009 by financial expert Kelly Keith Ashton, Business and Accounting Solutions was born out of the financial crisis of 2008. Salary cuts and layoffs were increasingly becoming the norm for most corporations, which Kelly experienced first-hand as the CFO of an international technology company. Kelly’s expert eye spotted the growing demand across companies for a solution to their accounting and financial needs without the costs of full-time salaries and benefits. “So, I resigned my full-time position and started helping my current company, as well as my network, with their CFO and Controller needs at a fraction of the cost of a full-time CFO,” Kelly explains. “It started out slow but didn’t stay that way, as word spread throughout my clientele’s executives and leaders.” Initially, Kelly offered her services with part-time CFO and Controller support to the businesses of friends and colleagues while focusing on co-founding a tech company. However, as Kelly’s reputation grew, as did Business and Accounting Solutions and she shifted her focus to the company full-time, taking on a Board of Directors role in the second venture. In no time, Kelly became the go-to resource for the technology industry for Outsourced and Interim CFO and Controller services across the Front Range of Colorado. Soon enough, her expertise spread to larger corporations throughout the US before going international. Business and Accounting Solutions’ clientele base has expanded to reach almost every industry, size, and organisational structure but primarily fit into three main categories: SaaS, construction and hospitality, and Private Equity or Venture Capital backed. Business and Accounting Solutions specialises in Outsourced and Interim Controller and CFO services tailored to fit the unique financial needs of its clients. The company offers specialty long-term and short-term services that include mergers and acquisitions accounting, post-mergers integration, forensic accounting, tax and audit season preparation, funding rounds analysis and accounting, clean-up projects, and many more services all designed to streamline the client’s financial department and optimise performance. When working with a client, Business and Accounting Solutions oversees financial operations and develops key finance and accounting tools for clients to utilise in the future. These include, but are not limited to, cash flow forecasting reports, tax compliance support, performance reports. This type of support perfectly suits growing companies that are in need of expert Controller services to face their current financial challenges but lack the budget or time to hire a full-time position. Maintaining a top-class reputation in such a competitive industry requires companies to adopt core values to stay in alignment with to ensure that ambitious standards are continually met as the company grows. In everything that Business and Accounting Solutions does, it does so with character and integrity, believing that it is the company’s responsibility to provide ethical, accurate, and compliant financial services to every client. Kelly tells us that Business and Accounting Solutions is firm in the belief that we are never too old or know too much to learn new things, and so the team is always striving to learn something new with each day. This belief extends beyond the team, as the company loves to teach clients something new at every chance. Moreover, the company strives to leave its clients in better shape than when it arrived, always pushing to produce better work than the day before. This commitment to client satisfaction and continual improvement is exactly what sets Business and Accounting Solutions apart from its competitors, ensuring its leading position within the market. The road to success has not always been smooth for Business and Accounting Solutions, as 2023 brought unprecedented times for Kelly. 2022 was the company’s greatest year, both in a financial sense and in recognition within the industry. Kelly found herself working with As budding companies grow and expand their organisation, the demand for effective financial guidance and management becomes increasingly apparent. Unfortunately, not every company has the financial means to support a full-time CFO and seek other alternatives to meet the position. Enter Business and Accounting Solutions, a Colorado-based company that specialises in providing top-tier interim and outsourced CFO services. Following its title in the Worldwide Finance Awards 2024, we speak with Kelly Keith Ashton, Founder of Business and Accounting Solutions, to learn more about the company’s journey to excellence. F Excellence Award for Interim & Outsourced CFO Services 2024 – Colorado
renowned names across the globe, from Australia, to London, to Denver. In 2023, however, Kelly’s father was diagnosed with metastatic cancer for the second time. Kelly knew that her parents would need her assistance to get through this tough time, and that she would have to be travelling five-and-a-half hours each way and staying with them for extended periods of time. “As a leader, business-owner, and human, we have to make decisions for what is not only best for the company, but for us personally,” she says. “So, I bought a small trailer and made it into a mobile office. I knew this would be my biggest challenge yet, splitting my time between doctors’ appointments, radiation, and caring for them, all while working, trying to run a business, and keeping clients happy.” Although Kelly notes that Business and Accounting Solutions did not have the record year that it did in 2022, with revenue cut almost 40% in 2023, she was able to be there for her parents in their time of need whilst also juggling the business and being present for her current clients. This level of dedication is commendable, as is the ability to recognise the importance of maintaining a personal life. Though the lack of new clients in 2023 proved difficult for the business, Business and Accounting Solutions is proud to be finishing 2024 strong, with a year that comes close to the record numbers of 2022. A crucial factor in achieving such levels of success is monitoring changes to the industry and maintaining a level of flexibility that allows a company to adapt in response to emerging changes. First, Kelly recognises that much has changed within the finance and accounting industry since her beginning in the late eighties, but the most notable change has been technological. The company no longer does its accounting on ‘green sheets’ or takes stock orders on paper, with the industry being taken by storm with AI and various other automating programs. These additions primarily ease the workload for companies but can simultaneously make life that more difficult. Kelly finds herself challenged with keeping up with technology to ensure that she can maintain her frontrunning position in the industry, a challenge she had never foreseen but has masterfully taken into stride. As for monitoring the state of the financial industry within her region, Kelly has kept a close eye on developments within the Colorado industry. “I have had great hope of growth for years, as we were called the Silicon Valley of the Rockies, with areas like Boulder and Colorado Springs being technology and aerospace meccas for such great giants as Lockheed Martin, Ball, IBM, and Oracle, as well as technology incubators and investors,” she says. However, the political climate has caused taxes, start-up, and housing costs to rise incredibly, so that less and less companies are moving to Colorado and are instead choosing tax haven locations to start their companies, such as Delaware and Wyoming. This issue has only become more prevalent with the introduction of remote work, meaning that it can all be done at home. “Has this stopped me from further investing in my region?” Kelly asks. “Not at all! In fact, I recently started another company to strengthen my investment in the Rocky Mountain region of the US. Hopefully, we can once again start attracting great start-ups and more people to move to the region to strengthen the economy, however I am not waiting for that to happen before starting my next venture.” It is with this drive and determination that Business and Accounting Solutions has deservedly earned the Excellence Award for Interim and Outsourced CFO Services 2024 – Colorado. The company has made tremendous efforts to assist companies in growing and optimising their financial department and has built a solid reputation for excellence within the industry. Moving forward, Kelly tells us that Business and Accounting Solutions has plans for expansion with the hopes of helping more businesses achieve success. This year, the company has extended its offerings and services to smaller organisations, as well as offering monthly Excellence Award for Interim & Outsourced CFO Services 2024 – Colorado bookkeeping and payroll services. Additionally, the company hopes to find HR and Employee Benefits for its services through a third-party planner, all in the name of expanding its extensive offerings. “We are hiring, offering more services to more clients, and growing with great excitement for closing out Q4 of 2024 close to or exceeding our 2022 numbers,” she tells us proudly. “We are excited to see what the future brings, and hope that as we continue to grow, we are able to offer more services and service more clients.” Contact: Kelly Keith Ashton Company: Business and Accounting Solutions Inc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-and-accounting-solutions-llc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ BusinessAndAccountingSolutions Web Address: https://www.businessandaccountingsolutions.com
10 | Acquisition International, Worldwide Finance Awards 2024 Leading Strategic Cyber Services Provider 2024 - Israel ut simply, strategic cyber services include all of the expert guidance and planning necessary to make sure that the cyber security measures of an organization are up to scratch – meaning that they are robust, current, and effective enough to prevent an attack or fend off other such cyber risks. From risk assessments to strategy development and compliance recommendations, these services are essential for fortifying the defences of a business in the digital sphere that dominates how companies today operate across the globe. In The Cyber Edge’s case, its encompassing range of services is inclusive of multi-tier CISO (chief information security officer) and CTO (chief technical officer) as a service, comprehensive risk analysis and security audits, risk reduction services, as well as secure digital and cloud migration. Other notable offerings span incident response (IR/IRT),Programs developments, and digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) playbooks, this in addition to executive level cyber simulation, training, and awareness. “We also look at supply chain vulnerabilities as a key catalyst for cyber events and data leakage, and we built a set of standards, tools, and procedures to minimise the risk originating from application interconnection (Web, API, etc.), SaaS, and other cloud/outsourced services. ” The Cyber Edge’s distinction in this setting can be seen further through the high-level of certification that it holds concerning the digital transformation areas of operational technology (OT), Internet of Things (IoT), and Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) security. Beyond this, the company also executes defence-based research services that align with the specific cyber threats that a customer faces, interspersed with a series of business-specific operational activities and a comprehensive suite of advanced cyber solutions and procedures. As for how The Cyber Edge’s services relate to the financial space directly, its in-depth knowledge of fintech strategic cyber services sees it utilise a unique ability to link physical and IOT/OT security with traditional IT security, which is particularly important for those in the world of finance as they are the ones most at risk from the likes of business continuity disruption and are the targets of multiple threat vectors. The company’s track record of successfully migrating financial organizations to smart and secure environments is but one example of how it can help organizations fortify their cyber standing. For the uninitiated, this can initially seem like a lot to get one’s head around, but hopefully it is understood that whatever a client’s needs in this sphere, The Cyber Edge more than has them covered. What makes this even more impressive is the fact that the company has to overcome a wealth of challenges operating in this sector, with these including the likes of extremely stringent regulations, AIdriven threats, as well as the ever-increasing capabilities of complex cyber offense and the necessary fraud detection systems required to compete. Despite these complexities, this small but mighty operation has achieved a great deal over the past few years, with some of its most notable projects seeing it tasked with securing a significant portion of the most sensitive and high-risk environments across major market segments, such as finance and national critical infrastructures. Its unwavering focus on these areas results in maximum value being added to businesses of all shapes and sizes, including in the form of a consultancy service offered to help clients secure cyber risk insurance. Other noteworthy developments in recent memory include the launching of the Cyber TCE Startup Track, which sees start-ups afforded the same high-quality cyber consultancy services that the bigger firms can access. Aside from this is the company’s stellar education programme, which gives back to communities across the country by offering cyber awareness and general cyber training to school pupils and university students for free of charge, as well as to the employees of client businesses at highly competitive price points. Since The Cyber Edge offers an almost unparalleled range of high-quality services and solutions across this space, one of the most important things for the business is that it remains ahead of the curve and distinguishes itself effectively from other such providers. Leveraging its mastery concerning strategic decision handling processes in major operations that seek to solve the new challenges and dilemmas in the realm of cyber security, the company’s stellar research and connections with major vendors ensure that it never misses a beat. The Cyber Edge employs a pragmatic approach, adapting it services to all and doing so in a focused and professional manner.. This ties into what is ultimately the company’s unique selling point – the fact that it succeeds in demonstrating its value-added services in real time, operating as a trusted advisor whenever it is needed. With an approach such as this in tow, it should come as no surprise that the team here, managed by highly experienced and revolutionary Founder and CEO Tomer Nuri, operate atop an undercurrent of integrity, professionalism, and strong ethics. These cornerstones can be witnessed permeating across every level of the business on a daily basis, seen in the open, pragmatic approach that is taken when it comes to serving customers and the pioneering of developments by the open-boundary, out-of-the-box thinkers comprising the company’s staff. Founded in November 2019, Israel’s The Cyber Edge is a premier strategic cyber consultancy service provider, one that focuses on both C-suite professionals and the decision makers in leading organizations and enterprises across a range of industries. Just some of the company’s clients that benefit from its multiple strategic consultancy services across the cyber security landscape include Tier-1 capital organizations; leaders in such fields as retail, utility, government, and the civil industry; as well as start-up companies and leading venture capital businesses. P
Thanks to the innate skill that is present across every employee at The Cyber Edge, the business is in an enviable position to continue to innovate and push boundaries well into the future. Just some of the areas of focus for Tomer and his team for the rest of this year and beyond include investing further in AI security, increasing the breadth and depth of their simulation and executive training services, as well as investing significantly in supply chain Leading Strategic Cyber Services Provider 2024 - Israel security – be it open banking, outsourcing, or cloud migration. A company that is well versed in helping its clients to tackle everything from supply chain vulnerability to gaps in their cyber security defences, The Cyber Edge’s remarkable service suite, that once again spans the likes of fintech strategic cyber services, IOT/OT security, and executive cyber simulation, makes it more than worthy of being recognised as the Leading Strategic Cyber Services Provider 2024 – Israel, the second time it has been celebrated with such an award in the past three years. Contact: Tomer Nuri Company: The Cyber Edge Web Address: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tnuri/
12 | Acquisition International, Worldwide Finance Awards 2024 Best Privately-Owned Corporate Strategic Advisory Firm 2024 - Ontario Rizolve Partners Addressing the barriers head-on that stand between business owners and the optimisation of the value of their lifetime’s work, Rizolve Partners is an Advisor that delivers the best planning and preparation for every major scenario. Their secret sauce is that having planned the next steps, they then walk the talk with the client and their team to deliver those plans. As the manifestation of an individual’s life’s work, businesses deserve to be granted the chance to thrive, and only through setting a solid strategy can such an outcome hope to be reached in the most efficient way. However, in order to achieve peak value, many business owners find that keeping control of the execution by partnering with a Firm that truly understands what securing success means, is the best way to stay the course and navigate the potholes and barriers that present along the way. In this vein, there is no corporate strategic advisory firm more suited to the role than Rizolve Partners. Contact: Stephen Cummings Company: Rizolve Partners Web Address: https://rizolve.ca Aspiring to one day become Canada’s leading advisor in delivering strategies that are specifically designed to unlock the full potential of its clients’ businesses, Rizolve Partners is an irrefutable example of client-focused planning in motion. Primarily working alongside lower midmarket entities spanning a myriad of industries across the globe, the firm accompanies businesses on their growth journey from start to finish. In essence, Rizolve Partners has cultivated a masterful understanding of how to determine the best strategies for each individual client, guaranteeing a flawless union between value growth and industry finesse. No matter how adept a business may be at navigating their market, it is all too common for even the most capable of entities to overwhelm themselves with ambition. While maintaining focus on their internal workings, they must also monitor emerging trends, forge responsive solutions, and devise measures to reach said solutions before the landscape shifts once more. Though not impossible to navigate alone, missteps are common costing time and money, and therefore receiving advice in executing such demanding processes was a decision that many of their clients have cherished to accelerate them down the pathway of achieving their ideal value growth goals. It is here that Rizolve Partners outlines its invaluable nature. When working alongside its experts, clients can obtain distinct corporate strategies that bear the mark of true masters. In Rizolve Partners’ own words – “Rizolve is an Advisory business - we are not Consultants. The difference is that we are not hired to do the work; we are in place to advise on the steps to success. We work with the business owner through all of the steps. In that way, we become part of the business team.” By deploying such an approach, the firm minimizes missteps and miscommunication – by remaining closely aligned with its clients’ values and philosophies, it’s able to suggest processes and procedures that are specifically positioned to approximate or approach best in class to facilitate the installation of practices that deliver value growth. Partnered with its avid dedication to educating its target market on the essential measures that must be put in place in order to optimise business value, Rizolve Partners has quickly become the premium choice for lower mid-market businesses. Proudly presenting its clients with a breadth of experience that encompasses all of the nuances of business transition and growth, Rizolve Partners possesses every necessary tool to foster the right conditions to deliver the ideal outcome, regardless of its clients’ industry. Onboarding the responsibility of providing steadfast solutions is where the firm thrives, and it’s for this very reason that it’s become Ontario’s most trusted expert in all branches of the strategic advisory trade. No collective is more focused and knowledgeable, making it a standout among its competitors. In short, Rizolve Partners is an extension of excellence – an entity that’s prepared to go above and beyond to ensure that its clients are more than prepared for any scenario throughout their ambitious ventures. Each year, Acquisition International hosts the Worldwide Finance Awards as a means to reflect on those who have continued to deliver exemplary financial services to clients across various markets. Demonstrating what we believe to be the best characteristics when it comes to the realm of corporate strategic advice is none other than Rizolve Partners – a firm whose commitment to its clients has seen the continuous development and successful transition of businesses across the globe. As such, Acquisition International is proud to offer Rizolve Partners a well-deserved place in the Worldwide Finance Awards 2024.
Worldwide Finance Awards 2024, Acquisition International | 13 Asset & Investment Management Firm of the Year 2024 - Belgium ffering a wide range of products and services across this space, just a couple of KBC AM’s defining solutions include handling investment funds and discretionary management with the utmost professionalism and care. The services the firm provides are afforded to a diverse range of clients, from those in the retail sector through to private wealth clientele with more than five million Euros. All of these clients can enjoy a bespoke approach that sees every available solution tailored holistically to their specific needs. A company that exists on the precipice of innovation, KBC AM strives to set the standard as opposed to just meeting it, doing so by remaining one step ahead of the competition at all times. Pioneering such advancements on an ongoing basis enables the firm to continue to make investing a straightforward, comfortable, and healthy financial habit for all. Taking the leap from becoming a saver to an investor is almost never easy, but with KBC AM by their side, it can be for the clients of this award-winning firm. By offering an easy solution, channel, and journey – as seen in the approximately two million active investment plans available and their mobile-first, digital, and lead-driven nature (59% of all plans are sold digitally) – KBC AM is the ideal choice for investors at any stage, particularly first-time and growing investors. On the back of this, the firm today enjoys an unrivalled 92% client satisfaction rate, a testament to its excellence and unwavering customer service commitment. Living by the motto, “everyone invested all the time”, KBC AM’s dual focus sees it offer a digital-first approach without losing the human touch that is integral in forging lasting relationships. Over the past decade, this has been reflected in the likes of KBC Mobile, the company’s mobile app that has now evolved into a multifaceted platform, spearheaded by Kate, the company’s virtual assistant. Kate helps clients to navigate their options across these digital settings with pinpoint accuracy, highlighting the firm’s technological prowess. Embracing AI has been instrumental for KBC AM, but this is not the only way that it has continued to advance its services. For example, the firm’s digital service was complemented nicely by the recent rollout of the “investing with your spare change” feature, which sees the cost of a transaction rounded up to the nearest Euro by KBC whenever a customer pays with their debit card. This feature sees spare change invested effortlessly, and it is incredibly easy to toggle on or off in the user-friendly mobile app mentioned above. Another example of the company’s invest management proficiency can be found in its smart advisory engine, which uses AI technology to screen the portfolios of the company’s private wealth clients on a daily basis, performing a detailed analysis of every portfolio, including risk and return factors, to provide personalised advice. This is an example of the end-to-end investment process favoured across the firm, something that AI is only continuing to drive, as seen in the two KBC AMs funds it is already managing, including an equity fund. Since beginning its journey in 1992, KBC AM has continued to fortify its policies, with credibility serving as the consistent primary focus. The firm’s meticulous diversity and inclusion policy is an example of this, guaranteeing a textbook internal culture is built on the foundation of respect. Ensuring gender diversity is achieved across the board is one of the firm’s fundamental aims, seen in its stimulating of mixed teams, zero-tolerance policy for flagrant disrespect, and through its joining of the Wo.Men in Finance organisation. Ultimately, KBC Asset Management NV aims to broaden the investment horizons of everyone, not just the most affluent. Its dedication to serving all is reflected in its diverse staffing team, all of whom work hard every day to make investing reliable and personal by leveraging the firm’s cutting-edge digital solutions. By continuing to innovate and grow in a sustainable way, the company is sure to continue to make waves in this sphere, one of many feats that makes it worthy of this award. Contact: Jan Standaert Company: KBC Asset Management NV Web Address: https://www.kbc.be/private-banking/en/portfolio-management.html KBC Asset Management NV (KBC AM) is the investment arm of KBC, a leading banking and insurance group that is comprised of more than 42,000 employees and 12 million clients across Europe, including in the likes of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and the firm’s native Belgium. KBC AM today handles approximately 2.8 million retail and institutional investors and specialises in providing investment fund sales and advisory support, as well as developing related products. O
14 | Acquisition International, Worldwide Finance Awards 2024 Jul24047 Corporate Finance Firm of the Year 2024 - MEA t its core, Global Islamic Financial Services Firm (GIFS) is a premier global corporate finance firm with a strict adherence to Islamic finance practice. Its suite of innovative and leading services and products are afforded to corporations, financial institutions, investment banks, governments, and export credit agencies alike. One of the defining elements of this service is the regulated private equity investment funds that are provided to those in various economic sectors, from manufacturing to biotechnology, agriculture, and general trading. Presenting all of its services according to the Shariah religious law that is an integral part of Islamic tradition, GIFS also offers a wide range of bespoke Shariah consultancy services, which it seamlessly converts into practical and proactive solutions that can be tailored to businesses of any sort and their unique needs, regardless of how complex these may be. As an extension of this commitment, GIFS also offers a stellar Shariah advisory/training service, perfect for those seeking to offer Islamic finance products to their own clients. Boasting the assistance of a global advisory board that is comprised of experts in this field as well as keen scholars, it is the expertise of this group that sees the necessary insight afforded to the firm so that it may continue to more than meet the needs of clients from all over the world. Aside from this advisory board, GIFS has also cemented its status in this space through its forming of a robust Islamic finance network, which sees it able to draw from a wealth of experience that includes the likes of bankers, corporate advisors, and lawyers. Together with this network – which has serviced clients throughout Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australasia, and South America – the company also leverages the innate skill of its global team, a workforce that possesses more than 300 years of combined experience in corporate financial settings. It is experience such as this that has resulted in the firm currently being the trusted advisor to more than 65 global banks and financial institutions, with approximately 800 million USD worth of assets currently under its management. Focusing primarily on such sectors as financial services, healthcare, commercial real estate, technology, logistics, and agriculture, GIFS is incredibly proud of the achievements it has fostered across these environments. Just some of these include world firsts such as delivering a Shariah compliant biological wildlife vehicle and a Murabaha stock leveraging product in the UAE, as well as regional firsts like providing the first Shariah compliant hotel in Africa and the USA’s first Shariah compliant asset/investment management structure. All of these accomplishments have been made possible by the fact that GIFS remains the only corporate Islamic banking and finance company to structure, certify, and even raise the capital for these related products, with its team taking an idea at the concept stage and funding its development and production holistically, all at a fraction of both the cost and the time that it would take with any other provider. The firm has the statistics on its side to back this up, including a zero percent loss across all of its investment portfolios. From identifying and mitigating risk through to optimising a business’ performance significantly, GIFS works closely with every client to develop the right solution for them and their unique needs. Its standard set of procedures ensures that compliance is achieved every step of the way, and the high levels of cooperation and collaboration that its team nurture with customers sees the gold standard for ethics and confidentiality set every step of the way, be it concerning processes, policies, guidelines, or structures. Recognised as the Corporate Finance Firm of the Year 2024 – MEA, Global Islamic Financial Services Firm is renowned for its ability to unlock real value and offer boutique investments and advisory products to its global client base. Its dedicated service is seeing it on track to build a reputation as one of the greatest firms of this nature on the planet, a mission we wish it the best of luck in. Contact: Ismail Ebrahim Desai Company: Global Islamic Financial Services Firm Web Address: https://www.gifsrv.com With the slogan, “financial services for the future”, it should come as no surprise that forward-looking enterprise Global Islamic Financial Services Firm – which is headquartered in Durban, South Africa but also has offices in the UAE and Turkey – has been operating with sustained excellence since first opening its doors back in 2012. Specialising in financial advisory services worldwide, just some of this company’s areas of expertise include auditing, investment management, and accounting. A
Worldwide Finance Awards 2024, Acquisition International | 15 offered in the client’s best interests. In fact, the company’s main pillar is that it applies the exact same portfolio and strategy to its clients’ funds as it does its own. This approach has certainly proven successful, as Renaissance Asia is already standing above a +34% of gross equity growth so far this year, with plans to open a brand new regional office for South-East Asia in the works. Renaissance Asia will also be present at expos, likely as the first or only fund manager present. Finally, Oscar tells us that the company will be launching private Renaissance events across Asia to meet with clients. “As per the future?” he asks. “The best change is no change. We are old school; we will just keep offering stability and real growth to the clients who choose us.” This continual stability is exactly why clients choose to collaborate with Renaissance Asia, a company that has expertly solidified itself as a trusted industry expert. With such a reputation for achieving excellence, Renaissance Asia has been rightfully recognised as the Investment Banking and Fund Management Experts of the Year 2024 – Hong Kong. Contact: Oscar Altuna Company: Renaissance Asia Web Address: https://www.renaissanceasia.com Investment Banking & Fund Management Experts of the Year 2024 – Hong Kong Oscar Altuna founded Renaissance Asia in 2021 with the mission of providing an advanced combination of fintech tools available in the marketplace, with a professional approach to fund management where risk management, experience, and knowledge are provided. In doing so, Renaissance Asia empowers its clients to hire a professional fund management service for the long term, whilst maintaining complete control of their funds without passing them to third parties. Many investors enter the market with a lack of direction, inadequate knowledge and experience of the market, and human-driven decisions. Unfortunately, this approach often leads to a vast majority of losses, losses that can be easily avoided by utilising Renaissance Asia’s expert guidance. Renaissance Asia promises to help clients successfully navigate the ever-evolving landscape of investments by providing clients with professional advice. The company resolves the issue of market approach for its clients by allowing them to join its established portfolio, giving clients the peace of mind that they are always in control of their funds whilst being under the protective umbrella of Swiss Banking. Clients are given their own Swiss Bank investments account, instant access to withdrawals from their bank card, real time monitoring of their portfolio and Swiss Client protection scheme. “We never access our clients’ accounts, neither do we have to,” says Oscar. “Our work is limited to placing our investments portfolio, knowledge, experience, and risk management on each client’s investment account.” Alongside these services, Renaissance Asia also aims to provide clients with financial education. The company believes that transparency, security, and long-term growth can walk hand-in-hand, which is what it aims to supply to clients. Renaissance Asia first teaches its clients that they have the right to have their equity under their own name and full control, in a duly regulated investment bank or broker. Providing such education enables clients to make informed decisions and enhances their understanding of the market. Having an understanding of the market is especially important, particularly when navigating such a competitive industry as investment banking. “The finance industry is in a rollercoaster more than ever – due to Artificial Intelligence rocketing and the crypto world evolution,” Oscar tells us. “At some point, this leads me to wonder why we as humans try to fix and change what is not broken. From this point of view, I can say that we are a ‘traditional’ team, in which we offer a stable, free-ofsurprises, and free-of-whistles fund management.” Oscar cites that another industry challenge is how many individuals suffer vast losses due to false investment services each year, which can not only dispel them from the industry but also causes damage to domestic economies. Renaissance Asia hopes to combat this growing problem by providing transparent and honest services that are always For many in the financial industry, hiring an investment banker or fund manager is incredibly advantageous as it can save time and money in the long run for those with less experience. However, not all clients wish to hand their funds to a third party, including the fund manager. Renaissance Asia is an investment banking and fund management expert working to provide fintech tools to educate clients and ease their investment process. Here, we speak with Oscar Altuna, Renaissance Asia’s Founder and Head of Fund Management to learn more.
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