She brings extensive experience in capital markets, structured finance, and infrastructure transactions, having worked previously at Jefferies in the Power, Utilities & Infrastructure team and at RBS. Over her career, Ms. Ahmetrasit has advised on a wide range of deals, including ratings advisory, acquisition financing, refinancing, and structuring, while maintaining strong relationships with banks, institutional funds, and credit funds.

At Houlihan Lokey, she will collaborate with the firm’s industry coverage teams to deliver innovative financing strategies for financial sponsors and corporates operating across Europe’s infrastructure landscape, building on the firm’s market-leading U.S.-based expertise.

“We’re delighted to welcome Seran to Houlihan Lokey,” said Gregg Newman, Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Capital Solutions. “Our Capital Solutions Group has established itself as a truly global front-runner in the provision of transformative financing solutions, now with more than 170 financial professionals operating across markets globally. Seran’s appointment adds further distinction to the team, bringing proven infrastructure experience that will elevate the breadth and depth of the advice we deliver to clients.”

“Seran brings outstanding sector expertise, proven execution capabilities, and deep client relationships in infrastructure debt advisory,” said Anthony Forshaw, Managing Director and Co-Head of Capital Solutions, Europe. “Her appointment underscores our conviction in the infrastructure sector, our confidence in the continued flow of capital, and our commitment to building a market-leading practice that works seamlessly with our M&A franchise to deliver exceptional, value-enhancing outcomes for clients.”

“I am thrilled to join Houlihan Lokey’s Capital Solutions team at such an exciting time for infrastructure as a sector,” said Ms. Ahmetrasit. “The firm’s global platform, collaborative culture, and breadth of expertise provide a unique opportunity to deliver creative, high-impact solutions for clients across infrastructure subsectors and geographies. I look forward to expanding the firm’s advisory capabilities across debt, debt-like, and equity instruments, and driving innovative strategies that create tangible value for clients.”

Houlihan Lokey’s Capital Solutions Group comprises more than 170 dedicated professionals across 16 offices in seven countries, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Dubai, Frankfurt, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Manchester, Miami, Milan, New York, Paris, San Francisco, and Zurich. In the past 12 months, the group raised and advised on around $28 billion across approximately 120 transactions.*

Private Equity Valuation Techniques

Valuation is an extremely important element of private equity (PE) investing. Unlike most traded companies that operate in markets where value is determined by stock price, private companies usually do not have a universal market valuation benchmark. This often makes valuation an effort that requires balancing between industry insights, professional judgment, and financial modeling. For private equity firms, accurate valuation is instrumental to identifying investment opportunities, maintaining investor confidence, negotiating exits, and assessing portfolio performance.

Comparable company analysis (CCA) or trading multiples is a common equity valuation technique. It identifies publicly traded companies that are similar to the target private company in terms of its industry, size, profitability, and growth prospects. Analysts then examine key valuation ratios like EV/EBITDA (enterprise value to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization), P/E (price-to-earnings), and EV/sales to determine how the market values similar businesses. After analysts have established a range of multiples, these figures are usually applied to the target company’s financial metric to estimate its implied enterprise value or equity value.

This technique is particularly useful when there are several publicly traded peers and when market conditions are stable. However, this approach does not fully capture private company characteristics like management quality, risk concentration, and limited liquidity because it relies heavily on public data. Analysts often have to adjust the multiples to reflect these private company factors to ensure a more realistic valuation.

Precedent transaction analysis (PTA) is another important valuation technique. It examines valuation from past mergers and acquisitions involving similar companies. This method is usually helpful when valuing companies that are about to be subject to acquisition because it reflects the premiums that previous buyers have paid for strategic positioning and control. Analysts collect data on previous transactions, typically within the same sector, and they calculate relevant multiples like price/book value, EV/EBITDA, or EV/revenue. They then use these transaction multiples to target the company’s metrics to estimate a likely valuation range.

The discounted cash flow (DCF) method stands out as one of the most reliable ways to determine a company’s worth. It measures a business’s intrinsic value by estimating the future cash it will generate and converting those sums into their present value using a discount rate, often based on the company’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC). This approach looks beyond current market trends and focuses instead on how well a company can create value over time.

Because the DCF method depends heavily on assumptions about growth, margins, expenses, and discount rates, even small changes in these inputs can lead to major differences in valuation. To manage this uncertainty, private equity professionals often use sensitivity analyses and scenario modeling to explore a range of possible outcomes. These tools help them test how different financial and operational conditions could affect future cash flows, ensuring that the final valuation reflects a balanced and realistic view of potential performance.

In some cases, analysts rely on the net asset value (NAV) or book value approach, particularly for asset-heavy businesses or investment holding companies. This technique measures value by calculating the difference between a company’s total assets and its liabilities. It is also common in private equity fund reporting, where managers assess each portfolio company’s value to determine the overall NAV of the fund. While this method provides a clear picture of tangible worth, it may overlook intangible assets such as brand reputation, intellectual property, or growth opportunities.

About Bassem Mansour

Based in Hunting Valley, Ohio, Bassem Mansour is the co-chief executive officer of Resilience Capital Partners, a private equity firm in Cleveland. He holds a psychology degree from the University of Dayton and an MBA in finance from Case Western Reserve University. Mr. Mansour has extensive experience in private equity, distressed investing, and corporate restructuring, and he serves on several boards, including the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

Understanding intentional spending: what it really means

When you practice intentional spending, you decide where your money goes rather than letting habits or impulses take over. Unlike traditional budgeting which can often feel restrictive, this method encourages you to ask: does this purchase reflect what I value?

For instance, you might notice a habit of picking up takeaway coffees during the week. Instead of cutting them out entirely, you could decide they matter on mornings when you meet a friend, but not when you rush to the office. You keep the experience that adds value to your day while trimming the purchases that bring little meaning.

Why intentional spending matters in today’s UK economy

The cost of living continues to squeeze many families and younger adults increasingly feel “friendflation” which is the pressure to spend more than they can afford to keep up socially. In this environment, aligning your spending with your priorities offers a practical counterbalance.

If you prioritise stability, you may prefer to put aside funds for rent security or an emergency cushion, even if it means to saying no to costly group outings. By framing choices through your own values rather than external pressures, you protect your wellbeing without feeling deprived.

Practical steps to implement intentional spending

Begin by tracking your expenses for a month using a budgeting app or a simple notebook. Once you see the patterns, clarify what you value most such as travel, sustainability, or peace of mind. Next, draw a clear line between needs and wants. Essentials such as housing and food come first; optional items should only receive consideration when they reflect your priorities.

Pause for 24 hours before making larger purchases to help prevent quick decisions you might regret. For recurring payments, consider reviewing subscriptions you rarely use. Even your choice of credit cards can support intentional habits when you select one that suits your lifestyle and financial goals. This could include rewards for frequent flyers or vouchers for certain shops. Check out a price comparison website and key in what you want from your credit card and compare your options.

Long-term benefits: financial wellbeing and greater fulfilment

Over time, intentional spending delivers more than just savings. By aligning your purchases with your values, you create a stronger sense of satisfaction that impulse buying rarely offers. Owning fewer unnecessary items reduces clutter, whereas directing money towards experiences strengthens a feeling of purpose.

When your spending reflects personal meaning, such as supporting sustainable brands or funding a course to develop a skill, you enjoy greater psychological wellbeing. The result is not a life of restriction but one where money helps to build the kind of future you want with confidence and clarity.

At Goldhill Finance Limited, we understand that access to quick, flexible funding can be the key to unlocking your next stage of growth. Our range of secured short-term business loans and bridging finance solutions are designed to help you move fast, stay competitive, and capitalise on time-sensitive opportunities with confidence.

Securing supplier discounts or bulk purchasing

Many suppliers offer substantial savings for early payment or large-volume orders – but these opportunities often require immediate capital.

With a short-term business loan from Goldhill Finance, your business can:

The cost savings generated from these strategic purchases often outweigh the short-term borrowing costs, helping your business protect margins and improve profitability.

Funding rapid expansion

When your business is ready to grow, timing is everything. Market conditions, location availability, or sudden surges in demand can make expansion opportunities fleeting.

Goldhill’s short-term loans and bridging finance options enable you to:

Our bridging finance can be particularly useful when property or asset acquisition is part of your growth strategy – allowing you to move fast on a deal while arranging longer-term funding in the background.

Short-notice contracts

Businesses in construction, manufacturing, logistics, and professional services frequently encounter profitable contracts that require upfront investment – often before any client payments are received.

With Goldhill’s short-term lending solutions, you can:

Having access to immediate working capital ensures you never have to turn down an opportunity due to temporary funding gaps.

A flexible bridging solution for transitional needs

Bridging finance is ideal for businesses and investors who need short-term funding to complete a purchase, refinance existing debt, or cover a financial gap between transactions.

At Goldhill Finance, our bridging loans can help you:

With fast decisions, flexible terms, and a personal service, our bridging finance products offer the agility modern businesses need.

Why choose Goldhill Finance Limited?

At Goldhill Finance Limited, we pride ourselves on delivering:

Take advantage of your opportunities.

When opportunity knocks, don’t let funding delays hold you back. Whether you’re looking for a short-term business loan or bridging finance, Goldhill Finance Limited provides the flexibility and speed your business needs to grow with confidence.

Operating under the G MASS Consulting umbrella, ace enters the market at a defining moment for global finance. While many institutions claim to have completed their digital transformation journeys, few have evolved beyond legacy technologies. ace challenges this status quo with a bold yet clear message: digital transformation is no longer a differentiator. The future of financial leadership depends on mastering post-digital technologies such as advanced artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and distributed ledgers.

“Let’s be honest, if you’re still talking about ‘digital transformation’ in 2025, you’re already behind,” comments Niamh Kingsley, CEO and Founder of ace. “The industry doesn’t need another consultancy peddling AI workshops and blockchain pilots. What they need is someone willing to tell them the uncomfortable truth: most of their tech strategies are fighting yesterday’s war. ace is here to give our clients the advantage for tomorrow.”

Through its proprietary post-digital framework, ace integrates advanced disciplines including distributed ledger systems, robotics, extended reality, AI, mutualisation, and computing innovation. This structured methodology helps financial organisations navigate beyond hype and focus on tangible business impact, distinguishing ace from traditional consultancies offering generic digital services.

Led by Kingsley, the firm brings a fresh and diverse perspective to a sector often criticised for its lack of inclusion. Her background in computational neuroscience and neuroeconomics, combined with extensive experience in financial services transformation, enables ace to bridge human behaviour with technological progress. The leadership team also includes Greg Hannah as Non-Executive Director and Advisor, drawing on his senior leadership experience at Deutsche Bank, RBS, and JDX Consulting.

Unlike firms focused on standard operational transformation, ace prioritises strategic differentiation. Its first-mover advantage in post-digital advisory is strengthened by integration with G MASS’s specialist delivery network and a proven IP-led framework. Together, these capabilities allow ace to deliver both strategic insight and executional excellence across major financial hubs worldwide.

“The advantage of our model is the seamless integration between ace’s visionary advisory and G MASS’s executional capabilities,” explains Tom Mills, Founder of G MASS and Chief Commercial Officer of ace. “While others theorise about the future, we’re already building it. ace identifies the opportunities that will define the next decade, while G MASS deploys the exact expertise needed to capture them. It’s strategy meets delivery at scale.”

Launching with a strong foundation, ace builds upon G MASS’s established relationships within capital markets and financial market infrastructure. With offices in London and New York and expansion plans into Asia and the Middle East, ace is positioned to help leading financial institutions secure a competitive edge in the post-digital era.

SINBON Electronics Co., Ltd. (TWSE#:3023), a leading global electronics system integrator, has published its 2024 Sustainability Report, celebrating significant progress in social responsibility, fair labour practices and workplace inclusivity.

The newly released report underscores SINBON’s ongoing dedication to sustainable development and its commitment to fostering a supportive and equitable working environment across all its operations.

“SINBON’s greatest strength is our people, and our colleagues and communities are at the heart of everything we do,” noted Joseph Wang, Chairman of SINBON. “We remain fully committed to taking care of everyone who works towards making SINBON successful, as well as giving back to the communities we operate in. These milestones in our social responsibility journey reaffirm our belief that success is shared — when we protect, empower, and uplift people, the entire company and society move forward together.”

The full ESG report can be viewed at:
https://www.sinbon.com/files/2024_SINBON_Sustainability_Report_EN_0923.pdf

Championing diversity and employer excellence

Women now make up nearly half of SINBON’s leadership team (46%) and around two-thirds of its global workforce, reflecting the company’s commitment to gender equality and inclusive growth. Recognising its efforts to build a strong people-first culture, LinkedIn named SINBON as the recipient of its 2024 Best Employer Brand Award. The company also earned the Best Employer Award from Taiwan’s 104 Job Bank at its inaugural Employer Brand Competition in 2024.

Strengthening responsible labour practices

SINBON continues to enhance its adherence to Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) standards. In July 2024, its Zhonghua and Guohua factories in Miaoli, Taiwan achieved RBA Validated Assessment Program (VAP) Silver Status, marking a key milestone in the company’s global drive towards responsible manufacturing. SINBON now aims to extend RBA certification across additional international sites.

In March 2024, the company launched a Zero Placement Fee recruitment policy in Taiwan, reinforcing its commitment to ethical labour practices and worker protection. Under this policy, job seekers are not required to pay any fees during the hiring process, nor are they liable for agency charges, service fees or deposits.

To support its workforce further, SINBON has improved transparency and accessibility of pay information by introducing multilingual pay slips for foreign employees and hosting briefing sessions to explain salary structures clearly and comprehensively.

Building stronger communities

Beyond its workplaces, SINBON continues to invest in community-focused initiatives in Taiwan. Recent efforts include sending bilingual volunteers to local schools and installing Circular Cup Machines in public spaces around the company’s headquarters — actions that reflect its wider mission to generate sustainable social impact alongside business success.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the ways people are managing their budgets to stretch their incomes further. 

Using Budgeting Apps 

Tracking every penny spent is an effective way to work out where the bulk of your income is going and how much you’re spending on unnecessary items. But instead of creating complicated spreadsheets, people are relying on budgeting apps, which have made it quick and easy to track these expenses. 

By gaining a clear picture of their spending habits, people are able to make adjustments to their budgets accordingly, reducing spend on non-essential items and ensuring enough of their wage has been allocated to necessities like household bills. 

Leveraging Discounts, Sales, and Loyalty Schemes 

Particularly with Christmas just around the corner, people are making use of the ongoing sales and discount events, such as Black Friday and Prime Day, to get gifts and essential items. Additionally, signing up for loyalty schemes with their favourite brands is helping people reduce costs in the long run. 

Seeking Financial Support 

Many people are having to rely on financial assistance through support schemes or benefits to supplement their salaries. Others have opted to use short-term solutions such as a wage advance, which means employees can access a portion of their pay before their typical payday. This bridges the gap between paydays and offers temporary relief from cash flow issues without having to rely on high-interest loans.  

Unfortunately, some people have no choice but to take out loans with high interest. And although these are giving people immediate relief, they can have a lasting impact. This often leads to further financial strain later down the line. 

People Remain Resilient 

From making use of budgeting apps and leveraging discounts and loyalty programmes to seeking financial support, people are employing a variety of methods to make sure their incomes cover their basic needs. However, with costs continuously rising and wages failing to catch up, the financial pressure caused by the cost of living crisis doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

The idea of trading can sound exciting, but you may worry it will eat into your time or require constant monitoring. That’s where swing trading can play a role. It allows you to participate in the market without needing to stare at charts all day.

Understanding Swing Trading in Your Schedule

Swing trading is a method of trading where you hold a stock or asset for several days or even a few weeks to capture short-term price movements. Unlike day trading, which demands that you sit in front of a screen for hours, this approach lets you work with a slower pace. You don’t need to react to every market tick, which makes it easier to blend with a busy lifestyle.

Think about it this way: instead of treating trading like a full-time job, you’re fitting it into your routine the way you might fit in going to the gym or cooking dinner. You can check the markets once or twice a day, perhaps in the morning before work or in the evening after you’ve finished everything else. 

Building Time Blocks for Market Review

One of the easiest ways to make trading part of your day is to set aside small time blocks. You don’t need hours of research each day. For many traders, 20 to 30 minutes in the evening is enough to review charts, read news, and adjust positions if necessary. You could treat it like a nightly ritual, similar to reading a book before bed.

Morning reviews can also be effective. Before you head to work or start your daily tasks, you can spend a short time checking whether any trades need attention. Because the market usually moves in patterns that take days to unfold, you won’t feel pressured to make snap decisions. This keeps the process calm and manageable.

Balancing Work, Life, and Trading

The biggest fear people have is that trading will become a distraction. To prevent this, you should treat it as just one part of your schedule, not the center of it. Keep your work hours focused on your job, and reserve personal time for family or relaxation. By assigning a specific slot to review trades, you avoid letting it spill into every moment of your day.

Technology can also help you balance things better. Many platforms allow you to set alerts or automatic orders. This means you don’t need to keep refreshing your screen. Instead, you’ll be notified only if something important happens. This way, you remain engaged with your routine while still staying connected to your investments.

Creating a Consistent Habit

Like exercise or healthy eating, consistency matters more than intensity. If you check your trades at random times, you may feel disorganized. But when you build a habit—say every evening after dinner—you train your mind to approach the markets with focus. Over time, this habit becomes part of your lifestyle, not an interruption to it.

The key is to keep it realistic. You don’t have to copy the routine of professional traders who dedicate their whole day. Instead, find a rhythm that works for you, one that lets you grow financially without overwhelming your daily responsibilities.

Many people think budgeting is just about personal choices, like deciding to cook at home or cut down on subscriptions. While those decisions matter, where you live plays an even bigger role. Your location influences the cost of essentials such as housing, transportation, groceries, and even the way you spend your free time. For those already struggling to balance their finances, the pressures of location can push them toward borrowing or even considering debt consolidation to keep things manageable. Understanding how geography impacts your budget helps you make smarter financial choices that fit your reality rather than fighting against it.

Housing Costs as the Biggest Factor

Housing is often the single largest expense in any budget, and its cost varies dramatically depending on location. Living in a major city typically means higher rent or mortgage payments, while smaller towns or rural areas often come with more affordable housing. However, lower housing costs may also mean fewer job opportunities nearby, creating a different kind of financial challenge. Striking the right balance between where you live and what you can afford is crucial for keeping your budget stable.

Transportation and Daily Commutes

Transportation is another expense shaped by location. In cities with strong public transit, owning a car may be unnecessary, saving you money on gas, insurance, and maintenance. In suburban or rural areas, however, a reliable car is often a must, and the costs add up quickly. The length of your commute also matters—long drives not only drain your wallet but also eat into your time and energy. Thinking about how transportation expenses fit into your budget can help you evaluate whether your current location supports your financial goals.

The Economic Environment Around You

Local economies influence how much you can earn and how far your money goes. Areas with higher wages may also have higher costs of living, which can cancel out the extra income. Meanwhile, places with lower wages might come with cheaper goods and services but fewer opportunities for career advancement. The economic environment also affects long term wealth building through property values, job growth, and access to industries that pay well. Choosing where to live means considering not just today’s costs but tomorrow’s opportunities.

Social Influences on Spending

Where you live also shapes your spending habits in subtle ways. Social norms and cultural influences affect what people view as “normal” expenses. For instance, in some areas, dining out multiple times a week may be common, while in others, home cooking dominates. In wealthier neighborhoods, there may be more pressure to spend on lifestyle upgrades like new cars, branded clothing, or expensive vacations. Recognizing how these social influences play a role in your spending helps you create a budget that reflects your priorities rather than those of your surroundings.

Adapting Your Budget to Your Location

The key to financial success is tailoring your budget to fit your environment. If you live in an expensive city, you may need to prioritize smaller living spaces or roommates to balance out housing costs. If you are in a rural area with lower housing costs but higher transportation expenses, budgeting more for car maintenance and fuel is practical. Adapting instead of resisting your location’s realities makes your budget sustainable. It is about working with the environment you are in rather than trying to force it into a mold that does not fit.

Considering Relocation for Financial Goals

Sometimes the best way to improve your budget is to change your location entirely. Moving to a place with lower housing costs, better job opportunities, or a healthier balance between income and expenses can transform your financial outlook. Relocation is not a decision to take lightly, but for many, it can mean the difference between constant financial struggle and sustainable progress. Before making such a move, weigh not only the numbers but also personal factors like family ties, lifestyle preferences, and long term career goals.

Final Thought

Where you live is one of the biggest factors shaping your budget. From housing and transportation to local job opportunities and social influences, your environment affects both how much you spend and how much you can save. Understanding and adapting to these realities is essential for building a budget that actually works for your life. Whether that means adjusting your current spending, rethinking your priorities, or even considering a relocation, the goal is to create a plan that supports both financial stability and personal well being. By aligning your budget with your location, you gain greater control over your money and more confidence in your future.

Reinventing financial services

The launch of B.I.C. Cambodia Bank in 2018 marked the starting point. While many banks in Phnom Penh focused on traditional retail and corporate lending, BIC quickly pushed into areas rarely explored in the local market. The introduction of investment banking, private wealth management and digital products set it apart from its peers.

The rollout of a Mastercard credit card, along with new mobile platforms, reflects a clear bet on the rapid adoption of cashless payments. These initiatives position BIC as an enabler of Cambodia’s digital finance shift, aligning the bank with regional trends seen in Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Expanding into fintech

Beyond conventional banking, BIC has sought to capture the momentum of fintech. Through BIC Markets, it created one of Cambodia’s first regulated forex and CFD brokers, a bold move in a country where capital markets are still at an early stage of development.

The launch of GLX (Global Liquidity Exchange) represents an even more ambitious step. Designed as a regional hub for foreign exchange trading, GLX reflects the group’s intent to integrate Cambodian financial services with global liquidity networks, enhancing both accessibility and credibility for domestic and regional investors.

Innovation in wealth structures

The group also moved swiftly to seize opportunities in fiduciary services. With the adoption of Cambodia’s trust law in 2019, BIC Trust emerged as a pioneer in providing structures for wealth preservation, asset administration and fund management. This innovation not only expanded the financial toolkit available to clients but also helped formalise a sector crucial for attracting investment and professionalising the country’s wealth management industry.

Diversifying through real estate and lifestyle Innovation at BIC has not been limited to finance. Through Kulen Property Group and BIC Development, the company has embraced urban transformation projects in Phnom Penh, integrating mixed-use real estate with modern infrastructure to match the aspirations of a growing middle class.

Equally striking has been the foray into lifestyle sectors through BIC Marine, which partnered with Australia’s SilverYachts to bring superyachts to Southeast Asia. While peripheral to core banking, the move illustrates the group’s approach to diversification: combining finance with high-visibility ventures that elevate its brand across the region.

A regional player in the making

The cumulative effect of these innovations is the emergence of a Cambodian enterprise that defies the country’s traditional business mould. BIC Group has not only kept pace with financial innovation but has also actively shaped the market, from digital payments and forex trading to fiduciary services and cross-border investment.

By weaving together banking, fintech, property and lifestyle businesses, BIC has built a model that blends local relevance with regional ambition. Its capacity to innovate across multiple fronts may yet determine how far it can project Cambodian enterprise onto the broader ASEAN stage.