The Eden Leisure Group, guarantor of Eden Finance plc, received the award for the 2017 Malta Stock Exchange (MSE) Company of the Year. The award was presented on Tuesday 14 November at the MSE annual dinner recognising outstanding performance by selected stakeholders. Joseph Portelli, chairman of the Malta Stock Exchange, called Ian De Cesare, chairman of Eden Finance plc and the Eden Leisure Group, to accept the award from Minister of Finance, Professor Edward Scicluna, saying that the Group had achieved amazing double-digit increases in revenue and EBIDTA over the previous year.

The Company of the Year Award recognises the Eden Leisure Group's financial growth and corporate governance for 2017.

In his speech, De Cesare accepted the prestigious award on behalf of the hundreds of women and men who make up the Eden Leisure Group, the guarantor of Eden Finance plc. He acknowledged the group's strong financials with a double-digit increase in revenue and EBITDA in the last few years. In his acceptance address, he talked about transparency and corporate governance practised by ELG and the introduction of non-executive, independent and female board members. De Cesare also acknowledged the constant close relationship with the institutions, banks and stockbrokers, holding annual meetings to present Eden's financials in depth.

In his address, he talked about the recent creation of 54 luxury suites at the InterContinental Malta, the launch of Casino Malta, and last month the official opening of the Holiday Inn Express. De Cesare saluted the MSE for the service they provide to the business community on our island.

He closed his address by recalling his parents Cettina and Maurice De Cesare who started the business 50 years ago with their hotel, the Eden Rock, at Ghar-id-Dud, Sliema showing how a small business can grow from humble beginnings with hard work and determination and dedicated the Award to their memory.