EY's Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) practice has been awarded the CEE Financial Adviser of the Year 2017 by Mergermarket, an independent mergers and acquisitions intelligence and data provider, at a ceremony in London. The Mergermarket M&A Awards are the most coveted accolades in the deal industry across Europe; EY previously won the award in 2016.

EY's TAS practice was also named the Accountancy Firm of the Year in Europe for the seventh time in eight years. EY previously won the Accountancy Firm of the Year award in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2010.

For the first time at the awards, EY's Transaction Advisory Services also won the European Mid- Market M&A Adviser of the Year Award.

TAS is recognized for developing trusted relationships with executives by delivering high-quality and exceptional client service at all times - driven by EY's purpose to build a better working world. In the year under review, TAS ranked a clear first in the number of deals and a very close second in term of deal values.

EY TAS is represented in 22 countries across Central and Southeastern Europe with 590 TAS professionals and is led by Ronald Attard from Malta. The award recognizes EY's preeminence in Europe and it also caps an outstanding 2017 for EY TAS in CSE.

Ronald Attard, who is also EY Malta's Managing Partner, commented: "Our outstanding performance across this period is a cumulative output of a legacy of driving success for businesses in the mid-market. We are with our mid-market and family business clients from beginning to end, bringing tailored solutions across their entire journeys. This is enabled by our world class teams, commitment to entrepreneurialism and investment in innovative tools to support the midmarket, including Growing Beyond Borders^TM and EY Growth Navigator^TM. This recognition of our success continues to drive all of us to keep aiming higher.

Finally, as a Maltese national leading this success in 22 countries across Central and Southeastern Europe, I am particularly proud to spread such a positive message about our country."