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 November 14 at the MSE annual Awards Dinner recognising outstanding performance by selected stakeholders.

MSE chairman Joseph Portelli called on Ian De Cesare, chairman of Eden Finance plc and the Eden Leisure Group, to accept the award from Finance Minister 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 is in recognition of Eden Leisure Group’s financial growth and corporate governance for 2017.

Mr De Cesare accepted the award on behalf of the hundreds of women and men who make up the Eden Leisure Group, acknowledging the group’s strong financials in the last few years. He talked about transparency and corporate governance now practised by ELG; the introduction of non-executive, independent and female board members; and the constant close relationship with the institutions, banks and stockbrokers, holding annual meetings presenting Eden’s financials in depth.

He also talked about the recent creation of 54 luxury suites at the InterContinental Malta, the launch of Casino Malta, the opening of the Holiday Inn Express, and 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 Għar-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.