All Bell ceremonies

Royal Delft Group celebrates 60th listing anniversary

CEO of the Royal Delft Group, Henk Schouten, opens trading to celebrate 60 years of listing at Euronext Amsterdam.

For Delft earthenware manufacturer “De Porcelyne Fles”, established in 1653, 2014 is a special anniversary year in a couple of ways. 110 Years ago, in February 2014, the company turned the legal entity form into a Public Limited Company (PLC). Besides this it is 60 years ago that the company applied for stock exchange listing on Euronext Amsterdam.

Since 2008 the Royal Delft Group does not only consist of Royal Delft, well-known for the Delft Blue earthenware, but also Royal Leerdam Crystal, silver manufacturer Koninklijke Van Kempen & Begeer and BK Cookware. From that moment forward the group has also been active on the markets for pans, cutlery and designer products.

For more information: www.royaldelftgroup.com

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ALS Foundation sounds gong for Valentine’s Run

On Friday February 14, Valentine's Day 2014, the first edition of Valentine’s Run is organized in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam.

In America, the Valentine's Run is hugely popular and millions of dollars have been raised for charity so far. The Valentine’s Run is an official five-mile track, but before and after the run several romantic activities are organized to celebrate love. On top of that, money will be raised for the ALS Foundation. The registration limit for single women has been achieved, but for about 50 single men, there is still a chance to sign up for the most loving run of the Netherlands. ALS Foundation sounds the gong together with the event organizer Tim van Os and Madventures CEO, Maarten Hendriks.

For more information: www.valentijnsloop.nl and www.stichting-als.nl

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iShares sounds gong for ETF launch

iShares, the exchange-traded funds offering of BlackRock (ticker symbol: BLK), listed its iShares Euro Stoxx 50 ex-Financials UCITS ETF (EXFN) on the Amsterdam market of Euronext. This fund is the first ETF to come to market in continental Europe using an international security structure, where settlement of transactions is exclusively at Euroclear Bank – the Brussels-based international central securities depository (ICSD).Head of iShares The Netherlands, Gert-Jan Verhagen, sounds the gong.

The newly listed iShares EURO STOXX 50 ex-Financials UCITS ETF is a physically replicating fund which invests in blue chip stocks from 12 eurozone countries, while excluding companies from the financial sector, potentially providing investors with a less volatile exposure to Eurozone equities. The fund has a total expense ratio of 20 basis points.

The newly listed ETF follows a successful year of new listings on Euronext’s ETF market in 2013. Euronext reported growth in new ETF listings of 76% versus 2012, with a total of 51 listings on its European market totalling 564 ETFs. In Amsterdam, the growth in new ETFs was up by 223% compared to 2012, totalling 127 ETFs.

For more information: www.blackrock.nl

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Opkikker foundation sounds gong for new campaign

The 8-year-old Jay-jay Willems experienced the day of his life thanks to the Opkikker Foundation. Together with the Ajax Foundation his dream of playing together with Ajax came true.

Besides being a cheerful boy of eight and Ajax at heart, Jay-jay is chronically ill. Via a tube in his stomach he receives almost one liter of medication every day. The disease has a huge impact on his daily life and his family. The Emma Children’s Hospital Jay - jay was signed at the Emma Children 'cheer.

Opkikker organizes special ‘Opkikker’ days for families with a chronically ill child. Jay-jay is the face of the new campaign in which the foundation calls attention to the need for these days for families with a sick child. The unique images of Jay-jay 's Opkikkerdag have been viewed more than a million times. The entire campaign was developed free of charge.

For more information: www.opkikker.nl

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Winners investment competition ‘Battle of the Schools’ sound gong

Students from the Olympus Collegefrom Arnhem sound the gong to celebrate their victory in the investment competition for schools.

The Battle of the Schools is an investment game for students and teachers in the upper classes of the secondary and advanced secondary school system. Students are divided into groups of three or four. Each group takes on the role of an investment advisor who is responsible for advising a family member, for example a father, mother or grandparent. The students are given a virtual capital of 100,000 Euros to invest in shares and investment funds listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

For more information: www.scholenstrijd.nl

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DSM celebrates 25 years listing anniversary

By sounding the gong, DSM celebrates 25 years as a listed company on the Amsterdam exchange. DSM listed on 6 February, 1989.

DSM was mainly a petrochemical company and predominantly active in the Netherlands. Now, 25 years later, DSM is a global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company with more than 200 locations worldwide and activities on five continents. In these 25 years, DSM’s share price has increased by more than 500%. DSM is represented at Euronext Amsterdam by a group of young managers, active in various functions, including Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Control, Operational Audit, Tax, Treasury, Production, Investor Relations and Communications. Investor Relations Manager at DSM, Marc Silvertand, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.dsm.com

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World Cancer Research Fund NL for World Cancer Day 2014 and 20th anniversary

Nowadays cancer is worldwide the leading cause of death with over 8.2 million deaths per year. On World Cancer Day 2014, that took place on Tuesday 4 February with the theme ‘Debunk the myths about cancer’, attention is given to the fact that cancer is the key health burden we face in our generation. World Cancer Research Fund NL sounds the gong to raise awareness for the importance of and the need for cancer prevention.

This year World Cancer Research Fund NL celebrates its 20th anniversary as the leading authority in the field of cancer prevention through diet and lifestyle in the Netherlands. The foundation is part of the global World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) network, a network of independent organizations around the world who are committed to the prevention of cancer. Scientific evidence shows that over a third of the most common cancers can be prevented by eating a healthy diet, being regularly physically active and being a healthy weight. Director of the World Cancer Research Fund NL, Nadia Ameyah, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.wcrf.org

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DEGIRO highlights leverage campaign

DEGIRO, an online broker and investment platform, sounds the gong to highlight the launch of its leverage campaign. The campaign is targeted at experienced, active investors. As from today they can invest via DEGIRO in leveraged products issued by ABN AMRO, ING, RBS, Citi and Commerzbank, and pay €0 in transaction costs for the first six months.

Cooperating with other issuers in the area of IT, generates more efficiency with respect to leveraged products such as Turbos, Sprinters and Speeders. Gijs Nagel, retail director, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.degiro.nl

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Gong marks Amsterdam City Index

The gong ceremony marks the Amsterdam City Index that ended at 118 in 2014.

The index is published by theCompanies Association Amsterdam Cityandmeasuresthe economic climate of the Amsterdam City Center XL - the extensive downtown from Central Station to Cornelis Schuytstraat and Haarlemmerbuurt to Carré. Last year the index ended at 117. Chairman of Amsterdam City, Willem Koster, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.amsterdamcityindex.nl

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Gong marks Philips Innovation Award

This year, the ninth edition of the Philips Innovation Award (PHIA) is organised for students and by students. The PHIA has grown to become the largest student-entrepreneur competition in the Netherlands. Every year the organisation helps students with an innovative spirit from idea to business plan, and from business plan to start-up.

The PHIA invites students to participate in the business plan competition before the 16^th of February. Experienced business professionals, who will provide participants with feedback, will judge the plans. The ten best entries will be coached by partners of the organisation before participating in the semi-finals on March 27. The five finalists will compete for the grand prize on the 24^th of April.

In order to help students writing a business plan, the organisation has developed an online lecture trajectory. In four lectures, experts touch upon intellectual property protection, marketing, finance and many more crucial topics for start-ups. The lectures can be viewed via the organization’s web page on a computer, tablet and/or smartphone. The lectures are interactive, which means guest lecturers can answer questions.Daan van Maanen, Senior Director M&A Philips, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.phia.nl

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Dutch Heart Foundation celebrates its 50th anniversary

On 29 January the Dutch Heart Foundation will celebrate its 50^th anniversary by sounding the gong at Beursplein 5.

Kicking off the festive launch of this jubilee year is the director of Heart Foundation, Floris Italianer, with the assistance of Mrs Ruigrok. Mrs Ruigrok has had personal experience of the vital importance of resuscitation. She was successfully resuscitated by her partner and lived to tell the story. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. This year the primary objective of the Heart Foundation is to create a 6-minute zone in the Netherlands: a zone in which it is possible to carry out all necessary actions in the event of a heart attack within 6 minutes. These include calling the emergency number, resuscitation and defibrillation. The Heart Foundation hopes that this will increase the survival rate to 25%.

The Dutch Heart Foundation is proud to announce that several listed companies are offering their support to a heart-healthy society by helping to accomplish the 6-minute zone. The Dutch Heart Foundation is thankful to Aegon, Corio, DSM, Fugro, Imtech, Philips, PostNL, Unilever, Ziggo and Wolters Kluwer for their support.

For more information: www.hartstichting.nl

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Gong marks 95th anniversary Save the Children

Save the Children celebrates her 95^th anniversary at Beursplein 5. Entrepeneur, TV host and ambassador of the foundation, Frits Huffnagel, sounds the gong for children in need.

Save the Children is the world’s leading independent children’s rights organization with 14.000 local aid workers active in 120 countries. Save the Children saves the lives, the dreams  and the future of children through healthcare, quality education and better living conditions.

For more information: www.savethechildren.nl

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Gong ceremony marks the listing of Rabobank Certificates

Stichting Administratiekantoor Rabobank Certificaten visits Euronext Amsterdam to celebrate the listing of its Rabobank certificates.

Two long-standing members of the Rabobank who have on many occasions attended the annual meeting for holders of Rabobank Member Certificates, Cor Martens, former administrator/budget manager at Hoogovens, and Bert Veldman, a private investor formerly employed as a biochemist in the area of agricultural pet food and health for the cooperative compound feed industry, sound the gong in honour of the listing. They are accompanied by some other members/holders of Rabobank Certificates and members of the managing board of the Stichting AK Rabobank Certificaten.

For more information: www.rabobank.com

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Winner 2013 SNS Asset Management Investment Expert Poll sounds gong

Winner of the 2013 SNS Asset Management Investment Expert Poll, Hans Slomp, manager ASN Duurzaam Aandelenfonds, sounds the gong at Beursplein 5.

The SNS Investment Expert Poll is held monthly since 1994. Every year a special end-of-year-poll is organised. Of the 101 participants, Slomp turned out best stockpicker.

For more information: www.snsreaal.nl

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Gong marks opening Amundi Nederland in Amsterdam

Amundi, Europe’s N°1 asset manager with over EUR 750bn in assets , today announces the opening of Amundi Nederland in Amsterdam. CIO and Deputy CEO of Amundi, Pascal Blanqué, sounds the gong.

With over 10 years of experience in Benelux through its presence in Brussels and Luxembourg, Amundi manages over € 2.3 bn. in assets on behalf of Dutch investors. 

Blanqué comments: “The Netherlands offers a mature investment market with highly developed savings, private banking and pension assets. With the opening of this office, Amundi demonstrates its long term commitment to further developing business activities. We are now in a strong position to offer Dutch investors the full range of Amundi’s asset management capabilities with local proximity to clients through an experienced business development team.”

Amundi is one of the first non-local asset managers to offer an extensive range of funds tailored to local needs without rebate well ahead of implementation in the market.

For more information:www.amundi.com

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NIBC Bank celebrates winning IFR 2013 Covered Bond of the Year Award

NIBC Bank CEO, Jeroen Drost, sounds the gong to celebrate winning the prestigious IFR 2013 Covered Bond of the Year Award. The award ceremony will take place on Wednesday evening January 22 in London.

NIBC Bank is awarded for its EUR 500 million conditional pass through covered bond (“CPTCB”) launched in September 2013. The CPTCB is a new type of covered bond secured by Dutch residential mortgages. The transaction was well received in the market and was placed with a large group of institutional investors. In addition, global recognition was gained by financial markets and media for creating a product with more stability and meeting today’s investor demands. Analysts and media described the new product as “revolutionary” and “changing the landscape of covered bonds for good”.

The CPTCB differs from the traditional covered bond structures, due to the absence of derivatives and inclusion of an orderly wind-down mechanism of the cover pool subject to strict conditions. These features create more stability in ratings and structure. The syndicate banks– next to NIBC – were Credit Suisse, LBBW and RBS.NIBC Bank is a Dutch bank active in corporate and consumer banking. Headquartered in The Hague, NIBC also has offices in Brussels, Frankfurt and London.

For more information: www.nibc.com

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RIVM opens trading for Cervical Cancer Prevention Week

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) opens trading for the European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week that takes place from 22 to 28 January.

The European Cervical Cancer Association (ECCA) has created the week to increase awareness for cervical cancer and its prevention. Worldwide, 250,000 women die each year from cervical cancer. This while the disease is often preventable through effective screening and vaccination. In the Netherlands a well organized and free screening takes place. About 800,000 women are invited each year. Program Coordinator of the cervical cancer screening, Nynke van der Veen, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.rivm.nl/bevolkingsonderzoeknaarkanker

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Gong launches Get Dads Reading campaign

Eppo van Nispen tot Sevenaer, member of the Dutch Reading Coalition and managing director at Stichting CPNB, sounds the gong to launch the Dutch Get Dads Reading campaign.

The main goal of Get Dads Reading is to raise awareness of the importance of fathers as reading role models for their children. Recent studies show that parents have the biggest impact on their children when it comes to their joy in reading. Dads trail far behind their female partners in reading books to their kids. Only 8% of the fathers are the main reader within the family. These findings are a major concern, since a father's involvement in the child's early reading has proven to boost the child’s academic success leading to improved social and emotional wellbeing. That’s why the Dutch Reading Coalition challenges fathers to read to their sons and daughters more often.

Also attending the gong ceremony are the (male) partners in the Dutch Reading Coalition: Ap de Vries (Managing director at Dutch Library Association), Arjan Beune (Deputy director at The Reading & Writing Foundation), Gerard van Dijk (Program Manager at Netherlands Institute for Public Libraries), Daan Beeke (Project Manager at Dutch Reading Foundation) en Eelco Wierda of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

For more information: www.vadersvoorlezen.nl

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