All Bell ceremonies

Winner of Bert Douwes Award closes trading by souding gong

Taner Memili, winner of the Bert Douwes Award, sounds the gong to close trading at Beursplein 5. Memili won the prize for his paper about recognizing good companies for investors, called ‘beating the markets’.

The Hogeschool Amsterdam’s minor programme in Investment, offers students the opportunity to spend six months studying all aspects of the financial markets and investment. At the end of this period participating students write a thesis on a current financial subject. The best thesis is presented with the award. The price is named after Bert Douwes, a teacher at the Hogeschool Amsterdam and founder of the minor, who passed away in 2007.

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Chinese Entrepreneurs Society Amsterdam celebrates Chinese New Year

By visiting Euronext Amsterdam the Chinese Entrepreneurs Society Amsterdam celebrates the Chinese New Year. February 19, 2015 marks the beginning of the Chinese year of the Goat. The goat in the Chinese Zodiac predicts an easy and prosperous life without significant problems. It is also an excellent year to strengthen old friendships and start new ones.

It is a long standing tradition that the Chinese Entrepreneurs Society of Amsterdam organises the New Years’ celebrations in China Town in Amsterdam, including the colourful lion-dance and fireworks. The lion will dance from the Temple across China Town to the Nieuwmarkt and back. Secretary General at the Chinese Entrepreneurs Society Amsterdam, John Lie, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.chineseondernemers.nl

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CEO ARCADIS Europe Erik Blokhuis opens trading for ‘Sustainable Cities Index’

Erik Blokhuis, CEO of the European branch of ARCADIS (ticker symbol; ARCAD), a global design and consultancy firm for the natural and built environment, opens trading at Euronext Amsterdam. Research by ARCADIS shows that Amsterdam and Rotterdam are highly sustainable cities, ranked respectively fourth and fifth in a global ranking.

Sustainability is of great importance, since sustainable cities offer a higher quality of life, high prosperity and lower levels of greenhouse gas emission. Worldwide, the most sustainable city is Frankfurt, followed by London and Copenhagen. The top 10 counts 7 European cities, as shown by the ‘Sustainable Cities Index’, recently published by ARCADIS.

“The Netherlands are performing well, because the Dutch have a tradition of creating qualitative living environments in small areas”, explains Blokhuis. In the city of Amsterdam, sustainability is on top of the agenda. One of the objectives is to maximize zero emission transport by 2025, by increasing the number of electrical charging outlets to four thousand. Moreover, two new cargo hubs will be created on the outskirts of the city, allowing transfer of goods. “Sustainability is an important topic for the city of Rotterdam as well. The port and city need to be more connected. We expect that thirty years from now, the population of the city centre will have doubled with a minimal environmental impact”.

For more information: www.sustainablecitiesindex.com

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Listing of 15 year Belgian benchmark linear bonds (OLO)

On Tuesday 17 February 2015, Anne Leclercq Director Treasury & Capital Markets of the Belgian Debt Agency, opened the European stock markets with a Bell Ceremony to celebrate the listing of the € 4 billion 15 year benchmark OLO issued by the Kingdom of Belgium.   The maturity date is  22 June 2031.

BNP Paribas Fortis, Crédit Agricole CIB, JP Morgan and SG CIB were acting as Joint Book runners.

The ticker code is : B335.

To know more about: www.debtagency.be

Gong marks partnership Bruna and Woutertje Pieterse Award

CEO of Bruna, Fred Zeegers, sounds the gong to mark the partnership between Bruna and the Woutertje Pieterse Award.  PostNL and ING, listed on the Amsterdam Exchange, are shareholders of Postkantoren BV, of which Bruna is a wholly owned subsidiary.

The new partnership guarantees the continued existence of the prestigious award for children’s literature, and the announcement of the 28th winner will therefore take place on 11 April of this year. In anticipation of the announcement and for the first time in the history of the Woutertje Pieterse Award, nominees have been made public.

For more information: www.woutertjepieterseprijs.nl 

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Welcome to Focus Home Interactive on Alternext Paris

Jean-Pierre Bourdon, President of the board of Directors, Focus Home Interactive rings the opening bell.

Focus Home Interactive specializes in the publishing and distribution of video games for PCs and consoles.
The company has a catalogue of original titles (Blood Bowl, Sherlock Holmes, TrackMania, Runaway, Cycling Manager, Virtual Skipper, etc.).

Gong marks opening exhibition ‘Late Rembrandt’

On the occasion of the newly opened exhibition Late Rembrandt in the Rijksmuseum, Gregor Weber, head of Fine & Decorative Arts of the Rijksmuseum and composer of the exhibition, opens trading.

For the first time the Rijksmuseum will present a major show to Rembrandt’s late work, in Amsterdam, the city where it was created. With over a hundred pieces of art, Late Rembrandt presents a comprehensive overview of the artist's work between approximately 1651 and his death in 1669. In collaboration with the National Gallery of London, the artworks in the exhibition are on loan from leading international museums and private collections, many of which have been brought together for the first time.

The exhibition Late Rembrandt has been made possible by sponsors Philips and KPN, partners ING and Blockbusterfonds and benefactors Ammodo, Gieskes-Strijbis Fonds, Ammodo Foundation and Stichting Zabawas. The exhibition is on show until 17 May 2015.

For more information: www.rijksmuseum.nl/rembrandt

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Tronics Microsystems celebrates IPO on Alternext Paris

In the context of the initial public offering of Tronics, a designer and manufacturer of innovative nano and microsystems, Mr Pascal Langlois, Chief Executive Officer, Mr Stephane Renard, Founder and Chief Technology Officer and Mrs Laurence Fayand, Chief Financial Officer, open the European trading day in Paris.

Tronics designs, manufactures and sells custom or standard products in the sector of nano & microsystems with high added value.

Founded in 1997, Tronics is a recognized technological leader in the sector of nano & microsystems with high added value.
Positioned at the heart of product innovation, Tronics has technology platforms protected by a portfolio of 25 families of patents, resulting from 15 years of R&D and more than €15 million of cumulative industrial investments.
Addressing high-growth markets relying on increasing miniaturization of electronic devices, Tronics designs, manufactures and sells custom or standard products to the industry, aeronautics & security, medical and consumer markets.
Located in Crolles, near Grenoble (France) and in Dallas, Texas (United States), Tronics posted revenue of €11.6 million in 2014. It now has 88 employees, of whom 55 are engineers and scientists.

Winners of investment competition Scholenstijd open trading

The winners of investment competition Scholenstrijd open trading at Beursplein 5. Zoë Louwe, student at Regius College Schagen, sounds the gong on behalf of her class.

Scholenstrijd is an online investment competition for HAVO and VWO high school students. Student receive a virtual starting capital of 100.000 euros which they can invest in stocks and mutual funds listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

For more information: www.scholenstrijd.nl 

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Winners of the Deloitte Technology Fast50 rang the closing bell

On 12 February 2015, the winner of the Deloitte Technology Fast50 competition of the year 2013, Luc Demey, CEO of Cmosis, closed  the european markets together with the winner of year 2014, Bruno Lowagie, CEO of iText.

The celebration has been followed by a conference with an exclusive presentation of the 2015 Technology Media & Telecommunications Predictions, by Duncan Stewart, Director at Deloitte and co-author of TMT Predictions.

If you would like to find out more about Deloitte : www.deloitte.com

If you would like to find out more about the Technology Fast50 winners : www.cmosis.com and www.itextpdf.com

Amsterdam City opens trading for Amsterdam City Index launch

Business association Amsterdam City sounds the gong to celebrate the launch of the Amsterdam City Index. Amsterdam City is dedicated to improve the economic climate in the city centre of Amsterdam.

This year, the index is published for the seventh time and measures the economic climate through 30 trends in the Amsterdam City Centre XL; the area between Central Station and Cornelis Schuytstraat, Haarlemmerdijk and Carré theatre. In 2015, the index is at 120 which means a two-point increase compared to last year.

For more information: www.amsterdamcityindex.nl

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Elis celebrates IPO on Euronext Paris

Xavier Martiré, CEO, Elis rings the European trading day in Paris.

Elis is a full-services group leader in Europe and Brazil in the rental and maintenance of professional clothing and linen, offering additional services such as water fountains, rugs and sanitation.
With more than 18,500 employees in 10 European countries and Brazil, ELIS realized in 2013 a turnover of more than 1.225 billion euros. With over a century of expertise in its traditional markets of hotel, catering and health, ELIS now delivers over 240 000 companies of all sizes and in all sectors through its network of more than 256 service centers and production, which guarantees unparalleled customer proximity.

SnowWorld sounds gong to mark one-year listing anniversary

By sounding the gong, SnowWorld (symbol: SNOW) marks its one-year listing on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

The reverse listing in December 2013 did not only improve SnowWorlds solvency, but also provided them access to the capital markets. The company has thuss become less dependent on the future availability of bank credit for the execution of its strategy.

The process of the IPO and subsequent issue of new shares in February 2014 led to a further professionalization of SnowWorld. The introduction of a Supervisory Board has played an important role and SnowWorld has formulated a clear strategy. The implementation of this strategy will take place within a framework of risk management and corporate governance. CEO Koos Hendriks sounds the gong.

For more information: www.snowworld.com

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EnterNext welcomes Safe Orthopaedics on Euronext in Paris

Yves Vignancour, CEO of Safe Orthopaedics, rings the opening bell.

Safe Orthopaedics specializes in the design, manufacture and marketing of medical devices for spine surgery. The company offers implants and instruments in the range of SteriSpine (the first spinal arthrodesis system that is for single use and is sterile and totally traceable).

Emma Children’s Hospital and Albert Heijn sound gong for fundraising initiative

The Emma Children’s Hospital AMC and Albert Heijn sound the gong to call attention to a shared fundraising initiative.

This year, the Emma Children’s Hospital will celebrate it’s 150th birthday. This special occasion is an opportunity to build an internationally leading Intensive Care Neonatal Unit. In order to achieve this goal, the existing unit will need to be entirely renovated and further scientific research is needed.

A fund raising initiative was set up together with Albert Heijn. From February 10 until April 6, customers of 80 Albert Heijn stores may donate their recyclables refund money, with proceeds benefitting the Emma Children’s Hospital.

For more information: www.steunemma.nl

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Opening gong in honor of World Epilepsy Day

The Dutch Epilepsy Foundation sounds the gong on World Epilepsy Day to highlight the launch of their new website and a fundraising event that will take place this year.

Worldwide, 65 million people suffer from the unpredictable condition epilepsy for which there is no cure yet. Consequently, scientific research into the causes of epilepsy is of vital importance. The Dutch Epilepsy Foundation subsidizes studies that may lead to a cure. Furthermore the foundation supports people with epilepsy providing them with the right information, individual help and special holidays for those people who cannot travel by themselves due to their epilepsy.

Wouter de Klein, whose 5-year-old daughter Marte was diagnosed with epilepsy, sounds the gong in the presence of his fellow members of the Round Table 133 Utrechtsche Heuvelrug. They are organising a fundraising dinner and auction. The proceeds will benefit the Dutch Epilepsy Foundation.

For more information: www.epilepsie.nl

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MBI Life Sciences & Health sounds closing gong

Ventures participating in the MBI Life Sciences & Health program visit Euronext Amsterdam to pitch their businesses in front of a number of investors in the Life Sciences & Health industry. Director MBI Life Sciences & Health, Marianne van der Steen, sounds the closing gong.

The MBI Life Sciences & Health is a new program specifically designed for entrepreneurs in the Life Sciences & Health industry. The program is an initiative of top research institutes from the Netherlands and Belgium such as UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University, VIB and FlandersBIO. It is supported by an actively involved advisory board with a proven entrepreneurial track record. It is an ‘learning-on-the-job’ program to accelerate ventures on a global scale. On the 1st of October the program starts with new ventures.

For more information: www.mbi-lifesciencesandhealth.com

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Gong marks IPO GrandVision

GrandVision celebrates listing on Euronext Amsterdam by opening trading.

GrandVision (trading symbol GVNV) is the global leader in optical retail by number of stores (excluding sunglass specialty stores) and delivers high quality and affordable eye care to customers around the world. The high quality eye care offered by GrandVision includes a wide range of services provided by its optical experts, prescription glasses including frames and lenses, contact lenses and contact lens care products, and sunglasses both plain and with prescription lenses. These products are offered through its leading optical retail banners which operate in 43 countries across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. GrandVision serves its customers in over 5,600 stores.

For more information: www.grandvision.com

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