All Bell ceremonies

CEO UNIT4, José Duarte, sounds gong for winning Best Performer 2013 Award

CEO of UNIT4, José Duarte,sounds the gong to celebrate winning the Best Performer 2013 Award.

At the annual and well-attended New Year’s Reception of the Amsterdam exchange Cees Vermaas, CEO of Euronext Amsterdam, announced this year’s listed companies that achieved the highest earnings in the past year. UNIT4 won the Best Performer AMX award (68.96%). Other winners are Randstad (AEX, 69.57%), AND International (AScX, 113.33 %) and Core Laboratories (local market, 78.19%).

UNIT4 is a global business software and services company aimed at helping dynamic public sector and commercial services organizations to embrace change simply, quickly and cost effectively in a market sector it calls 'Businesses Living IN Change' (BLINC)™. The Group incorporates a number of the world’s leading change embracing software brands including Agresso, Coda and FinancialForce.com. With operations in 26 countries worldwide, revenue of €469.8 million was realized in 2012. UNIT4 is headquartered in Sliedrecht, the Netherlands and has over 4,000 employees.

For more information: www.unit4.com

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IMC Weekendschool Amsterdam West celebrates 10th anniversary

The ten IMC Weekendschool locations throughout the Netherlands provide young people with an opportunity to expand their horizons and develop their talents. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the school’s Amsterdam West location, manager Thijs Mulder and his students sound the gong with representatives of the National Postcode Lottery.

IMC Weekend school provides supplementary education to young people between the ages of ten and fourteen who come from deprived backgrounds and are anxious to learn. Lessons are given by enthusiastic professionals such as entrepreneurs, nursing professionals, judges and artists. The students come into contact with different professional groups and sectors, and are given a broader view of society so that they can make better, more informed choices about their education and career. IMC Weekendschool receives a substantial yearly contribution from the proceeds of the National Postcode Lottery, and is also financed by over one hundred companies and funds.

For more information: www.imcweekendschool.nl

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Amsterdammertje’ of the Year sounds gong

On Sunday 12 January Alexey Rahim is awarded as the Young ‘Amsterdammertje’ of the Year. Alexey visits Beursplein 5 and sounds the gong.

Alexey is half of a twin, his twin brother Maxim is severely handicapped, he has Down Syndrome. They are now 9 years old and Alexey often takes care of his brother. Helping him out of bed, feeding and help changing. He is not ashamed of his brother. VPRO made a documentary about the brothers and Alexey has shown that a disabled brother or sister is not something to be ashamed of, but rather something very special.

The newspaper Het Parool has organised the Young ‘Amsterdammertje’ of the Year competition for the past several years. ‘Ordinary’ citizens of Amsterdam who have made a significant contribution to the city are eligible for the prize. This year the Wikistad Foundation, in cooperation with the Discussion can be learned Foundation, has organised the second youth edition of the competition. The city of Amsterdam and Het Parool support the initiative. Children aged between 9 and 15 were eligible to apply over the past few months. Children also determined the most important selection criterion: the Young Amsterdamer should be someone who works selflessly on behalf of and sets an example for others.

For more information: www.wikistad.nl

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Winners of the Dutch IR Awards visit Beursplein 5

The winners of the Dutch IR Awards pay a visit to Beursplein 5 to sound the gong.

The winners of the seventh edition of the awards were announced to the 200 professionals attending the Dutch IR Awards Dinner held in Amsterdam ArenA. The awards are presented to Dutch companies and/or professionals working for Dutch companies who have given outstanding performances in the area of investor relations.

The winning professionals in the different categories are: AEX company and professional; Jan-Pieter van Winsen, Randstad, AMX company; Roeland Haanen, Delta Lloyd, AMX professional; John Eijgendaal, Aalberts Industries, AScX/Local company professional; Ton Anbeek, Beter Bed, Debt IR Financial; Willem van de Berg, Aegon and Debt IR Corporates; Wouter van de Putte, Ziggo. Jan-Pieter van Winsen, Director Investor Relations Randstad, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.nevir.nl

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Gong ceremony marks launch of NL Ondernemingsfonds

Roderick Munsters, CEO of Robeco, and Chris Buijink, Chairman of the NVB, sound the gong to highlight the launch of the NL Ondernemingsfonds (The Dutch Entrepreneurs Fund). Accompanying them are Gerrit Zalm, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ABN Amro, Hans van der Noordaa, CEO Retail Banking Benelux at ING, Ruud Hagendijk, Chairman of the Managing Board of MN, Rien Nagel, member of the Supervisory Board of Rabobank, Hans Snijders, CEO/Chairman of the Managing Board of Syntrus Achmea, and Cees Vermaas, CEO of Euronext Amsterdam.

The NL Ondernemingsfonds is a new source of financing for medium-sized and large companies created by the combined efforts of Dutch banks, institutional investors, financial service providers and asset managers. The presentation of the fund takes place at Euronext Amsterdam.

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Manager of the Year 2013

On 9 January 2014, Manager of the Year, Ronnie Leten, President and CEO of Atlas Copco AB rang the Opening Bell on Euronext Brussels in the presence of the management of Atlas Copco and representatives of Trends and Roularta.

More about Manager of the year : acties.trends.knack.be
More about Atlas Copco : www.atlascopco.com

BMD² Capital sounds gong to highlight its success in 2013

BMD² Capital B.V. sounds the gong to celebrate the success it achieved in 2013.

BMD² Capital is a young, ambitious trading firm operating from offices located at Beursplein 5. BMD² Capital specialises in proprietary trading in shares and derivatives. The company was founded early in 2013 by four partners, each with a proven track record. State of the art trading software and information systems, combined with risk management and unique trading strategies are the cornerstone of the new firm’s success. Managing partner Bas Emmerig sounds the gong.

For more information: www.bmd2capital.com

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FMO celebrates appointment Chief Investment Officer

Linda Broekhuizen, Chief Investment Officer, sounds the gong to mark her appointment as of 1 January in the Management Board of the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO).

The Dutch development bank FMO supports sustainable private sector growth in developing and emerging markets by investing in ambitious entrepreneurs. FMO believes a strong private sector leads to economic and social development, empowering people to employ their skills and improve their quality of life. FMO focuses on three sectors that have high development impact: financial institutions, energy, and agribusiness, food & water. With an investment portfolio of EUR 6.3 billion, FMO is one of the largest European bilateral private sector development banks.

For more information: www.fmo.nl

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Listing of first Pooled Fixed Rate Notes on Euronext Brussels

On 8 January 2014, 8 Mayors and representatives of each participating city opened the European stock markets with a Bell Ceremony at Euronext Brussels to celebrate the first listing of the Pooled Fixed Rate Notes issued by Flemish cities and municipalities. The bond listing brought together a pool of 8 Flemish municipalities (Aalst-Beringen-Boom-Bree-Brugge-Lier-Wachtebeke-Zaventem)

The bonds are listed through a private placement with a total nominal amount of 43.500.000 euro with a maturity of 10 years. The interest rate stands at 3.299%.  ING was the global coordinator.

Euronext welcomes Figeac Aéro, an aeronautic subcontractor, on Alternext Paris

Jean-Claude Maillard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Figeac Aéro rings the opening bell.

Figeac Aéro provides sub-contracted services to companies in the aeronautics industry. The group performs studies and offers precision part machining, sub-assembly manufacturing, construction of mechanically welded structures, surface treatments, etc.
As of the end of 2012, Figeac Aéro had one production site located in France.

The Netherlands Institute for Sport and Physical Activity celebrates 15th anniversary

The Netherlands Institute for Sport and Physical Activity (NISB), which celebrates its fifteenth anniversary in 2014, starts the year by sounding the gong at Beursplein 5.

CEO Remco Boer sounds the gong to highlight the need to take breaks from long periods of sitting during working hours. A sedentary lifestyle at home and at work increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and early death. Two hours of physical activity a week do not cancel out the effects of sitting too much at home and at work. NISB works to raise awareness of the need to become more physically active during the work day, for example by using dynamic office furniture.

For more information: www.nisb.nl

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Winners of the 2013 M&A Awards sound gong

Winners of the 2013 M&A Awards sound the gong and open the trading day during a visit to Beursplein 5.

On 12 December 2013 the 14^th M&A Awards were presented to the top performers in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and private equity. Over 750 M& A professionals and private equity managers gathered to celebrate and look back on the year’s achievements. The awards, presented in 21 categories, are the highest recognition given to top professionals active in M & A, corporate finance and private equity.Winner of the ‘Best Acquisition Finance Banker Award’, Marin Boon, Manager Corporate Finance Memberbanks Rabobank, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.mena.nl

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KPN and Randstad sound the gong for the Dutch Short Track Championships

KPN (ticker KPN) and Randstad (ticker RAND), both listed on Euronext Amsterdam, sound the gong for the KPN Dutch Short Track Championships on 4 and 5 January.

The Dutch championships are the last speed skating tournament before the opening of the Olympic Games in Sochi one month from now. This year’s tournament will be held in the same venue as last year, the Jaap Eden IJsbanen in Amsterdam. For skaters participating in the Winter Olympics, the tournament is final test of their skill before they travel to Russia. Expectations are running high following the Dutch team’s promising performances at the European Championships, World Championships and World Cups. Cees Juffermans, tournament director, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.schaatsen.nl/shorttrack

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Moët Hennessy sounds gong for the start of the year 2014

General manager at Moët Hennessy, Bob Bron, sounds gong for the start of the year 2014.

The current portfolio of Moët Hennessy Netherlands incorporates a wide range of champagnes, cognac, whisky's, vodka and new world wines. In the Netherlands and worldwide, Moët Hennessy is the market leader in the category of champagne. Moët Hennessy is responsible for the distribution of the brands Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, Krug, Hennessy, Ardbeg, Glenmorangie, Estates & Wines, Belvedère en Drambuie. Moët Hennessy is part of the group LVMH (ticker symbol: LVMH), a world leader in luxury and possesses a unique portfolio of over 60 prestigious brands as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Givenchy, Kenzo, Tag Heuer, Moët & Chandon and Dom Pérignon.

For more information: www.moethennessy.nl

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Run4Schools Foundation sounds gong for Two Oceans Marathon

The Run4Schools Foundation sounds the gong for the tough, 56 kilometer long, Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, which is held on 19 April.

A team of runners run the marathon to raise money for the foundation Run4Schools. Run4Schools finances and organizes both in - and after - school sports activities and care at four primary schools in the township of Mitchell's Plain, Cape Town, South Africa. The after school sports activities prove to be an effective instrument to keep children away from gangs and prevents them from engaging in drugs, crime or worse. Also, the programs are successful in helping children's healthy development by allowing them to be the children they deserve to be, at least during the safe and supportive Run4Schools activities. Different kinds of fundraising activities are initiated around running events in the Netherlands and also in South Africa. Founding father, Leslie Pangemanan, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.run4schools.nl

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Minister Plasterk and ‘Hulp voor Hulpverleners’ Foundation sound gong

On December 30th, one day before the end of the year, minister Plasterk sounds the gong to show his appreciation for the work and the commitment of emergency workers. But more importantly, he calls attention to aggression and violence during New Year’s Eve. Plasterk: "Aggression and violence against emergency workers are unacceptable. I am committed to reduce the number of incidents.”

For years already the ‘Hulp voor Hulpverleners’ (Assistance for Emergency Workers) Foundation has been campaigning to reduce aggression and violence against emergency workers. The foundation calls on the Dutch population to ensure that emergency workers can do their work in a normal way this year.

For more information: www.hulpvoorhulpverleners.nl

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Witte Bedjes Het Parool foundation highlights Happy2Move project

Witte Bedjes Het Parool foundation sounds the gong to highlight the Happy2Move project.

The foundation raises money for children who are sick, handicapped, or in need of some other form of help. The money is made available to non-profit organisations working with sick or handicapped children in and around Amsterdam. The fund is primarily intended for relatively small, tangible projects that do not receive any other form of subsidy. This year the foundation is supporting the Happy2Move project.

The Happy2Move project provides after-school care to mentally or physically handicapped children between the ages of 4 and 20. The activities it organises after school and during teacher workshops and vacations are based on healthy lifestyles, emphasizing sports, healthy eating and enjoying recreation. To promote healthy eating, the children are given a hot meal after these activities, just before they go home. Happy2Move provides the children with transportation from school to the activities venue, and from there to their home.

For more information: www.happy2move.nl

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Speelgoedbank Amsterdam celebrates successful year

Speelgoedbank Amsterdam sounds the gong for a very successful first year.

Many children in Amsterdam grow up in poverty. For these children, it is not part of their normal lives to visit a toy store. Growing up in poverty has clear implications, not only materially but also emotionally and socially. Speelgoedbank Amsterdam collects toys, both new and used. Children growing up in poverty can visit Speelgoedbank Amsterdam four times a year. At each visit, they can choose two toys and a book from the store. This way Speelgoedbank Amsterdam builds a bridge between surplus and deficit, recycles toys and lets children shine.

For more information: www.SpeelgoedbankAmsterdam.nl

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