All Bell ceremonies

International Capital Market Association

International Capital Market Association sounds gong for AGM

René Karsenti, President of the  International Capital Market Association (ICMA) sounds the gong to open trading on the occasion of  ICMA’s 47^th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The International Capital Market Association is holding its AGM and Conference in Amsterdam for the first time since 1990. Around 800 international capital market participants drawn from ICMA’s global membership gather to discuss the issues affecting financial markets, including financial regulatory reform, Capital Markets Union and the role of capital markets in supporting economic growth. Among the notable speakers at the conference are: Jeroen Dijsselbloem, Minister of Finance, The Netherlands; Lord Jonathan Hill, EU Commissioner, Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union and Klaas Knot, President, De Nederlandsche Bank (Central Bank of the Netherlands).

ICMA is the only trade association to grow up alongside the development of the cross-border capital markets. Not linked to any one national market, ICMA has promoted the development of efficient global capital markets for close to 50 years. ICMA has some 470 member firms in almost 60 countries, including banks and financial institutions who are active in international capital markets.

For more information: www.icmagroup.org

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Aids Foundation

By sounding the gong, Director of the Aids Foundation Ton Coenen opens trading. He calls attention to the new campaign "No medication is mortal sin." Worldwide, only 37 percent of people with HIV are treated with antiretrovirals. Of the 35 million people living with HIV, 22 million people receive no medication. Therefore, more than four thousand people unnecessarily die from AIDS each day. To remedy this dire situation, the Aids Foundation has launched its new campaign, with which the organization wants the Netherlands to stand up for affordable drugs.

The campaign started with a public exhibition of Sacha de Boer and the appointment of musical star Freek Bartels as new ambassador of the organization. De Boer portayed people with HIV and their drug supply in Ukraine, South Africa and Myanmar. The images can be seen until 19 June at the Stopera in Amsterdam.

For more information: www.aidsfonds.nl/doodzonde

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Unilever 85-year listing anniversary

Unilever sounds gong to celebrate 85-year listing anniversary

Jean-Marc Huët, Chief Financial Officer of Unilever N.V. (ticker symbol: UNA) sounds the gong to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the company's listing. On 3 June 1930, the first listing of Unilever took place on the Amsterdam Exchange.

Unilever was formed in 1930 through an amalgamation of the businesses of Margarine Unie of the Netherlands and Lever Brothers of the UK. At that time one of the biggest consolidations in business. Today, two billion people use Unilever products every day to look good, feel good and get more out of life. Unilever’s portfolio ranges from nutritionally balanced foods to indulgent ice creams, affordable soaps, luxurious shampoos and everyday household care products. Unilever has more than 400 brands, including world-leading brands such as Lipton, Knorr, Dove, Axe, Hellmann’s and Omo, alongside trusted local names such as Blue Band, Pureit and Suave. Many of these brands have long-standing, strong social missions, including Dove’s campaign for real beauty. Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) commits to: decoupling growth from environmental impact, helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health & well-being and enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people by 2020.

In 2014, Unilever’s turnover exceeded €48.4 billion with 57% of the business coming from emerging markets. Unilever has more than 172,000 employees.

For more information: www.unilever.com

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National Prokkel Week

Start People and Cordaan launch National Prokkel Week

Managing director of Start People Jan-Willem Gelderblom and Perez Dalloe, experience expert and chairman of the client committee of Cordaan, open trading at the Amsterdam Exchange to launch the National Prokkel Week.

Start People, subsidiary of Euronext Amsterdam listed company USG People (ticker symbol: USG), is a leading player in the market for mobility, vocational rehabilitation, supported employment and social integration in the Netherlands. Cordaan is a healthcare provider for people with a (mental) disability which encourages its clients to participate in society. The National Prokkel Week is a week in which thousands of businesses, government agencies, NGOs, and educational- and health institutions organize exciting encounters, also known as Prokkels, between people with and without (mental) disabilities.

For more information: www.prokkel.nl

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Holland Festival

Holland Festival and sponsor Rabobank Amsterdam open Amsterdam exchange

Artistic director Ruth Mackenzie and managing director Annet Lekkerkerker of the Holland Festival sound the gong accompanied by Holland Festival sponsor Rabobank Amsterdam to mark the opening of the 68^th edition of the Holland Festival.

Holland Festival, the largest festival of international performing arts in the Netherlands, opens on May 30 in Royal Theatre Carré with the concert Boğazı Gecen Şarkılar (Songs across the Bosporus) by the Turkish folk ensemble KardeşTürküler with special guest the classically trained Turkish pop diva Candan Erçetin. The festival presents a total of 45 productions with 100 performances, concerts and events spread over 25 days. The festival runs from May 30 to June 23, 2015.

The Holland Festival is financed by the Dutch department of Education Culture and Science and the city of Amsterdam together with patron Fonds 21, sponsors, HF Business, funds and private contributors.

For more information: www.hollandfestival.nl

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Best SME-award North-Holland

Winners Best SME-award North-Holland open trading at Beursplein 5

The winners of the Best North-Holland SME-awards open trading at Beursplein 5. Abovo Media (Large SMEs), Texelse Bierbrouwerij (Medium SMEs) and Drost technical management (Small SMEs) emerged as  winners. This year’s public choice award went to Fort Resort Beemster from Zuidoostbeemster.

For the jury, important distinctive criteria were personnel management, innovation, creativity and financial policy. According to the chairman of the entrepreneurs’ organisation of North-Holland  OVNH and member of the judging committee Jeroen Zwinkels, the jury visits were truly inspiring. “It is great to see that there is such a dynamic business community in North-Holland, and that frequently new enterprises manage to surprise us in a positive way. Since the level of all the finalists was very high, the final decisions that have been made are based upon minor details. Regardless, all votes were unanimous in each category.”

Partners and sponsors of the Best North-Holland SME-awards are: Randstad and Provincie Noord-Holland, MKB Noord-Holland, ABN AMRO, Delta Lloyd, Holland Media Combinatie, RSM Niehe Lancée Kooij, RTVNH and Media Support/Kantoor 260. 

For more information: www.ovnh.nl

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World MS Day

Neelie Kroes and Wolter Kroes jointly open trading on World MS Day

Former European Commissioner Neelie Kroes and ambassador of MS Research Foundation Wolter Kroes jointly open trading at the Amsterdam Exchange on World MS Day to highlight the need for more research into multiple sclerosis (MS). MS Research Foundation is funding research into MS of which the cause is not yet known, and therefore there is still no cure. "Kroes and Kroes" officially launch the Dutch edition of World MS Day, organized in more than 70 countries worldwide.

In addition to the sounding of the gong, the first copy of the book "Cognitie" by Prof. dr. Jeroen Geurts, professor of translational research MS Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center (MSCA) and Dr. Hanneke Hulst (MSCA) is offered to Job Cohen, a member of the Recommendation Committee of MS Research Foundation.

For more information: www.msresearch.nl

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Nyenrode Business University

Nyenrode Business University opens trading for Private Investor Program

Nyenrode Business University opens trading for Private Investor Program. Participants in the Private Investor Program actively learn to analyse and manage their own investment portfolios according to the latest insights in the field of investing.

They are being taught by top experts who assist them in every step making the right investment decisions. After successful completion of this program, the graduates are able to independently take control of their own portfolio and are at least at the same level as a professional investor with several years of experience.

Dinie Adriaanse, graduate of the Nyenrode Private Investor Program, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.executiveeducation.nl

Philips Innovation Award 2015

Winner Philips Innovation Award 2015 opens trading

Every year Philips (ticker symbol: PHIA) organizes the largest student business prize in the Netherlands, the Philips Innovation Awards. Student Start-up Pearltect, a bracelet that protects against sexual violence, won the Philips Innovation Award in 2015. Pearltect can call itself the most innovative student start-up of the Netherlands this coming year. During the final five finalists had to compete against each other for a jury chaired by Frans van Houten, CEO Philips.

The Pearltect is an as jewelry wearable self-defense bracelet. After activation an (unpleasant) odoriferous substance and an invisible marker is released. The odoriferous substance is used to (sexually) discourage the attacker. The marker can link the attacker to the crime-scene even after months.

The team of Pearltect, who won both first prize and the People's Choice Award, study at Erasmus University in Rotterdam and TU in Delft.

For more information: www.phia.nl

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Amsterdam Business Awards 2015

Nominees Amsterdam Business Awards 2015 visit Beursplein 5

On May 28, the Amsterdam Business Awards will be presented at the NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. The nominees of the Amsterdam Business Award visit Beursplein 5 and open trading.

From dozens of entries, the jury nominated A-Point, ENOT and Kesbeke for the Amsterdam Business Award 2015. The most iconic cultural entrepreneur and important Amsterdam-based international company will also be honored at the gala.

The annual award Amsterdam Business Award, Amsterdam Culture Award and Amsterdam International Business Award reflect the passion for Amsterdam and proud of entrepreneurship and thus contribute concretely to the promotion of the region.

For more information: www.amsterdambusinessaward.nl

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CFA Society

CFA Society of the Netherlands celebrates 'Putting Investors First' Month with sounding the gong

Jacco Heemskerk, Vice President of the Society of Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) in the Netherlands, sounds the gong to celebrate the 'Putting Investors First' Month. This marks the second year of this annual awareness campaign and builds on the success of May 2014, when activities took place in 58 cities globally by member societies representing more than 60,000 investment professionals. The initiative aims to unite investment professionals in a commitment to place investor interests above all others.

Throughout the month, many of the organization’s 144 member societies worldwide will host local events and call attention to the needs and rights of investors by endorsing the Statement of Investor Rights, a list of ten rights that any investor should expect from financial service providers.

“We aspire to build and lead the investment management profession; to do this we must continue to stand together for what is right, and in investors’ best interests. All investors have the right to be served by professionals who act as stewards of their savings,” said Jacco Heemskerk. “By supporting Putting Investors First Month, we want to inspire our community to make real impact and foster a market environment where investors can thrive.”

For more information: www.cfainstitute.org

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24th Roparun

Nelli Cooman opens trading leading up to 24th Roparun

Nelli Cooman, ambassador of the Roparun Foundation and former world champion 60 metres indoor, opens trading leading up to the 24^th Roparun.

The Roparun is a relay race of more than 500 kilometres from Paris and Hamburg to Rotterdam, in which people work as a team to give a combined sports performance in order to raise money for people who suffer from cancer.

The Roparun will start Saturday 16 May in Hamburg and Paris and finishes on 25 May, Whit Monday, on the Coolsingel in Rotterdam. A Roparun team is made up of around 25 people with a maximum of eight runners, who each run an average of about 65 kilometres. Besides the runners, a team includes a number of supporting members such as drivers, medics, caterers and road captains.

Besides the physical challenge, the team must also make an effort to raise money for the cause. Teams do this by organising various activities including bag packing at supermarkets, washing cars, collecting donations and looking for sponsors. The team members must also sell Roparun raffle tickets, the proceeds of which go to the charity. The three teams who raise the most money and the six teams who win prizes for their running speed are honoured during the final celebration of the Roparun, which takes place a few weeks after the finish. On that evening, the total amount of money raised by the Roparun will also be announced. Over the past twenty-three editions of the Roparun, more than sixty-two million euros have been raised for people suffering from cancer.

For more information: www.roparun.nl

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USG People celebrates launch of Online Business Solutions by sounding gong

Hans van Rijnswoud, Director of Adver-Online, opens the Amsterdam stock exchange on Interim Staff Day. Ceremonially, USG People launches its Online Business Solutions today in the presence of Rob Zandbergen, CEO of USG People, Jan Peter Tulip, Director Netwerven, and Steve Sichtman, Director Blue Carpet.

In the HR sector, innovation and technology applications play an increasingly important role. USG People meets these demands and has recently acquired interests in Adver-Online, Netwerven and Blue Carpet, three young technology driven companies that have already successfully acquired a position in online HR services.

The Online Business Solutions are propositions with strong technology-driven applications. This enables USG People to develop new online business models and also act as an enabler for the digital transformation of existing operations. These business solutions enable customers to optimize their human resources processes. USG People is constantly looking for the best way to bind together employers and employees, and to further develop the added value for the labor market.

For more information: www.usgpeople.com

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Shell Eco-marathon

Shell Eco-marathon celebrates 30th anniversary by sounding gong

From 21 to 24 May 2015, Ahoy Rotterdam will host an event to showcase technology: Shell Eco-marathon, one of the world’s most challenging student competitions in innovation, technology and sustainability. The nail-biting contest between 220 student teams is all about who can drive the longest distance with a self-constructed vehicle on one litre of fuel. This year’s edition marks the 30^th anniversary of the event. As in previous years, the contest will coincide with the Powering Progress Together (PPT) forum and the Shell Energy Lab.

On 21 May, there will be a discussion entitled ‘The Technology Factor’ between representatives from the business community, education and government and, last but not least, young people themselves about the vital importance of education in technology for the future of the Netherlands. At the Shell Energy Lab (21-24 May) over 40,000 children aged 6 to 13 will together with their teacher or parents discover how diverse and exciting science and technology can be.

Students of team H2A of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences sound the gong at the Amsterdam exchange. The team won in the prototype hydrogen category in 2014.

For more information: www.shell.nl/ecomarathon

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National Investors Survey is opened by sounding of the gong

By sounding the gong at Euronext Amsterdam, VEB and beurswijzer.com declare the national investors inquiry “Hoe Belegt Nederland?” (How does Holland Invest) to be opened. This large scale survey amongst Dutch investors is conducted bi-annually. Over 60.000 investors have been invited to participate in this survey. 

VEB and beurswijzer.com would like to know why and how people are investing and their expectations in this regard for the near future. Topics of interest are the investors risk appetite, the preference for bonds or stocks and the costs of investing.

The results will be published in Effect, the monthly magazine of the VEB and at the website of beurswijzer.com.

The VEB (Vereniging van Effecten Bezitters) represents the interest of private investors. Beurswijzer.com is an online investor magazine of Mediafin, the publisher of Belgian newspaper De Tijd.

For more information:  www.veb.net

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Knab celebrated New York Celent Digital Bank Award by sounding gong

Online bank Knab won the Celent Digital Bank Award 2015 in New York, because the bank is taking the lead in innovative digital banking. The online bank is the first Dutch bank to win this award. The international prize is awarded annually to banks that stand out in the effective use of technology in a specific field. The award is celebrated with sounding the gong by the co-founder of Knab, Marcel Kalse.

Rene Frijters, founder and director of Knab, accepted the award in New York at a gathering with all the nominees: "We stand out in the Netherlands because of our totally different approach. But that we are seen internationally as a progressive bank is very special. Because 100% online banks are being set up around the world. And they put the banking sector in motion everywhere. It is nice to see that we, as a small player, are also internationally praised for our innovative approach. Knab does not operate from the idea 'technology first'. We want to make banking easier, smarter and more fun. And the technology makes this possible. "

For more information:  www.knab.nl

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DPA Group

New CFO of DPA Group visits Beursplein 5

Stefan Heesakkers has been appointed as CFO of DPA Group N.V. (ticker symbol DPA) and opens trading on Beursplein 5. The General Meeting of Shareholders of DPA agreed at the annual meeting on 23 April 2015 to appoint Stefan Heesakkers as a member of the Board of Directors and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the company.

The appointment of Stefan Heesakkers is related to the increasing scale of the company, the greatly increased span of control of the members of the Board of Directors, and the plans for growth. Stefan Heesakkers has been involved at DPA as Finance Director since 2012. In this role, he has implemented improved financial reporting and was jointly responsible for the acquisition of CreditForce Professionals, Ingenieursbureau Technipower, Cauberg-Huygen Raadgevende Ingenieurs, and the consultancy Fagro. Stefan previously worked as an investment analyst at HAL Capital Management and as a consultant and partner at the corporate finance firm SpringFinance. He also held financial and advisory positions at the telecommunications company Scarlet, Sahara International Ventures, and via Cruysbergen Entrepreneurial Consultancy.

The DPA Group focuses on the provision of high-quality recommendations, the sustainable and flexible deployment of specialized professionals, and the development of knowledge and expertise. DPA offers solutions for innovation and change programmes, projects, complex issues, and temporary replacement.

For more information: www.dpa.nl

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National Day of Nursing Care

 Sounding of the gong marks National Day of Nursing Care

On the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of the nursing profession, nurses and carers celebrate National Day of Nursing Care.

This year, the Florence Nightingale Institute, Centre for the History of Nursing and the V&VN (the Professional Society for Nurses and Carers in the Netherlands) present a new flag for National Day of Nursing Care. Last year, a competition was held for a contemporary design. Through this new flag, the two organisations wish to emphasise the importance of National Day of Nursing Care for the next fifty years. The jury unanimously chose the entry by Bas Kinsbergen, whose design represents nursing as the light between humanity and technology.

Eline de Kok, who is a nurse and a nursing scientist working at the UMC Utrecht and at the V&VN, will sound the gong to call attention to the strength of nurses and carers in society.

For more information:www.fni.nl and www.venvn.nl

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