All Bell ceremonies

AFS Group sounds gong for AFS Energy launch

AFS Group, a multi-asset wholesale broker, sounds the gong for the launch of the new department called AFS Energy.

AFS Energy emerged from Neutralco, a company taken over by AFS Group last year, and acts as an advisor and intermediary in the European market for the sale of sustainable energy certificates, and is active as a broker in the regulated market for emission rights such CERs and EUAs. In addition, AFS energy is an intermediary in the voluntary sustainable energy and CO2 market, where products are traded such as Guarantees of Origin, Green Gas and Voluntary Emission Reduction Certificates. AFS Energy provides advice in the area of innovative financing constructions for sustainable building, for example via Energy Services Companies (ESCOs).

The CEO of AFS Group, Mr Siemerink, has expressed his enthusiasm for the new division. “Taking over Neutralco has provided us with the professional expertise we needed to get off to a flying start.” Laurens Zonneveld, director of AFS Energy, says: “We are very satisfied with the progress that AFS Energy is making. We see that customers welcome our transparency and professionalism.” AFS Group is an independent intermediary which employs approximately 70 FTEs in its headquarters on the Euronext trading floor in Amsterdam, and also has offices in London and Zurich. It acts as an intermediary in the commercial market for interest rate products, fixed-interest securities, currencies, equity derivatives and exotic products. Managing Director AFS Energy, Laurens Zonneveld, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.afsgroup.nl

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Beto Perez, the creative behind the Zumba® program

Beto Perez, the creative behind the Zumba® program, as joined the President of the Portuguese stock exchange to rang the closing bell, after sharing with Portuguese Media his inspiring history of entrepreneurship and perseverance.

Interview with Founder of Zumba Fitness, Beto Perez

FMO and Amsterdam Institute of Finance sound gong for The Future of Banking Academy

The Future of Banking Academy is an invitation-only program held from the 7th till the 11th of April in Amsterdam, co-created by FMO and Amsterdam Institute of Finance.

Executive financial sector professionals from around the world are invited to take part in this interactive 5-day journey, educating professionals that will shape the future of banking and preparing them for new levels of leadership within their organizations. The global financial landscape, its emerging risks, sustainability and innovation will be examined in the context of leadership and strategy that is needed for the future.

FMO (the Netherlands Development Finance Company) is 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. Amsterdam Institute of Finance (AIF) is a self-supporting, not-for-profit foundation, specialized in providing high-level financial training for finance professionals.

For more information: www.fmo.nl and www.aif.nl

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Lyxor lance le premier ETF sur PEA-PME en Bourse de Paris

Lyxor lance le premier ETF sur PEA-PME. Cet ETF s’adresse à la fois aux investisseurs souhaitant profiter de la performance des PME et du régime fiscal avantageux du PEA-PME.

Avec ce nouvel ETF, Lyxor est le premier émetteur à proposer aux investisseurs français un accès facilité à un portefeuille diversifié de PME (indice composé de 40 sociétés à avril 2014). Investir dans les PME via cet ETF permet par ailleurs de bénéficier de tous les avantages fiscaux du PEA-PME, tout en se protégeant du risque de liquidité parfois associé aux petites capitalisations. D’autres investisseurs (étrangers ou institutionnels) peuvent également être intéressés par le mode de construction fondamental de l’indice. En effet, l’univers d’investissement de cet indice Euronext PEA-PME ne fluctue pas en fonction des prix du marché, par essence volatils, mais en fonction de la situation économique réelle des entreprises. 

EnterNext welcomes Quantum Genomics on Alternext's market in Paris

Lionel Segard, CEO of Quantum Genomics, closes the European trading day in Paris.

Quantum Genomics specializes in the research and development of drugs used to treat cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic disorders.

EnterNext welcomes Supersonic Imagine on Euronext's market in Paris

Jacques Souquet, CEO and founder of SuperSonic Imagine, opens the European trading day in Paris.

SuperSonic Imagine develops echographic systems based on a quantitative real-time tissue elasticity imaging concept. Products are intended for diagnosing cancers (breast, abdomen, liver, thyroid, prostate, etc.), vascular pathologies, muscle problems, and gynecological diseases. The group also offers maintenance and technical support services.

Gong at Week of the Entrepreneur Beatrix Theater Utrecht

^{10 April 2014 - Gerjan Schoemaker of Beenen B.V., and Milou Schouten of Erasmus Consultancy Project, sounded the gong together with Roland Starmans from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ben van de Vrie, Head of Marketing for Business Clients ING Netherlands, Michaël van Straalen, Chairman MKB-Nederland, and Cees Vermaas, CEO Euronext Amsterdam. S  ource: Congres in Beeld\Hennie Keeris}   

The Week of the Entrepreneur is already for 17 years the entrepreneurs event in the Netherlands. For this occasion, the opening ceremony moves to the Beatrix Theatre in Utrecht.

The program from 8 to 10 April consists of plenary sessions, lunch meetings and inspiration sessions for entrepreneurs of the Netherlands. Euronext is present during the Week of the entrepreneur: the exchange and entrepreneurship are inseparable.

^{9 April 2014 - Entrepreneurs Marco Koster, CEO Steboma B.V., and Hans Wijgers, CEO JWK Vaassen B.V., sounded the gong together with Roland Starmans from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ben van de Vrie, Head of Marketing for Business Clients ING Netherlands, Michaël van Straalen, Chairman MKB-Nederland, and Cees Vermaas, CEO Euronext Amsterdam. Source: Congres in Beeld\Hennie Keeris}

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning at exactly 9 a.m. trading is opened during the morning sessions. CEO of Euronext Amsterdam, Cees Vermaas, will speak during these sessions to clarify the possibilities that Euronext offers to entrepreneurs, by means of good alternatives to bank loans. Each day one entrepreneur is selected to sound the gong.

^{8 April 2014 - Entrepreneurs Ferry de Kok, CEO Pruko B.V., and Kelly Maynard, director marketing & sales Polygon, sounded the gong together with Ruud van Dusschoten, Executive Director Midcorporate & Institutional Clients ING NL, Michaël van Straalen, Chairman MKB-Nederland, and Cees Vermaas, CEO Euronext Amsterdam. Source: Congres in Beeld\Hennie Keeris}

This year, during the Week of the entrepreneur, ministers Ploumen, Asscher, Dijsselbloem as well as prime minister Rutte make their appearance.

For more information: www.weekvandeondernemer.nl

Euronext welcomes Genomic Vision on Euronext in Paris

Genomic Vision specializes in developing genetic diseases diagnosis tests and cancer genomic analysis. The group uses molecular combing technology which allows direct visualization of DNA individual molecules in order to detect the quantitative and qualitative changes of the genome and determine their role in targeted pathology.

Museum Prize winner, Klok & Peel Museum Asten, sounds gong

Winner of the BankGiro Lottery Museum Prize 2014, Klok & Peel Museum Asten, visits Beursplein 5 to sound the gong. The museum got 49% of the public votes. The Museum Prize is an initiative of the Prince Bernhard Cultural Fund and the BankGiro Lottery, in collaboration with the Museum Association.

Klok & Peel Museum Asten, a museum that is almost entirely run by volunteers, was nominated by the jury for its innovative way in which the museum uses presentation techniques and for the good combination of digital, interactive and traditional presentations. The Museum Prize, founded in 1990, is the most important museum price in the Netherlands. Chairman and volunteer at the museum, Harry van der Loo, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.cultuurfonds.nl

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The listing of the bonds (Medium Term Notes) issued by Brussels-Captital Region

On 7 April 2014, Guy Vanhengel, Minister of Finance and Budget of the Brussels-Capital Region opened the European stock markets with a Bell Ceremony at Euronext Brussels to celebrate the first listing of the Medium Term Notes issued by Brussels-Capital Region. The bonds are listed with a total amount of 35.000.000 euro. The redemption dates are 2029 and 2044. The interest rates are respectively 2.864% and 3.375%.  ING and Belfius were the coordinators.

_{Guy Vanhengel, Minister of Finance and Budget of the Brussels-Capital Region at listing ceremony Medium Term Notes}

Initial public offering of Genticel on Euronext Paris

Benedikt Timmerman, CEO & Founder of Genticel, opens the trading day in Paris.

Genticel is a French pharmaceutical company, specialising in the development of therapeutic vaccines aimed at eliminating, at an early stage, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) responsible for cervical cancer.

Know What You Spend Foundation sounds gong for Financial Literacy Week 2014

Director of the Know What You Spend Foundation, Thea Hazel-Stals, sounds the gong to mark Financial Literacy Week 2014 and the start of the financial education impact measurement project.
In 2013 the Know What You Spend Foundation reached 400.000 adolescents on its Edgie website and Facebook page. 10% of that group used one of the tests or tools for financial literacy and over 16.000 adolescents participated in lessons on financial education. The foundation sees an increasing interest for financial education in the classroom. To get an understanding of the effect of the lessons and online tools the foundation starts an impact measurement project, together with Utrecht University.

The Know What You Spend Foundation is an independent not-for-profit organisation that is supported by Nibud, PGGM, SNS REAAL, Vodafone, Emakina, Microsoft, FunX and SNS REAAL Fonds. The foundation aims at improving financial capability of adolescents (12-25 years). For that purpose the foundation has continuous interaction with adolescents and it develops innovative online and offline interventions to support their financial literacy and capability.

With the new ‘Amsterdam Exchange Experience ' Euronext Amsterdam also provides financial education on the role and the history of the exchange as well as on its listed companies. For more information about this interactive tour and registration, please visit aex.nl.

For more information: www.wwjb.org

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New AFM chairman of the board, Merel van Vroonhoven, sounds gong

Merel van Vroonhoven has been appointed for a period of four years as the new chairman of the board of the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM).

Merel van Vroonhoven (1968) has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Dutch Railways since 2009, prior to which she worked at ING. There, she was responsible, as member of the General Management of Nationale Nederlanden, for the Collective Pensions Operations from 2002 to 2007, and from 2007 onwards as member of the management committee of ING Investment Management Europe.

For more information: www.afm.nl

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EnterNext welcomes Oncodesign on Alternext in Paris

Philippe Genne, CEO of Oncodesign, opens the European trading day in Paris.

Oncodesign specializes in the research and development of drugs for the treatment of cancer. The group provides preclinical pharmacological evaluation services in the oncology field.

Ringing the bell for World Autism Awareness Day 2014 Paris

To mark the United Nations' World Autism Awareness Day, Evelyne Friedel vice-president of Autism Europe and André Masin, president of AFG Autism will close the trading day in the presence of adults with autism.

World Autism Awareness Day is declared by the United Nations as an annual day to draw attention to the urgent needs of people with autism around the world. Such awareness is essential due to the frequency of this disability. 1 in 150 people have autism. 5 million people in Europe. 500,000 in France. This year, awareness shall focus on the employment of adults with autism. Only 15% of them have a full time job. Notwithstanding their skills and talents. Attention to detail, enjoying repetitive tasks, lack of tolerance for errors, persistence and loyalty are precious skills to produce a high quality of work. These qualities are more and more appreciated by numerous companies. Even when adults with autism need support, they are well performing employees and are thus a profitable investment for companies. On April 2, the closing ceremony will take place in Paris with Evelyne Friedel, vice-president of Autism Europe and André Masin, president of the national organization AFG which is in France the largest service provided dedicated to people with autism.

Bell Ceremony in honor of World Autism Awareness Day

On Wednesday 2 April 2014 celebrated Euronext World Autism Awareness Day with a Global Bell Ringing in all its locations (New York, Amsterdam, Paris and Brussels).
For this special day, Minister for Health, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunity of the Wallonian Government, Eliane Tillieux, rang the Opening Bell at Euronext Brussels. Representatives of Autism-Europe, Vlaamse Vereniging Autisme, APEPA! and Association Nationale d’Aide aux Handicapés Mentaux were present as well on the podium of the Bell Ceremony. Actress Ann Ceurvels who supports this organisation was also a guest of honour.
This day is also marked by the 5th Light It Up Blue campaign, a global initiative where over 2000 iconic buildings and landmarks across the world, including the building of the Brussels Stock Exchange, are illuminated in blue to raise awareness for Autism.
To learn more about this day and its initiatives: www.autismeurope.org

Gong marks World Autism Awareness Day

On World Autism Awareness Day all Euronext exchange locations open trading to mark the United Nations' World Autism Awareness Day. In Amsterdam the gong is sounded by Marjanka Hoogeweg and her Autism Assistance Dog, Creb (pronounce Sherp) together with representatives of the Dutch Autism Association, the Autism Fund and De Droomboom Foundation.

Autism was once considered to be a rare condition, but today it affects around 3.3 million people in the European Union, 190.000 in the Netherlands. Many find that autism limits their possibilities in life. The United Nations’ World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 aims to help rectify this situation by raising awareness of autism internationally among policy makers and the general public. Autism is a neurophysiological disorder that affects the brain. If there is no cure for autism, early intervention and lifelong support can enable people with autism to live up to their full potential. Notwithstanding the UN Convention for Persons with Disabilities, many people with autism still lack basic access to accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment, education, employment and social inclusion.

De Nederlandse Vereniging voor Autisme (NVA) is the Dutch leading autism advocacy organization for all people with autism disorder and their families. De Droombroom Foundation is a treatment center for children between two and eight years of age who have been diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder and related learning disorders.

For more information: www.autismeweek.nl, www.autisme.nl, www.stichtingdedroomboom.nl

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Michaël van Straalen, chairman of the SME Association of the Netherlands, sounds gong to highlight Week van de Ondernemer (Entre

Michaël van Straalen, chairman of the SME Association of the Netherlands, sounds the gong to highlight the start of the 17th edition of Entrepreneur Week, an initiative of ING and the SME Association of the Netherlands.

From 8 to 10 April, over 10,000 entrepreneurs from a wide range of industries will participate in the Netherlands’ biggest annual event for entrepreneurs. Guests will also be able to witness the opening of the Amsterdam exchange, as the gong ceremony will be moved to the conference floor of Entrepreneur Week for the duration of the event.

The overall theme of this year’s Entrepreneur Week is growth. Entrepreneurs can find inspiration in the motivational words of top speakers from the world of business, politics, media, science and sports, including ministers Asscher, Dijsselbloem, Kamp and Ploumen, as well as football federation coach Louis van Gaal. This year’s event is spread over four storeys, each featuring a special theme-based programme. The themes focus on the factors that enable growth: financiering, innovation, international entrepreneurship and human resources. As in previous years, there will be a special day for family businesses, on Monday 7 April.

For more information: www.weekvandeondernemer.nl

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