All Bell ceremonies

Sustainable Housing

Amsterdam and BNG Bank sound gong for sustainable housing

By sounding the gong, mr. Abdeluheb Choho, Alderman of the City of Amsterdam, calls attention to the installation of the first solar panels on individual subsidized rented homes of Eigen Haard, a large housing association based in Amsterdam.

Thanks to the services of an Energy Service Company (ESCo), the housing association will not have to worry about the realization, financing, monitoring or maintenance of the solar panels for 20 years. Tenants will have lower energy bills, thereby also reaping the benefits. Over the coming year, more than 7,500 solar panels will be installed, making this project the largest of its kind in the Netherlands. The project was developed by HuurDeZon and is financed by the Amsterdam Climate & Energy Fund, Amsterdams Investeringsfonds (Amsterdam investment fund) and BNG Bank.

Alderman Abdeluheb Choho hopes that the roll-out will continue: "The City's goal is for 20 percent more energy per inhabitant to be produced sustainably by 2020 than in 2013, in part by promoting the use of solar panels. In principle, any housing association could apply this concept. Some 45 percent of Amsterdam's housing supply is held by the associations, so the potential yield is tremendous."

BNG Bank is the bank of and for local authorities and public sector institutions. The bank makes a sustainable contribution to minimizing the costs of social provisions for the public.

For more information: www.bngbank.nl

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BNP Paribas Investment Partners

BNP Paribas Investment Partners celebrates partnership

By sounding the gong at the Amsterdam Exchange, BNP Paribas Investment Partners celebrates its partnership with the recently established Dutch pension fund for the dairy sector and related industries (BPF Zuivel).

Early in 2015, a dozen dairies, together with dairy sector unions, set up this pension fund. This is noteworthy because the number of Dutch (sector) pension funds has been declining for years. Many of these funds are migrating to an insurer or a larger pension fund because of high costs or stricter legislation.

With this new pension fund, employers and unions in the dairy industry are opting for a uniform and contemporary pension which employers and employees can afford and which is future-proof.

Almost 100 years after establishing the first Dutch sector pension fund in Leeuwarden, for employees in parts of the dairy industry, this new fund shows that the interests of employers and employees can be well-aligned.

For more information: www.bnpparibas-ip.com

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Week of the Entrepreneur

Gaby Arts of Powerling sounds the gong in the company of Norbert van den Hove, deputy Director Entrepreneurship at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Hans de Graaf, Directeur MKB, ING Netherlands, Michaël van Straalen, Chairman MKB Netherlands and Maurice van Tilburg, CEO Euronext Amsterdam at the Week of the Entrepreneur.

The Week of the Entrepreneur has been the entrepreneurial event in the Netherlands for the past 18 years. On this occasion, the gong is moved to the Beatrix Theater in Utrecht and trading is opened by an attending entrepreneur. The program of 14-16 April consists of plenary sessions, lunch meetings and inspiration sessions for entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. Euronext is present during the entire week of the Entrepreneur: the stock market and entrepreneurship are inextricably linked.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Maurice Tilburg, CEO of Euronext Amsterdam speaks during the morning sessions to explain the potential of the stock market with Enternext to small and medium‐size enterprises (SMEs) as a good alternative to bank loans. EnterNext is the subsidiary of the Euronext Group designed to develop and promote its stock markets specifically for SMEs.

This year at the Week of the Entrepreneur, ministers Ploumen, Kamp, and Bussemaker will make an appearance.

For more information: www.weekvandeondernemer.nl

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Photo: Congres in Beeld\Hennie Keeris 

Week of the Entrepreneur

Remco Wijnia of DSW Rijswijk sounds the gong in the company of Berthold Leeftink, Director General for Enterprise and Innovation at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Hans de Graaf, Directeur MKB, ING Netherlands, Michaël van Straalen, Chairman MKB Netherlands and Maurice van Tilburg, CEO Euronext Amsterdam at the Week of the Entrepreneur.

The Week of the Entrepreneur has been the entrepreneurial event in the Netherlands for the past 18 years. On this occasion, the gong is moved to the Beatrix Theater in Utrecht and trading is opened by an attending entrepreneur. The program of 14-16 April consists of plenary sessions, lunch meetings and inspiration sessions for entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. Euronext is present during the entire week of the Entrepreneur: the stock market and entrepreneurship are inextricably linked.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Maurice Tilburg, CEO of Euronext Amsterdam speaks during the morning sessions to explain the potential of the stock market with Enternext to small and medium‐size enterprises (SMEs) as a good alternative to bank loans. EnterNext is the subsidiary of the Euronext Group designed to develop and promote its stock markets specifically for SMEs.

This year at the Week of the Entrepreneur, ministers Ploumen, Kamp, and Bussemaker will make an appearance.

For more information: www.weekvandeondernemer.nl

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Photo: Congres in Beeld\Hennie Keeris

Bank Indonesia

Delegation of Bank Indonesia closes trading day

A delegation of Bank Indonesia (BI) visits Beursplein 5 and closes trading. Mr. Prasaja Widiatmaka, assistant director of the Monetary Management Department of Bank Indonesia, sounds the gong.

In 2014, the central banks Bank Indonesia (BI) and De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) established a cooperation partnership for a five-year period with the aim of transferring knowledge in the areas of retail and wholesale payments, and the trading, clearing and settlement of securities transactions. To this end, DNB and BI organise a seminar every six months, one in Amsterdam in the spring and one in Jakarta in the autumn. The partnership programme is supported by the Dutch embassy in Jakarta.

The spring 2015 seminar in Amsterdam deals with the trading, clearing and settlement of securities transactions. The first part, about trading in securities and derivatives, was hosted by Euronext Amsterdam this afternoon.

For more information: www.dnb.nl

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Week of the Entrepreneur

Sound of the gong on location at Week of the Entrepreneur

Roland Soedamah of Buro CITE sounds the gong in the company of Peter Waasdorp, Director Entrepreneurship at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Annemein Kolk, Directeur Grootbedrijf & Instellingen ING Netherlands, Michaël van Straalen, Chairman MKB Netherlands and Maurice van Tilburg, CEO Euronext Amsterdam at the Week of the Entrepreneur.

The Week of the Entrepreneur has been the entrepreneurial event in the Netherlands for the past 18 years. On this occasion, the gong is moved to the Beatrix Theater in Utrecht and trading is opened by an attending entrepreneur. The program of 14-16 April consists of plenary sessions, lunch meetings and inspiration sessions for entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. Euronext is present during the week of the Entrepreneur: the stock market and entrepreneurship are inextricably linked.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Maurice Tilburg, CEO of Euronext Amsterdam speaks during the morning sessions to explain the potential of the stock market with Enternext to small and medium‐size enterprises (SMEs) as a good alternative to bank loans. EnterNext is the subsidiary of the Euronext Group designed to develop and promote its stock markets specifically for SMEs.

This year at the Week of the Entrepreneur, ministers Ploumen, Kamp, and Bussemaker will make an appearance.

For more information: www.weekvandeondernemer.nl

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Photo: Congres in Beeld\Hennie Keeris 

Battle of the Schools

Winners Battle of the Schools open trading

Students of the Olympus College in Arnhem sound the gong of the Amsterdam Exchange as winners of the investment competition Battle of the School. The Olympus College won the prize for the best risk/reward.

Battle of the Schools is an investment competition for economy students and teachers in HAVO and VWO secondary education. Students are divided into groups of three or four. Each group will step into the role of investment adviser and draw up an investment plan for example a parent or grandparent. The students get a virtual starting capital of 100,000 euros which they can invest in shares and investment funds listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

For more information: www.scholenstrijd.nl

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Morningstar Awards 2015

Morningstar Awards 2015 winners open trading

Every year, independent fund researcher Morningstar awards those funds that have been able to provide the best return to investors. The Morningstar Awards are designed to help investors around the world identify the year's most exceptional funds and fund managers.

The 2015 Morningstar Awards recognize retail funds and fund groups that have been good stewards of investor capital within the context of their relevant peer group in 2014 and over longer time periods.  Winners are selected using a quantitative methodology developed by Morningstar that considers the one-, three- and five-year performance history of all eligible funds. Morningstar adjusts the returns for risk using a utility theory based screen that imposes a higher penalty for downside variation in a fund’s return than it does for upside volatility.

For more information: www.morningstar.nl

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Randstad Banking & Insurance

Randstad launches new branch Banking & Insurance by sounding gong

Esther Huizinga, director of Randstad Banking & Insurance, opens the Amsterdam exchange by sounding the gong. It marks the start of the new Randstad branch Banking & Insurance. Randstad Banking & Insurance (B&I) recruits for banks and insurers. A specialized branch is necessary to offer the banking and insurance industry a total concept. Issues like reliability, service, training and compliance are essential, for example, and require different skills and approach than in other industries. B&I capitalizes on the current demand.

The new part of Randstad (ticker symbol RAND) is already active and a large number of customers already use the specialized services. Esther Huizinga: "With Randstad Banking & Insurance, we are a reliable partner for capacity issues and we can completely relieve customers on Financial Supervision Act matters. Through our knowledge and specialization, we are able to proactively train candidates to full Fsa-certified and service-oriented professionals who want to build a career in this industry. "

For more information: www.randstad.nl

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Plant Advanced Technologies

EnterNext welcomes Plant Advanced Technologies on Alternext in Paris

Jean-Paul Fèvre, Founder and CEO of Plant Advanced Technologies (symbol: ALPAT), rings the opening bell.

Plant Advanced Technologies specializes in producing plant molecules and extracts for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors. The company offers research contracts to industrial firms for updating technologies on new plants and supply contracts for molecules obtained from these plants.

Add Value Fund

Add Value Fund sounds gong for 5-year listing anniversary

Exactly five years ago, Add Value Fund went public. The stock listing made it possible to offer shareholders daily liquidity and increase the visibility and transparency. The fund's assets under management grew strongly over the last five years to € 70 million.

The IPO was very successful for the shareholders of Add Value Fund (symbol: AVFNV). The share price increased strongly from the introduction price of € 24 to € 41.96 on 31 March 2015. Including reinvestment of dividends, the shareholder total return – after expenses – was 93%. This is a better result than the Dutch equity indices: the AEX, AMX and AScX Index rose over the same period by 63%, 53% and 87% respectively. Also compared to similar long only investment funds Add Value Fund achieved a significant outperformance.

Willem Burgers and Hilco Wiersma, fund managers Add Value Fund:  "We are very proud to celebrate this milestone with sounding the gong at Beursplein 5. The share price reached a new all time high what makes this five year anniversary extra special. We would like to thank our shareholders for their trust, both in good and in bad times, and we are confident that the next five years will also be successful”.

For more information: www.addvaluefund.nl

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Dutch Heart Foundation

Dutch Heart Foundation calls attention to yearly Heart Week by sounding gong

5-11 April marks the yearly Heart Week by the Dutch Heart Foundation. This week, 60,000 fundraisers will ask for a contribution to the fight against cardiovascular disease in the Netherlands.

Thanks to these donations, the Foundation can fund new research into the earlier detection of cardiovascular disease. This theme is part of the research agenda of the Foundation, which was established in 2014 in cooperation with the public. As a first, this year a pilot group of 50 fundraisers will collect with a collection box and a mobile ATM. In addition, it is also possible to donate online via www.hartstichting.nl and through the online collection boxes on Facebook. Every Facebook user can create their own collection box, set a personal goal and call his or her social network to donate. CEO Floris Italianer sounds the gong.

For more information: www.hartstichting.nl/hartweek

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World Autism Awareness Day

Bell Ceremony in honor of World Autism Awareness Day:

On Thursday 2 April 2015 Euronext celebrated World Autism Awareness Day with a Global Bell Ringing in most of its locations (Amsterdam, Lisbon and Brussels).

For this special day, Alda Greoli, Head of Cabinet of Maxime Prévot, Vice-Minister President of the Walloon Government, rang the Opening Bell  at Euronext Brussels. Representatives of Autism-Europe, Vlaamse Vereniging Autisme and APEPA! were present as well on the podium of the Bell Ceremony.

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 areilluminated in blue to raise awareness for Autism.

To learn more about this day and its initiatives: www.autismeurope.org

World Autism Awareness Day

AFM Charmain, Merel van Vroonhoven, marks World Autism Awareness Day
By sounding the gong in Amsterdam, Brussels and Lisbon, Euronext marks World Autism Awareness Day. In Amsterdam Merel van Vroonhoven, Chairman of the Working Group ‘Looking From Within Autism’ and Chairman of the Dutch Authority for the financial markets (AFM), sounds the gong. Van Vroonhoven sounds the gong together with the Dutch Association for Autism (NVA) and the Autism Fund in order to raise awareness for autism.

Some three million people in Europe have autism. With the United Nations designated World Autism Awareness Day autism, and the problems people with Autism experience, are brought to the attention of politicians and the general public. In the Netherlands a variety of organizations organize a myriad of activities. The NVA and the Autism Fund launch the campaign 'Autism is not curable, misunderstanding thankfully is!’ The program ‘Viewed From Within Autism’ launches an advertising spot to promote openness about autism in the workplace. This spot can be seen on the intranet of different organizations.

For more information: www.autismeweek.nl

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Code of Conduct for bankers

Code of Conduct for bankers takes effect in the Netherlands

Interim - Chairwoman of the Foundation for Banking Ethics Enforcement, Nicolet Jager, sounds the gong and symbolically introduces the new code of ethics in the financial sector.

Dutch banks find it important that all bank employees act with integrity. Therefore, the code of conduct for bankers is created. The new and mandatory code of conduct for bankers will come into effect on April 1. As of that day, approximately 90,000 bank employees in the Netherlands are obliged to take the Bankers’ Oath, binding themselves to an ethical code of conduct and submitting themselves to disciplinary action should they break it.

The Foundation for Banking Ethics Enforcement has been established to oversee that those who have taken the oath abide by the associated code of conduct. The foundation can impose sanctions ranging from a reprimand to an employment suspension of up to three years. Self-regulation organization DSI has been asked to provide assistance to the foundation.

For more information: www.tuchtrechtbanken.nl

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Gong marks intended launch Euronext Dairy Complex

By sounding the gong Euronext celebrates the launch of a dairy derivatives complex in spring 2015.

The full suite of futures and options will cover the three key dairy products currently traded in Europe and internationally: butter; skimmed milk powder; and whey powder, allowing the European dairy community to hedge its exposure to price fluctuations in this volatile market, just as the milk quotas expire in the European market.

The European market is the world leader in dairy production and the second largest exporter of dairy products worldwide. On 31 March 2015, milk quotas, originally initiated under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, will expire leading to liberalization of production and potential increased volatility in the European dairy industry. In addition, global demand for milk is increasing whilst supply chains can be unpredictable. Within this context this new product complex will allow the industry to manage their risk more smoothly in a transparent, regulated and liquid market.

For more information: derivatives.euronext.com/commodities/dairy-complex

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Himalayan Fund celebrates 25th anniversary on Euronext Amsterdam

Chairman of the Board of Himalayan Fund NV, Ian McEvatt, sounds the gong to mark the 25^th anniversary of the Fund’s launch on the Amsterdam exchange. At the time of its launch, Himalayan Fund was the largest single-country investment fund in the world and it remains one of the oldest investing in India today.

McEvatt: “We have been impressed with the way a new government in Delhi, working with a new regime at the Reserve Bank of India have succeeded in boosting investor sentiment on India. We remain confident that upward momentum will be maintained. The RBI has confirmed its policy of monetary easing by endorsing the government’s commitment to fiscal consolidation and reform in the recent Union Budget. The current market valuation is near its historical average, with plenty of scope for multiple expansion as well as earnings-driven appreciation over the next few years. The prospects for more excellent returns are good”

McEvatt added: “We are delighted with our long association with Euronext Amsterdam which provides an excellent trading platform assuring liquidity for our shareholders”

For more information: www.himalayanfund.nl

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EnterNext welcomes OSE Pharma on Euronext in Paris

Dominique Costantini, co-founder et CEO of OSE Pharma, rings the closing bell.

OSE Pharma is a biotechnology group that specializes in the research and development of therapeutic products for the treatment of cancers and lung disease.
At the end of 2013, the group had a portfolio of 5 products in development phase, including 4 in phase II (colon, breast and ovarian cancer, and cystic fibrosis) and 1 in phase III (lung cancer).