Evi van Lanschot

Evi van Lanschot celebrates 2nd birthday by sounding the gong

The team behind Evi van Lanschot, led by Andries van Luijk, opens trading by sounding the gong. Evi was launched two years ago by Van Lanschot as the online coach for the establishment and preservation of capital. The entry limit of € 10,000 makes the expertise of the private bankers of Van Lanschot available for all levels, including starters on the capital market.

In two years’ time, the assets under management of Evi grew to over € 1 billion due to the deposits of customers in the Netherlands and Belgium who opted for the savings and investment opportunities offered by Evi. Evi achieved good investment results and is successful in attracting new, often younger customers who are first investing. Van Lanschot also uses the technology behind Evi for new concepts such as CompliantBeheer - specifically designed for employees of large accounting firms - and Evi Retirement, a solution for tax-efficient wealth accumulation for retirement for entrepreneurs, freelancers and employees.

For more information: www.evivanlanschot.nl

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CFO of the Year

CFO of the Year, Renier Vree of ARCADIS, visits Beursplein 5

ARCADIS CFO Renier Vree was elected CFO of the Year and sounds the gong for this occasion. ARCADIS is listed on Euronext Amsterdam (ticker symbol: ARCAD) and is the leading global natural and built asset design & consultancy firm. 

The jury of organizer CFO Association praised Vree for the important role he plays in acquisitions. "As CFO, Vree is in the lead at the (fast) and crucial integration of the acquired businesses, limiting risks and achieving the intended efficiency. Vree clearly keeps an eye for the soft side of integration, consulting is after all a people business."

For more information: www.arcadis.com  

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Deloitte Technology Fast50

Deloitte Technology Fast50 opens trading by sounding the gong

The Technology Fast50 is a competition for the 50 fastest growing companies in the Netherlands and started 15 years ago to recognize the exceptional performance of these companies. It is organized by Deloitte in collaboration with partners ABN AMRO, Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland, Euronext, Spaces and new partner Kennedy Van der Laan.The Fast50 are the top entrepreneurs of the future, who take a leading role in their field. The Rising Star is a special price that is awarded to emerging innovative companies that are less than five years old.

The 2014 winners open trading by sounding the gong. The Fast50 ranking of 2015 will be published on 15 October. Registration for the 16^th edition of the Technology Fat50 is possible until 30 June.

For more information: www.fast50.nl

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15 years of ETFs in Europe

iShares sounds the gong in celebration of 15 years of ETFs in Europe

Kirst Kuipers, head of iShares Benelux at BlackRock, opens trading by sounding the gong to celebrate 15 years of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in Europe. iShares was the first provider to introduce ETFs in Europe.

The sounding of the gong coincides with Europe’s biggest ETF Event, 'Inside ETFs Europe' in

Amsterdam, where iShares will be one of the speakers. Kirst Kuipers, head of iShares Benelux at BlackRock: “The ETF market in Europe is still relatively young but incredibly dynamic. We expect assets in Europe to continue to increase strongly this year. Since the start of the year, some $38.4 billion have flown into ETFs in Europe. By 2019, we expect the European ETP market to have grown to USD 1,000 billion of assets under management. ETFs owe their huge popularity to their liquidity and the low costs.” ETFs are investment funds that follow an index and are traded on the stock exchange. iShares is the largest ETF provider in the world.

For more information: www.blackrock.nl

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FSUG meeting

VEB opens trading in honour of FSUG meeting

Erik Nooteboom (European Commission) and chairman FSUG Mick McAteer open trading at the Amsterdam exchange. The sounding of the gong is done in honor of the meeting of the Financial Services User Group (FSUG), an advisory body set up by the European Commission, composed of associations representing consumers and retail investors in the European Union. This advisory body meets monthly in Brussels for talks with European policymakers. The twenty members of FSUG, of sixteen EU countries, advise the Commission on the creation and implementation of European directives into law. Once a year, the FSUG meets in one of the EU countries.

Today, shareholders association VEB hosts and warmly welcomes the members of FSUG and the European Commission in Amsterdam. With this initiative, the association of private investors underlines the importance of the interests of financial consumers at European level. VEB Europe, the subsidiary organization in which VEB is developing its European operations, it is the example par excellence.

For more information: www.veb.net

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Project Prep

Project Prep and TomTom sound gong

By sounding the gong, Janneke Niessen and TomTom (ticker symbol: TOM2) call attention to the opportunities offered by technology and entrepreneurship to young girls.

Technology entrepreneur Janneke Niessen is committed to showing young girls that technology is extensive and the foundation of many creative professions: “I hope that girls are inspired to learn coding, to undertake and embrace technology.” As a result, Niessen initiated the book Project Prep, written by Niki Smit, winner of the Dutch Children’s Jury Award 2015.

Project Prep is supported by TomTom. Corinne Vigreux, founder of TomTom: “We are proud to support Project Prep. Getting more girls excited about technology and entrepreneurship is something we feel very passionate about. Project Prep is a great way to show young girls that a career in technology can be exciting and fun.”

For more information: www.preptheproject.com  

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IUCN NL sounds gong on World Environment Day

Nature organization IUCN NL sounds the gong on World Environment Day, together with partner organizations MVO Nederland, True Price, Interface, ABN Amro and Euronext-listed companies AkzoNobel, BAM, DSM, ING and Heijmans.

The VBDO, the association of investors for sustainable development, is also present. The organizations work together in the Green Deal ‘Transparency Natural and Social Capital’, together with the Ministries of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure and Environment. They highlight the importance of investing in ecosystems and biodiversity, our natural capital, as the foundation for the economy. They call all listed companies to disclose their impact on natural and social capital and to focus on sustainability. This is an important step towards a sustainable economy with an eye for people and nature.

For more information: www.uicn.nl

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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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