The gong: an age-old tradition
The Amsterdam Stock Exchange is the oldest stock exchange in the world and a household name in the Netherlands and abroad. As early as the 17th century, trading was opened and closed by sounding a gong. Today, all securities trading is automated and the opening is a ceremonial act. Directors of listed companies, business people, politicians and charity ambassadors have helped keep this tradition alive in recent years.
Amsterdam Gong Ceremonies
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Jumping Amsterdam
| Amsterdam
8456579b2394-621b-4004-b943-fb6e3532b4ddJumping Amsterdam
Jumping Amsterdam visits Beursplein 5
Trading is opened on the occasion of Amsterdam Jumping which is being held in the RAI Amsterdam from Thursday 28 until Sunday 31 January 2016.
Jumping Amsterdam is an event at the highest level of dressage with the Reem Acra FEI World Cup ™. Spectacular jumping in The Telegraaf Prize at Friday night, the RAI Amsterdam Six Bar on Saturday night and the Anemone Horse Trucks Grand Prix of Amsterdam on Sunday afternoon. Participation, amongst others, by Olympic champions Jeroen Dubbeldam and Charlotte Dujardin
Besides sports, visitors can enjoy a program filled with shows and entertainment, both inside and outside the arena. This year, there are two shows, the Catalan Santi Serra Camps and The French Horseman Team. For the youngest fans there is the Novotel Jumper Children’s Morning on Sunday.
For more information: www.jumpingamsterdam.nl
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ACTIAM investment expert
| Amsterdam
84538585f2e1-3c49-40ed-99db-ac388ee0397dACTIAM investment expert
Winner ACTIAM investment expert opens trading
The winner of the ACTIAM investment expert poll opens trading at the Amsterdam exchange by sounding the gong.
Every year asset manager ACTIAM asks more than hundred investment professionals for their expectations of the best and least performing stock in the coming year. Besides that, the participants are asked for their vision on index level. The best investment professional receives the price for best investment professional.
The 2015 winner of the ACTIAM investment expert poll is Jacob Jurg, fund manager at hedge fund Tradewind Capital. His picks were TNT Express +41 % and Delta Lloyd -68%. These were the best of all participating experts.
For more information: www.actiam.nl
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AkzoNobel
| Amsterdam
84526dafd09a-b775-44a4-a76e-db27148b0283AkzoNobel
AkzoNobel sounds gong to celebrate new AkzoNobel Center and Art Space
Piet Schalkwijk, AkzoNobel’s Corporate Director Special Projects and Hester Alberdingk Thijm, Director of the AkzoNobel Art Foundation, sound the gong at the Amsterdam exchange to celebrate the new AkzoNobel Center including the upcoming opening of the AkzoNobel Art Space at the Amsterdam Zuidas.
“We are very proud of the new AkzoNobel Center,” said Piet Schalkwijk. “The new building really reflects the type of company we are, not only with sustainability as a leading theme, but also because our own products are used throughout the entire building, internally and externally. The building is carbon neutral and the combined energy from the solar panels on the roof and the thermal storage is complemented by wind power.”
The AkzoNobel Art Space will be open to the public from January 28. “The Art Space is a meeting place for everyone“, said Hester Alberdingk Thijm. “In this dynamic exhibition space we present our collection of international contemporary art. This year the AkzoNobel Art Foundation celebrates its 20th anniversary. The first exhibition is Culture of Colors, where color is a common element that will be explored in various cabinets and corners of the Art Space.”
AkzoNobel is a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals. Calling on centuries of expertise, they supply industries and consumers worldwide with innovative products and sustainable technologies designed to meet the growing demands of their fast-changing planet. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, they have approximately 46,000 people in around 80 countries, while their portfolio includes well-known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International, Interpon and Eka.
For more information: www.akzonobel.com
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For Tomorrow
| Amsterdam
84508f6b2c9f-d4bc-4baa-ac24-22592a57d4adFor Tomorrow
For Tomorrow celebrates five-year jubilee
The mutual fund division of Today’s Group, For Tomorrow, celebrates its five year jubilee by opening the Amsterdam exchange. Together with his team, CEO Cees Smit sounds the gong.
For Tomorrow has a variety of funds in order to offer its clients a fund that matches their investment goals. Those goals are not only pensions, but also for smaller goals. Because the investments are made concrete, more appropriate fund or portfolio profiles are selected in order to achieve the target.
Cees Smit: “With our proactive approach and due to the low interest on savings, we are the alternative for savings. Investing in a mutual fund at For Tomorrow is a protective way of investing and because of the volatile market, protected investing is essential.”
For more information: www.fortomorrow.nl
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R&S Retail
| Amsterdam
845156570cd3-8fe2-4acb-a520-281147cfb1a4R&S Retail
R&S Retail celebrates listing on Euronext Amsterdam
EnterNext, the Euronext subsidiary dedicated to promoting and growing its SME market, welcomes R&S Retail Group (ticker symbol: RNS) on the Amsterdam market of Euronext. The company celebrates its listing on Euronext Amsterdam by sounding the gong.
R&S Retail Group acquires retail and fashion companies and creates value by optimizing the business processes, making use of the synergy and putting emphasis on the omnichannel approach. R&S Retail Group sees this tumultuous market with changing consumer behavior, the further shift to the online market and the delayed reaction of existing players as a challenging environment to grow. R&S Retail Group is owner of the Dutch retail brand Miss Etam.
For more information: missetam.nl
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Best Product of the Year
| Amsterdam
844929cc34ee-e940-42c4-9aaf-b96f562ccf62Best Product of the Year
Winner Best Product of the Year Hertog Jan Pils opens trading
Last month, the winners of the second edition of the consumer awards ‘Best Product of the Year Netherlands’ were announced. Hertog Jan Pils, produced Euronext Brussels listed AB InBev (ticker symbol: ABI), won the title of Best Product of the Year 2015-2016. In honor of achieving this price AB InBev opens trading at Beursplein 5.
The annual contest is organized by Q&A Research & Consultancy in close collaboration with Consumer Contest Company. The purpose of this election is to provide positive media attention to consumer products. In addition, the research gives insights into the desires and opinions about products of consumers. Hertog Jan as overall winner Best Product means that the product has scored the highest average score of all category winners.
For more information: www.besteproductvanhetjaar.nl
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Amsterdammertje van het Jaar
| Amsterdam
8448c0874289-eff3-4979-8f03-92d1b64bb51dAmsterdammertje van het Jaar
Amsterdammertje van het Jaar visits Beursplein 5
The Stadmakertjes Foundation (‘little citymakers’) has organized the junior election ‘Amsterdammertje van het Jaar’ for the fourth time. The city of Amsterdam and Rabobank support the initiative. In the last couple of months, everyone in Amsterdam could nominate his or her little hero, in the ages of 8 to 15 years. A jury chose the top 10 and the winner. The most important selection criterion: the winner should be someone who works selflessly on behalf of the cause, and has to set an example for others.
Toby Pérez Riquelme sounds the gong. He decided he could do something, even as a young kid. With the Amsterdam Welcome Refugees-group, he started picking up refugees from Central Station, and bringing them to new clothes and to their night shelter. He is by far the youngest in the team, and he puts in long hours.
For more information: www.stadmakertjes.nl
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AFM
| Amsterdam
8445e01be117-e456-40a7-bc77-2c41de480818AFM
AFM Executive Board member Gerben Everts opens Amsterdam exchange
Gerben Everts, member of the Executive Board at the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets, opens the Amsterdam exchange. With the sounding of the gong AFM highlights their 2016-2018 agenda which will be published later this month.
As an independent market conduct authority, the AFM contributes to a sustainable financial system and prosperity in the Netherlands. Since 2011, Everts is a member of the Executive Board. His main areas of responsibility are: supervision on securities markets, asset managers and accountant organizations, financial infrastructure, corporate governance, financial reporting and auditing.
The reason for his visit to Beursplein 5 is the AFM agenda 2016-2018. Due to social and technological developments, financial markets are continuously evolving. With the new agenda, the AFM wants to react timely on the most important developments in the financial markets with, for example, data-driven supervision. By doing so, the AFM aims to remain a pioneering supervisor both in and outside the Netherlands.
For more information: www.afm.nl
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Voordegroei
| Amsterdam
8444fc2a322e-feca-4849-ba64-bf371e00c841Voordegroei
Voordegroei opens trading
Growth companies in search of funding have access to Voordegroei, a Dutch online investment platform founded by a group of investment industry professionals. Managing Partner Bart Vemer sounds the gong.
Voordegroei was established in order to efficiently connect growth businesses and wealthy individuals and thereby get the billions of stagnant euros in The Netherlands in motion. Voordegroei was founded by Bart Vemer, Vera van Kesteren and Ivo Feeke. They come from BNP Paribas Investment Partners with a history in asset management and private banking. They have teamed up with crowd funding- and finance specialist Pim Betist of Ripplestarters. With Voordegroei they mark a new phase in the professionalization of the crowd funding market in the Netherlands.
Voordegroei is an online investment platform for the top segment of SMEs, bringing together entrepreneurs and investors. Voordegroei evaluates the loan application, handles the financial screening and assesses the growth strategy of the SME. Voordegroei stands for innovation, commitment and expertise. The team has many years of experience in asset management and was at the foundation of crowd funding in the Netherlands.
For more information: www.voordegroei.nl
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IMC Weekend School
| Amsterdam
84437b01af49-e77c-4a21-8104-a427637d1f91IMC Weekend School
IMC Weekend School celebrates 10th anniversary
IMC Weekend School sounds the gong to celebrate the 10th anniversary of four IMC Weekend School branches. Currently, there are ten IMC Weekend Schools in the Netherlands where students get the chance to broaden their perspectives and develop their talents.
IMC Weekend School provides supplementary education for motivated children aged ten to fourteen from underprivileged neighborhoods. The objective is to improve the future prospects for the students by offering them an inspiring glimpse into numerous disciplines such as business, medicine, astronomy and art. Volunteer experts serve as guest teachers. Students come into contact with a broad group of professionals who share their knowledge and skills while working together with the students.
For more information: www.imcweekendschool.nl
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Oyens & Van Eeghen
| Amsterdam
8442a5d7634e-d36c-4d9f-90a4-fc85a0783d9eOyens & Van Eeghen
Oyens & Van Eeghen celebrates acquisition by Delen Private Bank
In honor of the acquisition by Bank Delen Private Bank, Oyens & Van Eeghen opens trading at Beursplein 5. CEO Pim Baljet sounds the gong. Delen Private Bank is part of the Euronext Brussels listed Ackermans en Van Haren (ticker symbol: ACKB).
Delen Private Bank reached an agreement with the shareholders and Board of Oyens & Van Eeghen to acquire all the shares of one of oldest independent Dutch financial institutions in July 2015. Delen Private Bank, thereby strengthens its presence in the Benelux and creates a group of asset managers active in the Benelux and the United Kingdom with total assets under management of approximately EUR 37 billion. January marks the launch of the joint approach of the Dutch market.
Delen Private Bank has gained experience in the development of its successful advisory model in the field of financial planning, structuring capital and asset management over the past decades. Oyens & Van Eeghen in recent years has increasingly focused on the segment of specialized asset management and fiduciary advisory services for private and institutional investors. Thanks to the acquisition by partner Delen Private Bank, Oyens & Van Eeghen can now offer a solution for every target audience of every size. It offers return for any capital size with the power of simplicity and efficiency.
For more information: www.oyens.com
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Fintessa
| Amsterdam
8441e6a69866-e4bc-452b-9ed1-2644039391d7Fintessa
Fintessa visits Beursplein 5
Fintessa marks the new year with a visit to Beursplein 5. General manager Martine Hafkamp sounds the gong at the Amsterdam exchange.
Fintessa is an autonomous and independent asset management company and offers customized asset management for assets starting at € 100,000. Asset management is an extension of each individual situation, whether as an individual or institution and is the basis of wealth preservation or capital appreciation. That is being translated into a custom risk profile and investment portfolio. Fintessa expressly does not work with their own products, so that objectivity is always guaranteed.
For more information: www.fintessa.nl
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Dutch IR Awards
| Amsterdam
8438f0919428-2b2e-4739-8114-41a783e7ad21Dutch IR Awards
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 Dutch Association of Investor Relations (NEVIR) presents the awards to Dutch companies and professionals who excel in investor relations. Winners are announced in the presence of more than 200 professionals during the Dutch IR Awards Dinner. The NEVIR represents the interests of its members. The vast majority of professional investor relations officers in the Netherlands is affiliated with the NEVIR; more than 95% of the AEX companies; nearly 60% of the AMX companies and 25% of other companies listed on Euronext Amsterdam.NEVIR was founded in 1991 and celebrates its 25-year-anniversary this year.For more information: www.nevir.nl
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JOGG
| Amsterdam
8437d9a85d75-6120-4f1c-a00d-ca96f7f62fe2JOGG
Young People at a Healthy Weight sounds the gong
Young People at a Healthy Weight (Jongeren Op Gezond Gewicht JOGG) open trading to focus attention on healthy New Year’s resolutions. Ambassador Erben Wennemars sounds the gong in the company of the JOGG-board, aldermen, business partners, neighbourhood sports coaches and Young People at a Healthy Weight’s national ambassadors Prince Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje and Juvat Westendorp.
Using the JOGG-approach, over 100 JOGG-municipalities are now working year-round at providing today's youth with a healthier environment to stick to those Healthy New Year’s resolutions. They are working together with existing local initiatives, entrepreneurs and various other parties. Schools and sports canteens receive help and encouragement on offering healthy choices in their canteens. And to ensure it meets their needs, JOGG-municipalities are also taking a closer look at the care available for overweight and obese children. All of these efforts, along with intelligent social marketing, are geared towards tempting parents and children to drink more water, to get more exercise and to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
At the gong, aldermen for Dordrecht and Purmerend were present, as well as neighbourhood sports coaches from Purmerend and Harderwijk. For 2015, these municipalities already showed excellent results. Since the JOGG-approach was first implemented, the number of overweight children in Dordrecht-West has declined by 20 %. Compared to 2011, the number of overweight 4-, 5- and 10-year-olds in the Purmerend JOGG-neighbourhoods has declined as well.
For more information: www.jongerenopgezondgewicht.nl
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Philips Innovation Award
| Amsterdam
8436d7a5c06c-dcee-48dc-b72c-f7cf0fe259f3Philips Innovation Award
Philips Innovation Award open trading
The Board of the Philips Innovation Award opens trading at the Amsterdam exchange by sounding the gong. This gong marks the 11th edition of the largest student entrepreneur award in the Netherlands. The Board is accompanied by Daan van Manen, responsible for the historical bifurcation of Philips. Pearltect, Printr and Blue Battery, three of the finalists of the 10th edition of the Award, also accompany the board.
The Philips Innovation Award, part of the Euronext Amsterdam listed Philips (ticker symbol: PHIA), consists of four Stages (the Idea Stage, Developing Stage, Refining Stage and Final Stage). The feedback, training and coaching will intensify each Stage. Participants can currently enroll for the Developing Stage. In addition, the sounding of the gong marks the continuous growth of the Award, since a record amount of more than 300 student-entrepreneurs are already participating in the platform this year.
The prize worth €50.000 will be awarded to the student with the most innovative and promising plan. The jury, presided over by CEO of Philips, Frans van Houten, takes (among other criteria) the impact, sustainability and feasibility of the plans into account. The prize consists of cash and a toolkit of products and services that gives the student-entrepreneurs a kick start.
For more information: www.phia.nl
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IEX Group NV
| Amsterdam
8435954955c2-76ed-47da-b99f-b37197fbfa46IEX Group NV
EnterNext welcomes IEX Group NV
EnterNext, the Euronext subsidiary designed to promote and grow the market for SMEs, welcomes IEX Group NV (IEX). The listed company MTY Holdings, which recently took over the online activities of IEX Media and Value8 changed its name to IEX Group NV. CEO Peter van Sommeren sounds the gong.
IEX Group, the leading provider of online investment information in the Netherlands and Belgium, reaches 1.8 million investors, of which 1.5 million in the Netherlands and approximately 300,000 in Belgium. IEX Group has – in addition to IEX.nl itself – a portfolio of strong brands in the Dutch retail investment segment, including: Belegger.nl, DeBeurs.nl, Eurobench.nl, Participaties.nl and IEXGeld.nl. The IEX Group is active on the Belgian market with Beursduivel.be, while IEXProfs. and the Gouden Stier awards focus on the professional segment.
For more information: www.iexmedia.nl
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Euronext wishes you a happy New Year
| Amsterdam
843447b54948-9fa8-43fb-9b35-121d506933d9Euronext wishes you a happy New Year
With the sounding of the gong Euronext wishes you all a prosperous New Year on the first trading day of 2016.
Euronext is the primary exchange in the Euro zone with more than 1 300 issuers worth €2.8 trillion in market capitalisation, an unmatched blue-chip franchise consisting of 25 issuers in the EURO STOXX 50® benchmark and a strong, diverse domestic and international client base.
Euronext operates regulated and transparent equity and derivatives markets. Its total product offering includes Equities, Exchange Traded Funds, Warrants & Certificates, Bonds, Derivatives, Commodities and Indices. Euronext also leverages its expertise in running markets by providing technology and managed services to third parties. Euronext operates regulated markets, Alternext and the Free Market; in addition it offers EnterNext, which facilitates SMEs’ access to capital markets.
For more information: www.euronext.com/en
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DoubleDividend and Run4Schools open trading
| Amsterdam
843336e35526-8f4e-480c-9e3c-558632356b64DoubleDividend and Run4Schools open trading
DoubleDividend opens the Amsterdam exchange with Run4Schools. With the final gong of the year, DoubleDividend likes to draw attention to the runners of Run4Schools. On March 26 2016, they will run the 56 kilometers of the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, South Africa for this charity.
DoubleDividend bridges financial return and social benefit and fully supports the mission of Run4Schools. Marian Hogeslag, partner at DoubleDividend: “Run4Schools is a beautiful initiative for young South African children. By organizing school sports activities these kids are of the streets and work on a better future. This is financed by the runners for this charity. Today, we are pleased to make these runners more visible by sounding the gong”.
DoubleDividend Management B.V. specializes in the field of sustainable investments. DoubleDividend is a manager of investment funds and offers tailor made asset management services. DoubleDividend invests on the basis of the conviction that sustainability positively contributes to the risk- return profile of an investment portfolio.
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. In cooperation with The Western Cape Education Department.
For more information: www.doubledividend.nl
Amsterdam
Would you like to sound the gong with your company at Beursplein 5?
Open the trading day at Euronext Amsterdam
Companies or institutions that have a natural connection to the Amsterdam capital market can be invited to take part in a gong ceremony. For example, this might be to mark a special milestone or to raise awareness of a charity.
The ceremony starts with a reception hosted by a senior Euronext Amsterdam representative in the former Board Room at Beursplein 5. Just before 9 am, the participants and their guests take their place on the gong stage to open the trading day, The gong is sounded at 9 am precisely. The group then returns to the Boardroom for a cup of coffee.
Media coverage
The gong strike is broadcast live every morning on RTL Z. A picture of the gong strike illustrates the daily stock market report on the Financiële Telegraaf's website. In addition, Euronext shares the images on its social media channels.
Photos and video footage taken of the gong ceremony are shared with guests, who are free to use them for their own communications and on social media.
Practical information
Programme
Timings for gong ceremonies at Beursplein 5 are as follows:
Reception: 8.30 am
Sounding of the gong: 9.00 am
End: 9.15 - 9.30 am
Group size: minimum 8 people, maximum 15 people.
There is no charge for the gong ceremony.
Additional options
You can combine your gong ceremony with the Amsterdam Exchange Experience: a special tour of the stock exchange building.
Or if you would like to use the gong ceremony to kick off a conference or event, consider organising your event at Beursplein 5. Euronext has several historic rooms where events for 10 to 150 people can be held.
The Euronext Events Team will be happy to give you all the information you need about the options available.