Ronald McDonald House Amsterdam celebrates 30th anniversary

By sounding the gong Ronald McDonald House AMC Amsterdam celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Princess Margriet opened the houseonMarch 6, 1985.Thanks to the hard work of paediatrician, specialised inchild cancer, Tom Voûte, the house found itsway from the USA to Hollandand the Ronald McDonald House AMC was the first 'guesthouse' for parents and siblings of sick childrenin the Netherlands and Europe. Since then, thousands of parents of sick children, admitted in the Emma Children’s Hospital stayed at the Ronald McDonald House. Some just for a few days, some a few months and some even for a whole year.To celebrate the anniversary, Dutch TV host Yvon Jaspers will bake heart shaped pizzas at the house on March 6, to honor all parents that found a temporary home during the past three decades, so they could be close to their child at the Emma Children's Hospital.

Nanda Koeman, manager of the house opens trading and calls out to all companies to become a ‘friend’ of Ronald McDonald House AMC Amsterdam. The housereceives no subsidy and depends on the generosity of volunteers and donors. For an annual contribution of € 1.500 companies can become a ‘friend’ for three years.

For more information: www.kinderfonds.nl/amc

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Athom celebrates ‘ING Starter of the Year award’ at Euronext Amsterdam

Athom, the Dutch start-up behind Homey, celebrates the recent victory of the ‘ING Starter of the Year’ competition by sounding the gong.

Each month ING chooses a ‘Starter of the Month’, and to end the year a public prize, voted for on Facebook, is awarded to  the ‘Starter of the Year 2014'. Out of the nearly 100 entries, the jury has compiled a shortlist of four starters which could be voted on Athom, ClubKit, NuvoClean and Blendle. Winner Athom won the award for their product Homey, a device that enables you to control all your wireless devices by voice. Homey will be launched this summer.

For more information: www.heyhomey.nl

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Sounding of the gong marks financial planning event ‘Later’

By sounding the gong, iniators Het Financieele Dagblad, BNR and Fondsnieuws mark the financial planning event ‘Later’. ‘Later’ is an event about financial planning held by partners ABN AMRO, Blackrock, BNP Paribas Investment Partners and Fidelity.

‘Later’ will take place on Thursday, 5 March, at the Kromhouthal in Amsterdam. Minister of Finance Jeroen Dijsselbloem will be giving his view on the financial future of the Dutch.  Financial journalist and planner Erica Verdegaal and economist Esther Mirjam Sent give examples that affect everyone; what if you do not put money apart for your retirement? Or if your children have to take out a loan for their studies? After the plenary program, various sessions and round tables will discuss various topics on financial planning and wealth accumulation in close collaboration with the experts of ABN AMRO, Blackrock, BNP Paribas Investment Partners and Fidelity. Moderator Rens de Jong opens trading.

For more information: www.later2015.nl 

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Gong marks 10 years AScX-Index anniversary

By sounding the gong Euronext celebrates the 10th anniversary of the AScX® together with companies that are currently included in the index.

The AScX is the index for small cap companies listed on Euronext Amsterdam. It contains 25 companies listed on Euronext Amsterdam, and is the most widely used small cap indicator of the Dutch stock market. The AScX has been calculated in a price and a gross (total) return version as of the start. A net return version was added to the family in 2010. In the period 2005-2015 the index had a yearly performance of more than 4% and the AScX Gross Return of almost 8%.

For more information: https://www.euronext.com/en/list-products/euronext-indices-for-product-creation

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Deventer municipality celebrates Deloitte Kordes Award

By sounding the gong Deventer municipality celebrates winning the Deloitte Kordes Award.

The Deloitte Kordes Award knows a long tradition. Since 1995 the public organization with the best annual report receives the price. The objective of the award is to continuously improve reporting on performance and accountability of (semi) public organizations. According to the jury Deventer Municipality is this year's convincing winner : “The annual report meets all jury criteria and excels in an innovative report.” Alderman Liesbeth Grijsen opens trading.

For more information: deloitte.com

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IMC Weekend School alumni sound gong with partner Rabobank

To celebrate the IMC Weekend School growth to more than 3000 students and alumni this year, director Marion Weijman and alumni sound the gong together with sponsor Rabobank.

At the ten IMC Weekend Schools inthe Netherlandsand via the alumni network ‘Future for Life’ 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.Rabobank is an important partner of the school.

For more information: www.imcweekendschool.nl

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Klépierre celebrates listing on Euronext Amsterdam by sounding the gong

During a festive ceremony the CEO of Klépierre Laurent Morel celebrates the listing by sounding the gong.

Klépierre is a leading European commercial real estate company and the European specialist in shopping center properties. The listing on Euronext Amsterdam followed the declaration of the company in January that the exchange offer made for all issued shares of Euronext Amsterdam listed European retail property company Corio is unconditional. Trading in the Klépierre shares (ticker symbol: LI) on the Amsterdam market started on 15 January 2015. Klépierre was already listed on Euronext Paris since 1974.

In acquiring Corio, Klépierre becomes the leading pan-European pure player in the retail property business, with a total portfolio value of 21 billion euros of shopping centres and a footprint across 16 countries.

For more information: www.klepierre.com

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Gong marks 40 years Dutch Thrombosis Foundation

By sounding the gong the Dutch Thrombosis Foundation marks its 40th anniversary.

In the Netherlands it is estimated that one in three people die of thrombosis or of the consequences of thrombosis such as a lung embolism, heart attack or stroke. In the Netherlands, approximately 450,000 people are prescribed anticoagulants as a means of reducing the risk of thrombosis. A further two million people in the Netherlands use other blood thinning medicines to prevent thrombosis. The work of the Thrombosis Foundation includes raising funds for scientific research, providing information about the disease, and supporting those who are affected by it. The foundation’s ambassador and actor Bartho Braat, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.trombosestichting.nl

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Gong launches ‘Cancer prevention, Together we can’ campaign

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) NL officially launches the new awareness campaign ‘Cancer prevention, Together we can’ by sounding the gong.

The goal of the national campaign is to raise awareness of the important role of diet, physical activity and weight in cancer prevention. Scientific research shows that about a third of most common cancers could be prevented by eating a healthy diet, moving more and maintaining a healthy weight. WCRF NL has been the authority in cancer prevention in the Netherlands for over 20 years. The charity is part of the global World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) network, a network of charities from around the world dedicated to the prevention of cancer. Researcher Ellen Kampman opens trading.

For more information: www.wcrf.org

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Novisource celebrates listing anniversary introducing employee stock ownership plan

Euronext Amsterdam-listed consultancy company Novisource is pleased to announce the introduction of a stock ownership plan for its employees. CEO Willem van der Vormcelebrates the plan’s introduction and Novisource’s first year on Euronext Amsterdam by sounding the gong.

It is Novisource’s (ticker symbol: NOVI) ambition to be an attractive employer, both now and in the future. It seeks to invest in its employees and stimulate entrepreneurship. By offering its employees a tempting way to acquire company stock, the organisation believes it can further increase its draw as an employer and retain its employees for longer. Permanent employees are offered an interesting discount on acquiring Novisource stock and become eligible for an attractive premium after three years.

The company’s decision to introduce an employee stock ownership plan, in partnership with Van Lanschot Bankiers, follows a survey among the workforce. “As a knowledge-based company, it is vital for us to recruit and retain individuals who possess specific expertise. As our professionals work primarily in the financial sector, they generally appreciate both the risks and the advantages that financial products present. The stock ownership plan is a perfect reflection of this understanding,” explains Van der Vorm.

For more information: www.novisource.nl

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Winner of Bert Douwes Award closes trading by souding gong

Taner Memili, winner of the Bert Douwes Award, sounds the gong to close trading at Beursplein 5. Memili won the prize for his paper about recognizing good companies for investors, called ‘beating the markets’.

The Hogeschool Amsterdam’s minor programme in Investment, offers students the opportunity to spend six months studying all aspects of the financial markets and investment. At the end of this period participating students write a thesis on a current financial subject. The best thesis is presented with the award. The price is named after Bert Douwes, a teacher at the Hogeschool Amsterdam and founder of the minor, who passed away in 2007.

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Chinese Entrepreneurs Society Amsterdam celebrates Chinese New Year

By visiting Euronext Amsterdam the Chinese Entrepreneurs Society Amsterdam celebrates the Chinese New Year. February 19, 2015 marks the beginning of the Chinese year of the Goat. The goat in the Chinese Zodiac predicts an easy and prosperous life without significant problems. It is also an excellent year to strengthen old friendships and start new ones.

It is a long standing tradition that the Chinese Entrepreneurs Society of Amsterdam organises the New Years’ celebrations in China Town in Amsterdam, including the colourful lion-dance and fireworks. The lion will dance from the Temple across China Town to the Nieuwmarkt and back. Secretary General at the Chinese Entrepreneurs Society Amsterdam, John Lie, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.chineseondernemers.nl

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CEO ARCADIS Europe Erik Blokhuis opens trading for ‘Sustainable Cities Index’

Erik Blokhuis, CEO of the European branch of ARCADIS (ticker symbol; ARCAD), a global design and consultancy firm for the natural and built environment, opens trading at Euronext Amsterdam. Research by ARCADIS shows that Amsterdam and Rotterdam are highly sustainable cities, ranked respectively fourth and fifth in a global ranking.

Sustainability is of great importance, since sustainable cities offer a higher quality of life, high prosperity and lower levels of greenhouse gas emission. Worldwide, the most sustainable city is Frankfurt, followed by London and Copenhagen. The top 10 counts 7 European cities, as shown by the ‘Sustainable Cities Index’, recently published by ARCADIS.

“The Netherlands are performing well, because the Dutch have a tradition of creating qualitative living environments in small areas”, explains Blokhuis. In the city of Amsterdam, sustainability is on top of the agenda. One of the objectives is to maximize zero emission transport by 2025, by increasing the number of electrical charging outlets to four thousand. Moreover, two new cargo hubs will be created on the outskirts of the city, allowing transfer of goods. “Sustainability is an important topic for the city of Rotterdam as well. The port and city need to be more connected. We expect that thirty years from now, the population of the city centre will have doubled with a minimal environmental impact”.

For more information: www.sustainablecitiesindex.com

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Gong marks opening exhibition ‘Late Rembrandt’

On the occasion of the newly opened exhibition Late Rembrandt in the Rijksmuseum, Gregor Weber, head of Fine & Decorative Arts of the Rijksmuseum and composer of the exhibition, opens trading.

For the first time the Rijksmuseum will present a major show to Rembrandt’s late work, in Amsterdam, the city where it was created. With over a hundred pieces of art, Late Rembrandt presents a comprehensive overview of the artist's work between approximately 1651 and his death in 1669. In collaboration with the National Gallery of London, the artworks in the exhibition are on loan from leading international museums and private collections, many of which have been brought together for the first time.

The exhibition Late Rembrandt has been made possible by sponsors Philips and KPN, partners ING and Blockbusterfonds and benefactors Ammodo, Gieskes-Strijbis Fonds, Ammodo Foundation and Stichting Zabawas. The exhibition is on show until 17 May 2015.

For more information: www.rijksmuseum.nl/rembrandt

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Winners of investment competition Scholenstijd open trading

The winners of investment competition Scholenstrijd open trading at Beursplein 5. Zoë Louwe, student at Regius College Schagen, sounds the gong on behalf of her class.

Scholenstrijd is an online investment competition for HAVO and VWO high school students. Student receive a virtual starting capital of 100.000 euros which they can invest in stocks and mutual funds listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

For more information: www.scholenstrijd.nl 

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Amsterdam City opens trading for Amsterdam City Index launch

Business association Amsterdam City sounds the gong to celebrate the launch of the Amsterdam City Index. Amsterdam City is dedicated to improve the economic climate in the city centre of Amsterdam.

This year, the index is published for the seventh time and measures the economic climate through 30 trends in the Amsterdam City Centre XL; the area between Central Station and Cornelis Schuytstraat, Haarlemmerdijk and Carré theatre. In 2015, the index is at 120 which means a two-point increase compared to last year.

For more information: www.amsterdamcityindex.nl

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SnowWorld sounds gong to mark one-year listing anniversary

By sounding the gong, SnowWorld (symbol: SNOW) marks its one-year listing on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

The reverse listing in December 2013 did not only improve SnowWorlds solvency, but also provided them access to the capital markets. The company has thuss become less dependent on the future availability of bank credit for the execution of its strategy.

The process of the IPO and subsequent issue of new shares in February 2014 led to a further professionalization of SnowWorld. The introduction of a Supervisory Board has played an important role and SnowWorld has formulated a clear strategy. The implementation of this strategy will take place within a framework of risk management and corporate governance. CEO Koos Hendriks sounds the gong.

For more information: www.snowworld.com

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Emma Children’s Hospital and Albert Heijn sound gong for fundraising initiative

The Emma Children’s Hospital AMC and Albert Heijn sound the gong to call attention to a shared fundraising initiative.

This year, the Emma Children’s Hospital will celebrate it’s 150th birthday. This special occasion is an opportunity to build an internationally leading Intensive Care Neonatal Unit. In order to achieve this goal, the existing unit will need to be entirely renovated and further scientific research is needed.

A fund raising initiative was set up together with Albert Heijn. From February 10 until April 6, customers of 80 Albert Heijn stores may donate their recyclables refund money, with proceeds benefitting the Emma Children’s Hospital.

For more information: www.steunemma.nl

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