All Bell ceremonies

Verenigde Nederlandse Compagnie

Verenigde Nederlandse Compagnie opens trading

Verenigde Nederlandse Compagnie (ticker symbol: VNC) opens trading at the Amsterdam exchange by sounding the gong.

Geert Schaaij, the CEO of Verenigde Nederlandse Compagnie, formerly Roto Smeets, has symbolically launched a new listed investment fund by sounding the gong.

The fund has three clear objectives; all acquisitions should have positive cash flow, a clear business model and have a growth potential which can create value per share. The objective is also directed to a solid dividend policy.

For more information: www.vncnv.nl

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BE Semiconductor Industries

BE Semiconductor Industries celebrates 20th listing anniversary

BE Semiconductor Industries (ticker symbol: BESI) celebrates its 20th anniversary as a public company by opening trading on Euronext Amsterdam with the sounding of the gong.

Richard Blickman, CEO of Besi commented: “We are pleased to be here today to commemorate our initial listing as a public company 20 years ago. Since our inception as a public company in 1995, it has been an exciting journey as Besi has grown from being a local Dutch system and tooling manufacturer to become one of the leading semiconductor assembly equipment manufacturers in the world.’’

Besi is a leading supplier of semiconductor assembly equipment for the global semiconductor and electronics industries offering high levels of accuracy, productivity and reliability at a low cost of ownership. The company develops leading edge assembly processes and equipment for lead frame, substrate and wafer level packaging applications in a wide range of end-user markets including electronics, mobile internet, computer, automotive, industrial, LED and solar energy. Customers are primarily leading semiconductor manufacturers, assembly subcontractors and electronics and industrial companies.

For more information: www.besi.com

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Business Walk of Fame

Nominees Business Walk of Fame visit Beursplein 5

The Business Walk of Fame praises companies that are committed to an inclusive labour market. On World Disability Day, 3 December, the Lucille Werner Foundation announces the winners of the Business Walk of Fame 2015. Lucille Werner, in presence of the nominees, calls attention to the importance of an inclusive labour market by sounding the gong.

The Business Walk of Fame is a promenade of tiles on the Claude Debussylaan at Zuidas Amsterdam. Lucille Werner: ‘’In a time where companies are forced to think about this subject in regards to the law of participation, we want to show a positive stimulating project to reward the companies that have taken their first steps.’’ The jury has selected the nominees and winners from the applications. The jury consists of several representatives from the industry, government and interests groups, as well as last year’s winners.

For more information: www.lucillewernerfoundation.nl

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Shell LiveWIRE Award 2015

Finalists Shell LiveWIRE Award 2015 sound gong

Shell LiveWIRE Award 2015 finalists, Alexander Gunkel of Skytree, Marcel Fleuren of ECO-L, and Maja Rudinac of Robot Care Systems open the trading day, Alexander Gunkel sounds the gong.

Shell LiveWIRE is an international programme initiated by Shell (ticker symbol: RDSA) that aims to help young, innovative entrepreneurs develop their business. Each year over 800 entrepreneurs receive free professional coaching and training through personal coaching, master classes as well as access to an expert network.

The Chamber of Commerce implements Shell LiveWIRE program in the Netherlands. The programme is active in 15 countries.

For more information: www.livewire.nl

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De Salon of Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

De Salon of Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra opens trading

The trading day is opened by members and partners of De Salon; the business circle of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, musicians, and board members of the Foundation Donors Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Four young orchestral musicians - violinists Sylvia Huang and Mirelys Morgan Verdecia, violist Martina Forni and cellist Honorine Schaeffer - form GoYa Quartet. On 27 October, the Prix de Salon was awarded to them at the office of Euronext. Prior to the sounding of the gong they will give a musical performance.

The Prix de Salon is given annually by the business circle of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra awarded to musicians of the orchestra. GoYa quartet wants to organize a series of three concerts with music by Brahms and Schumann, where the audience is involved with the music in a special way.

For more information: www.concertgebouworkest.nl

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Credion

Credion and EnterNext offer financing solutions to SMEs

The collaboration between Credion and EnterNext commences by sounding the gong at Beursplein 5. With a positive view on entrepreneurship and a large and valuable network, Credion and EnterNext will contribute to financing solutions for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).

Carlo van der Weg, director Credion Association, sees this cooperation as an important opportunity for SMEs: "Lending is an important issue for SMEs. Entrepreneurs should have the opportunity to choose from a diverse range of funding options. Together with EnterNext, we offer SMEs several excellent alternatives. "

EnterNext is a subsidiary of Euronext, and focuses on listed and unlisted small and medium sized companies with a market capitalization of less than €1 billion. EnterNext is specially created to assist and encourage small- and medium sized companies in their growth.

Credion is a national consultancy established in 2001 with over 45 offices spread across the country. Credion specializes in raising debt financing for SMEs. Due to its rural position and its many guided transactions, Credion is able to provide more channels for funding.

For more information: www.credion.nl

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Partnership Commerzbank and Turbotrends

Commerzbank and Turbotrends celebrate partnership by sounding gong

Commerzbank celebrates its partnership with Turbotrends by sounding the gong at the Amsterdam exchange.

As an issuer of Warrants and certificates, Commerzbank offers a comprehensive range of financial instruments in Europe. With an offer of more than 160.000 products and many years of experience, Commerzbank is one of the largest and most prominent issuers of structured financial products in Europe. Turbotrends is an independent financial information company that has been active since 1996.

Together with this new partner, Commerzbank organizes various activities, such as webinars, seminars and a weekly Turbo chat. The goal of the collaboration is to better inform retail customers about the functioning of the product offered by the Commerzbank, and inspire customers to use them. Turbotrends will provide analyses, news updates and practical tips. Christophe Cox of Commerzbank sounds the gong.

For more information: www.beurs.commerzbank.com

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SME Idea Election

Winner SME Idea Election celebrates victory

The winner of the SME IDEA Election, Keyplan, opens trading at the Amsterdam exchange.

The gong ceremony marks the conclusion of the SME IDEA Election, and is attended by the winner and a representation of the founders MKB-Nederland and KPN (ticker symbol: KPN). Keyplan is a real-time solution which manages the whole facility section of a holiday park; from housekeeping to technical services. 

The SME IDEA Election is all about ‘growth by ICT’. Which innovations help an entrepreneur to realize the best growth? MKB-Nederland and KPN searched together for entrepreneurs that by implementing new technologies achieved growth for their business. MKB-Nederland and KPN organized the SME IDEA Election for the second time.

For more information: www.mkbideeverkiezing.nl 

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Women in Science

Winners For Women in Science sound gong

Doris van Halem and Femke Nijboer are this year’s winners of the For Women In Science-fellowships and open trading at Beursplein 5.

For Women in Science is an initiative of Euronext-listed cosmetics company L’Oréal (ticker symbol: OR), UNESCO, LNVH and the Netherlands Institute for Advance Study, and yearly awards excellent female scientists. For Women in Science offers two female scientists support for their research by granting them 25.000 euro and a stay at the prestigious NIAS campus.

Van Halem (33) is assistant professor at the department Water Management and Sanitary Engineering at the TU Delft and won the fellowship with her research to the use of nanotechnology for creating safe drinking water. Nijboer (35) won the fellowships for her research to systems that help people with a neurologic disease to better communicate.

For more information: www.loreal.com 

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Week of the Entrepreneur

Sounding of the gong dedicated to Week of the Entrepreneur

The opening of the Amsterdam exchange is dedicated to the Week of the Entrepreneur. This week, the 128th edition of the Week of the Entrepreneur takes place at the RAI in Amsterdam. Over 235,000 businesses have attended the event over the past 18 years. 3000 visitors are expected to visit this week.

The Week of the Entrepreneur is a platform for entrepreneurs who focus on the future of their business. In a single day, SME entrepreneurs are inspired by top entrepreneurs and specialists, and meet many fellow entrepreneurs. Maarten van Druten and Remko Wouters are the founders of Synpact, organizers of the Week of the Entrepreneur. Together they sound the gong to open trading.

For more information: www.weekvandeondernemer.nl

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Startupbootcamp HighTechXL

Startupbootcamp HighTechXL visits EnterNext

Startupbootcamp HighTechXL opens trading to introduce the participating start-ups in their accelerator program.

Ten startup teams participate in the third edition of Startupbootcamp HighTechXL. They were selected from over 10.000 high-tech start-ups worldwide. Today they are guests at Euronext to pitch to potential investors and relations of program partners such as EY and ABN AMRO. After an intensive three months at High Tech Campus Eindhoven, the teams will present themselves to the public on Thursday 26 November during Demo Day ‘3X Stronger’.

Patrick Gabriëls, cofounder of Startupbootcamp HighTechXL and partner at EY, sounds the gong:  “Startupbootcamp HighTechXL helps promising high-tech start-ups in their growth acceleration. By opening our network to these start-ups, we stimulate them to have a smooth lift off. Opening trading with the teams and our business relations is a symbolic moment.”

For more information: www.hightechxl.com

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IPO ABN AMRO

ABN AMRO lists on Euronext Amsterdam

ABN AMRO (ticker code: ABN) began trading today on the Amsterdam market of Euronext, after its successful Initial Public Offering (IPO).

ABN AMRO is a leading Dutch full service bank with a transparent and client-driven business model, a moderate risk profile, a clean balance sheet with predominantly traditional banking products, and a strong capital position and funding profile.

“This is a special day for ABN AMRO and we congratulate them on their successful IPO and listing”, Maurice van Tilburg, CEO of Euronext Amsterdam said. “The privatisation of ABN AMRO through a listing on our market is a great achievement and a logical step for this leading Dutch bank with long-standing roots in the financial industry. Euronext Amsterdam is proud to fulfill its role as a capital raising centre for companies, large, mid and small, which is fundamental for the Dutch economy.”

Gerrit Zalm, Chairman of the Managing Board, celebrated the company’s listing by sounding the gong which denotes the opening of trading on Euronext.

For more information: www.abnamro.com 

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Beleggersfair

Closing gong Beleggersfair marks ending Week of the Investor

The sounding of the closing gong concludes the Investor Fair, as well as the Week of the Investor 2015. Martine Hafkamp of Fintessa performed the symbolic act on stage at the RAI Congress Centre in Amsterdam.

The Week of the Investor started last Saturday. During the Week of the Investor, there was a lot of attention for information and education for both beginners and experienced investors. The Investors Fair in the Amsterdam RAI Congress Centre concluded the week. Besides Euronext, knowledge partners included Nyenrode Business University, VEB, NIBUD and Hogeschool van Amsterdam. The association for sustainable investment, VDBO, provided a number of program elements.

For more information: www.beleggersfair.nl 

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Photo: Frans Kurstjens

iShares AEX UCITS ETF

iShares celebrates 10 year anniversary iShares AEX UCITS ETF

Today iShares, the exchange-traded funds offering of BlackRock, celebrates the 10 years’ listing of its iShares AEX UCITS ETF on Euronext Amsterdam. This fund was one of the first ETFs to come to market in continental Europe, a market that has evolved to a whole new stage of growth with new users and new uses emerging for ETFs.

The iShares AEX UCITS ETF is a physically replicating fund which offers an opportunity to track the performance of an index composed of 25 of the largest Dutch companies listed on Euronext Amsterdam. As investors are increasingly looking for ways to diversify their portfolios, the fund has steadily grown in size over the years, with even more interest over the last few months. Since inception, the fund has grown to 396 M Euro, and currently has a total expense ratio of 30 basis points.

For more information: www.blackrock.com 

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Dual listing WDP

Euronext Amsterdam welcomes WDP

Euronext Amsterdam welcomes the listing of logistics real estate company WDP (ticker symbol: WDP), a market leader in the Benelux.

WDP has a growing share of the Netherlands’ region in the company’s property portfolio. Its strong property portfolio in the Dutch market includes warehouses for wehkamp, Action and Kuehne + Nagel. This listing on Euronext Amsterdam strengthens the company’s profile and visibility on the Dutch property market and among Dutch investors.

To celebrate the listing, Tony De Pauw and Joost Uwents, CEO’s of WDP, sound the gong to open trading on Euronext’s markets.

For more information: www.wdp.be

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Young Captain Award

Young Captain Award winner sounds gong at Beursplein 5

Aukje Doornbos, Senior Advisor to the CEO of Royal DSM, is the winner of the 2015 Young Captain Award and sounds the gong at Beursplein 5.

The Young Captain Award is an annual award given to a business leader who, at an early stage in his or her career, already has a major impact on the company itself and displays an option on economic and social level. The finalists are the Captains of Industry of tomorrow.

For the first time in the eleven-year history of the award, all three finalists were female. Besides winner Aukje Doornbos, Wendy Hamburg, Head of Projects at the Port of Rotterdam, and Wendy Verschoor, Director Division Buildings for Arcadis Netherlands were nominated.

The award was presented in Museum Boijmans van Beuningen. The accompanying sculpture was presented by Secretary General Maarten Camps, who did so on behalf of Minister of Economic Affairs Henk Kamp.

For more information: www.youngcaptainaward.nl 

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Week of the Investor

Partners of the Week of the Investor open trading

Partners of the Week of the Investor open trading at Beursplein 5.

The Week of the Investor, in which the Week of Sustainable Investment of the VBDO is integrated, is an initiative of TRIPLE i. The week started on Saturday 14 November with a twelve page special in De Telegraaf, and an item in RTL Business Class the following day. Throughout the week, there will be several educational programs each day, culminating in the Investor Fair on Friday 20 November at the RAI Amsterdam. The VEB organizes its annual congress, the Nibud a seminar, The Asset its conference and the Mortgage Business Club a master class, along with twenty master classes and webinars of several financial parties.

The Investors Fair is the largest Dutch platform where thousands of investors and financial providers meet to share knowledge and vision.

For more information: www.weekvandebelegger.nl 

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Orange Trade Mission Fund

Winners Orange Trade Mission Fund open trade at Beursplein 5

The winners of the Orange Trade Mission Fund open trade in Amsterdam. The Orange Trade Mission Fund is an initiative of ING, KLM, SME Netherlands and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland.

Each year, the Orange Trade Mission Fund helps 10 SME’s achieve their international ambitions. Thanks to their international network, knowledge and experience, they can help the company successfully enter new foreign markets. The ten companies this year are: Arte Viva, Anker Stuy, Guide ID, NAÏF, Netics, Octatube, Oesterij, Oxipack, Tony Chocolonely and Yays.

For more information: www.oranjehandelsmissiefonds.nl

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