All Bell ceremonies

Fugro and NWP opening trading to mark World Water Day

Fugro and the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) sound the gong to mark World Water Day. Theme of World Water Day 2015 is ‘Water and Sustainable Development’.

Within this theme young water engineers of Fugro (ticker symbol: FUR) developed GeoRiskPortal, a socio-technological innovation. Using smart sensors and data visualization, the behaviour of the soil and flood risks are made transparent. The outcome of the measurements supports governments, contractors and industrial companies in making informed decisions to protect sensitive areas worldwide (Risk Reduction).

In 1992, theUnited Nations (UN) proclaimed March 22 as World Water Day. Each member of the UN has committed itself to use this day to create awareness among the general public and industry partners on the national and global water problems by organizing activities that fit within the national context. In 2015, this day will be held on Friday, 20 March. NWP, who organizes the World Water Day Netherlands together with Aqua for All, has been working for 15 years in the international position of the Dutch water sector. Consultant Flood Control at Fugro, Remon Pot and CEO NWP, Lennart Silvis, sound the gong.

For more information: www.fugro.nl and www.nwp.nl

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CFO NN Group celebrates inclusion in the AEX-Index

CFO of NN Group (symbol: NN), Delfin Rueda, celebrates the inclusion of NN Group in the AEX-Index® by sounding the gong.

CEO Lard Friese:"The inclusion of NN Group in the AEX-Index represents another important milestone for our company and will increase our visibility in the market. Going forward, we will continue to keep a sharp eye on our strategic direction, and a clear focus on executing our strategy to achieve our objectives of generating capital and improving earnings, while delivering excellent service and products to our customers."

The AEX-Index is a free-float market capitalization weighted index that reflects the performance of the 25 largest shares listed on Euronext Amsterdam, and is the most widely used indicator of the Dutch stock market. The index serves as a basis for more than 2,000 products, such as; structured products, funds, exchange traded funds, options and futures. The inclusion of NN Group will be effective from Monday 23 March 2015.

Furthermore, on this national day of back luck, there is attention for the action #waterookgebeurt. Today anyone who shares his or her bad luck on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #waterookgebeurt can count on the help of the claims managers of Nationale-Nederlanden.

For more information: www.nn-group.com

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Gong ceremony marks 2015 World Kidney Day

The Kidney Patients Association of the Netherlands sounds the gong to mark the start of the 2015 World Kidney Day, and the launch of a new book of photographs highlighting kidney patients.

World Kidney Day (WKD) is an annual event that aims to focus attention on the importance of healthy kidneys. This year’s theme is “Take good care of you kidneys. Know your values!”. Special attention will be given to people with diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and clogged arteries, all of whom have an increased risk of developing kidney disease. The first copy of the new book will be presented during the gong ceremony. The book was compiled by photographer Marja Poldermans, whose own daughter suffers from kidney disease. It portrays fifteen young kidney patients; in the interviews that accompany the photos, these young people talk about living with kidney disease.

For more information: www.worldkidneyday.nl

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Child & Youth Finance International marks Global Money Week 2015

Global Money Week is an international money awareness event which takes place annually in the second week of March. Global Money Week engages children worldwide in learning how money works, including saving, creating livelihoods, gaining employment, and entrepreneurship.

Global Money Week is an initiative of Child & Youth Finance International (CYFI) an internationally charity working out of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to increase the economic citizenship of children. By working closely with national authorities, global multi-laterals, civil society leaders and financial service providers ,CYFI will ensure that 100 million children and youth in 100 countries will be reached through high quality financial education by the end of 2015. To date 36 million young people in 125 countries have been reached through this ‘Child and Youth Finance Movement’, with the endorsement and support of the European Parliament, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), G20 Turkish Presidency and the United Nations.

For more information: www.globalmoneyweek.org and www.childfinanceinternational.org

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Five years of financial literacy for Dutch youth with LEF foundation

By sounding the gong the Life and Finance (LEF) Foundation celebrates her 5^th anniversary.

Together with the financial industry, LEF developed a curriculum which teaches youngsters between 15-22 years age how to spend money in a responsible way. LEF has already helped more than 8,000 young people in dealing with the opportunities and risks of money. The initiative is made possible through the support of partners including BNP Paribas, De Lage Landen, Novisource, Everest, Yellowtail, Hemels van der Hart, Nationale Hypotheek Garantie, Dukers & Baelemans and Welten. Managing director Gijs Wintzen, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.lefnet.nl

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Dutch banks sound gong for Money Week

By sounding the gong Dutch banks ask attention for the Week van het Geld (Money Week) and the initiative "Bank voor de klas” (banks in the classroom).

Money Week  is an initiative of more than 40 organizations working together to learn children how money works.  Dutch banks and the Dutch Banking Association (NVB) consider it important to learn children how to deal with money. That's why, this year, 4500 financial guest lectures at 2000 schools are given in the “Bank voor de klas" program, one of the components of the Money Week. Participating banks are ABN AMRO, Achmea Bank, ASR Bank, BNG Bank, Delta Lloyd Bank, ING, NIBC, NWB Bank, Rabobank, SNS, Staalbankiers, Theodoor Gilissen, Triodos Bank and Van Lanschot. Chairman of the NVB, Eelco Dubbeling, opens trading.

For more information:www.bankvoordeklas.nl

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AkzoNobel CFO sounds gong ahead of International Women’s Day

AkzoNobel CFO Maëlys Castella sounds the gong at Euronext Amsterdam, just two days ahead of International Women’s Day. At the other Euronext locations, trading is also opened in honor of International Women’s Day.

The ceremony is performed in partnership with renowned language institute Regina Coeli, also known as The Nuns of Vught, who have worked together with AkzoNobel for many years.“As a global company, we value and embrace diversity in all forms as a way of enhancing our activities,” said Maëlys. “Working with different nationalities and cultures is particularly relevant for AkzoNobel, which is why our partnership with Regina Coeli is so important.” The French national, Maëlys became AkzoNobel’s first ever female CFO when she was officially appointed in September.

AkzoNobel is a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with approximately 47,000 employees in around 80 countries.Language Institute Regina Coeli is a renowned institute for language learning in a short amount of time. Regina Coeli provides individual training to learn Chinese, German, English, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish. The more than 150 employees originate from over twenty different countries.

For more information: www.akzonobel.com and www.reginacoeli.com

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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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