All Bell ceremonies

Algorithmic Trading Group, Ltd. sounds gong as a new Euronext member

Director and co-owner of Algorithmic Trading Group (ATG) Ltd., Tom Voute, opens trading by sounding the gong. ATG celebrates its recent admission as a cash member of Euronext.

ATG is a young trading company founded in October 2008 in Hong Kong, by Bob Collin, Chun Wing Man and Tom Voute. ATG specializes in high frequency automated trading on the major financial markets around the world. ATG has offices in Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Curacao.

For more information: www.algorithmictradinggroup.com

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CDP visits Euronext for ‘CDP Benelux Climate Leadership Awards Conference’

By sounding the gong CDP marks the start of the ‘CDP Benelux Climate Leadership Awards Conference’ that takes place at Euronext Amsterdam.

Companies and investors come together to discuss how investors use environmental data and which corporate mitigation and adaptation solutions are paving the way to a greener economy. The 2014 Benelux report’s key findings and company results will be introduced, and for the first time, CDP will hand out awards for the climate leaders in the Benelux region.

CDP is an international, not-for-profit organization providing the only global system for companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information. CDP now holds the largest collection globally of primary climate change, water and forest risk commodities information and puts these insights at the heart of strategic business, investment and policy decisions. CDP’s Director for the France & Benelux regions, Laurent Babikian, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.cdp.net

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Gong marks start of Ordina Open Innovation Day

By sounding the gong Partner SMART Technologies, Richard van Tilborg, CEO Stépan Breedveld, and CFO Jolanda Poots-Bijl, mark the start of the Ordina Open Innovation Day that takes place on 29 October. The theme of the day is ‘Humanisation of IT’.

During the Open Innovation Day, the winners of the Public Challenge are announced. The Challenge is the innovation competition that is organised each year. This year’s competition is focussed on Ordina’s employees, clients and suppliers to realise innovations with a social impact. The five finalists will have a chance to make their pitches and the public and the jury will decide who wins the challenge. The Innovation Challenge was initiated by Ordina to offer small organisations and start-ups a platform for their innovative ideas.

Ordina is a services provider in the field of consulting, solutions and IT in the Benelux and focusses on the financial services sector, public sector, healthcare sector and a number of specific segments in the industry sector. More than 2,900 employees use their know-how and expertise on a daily basis to future-proof, rejuvenate and improve corporate processes and IT by implementing strategy and policies on the basis of real knowledge of clients’ business, local laws and regulations, language and culture.

For more information: www.ordina.nl

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Gong marks IPO Probiodrug

By sounding the gong, CEO of Probiodrug (Trading symbol PBD), Dr Konrad Glund, celebrates the IPO of Probiodrug. Mr. Glund is accompanied by amongst others, Dr Hendrik Liebers, CFO and Dr Inge Lues, Chief Development Officer of Probiodrug.

Headquartered in Halle, Germany, Probiodrug AG is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new therapeutic products for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. Founded in 1997, the company successfully developed a novel therapeutic concept for diabetes – the DP4 inhibitors – which provided the basis for a novel class of antidiabetics – the gliptins. Its core capabilities are based on its long-standing expertise in the elucidation of the structure and function of enzymes involved in the modification of proteins and peptides which play a central role in pathological conditions.

Today Probiodrug’s aim is to become a leading company in the development of Alzheimer’s Disease treatments and to thereby provide a better life for Alzheimer’s Disease patients. It has identified a new therapeutic concept linked to disease initiation and progression. The development approaches are targeting pyroglutamate-Abeta (pGlu-Abeta) as a therapeutic strategy to fight Alzheimer’s Disease. The Company has medical use and composition of matter patents related to the inhibition of QC and anti-pGlu-Abeta- specific monoclonal antibodies, providing it, in the Company’s view, with a leading position in this field of research.

Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurological disorder, which is the most common form of dementia, and ultimately leads to death. Because Alzheimer’s Disease cannot be cured and is degenerative, the affected patients must increasingly rely on others for assistance. Today, over 35 million people worldwide currently live with the condition and this number is expected to double by 2030 and to more than triple by 2050 to 115 million (World Alzheimer Report 2013).

For more information: www.probiodrug.de

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International Day of United Nations

By sounding the gong Renée Jones-Bos, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, raises awareness for the International Day of United Nations (UN).

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is deeply committed to promoting the core work of the UN at the highest level. That is why the Kingdom is a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Candidate for the period 2017-2018. “The Kingdom of the Netherlands, Your Partner for Peace Justice and Development” is the slogan that reflects this international ambition. The Kingdom of the Netherlands is one of the founding members of the UN, which was established exactly 69 years ago. Today, the UN is still the main organization for international peace and security, human rights and development, with the UNSC as its most powerful body.

For more information: www.rijksoverheid.nl

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NBWM celebrates winning the National Business Success Award

The Nederlandsche Betaal & Wisselmaatschappij (NBWM) is a new non-bank provider of currency exchange and international payment services for Dutch SME. By sounding the gong the winning of the National Business Success Award in the category ‘Specialist Financial Services’ is marked.

The jury: "NBWM is a reliable money-saving alternative for entrepreneurs in foreign exchange transactions. The organization offers better and according to experts the best exchange rates. Thanks to the innovative, cost-effective organization with a personal, customer-focused and proactive service, the organization offers an unprecedented attractive economic benefit to its customers."

NBWM focuses on serving medium-sized and small companies with international payment or currency conversion requirements. The office is located at Beursplein 5. Managing Partner and co-founder, Pieter-Jan Datema, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.nbwm.nl

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Inverko sounds gong for circular economy

By sounding the gong the CEO of recycling specialist Inverko (ticker symbol: INVER), Henk Alssema, marks the start of the cooperation with Friesian waste- and collection company Omrin and its umbrella company Midwaste.

With the same vision on waste the chain partners found each other on their way to a circular economy. Inverko, Omrin and Midwaste consider waste as raw material. The collaboration consists of developing sustainable projects where domestic plastic waste is processed into raw material. From this raw material products are created that can be delivered to municipalities and consumers. This life cycle cooperation not only delivers a saving of raw materials and a reduction in waste, but also products that are still valuable at the end of their service life. That means in addition to ecological economical capital appreciation.

“Closing the loops” is a sustainable project in which Inverko and Omrin with their project partners Philips, Lankhorst, Cumapol and Stenden University join forces. By sharing knowledge and technologies, collector, recyclers and producers are able to reprocess more waste streams to raw material into new products. This project is supported by the Province of Friesland and the packaging industry.

For more information: www.inverko.nl

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CEO Randstad Group Netherlands, Chris Heutink and television host Lucille Werner sound gong to mark cooperation

CEO Randstad Group Netherlands and member of the board of Randstad Holding, Chris Heutink and Lucille Werner, television host and founder of the Lucille Werner Foundation, sound the gong to mark their new cooperation.

The partners are combining forces to empower people with disabilities and prepare them for their own spot on the labor market. The Lucille Werner Foundation has the knowledge on how to reach, mobilize and empower people with a disability in order to make them job ready. Randstad (ticker symbol: RAND) is familiar with the business and supports and accompanies employers to hire employees with a disability. The two parties combining results in greater force. January 1st 2015 is the starting date for the law on participation. With this law, the government hopes to create more job opportunities for people with a disability. With this cooperation Randstad and the Lucille Werner Foundation hope to make this law a success.

For more information: www.lucillewernerfoundation.nl

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CEO and CFO Sligro Food Group celebrate 25th listing anniversary

CEO Koen Slippens and CFO Huub van Rozendaal from Sligro Food Group N.V. (ticker symbol: SLIGR) sound the gong  to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the company's listing.

In 1989, Sligro Beheer N.V., as the former Slippens family business was then known, was floated in order to raise capital to finance further growth. The past 25 years can best be described as a period of value creation. At the time of its listing in 1989, the company had net sales of €190 million and net profit of €2.8 million. The issue price was NLG 52 (now €1.18), and following the issue the company's market capitalization stood at €28 million. The company progressed from the Parallel Market to the AScX index, and today it is included in the AMX index. Sligro Food Group N.V. currently has annual net sales of €2.5 billion with net profit of almost €70 million and a market capitalization of €1.2 billion. The average compound return over 25 years amounts to 17% a year. An interim dividend will be made payable on Monday, 20 October to mark the anniversary of the company's listing.

Sligro Food Group encompasses food retail and foodservice companies selling directly and indirectly to the entire Dutch food and beverages market. The Group is active in foodservice as a wholesaler (Sligro and Van Hoeckel) and in food retail (EMTÉ supermarkets) as a wholesaler and retailer.

For more information: www.sligrofoodgroup.nl

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Gong marks Amsterdam Marathon 2014

By sounding the gong the launch of the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, the running event that’s taking place this Sunday the 19^th of October, is marked.

A record number of 42,500 participants take part in the marathon. With 16,000 entries for the classic distance the marathon is the biggest marathon of the Netherlands. No less than 89 different nationalities are represented and the event will be broadcast live on television in at least 130 countries.

Manon Schutter, the face of the TCS Amsterdam Marathon Superhero campaign, sounds the gong. With this campaign runners and supporters were asked to share their stories on social media with #TCSsuperheroes.The Superheroes concept recognizes that behind every runner there is a story of individual achievement. Regular people make superhuman efforts to train for the race and strive for their personal bests, while very humanely contributing generously towards the research of VUmc Cancer Center Amsterdam, the official charity of the event.

For more information: www.tcsamsterdammarathon.nl

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Vanguard celebrates listing three new ETFs

Vanguard, one of the world’s largest investment management companies, celebrates the listing of three new Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) on Euronext Amsterdam.

The ETFs provide investors with international diversification across North America, the developed world, and developed Europe excluding the UK. The new products are available for trading on the Amsterdam market as of today. The Vanguard FTSE North America UCITS ETF, Vanguard FTSE Developed Europe ex-UK UCITS ETF and Vanguard FTSE Developed World UCITS ETF will enable investors to construct a more diversified equity portfolio. With the addition of these products to its existing range of ETFs, Euronext currently has 611 ETFs listed on its markets.

To celebrate the listing, Institutional Sales Executive, Marcel Danen, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.vanguard.nl

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The Financial Planner of the Year, Alex Erlings, sounds gong

The winner of the 2014 FFP Financial Planner of the Year Award, Alex Erlings, working as FFP certified financial planner at Rabobank Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, visits Euronext Amsterdam and sounds the gong.

The competition is the initiative of the Federation of Financial Planners (FFP). 800 financial planners attended this year’s ceremony, which was held during the FFP Conference on 9 October. The jury report determined 50% of the final score, while the public determined the other 50% following elevator pitches given by the three finalists. The jury’s vote is based primarily on the candidate’s ability to interpret the clients’ needs correctly, to offer an appropriate form of planning in response to those needs, and to do so in a way that the client can understand.

According to FFP managing director Bert Sonneveld: “A planner who is worthy of the FFP quality mark has to score well on these elements, and be capable of building a long-term relationship of trust with the client. We hope that this will help to restore consumer trust in the entire financial sector. Those who do it right, deserve to be called the planner of the year.” In addition to the title, Erlings receives an in-depth course aimed at improving skills, or a business course of his choice.

For more information: www.ffp.nl

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Light for the World sounds gong for ‘EmployAble’ project

By sounding the gong the Light for the World foundation draws attention for the ‘EmployAble’ project in Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda, which aims to help young people with disabilities to find paid work.

The foundation thinks it is totally obsolete that people with disabilities stand aside. They can fully participate in society provided that a few basic conditions are met. Light for the World strivesto give disabled people, just like those who consider themselves able, a fair chance to participate. Light for the World and the Groenhorst College make TVETs (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) accessible for youngsters with disabilities and work closely with local companies to ensure that education matches with the demand. Companies like Techno Brain, Toyota, Stantec and Infomind already joined and the foundation calls upon companies in The Netherlands and the rest of the world to follow their example. Student Mirjam Priem, traveling later this year to Ethiopia to participate in the project, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.lightfortheworld.nl

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Gong marks listing Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

William A. Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, sounds the gong to mark the listing of Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd,(ticker symbol: PSH).

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. is an investment holding company structured as a closed end fund that is an active investor and owner of large minority stakes in North American, large-capitalization public companies.

William A. Ackman said: “We are delighted to list Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. on Euronext Amsterdam.  The listing will dramatically expand our shareholder base improving the stability of our capital and our ability to implement our long-term, active investment strategy.”

Jos Dijsselhof, acting CEO of Euronext Amsterdam said: “We are very pleased to welcome Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. to our market today. The choice of Euronext as the listing venue by a leading investor shows the credibility that Euronext enjoys amongst the investment community.”

Anne Louise Metz, Head of Listings of Euronext Amsterdam, added: “Sophisticated investors look to the stock markets for the permanent capital it can provide. Euronext is an attractive venue for these funds and we expect to see continued interest in permanent capital vehicles from the fund community. We are delighted to support Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. in realizing its objectives and look forward to a long-standing partnership with the firm.”

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Gong marks listing Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

William A. Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, sounds the gong to mark the listing of Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd,(ticker symbol: PSH).

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. is an investment holding company structured as a closed end fund that is an active investor and owner of large minority stakes in North American, large-capitalization public companies.

William A. Ackman said: “We are delighted to list Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. on Euronext Amsterdam.  The listing will dramatically expand our shareholder base improving the stability of our capital and our ability to implement our long-term, active investment strategy.”

Jos Dijsselhof, acting CEO of Euronext Amsterdam said: “We are very pleased to welcome Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. to our market today. The choice of Euronext as the listing venue by a leading investor shows the credibility that Euronext enjoys amongst the investment community.”

Anne Louise Metz, Head of Listings of Euronext Amsterdam, added: “Sophisticated investors look to the stock markets for the permanent capital it can provide. Euronext is an attractive venue for these funds and we expect to see continued interest in permanent capital vehicles from the fund community. We are delighted to support Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. in realizing its objectives and look forward to a long-standing partnership with the firm.”

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Gong marks launch of Reumabeweegwijzer

The Dutch Arthritis Foundation launches a special online tool for people with arthritis, called the Reumabeweegwijzer (‘Arthritis Exercise Guide’). Using this guide, patients can easily search for local sports’ activities. The guide stimulates them to get into action because sensible exercises for people with arthritis can reduce their complaints. The guide is launched before World Arthritis Day, that takes place on Sunday 12 October.

“We want to stimulate patients to start exercising. Even if you have arthritis, you can find sports’ activities that fit your possibilities”, explains Sija de Jong, manager patients’ Advocacy at the Dutch Arthritis Foundation. “The exercise programs are given by expert therapists, so patients are reassured that the exercises are adapted to their abilities." The sports’ activities are organized by patients’ associations and co-funded by the Dutch Arthritis Foundation.

Prof. Thea Vliet Vlieland, Professor of Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy stresses the importance of exercising: ”Research shows that exercising helps people with arthritis. The muscles become stronger and it keeps joints flexible. It also improves endurance”. Coco Broeken, ambassador of the 2014 Dutch Arthritis Foundation campaign, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.reumabeweegwijzer.nl

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Gong marks 15th anniversary Valid Express

Valid Express courier service celebrates its 15th anniversary. To mark that moment, CEO Sanne Beekhuis-Van Huijstee sounds the gong and donates 15% of its total daily revenues to the Liliane Fonds, a foundation that helps children and youth with a disability in developing countries, offering opportunities for education and employment.

Long before sustainable employability became a hot topic on the political agenda, Valid Express was founded in 1999 as a courier service that employed couriers with a physical disability. The company rapidly grew and became part of the PostNL family. PostNL is listed on Euronext Amsterdam (ticker symbol: PNL).

The growth Valid Express has shown over the years proves that employees with a disability are extremely valuable to a company. “Our colleagues may have a physical disability, but their minds are as sharp as ever and they are proud and responsible in their job,” says Sanne Beekhuis-Van Huijstee, managing director of Valid Express. “The Valid Express ambition is to employ at least 120 drivers with uncooperative bodies or a chronic illness by 2020.” The Valid Express couriers help clients who have an important consignment that has to be delivered quickly and with a 100% guarantee. The shipment is not part of the overall flow of parcels; instead, it is tracked individually. Valid Express also handles urgent courier jobs, like ‘Room Shopping’ services for hotels near the 9 Straatjes district in Amsterdam, and regular courier runs with confidential documents.

For more information: www.validexpress.nl

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Nyenrode Business University sounds gong for Private Investor Program

Nyenrode Business University and Oxyor sound the gong for the Private Investor Program.

Participants actively learn to analyse and manage their own investment portfolios according to the latest insights in the field of investing. Participants are being taught by top experts who assist them in every step making the right investment decisions. After successful completion of the 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. Jan Willem Bloemen, participant of the Program, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.executiveeducation.nl

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