All Bell ceremonies

Movimento 2020 rings the opening bell in Lisbon

Zélia Santos, president of the Portuguese Association of Dieticians, along with promoters of Movimento 2020 rang the opening bell in Lisbon to celebrate the ‘World Food Day ’.

Movimento 2020 promotes and implements best practices regarding nutritional health and healthy lifestyle habits.

More information: www.movimento2020.org

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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First Ecofin Women Club at Euronext Brussels

On 14 October 2014, Dominique Leroy, CEO of Belgacom rang the Opening Bell on Euronext Brussels to celebrate the First Ecofin Women Club. The event was followed by a debate. Moderator was Martine Maelschalck, editor-in-chief of L’Echo.

To know more : www.ecofinclub.be

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 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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Closing Bell in Lisbon to celebrate the listing of 12 new ComStage ETFs

Miguel Geraldes, Head of Markets in Portugal,  joined Hélio da Silva Cláudio and José da Silva Pires from Commerzbank to ring the bell.

Press release

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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Bell Ceremony to welcome the 2014 European Biotech Week in Brussels

On 8 October 2014, Nathalie Moll, Secretary General of EuropaBio rang the Opening Bell together with Karin Baudin, VP Technology Transfer InsermTransfert of ENTENTE Project at Euronext Brussels. At this event, the partners of the ENTENTE-project together with the European Commission and EuropaBio announced on the podium the 5^th Most Innovative European Biotech SME Award and the ENTENTE Life Sciences Investment Forum, which are taking place during the 2014 European Biotech Week in Brussels.

Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Director, Directorate Health at DG Research and Innovation of the European Commission has held a short speech as well during the Bell Ceremony.

To know more : www.biotechweek.org

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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Wealth Management Partners celebrates 10th anniversary

Wealth Management Partners visits Euronext Amsterdam to attend an Exchange Meeting and to celebrate the 10^th anniversary.

Wealth Management Partners, located in Amstelveen, is specialized in the structured management of substantial assets. The company manages over € 1.3 billion for a limited number of clients. Managing partner, Albert van Dedem, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.wmpartners.nl

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New CIO Delta Lloyd Asset Management, Jacco Maters, visits Beursplein 5

New Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and Managing Director of Delta Lloyd Asset Management, Jacco Maters, visits Beursplein 5. As a fitting way to mark the start of his new responsibilities he sounds the gong.

As Maters says, "I’m really excited about this new challenge. Delta Lloyd is known for being an innovative investor with an independent and distinctive investment policy. I’m honoured to have the opportunity to lead Delta Lloyd Asset Management, where a strong, committed team is achieving good investment returns. I see sounding the gong as a bit like my joining Delta Lloyd: a new beginning that builds on many years of history and continuity. And with that in mind I’m going to do everything I can to ensure we continue achieving the best possible results for our clients."

Maters was previously Group Head of Equity and Group Head of Derivatives at Allianz  Investment Management in Germany, where he was responsible for Allianz’s global equity and derivatives investment strategy. He also served as a member of the Allianz Investments Supervisory Board for several years.

For more information: www.deltalloydassetmanagement.nl

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EY Master Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 opens trading

Winners of the EY Master Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 awardare Bert Meulman and Willem Blijdorp from B&S international.Bert Meulman opens trading by sounding the gong in the presence of winner of the Accelerating Entrepreneur Of The Year Paul Koppert from Koppert Biological Systems and Emerging Entrepreneur Of The Year Janneke Niessen from Improve Digital.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the largest competition for successful entrepreneurs in the world. The awards are presented in over 50 countries across the globe. This will be EY’s 19^th Entrepreneur Of The Year competition in the Netherlands for the encouragement and acknowledgement of successful entrepreneurship.

Program director, Andrea Vogel: "This year a lot of outstanding entrepreneurship was shown in the Entrepreneur Of The Year program. Good entrepreneurs are the trendsetters of the economy and it is simply true that entrepreneurs, more than average, contribute to innovation, job creation and prosperity. We congratulate the winners and all the finalists and thank them for their cooperation."

For more information: www.entrepreneuroftheyear.nl

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New CFO Wereldhave, Robert Bolier, visits Euronext

New CFO and statutory director of Wereldhave N.V., Robert Bolier, sounds the opening gong at Euronext Amsterdam to celebrate his appointment.

Wereldhave focuses on shopping centres in Northwest Europe and sustainable offices in Paris. In line with the retail structures in the core countries Belgium, the Netherlands and Finland, Wereldhave focuses on convenient shopping with shopping centres that are top-of-mind in catchment areas of at least 100,000 inhabitants within 10 minutes travel time. The shopping centres offer consumers 'convenient shopping': 90% of shopping needs, strong (inter) national tenants, fully embedded food and beverage functions and easy accessibility. In addition, Wereldhave is active in the Paris office market with a focus on sustainable offices. Robert Bolier is a seasoned CFO with extensive international experience in real estate. Bolier held the position of CFO ad interim at Wereldhave since April 10, 2014 succeeding Pieter Roozenboom who left the company as per April 15.Wereldhave has been listed on Euronext since September 1946 (ticker symbol: WHA).

For more information: www.wereldhave.com

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Chocolatemakers, winner DAM Award 2014, visits Amsterdam Exchange

The winner of the DAM Award 2014, Chocolatemakers of Amsterdam district North, sounds the gong and visits Euronext Amsterdam together with all the district winners, Bettina Bakt (winner district South), De Groene Paal (winner district Centre), Eco-logisch (winner district West), Goodbrandz (winner district New West) and RAU (winner district East).

The DAM Award is a business award that helps make sustainable entrepreneurs visible in Amsterdam. In this context corporate sustainability means: business with heart for people, environment and economy (People, Planet and Profit).

For more information: www.amsterdam.nl/damprijs

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Gong marks Dutch Fire Prevention Weeks

The fire department and the Dutch Burns Foundation sound the gong to raise awareness for the yearly Dutch Fire Prevention Weeks.

During the month October the Fire department organises public information meetings and useful tips to the Dutch public are given on how they can implement fire prevention at home. This year special attention is given to a very vulnerable group: senior citizens. The credo “what do you do when there’s a fire? Practice your escape!” underlines that it is extremely important to practice escape route. The Fire department and other volunteers will visit senior citizens that still live independently to ensure that they practice their escape route. Ambassador, Mariana Ngombo Zinga, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.watdoejijbijbrand.nl

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United States Ambassador sounds gong for International Breast Health Month

His Excellency Timothy Broas, United States Ambassador to the Netherlandsand A Sister's Hope visit Euronext Amsterdam to sound the gong for the launch of International Breast Health Month.

A Sister's Hope was the first non-profit organization in The Netherlands dedicated solely to raising money for breast cancer research and remains the only organization in The Netherlands with that pure focus. The organization is dedicated to raising significant funding for breast cancer research, and is committed to helping individuals realize their own power to make the world what we dream it can be. More than 4.3 million euro has been given to researchers since 2007.

For more information: www.asistershope.org

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Nienke Meijer named Top Woman of 2014

The winner of the 2014 Top Woman of the Year award, Nienke Meijer, chair of the Managing Board of the school organisation Fontys Hogescholen, visits Beursplein 5 and sounds the opening gong. She is accompanied by Sophia Kerkhof Schneider, Senior Board manager at Vrumona (Heineken) and the winner of the 2014 Young Talent Award.

The purpose of the selection process sponsored by the Top Woman Foundation is to highlight the accomplishments of women. The 5-member jury, chaired by Gerdi Verbeet, had the difficult task of choosing this year’s winner. One of the most important criteria for selection is the extent to which the finalists have worked to promote diversity in their own organisation, but also the span of control, the scope of the position held and results achieved are taken into account. Ten women were nominated for the award this year. The other finalists are Sigrid van Aken, member of the Managing Board of Novamedia and Joanne Kellerman, member of the management of the Dutch Central Bank. Partners of the award are among others, ABN AMRO, Heineken and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

For more information: www.topvrouwvanhetjaar.nl

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