All Bell ceremonies

Euronext and De Financiële Telegraaf launch Orange Index

By sounding the gong Euronext and De Financiële Telegraaf (DFT) launch the new AEX DFT Oranje Index (AEX DFT Orange Index).

The AEX DFT Oranje Index contains a cross section of companies of Dutch origin with a rich history. At its launch, the Oranje Index is made up of sixteen Dutch listings with the holding or a significant business unit bearing the Royal predicate. This applies to the listings of Royal Dutch Shell, Philips, Ahold, KPN, DSM, Vopak, Boskalis, Air France-KLM, Post NL, BAM, Imtech, Ten Cate, Wessanen, Reesink, Brill and Porceleyne Fles.

The Oranje Index caters to the continual interest among private investors for renowned Dutch companies. This group of investors can now closely track the performance of this cross section of the Amsterdam exchange alongside the AEX main index and other leading international indices. During the trading day, investors can follow the index in real-time via the websites aex.nl and dft.nl, as well as via the daily quotations page in De Financiële Telegraaf newspaper.

De Telegraaf is listed on Euronext Amsterdam as a part of the Telegraaf Media Group (ticker symbol: TMG). Editor in Chief De Telegraaf, Sjuul Paradijs, and Chief De Financiële Telegraaf, Ronald Veerman, sound the gong.

For more information: www.aex.nl

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Euronext and De Financiële Telegraaf launch Orange Index

By sounding the gong Euronext and De Financiële Telegraaf (DFT) launch the new AEX DFT Oranje Index (AEX DFT Orange Index).

The AEX DFT Oranje Index contains a cross section of companies of Dutch origin with a rich history. At its launch, the Oranje Index is made up of sixteen Dutch listings with the holding or a significant business unit bearing the Royal predicate. This applies to the listings of Royal Dutch Shell, Philips, Ahold, KPN, DSM, Vopak, Boskalis, Air France-KLM, Post NL, BAM, Imtech, Ten Cate, Wessanen, Reesink, Brill and Porceleyne Fles.

The Oranje Index caters to the continual interest among private investors for renowned Dutch companies. This group of investors can now closely track the performance of this cross section of the Amsterdam exchange alongside the AEX main index and other leading international indices. During the trading day, investors can follow the index in real-time via the websites aex.nl and dft.nl, as well as via the daily quotations page in De Financiële Telegraaf newspaper.

De Telegraaf is listed on Euronext Amsterdam as a part of the Telegraaf Media Group (ticker symbol: TMG). Editor in Chief De Telegraaf, Sjuul Paradijs, and Chief De Financiële Telegraaf, Ronald Veerman, sound the gong.

For more information: www.aex.nl

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Gong marks kick-off LOEY Awards 2014

The 2013 LOEY Award winners, Valentijn Bras (Scoupy) and Rogier Thewessen (StudentenWerk), sound the gong to kick-off the LOEY Awards 2014 that will take place on 3 September.

The LOEY Award is an independent award for the best entrepreneurs in the Dutch online industry and is established to promote and encourage online entrepreneurship. The innovative strength of this industry is enormous and the importance of online entrepreneurs for the Dutch economy is evident. By announcing successful entrepreneurs, the LOEY awards contribute to further development of online initiatives and partnerships. The 2014 winners will visit Euronext Amsterdam on 5 September.

For more information: www.loeyawards.nl

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Gong ceremony marks first edition of Eye on index investing

In honour of the first edition of Eye on index investing, moderator of the event, Annette van Soest, sounds the gong. Eye on index investing is an event focusing on ETFs and index funds, which has been set up on the initiative of iShares, Vanguard, Think ETF’s, State Street Global Advisors, and ETF Securities, in cooperation with Euronext. The purpose of the event is to increase knowledge of ETFs and index products.

Worldwide there has been a sharp rise in the use of index products and ETFs over the past two years. Using these investment products effectively on a day-to-day basis requires a thorough knowledge of their specific features and the potential they provide. Europe alone expects to see growth of between 15 and 20%, distributed among various investor segments; the current focus is on the preferences of retail investors in relation to ETFs and index funds. The event consists of both online and live meetings. Top speakers from the Netherlands and abroad will discuss current trends and visions of the future of ETFs and index funds via interactive webcasts. A limited number of tickets for the live event in Amsterdam on 8 May is available for investment industry professionals.

Moderator, Annette van Soest, sounds the gong in the company of Gert-Jan Verhagen (iShares), Martijn Rozemuller (Think ETF’s), Philippe Roset (ETF Securities), Jasper Bugter (SPDR), Koen Hoogenhout (Vanguard) and Roger van Elderen (Euronext).
 

For more information: www.eyeonindexinvesting.nl

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Morningstar Awards winners visit Beursplein 5

The Morningstar Awards are designed to help investors around the world identify the year's most exceptional funds and fund managers and are handed out for the tenth time this year.

The 2014 Morningstar Awards recognize retail funds and fund groups that have been good stewards of investor capital within the context of their relevant peer group in 2013 and over longer time periods. Winners are selected using a quantitative methodology developed by Morningstar that considers the one-, three- and five-year performance history of all eligible funds. Morningstar adjusts the returns for risk using a utility theory based screen that imposes a higher penalty for downside variation in a fund’s return than it does for upside volatility. Head of Distribution Benelux at Fidelity, Paul van Olst, sounds the gong.

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Morningstar Awards winners visit Beursplein 5

The Morningstar Awards are designed to help investors around the world identify the year's most exceptional funds and fund managers and are handed out for the tenth time this year.

The 2014 Morningstar Awards recognize retail funds and fund groups that have been good stewards of investor capital within the context of their relevant peer group in 2013 and over longer time periods. Winners are selected using a quantitative methodology developed by Morningstar that considers the one-, three- and five-year performance history of all eligible funds. Morningstar adjusts the returns for risk using a utility theory based screen that imposes a higher penalty for downside variation in a fund’s return than it does for upside volatility. Head of Distribution Benelux at Fidelity, Paul van Olst, sounds the gong.

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Gong ceremony highlights National Anti-Bullying Day

Omgaan met Pesten (dealing with bullying) Foundation sounds the gong to highlight National Anti-Bullying Day which takes place on Saturday, April 19th. This year’s theme is "We stand together against bullying.”

Max Pieterse (11) and Paul Kalshoven (11) from Elementary School Antonius in Noorden sound the gong to open trading at Euronext Amsterdam. Max and Paul have taken a course aimed at building social resilience, to be better able to stand up for themselves. They have learned ways of dealing with bullying and have developed a more effective response to this kind of behavior.

For more information: omgaanmetpesten.nl

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Netherlands Brain Foundation sounds gong for tv-show Care for your brain!

CEO of the Netherlands Brain Foundation, Peter Schoof, sounds the gong for the tv-show Care for your brain! that is broadcasted on 16 April at 9:25 PM Ned 1 for the 25 year old foundation.

Care for your brain!promises to be an inspiring tv-show with topics like the functioning of the brain, patient stories and special performances. At some point in their life, 1 in every 4 people will suffer a brain disorder. The Netherlands Brain Foundation wants to actively contribute to keeping our brains healthy by enabling scientific research and to support innovative projects that seek to help people with a brain disorder.

For more information: www.hersenstichting.nl

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Female Cycling Team Médecins Sans Frontières sounds gong for Tour for Life 2014

Nearly 140 days before the start of Tour for Life 2014, Nicole de Vries-Noah, captain of woman cycling team Médecins Sans Frontières, sounds the gong.

The challenge is to finish the cycling tour and collect money for the life-saving work of Médecins Sans Frontières. Tour for Life is a spectacular 8-day cycling trip from Italy to the Netherlands. The teams, consisting of 6 to 9 riders, bike through five different countries. Along the way they climb Col du Lautaret, Col de la Croix de Fer and Col de Madeleine. The legendary Alpe d'Huez is also on the route. Médecins Sans Frontières is an independent medical relief organization, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

For more information: www.artsenzondergrenzen.nl

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AFS Group sounds gong for AFS Energy launch

AFS Group, a multi-asset wholesale broker, sounds the gong for the launch of the new department called AFS Energy.

AFS Energy emerged from Neutralco, a company taken over by AFS Group last year, and acts as an advisor and intermediary in the European market for the sale of sustainable energy certificates, and is active as a broker in the regulated market for emission rights such CERs and EUAs. In addition, AFS energy is an intermediary in the voluntary sustainable energy and CO2 market, where products are traded such as Guarantees of Origin, Green Gas and Voluntary Emission Reduction Certificates. AFS Energy provides advice in the area of innovative financing constructions for sustainable building, for example via Energy Services Companies (ESCOs).

The CEO of AFS Group, Mr Siemerink, has expressed his enthusiasm for the new division. “Taking over Neutralco has provided us with the professional expertise we needed to get off to a flying start.” Laurens Zonneveld, director of AFS Energy, says: “We are very satisfied with the progress that AFS Energy is making. We see that customers welcome our transparency and professionalism.” AFS Group is an independent intermediary which employs approximately 70 FTEs in its headquarters on the Euronext trading floor in Amsterdam, and also has offices in London and Zurich. It acts as an intermediary in the commercial market for interest rate products, fixed-interest securities, currencies, equity derivatives and exotic products. Managing Director AFS Energy, Laurens Zonneveld, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.afsgroup.nl

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FMO and Amsterdam Institute of Finance sound gong for The Future of Banking Academy

The Future of Banking Academy is an invitation-only program held from the 7th till the 11th of April in Amsterdam, co-created by FMO and Amsterdam Institute of Finance.

Executive financial sector professionals from around the world are invited to take part in this interactive 5-day journey, educating professionals that will shape the future of banking and preparing them for new levels of leadership within their organizations. The global financial landscape, its emerging risks, sustainability and innovation will be examined in the context of leadership and strategy that is needed for the future.

FMO (the Netherlands Development Finance Company) is the Dutch development bank. FMO supports sustainable private sector growth in developing and emerging markets by investing in ambitious entrepreneurs. FMO believes a strong private sector leads to economic and social development, empowering people to employ their skills and improve their quality of life. FMO focuses on three sectors that have high development impact: financial institutions, energy, and agribusiness, food & water. Amsterdam Institute of Finance (AIF) is a self-supporting, not-for-profit foundation, specialized in providing high-level financial training for finance professionals.

For more information: www.fmo.nl and www.aif.nl

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Gong at Week of the Entrepreneur Beatrix Theater Utrecht

^{10 April 2014 - Gerjan Schoemaker of Beenen B.V., and Milou Schouten of Erasmus Consultancy Project, sounded the gong together with Roland Starmans from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ben van de Vrie, Head of Marketing for Business Clients ING Netherlands, Michaël van Straalen, Chairman MKB-Nederland, and Cees Vermaas, CEO Euronext Amsterdam. S  ource: Congres in Beeld\Hennie Keeris}   

The Week of the Entrepreneur is already for 17 years the entrepreneurs event in the Netherlands. For this occasion, the opening ceremony moves to the Beatrix Theatre in Utrecht.

The program from 8 to 10 April consists of plenary sessions, lunch meetings and inspiration sessions for entrepreneurs of the Netherlands. Euronext is present during the Week of the entrepreneur: the exchange and entrepreneurship are inseparable.

^{9 April 2014 - Entrepreneurs Marco Koster, CEO Steboma B.V., and Hans Wijgers, CEO JWK Vaassen B.V., sounded the gong together with Roland Starmans from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ben van de Vrie, Head of Marketing for Business Clients ING Netherlands, Michaël van Straalen, Chairman MKB-Nederland, and Cees Vermaas, CEO Euronext Amsterdam. Source: Congres in Beeld\Hennie Keeris}

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning at exactly 9 a.m. trading is opened during the morning sessions. CEO of Euronext Amsterdam, Cees Vermaas, will speak during these sessions to clarify the possibilities that Euronext offers to entrepreneurs, by means of good alternatives to bank loans. Each day one entrepreneur is selected to sound the gong.

^{8 April 2014 - Entrepreneurs Ferry de Kok, CEO Pruko B.V., and Kelly Maynard, director marketing & sales Polygon, sounded the gong together with Ruud van Dusschoten, Executive Director Midcorporate & Institutional Clients ING NL, Michaël van Straalen, Chairman MKB-Nederland, and Cees Vermaas, CEO Euronext Amsterdam. Source: Congres in Beeld\Hennie Keeris}

This year, during the Week of the entrepreneur, ministers Ploumen, Asscher, Dijsselbloem as well as prime minister Rutte make their appearance.

For more information: www.weekvandeondernemer.nl

Museum Prize winner, Klok & Peel Museum Asten, sounds gong

Winner of the BankGiro Lottery Museum Prize 2014, Klok & Peel Museum Asten, visits Beursplein 5 to sound the gong. The museum got 49% of the public votes. The Museum Prize is an initiative of the Prince Bernhard Cultural Fund and the BankGiro Lottery, in collaboration with the Museum Association.

Klok & Peel Museum Asten, a museum that is almost entirely run by volunteers, was nominated by the jury for its innovative way in which the museum uses presentation techniques and for the good combination of digital, interactive and traditional presentations. The Museum Prize, founded in 1990, is the most important museum price in the Netherlands. Chairman and volunteer at the museum, Harry van der Loo, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.cultuurfonds.nl

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Know What You Spend Foundation sounds gong for Financial Literacy Week 2014

Director of the Know What You Spend Foundation, Thea Hazel-Stals, sounds the gong to mark Financial Literacy Week 2014 and the start of the financial education impact measurement project.
In 2013 the Know What You Spend Foundation reached 400.000 adolescents on its Edgie website and Facebook page. 10% of that group used one of the tests or tools for financial literacy and over 16.000 adolescents participated in lessons on financial education. The foundation sees an increasing interest for financial education in the classroom. To get an understanding of the effect of the lessons and online tools the foundation starts an impact measurement project, together with Utrecht University.

The Know What You Spend Foundation is an independent not-for-profit organisation that is supported by Nibud, PGGM, SNS REAAL, Vodafone, Emakina, Microsoft, FunX and SNS REAAL Fonds. The foundation aims at improving financial capability of adolescents (12-25 years). For that purpose the foundation has continuous interaction with adolescents and it develops innovative online and offline interventions to support their financial literacy and capability.

With the new ‘Amsterdam Exchange Experience ' Euronext Amsterdam also provides financial education on the role and the history of the exchange as well as on its listed companies. For more information about this interactive tour and registration, please visit aex.nl.

For more information: www.wwjb.org

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New AFM chairman of the board, Merel van Vroonhoven, sounds gong

Merel van Vroonhoven has been appointed for a period of four years as the new chairman of the board of the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM).

Merel van Vroonhoven (1968) has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Dutch Railways since 2009, prior to which she worked at ING. There, she was responsible, as member of the General Management of Nationale Nederlanden, for the Collective Pensions Operations from 2002 to 2007, and from 2007 onwards as member of the management committee of ING Investment Management Europe.

For more information: www.afm.nl

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Gong marks World Autism Awareness Day

On World Autism Awareness Day all Euronext exchange locations open trading to mark the United Nations' World Autism Awareness Day. In Amsterdam the gong is sounded by Marjanka Hoogeweg and her Autism Assistance Dog, Creb (pronounce Sherp) together with representatives of the Dutch Autism Association, the Autism Fund and De Droomboom Foundation.

Autism was once considered to be a rare condition, but today it affects around 3.3 million people in the European Union, 190.000 in the Netherlands. Many find that autism limits their possibilities in life. The United Nations’ World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 aims to help rectify this situation by raising awareness of autism internationally among policy makers and the general public. Autism is a neurophysiological disorder that affects the brain. If there is no cure for autism, early intervention and lifelong support can enable people with autism to live up to their full potential. Notwithstanding the UN Convention for Persons with Disabilities, many people with autism still lack basic access to accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment, education, employment and social inclusion.

De Nederlandse Vereniging voor Autisme (NVA) is the Dutch leading autism advocacy organization for all people with autism disorder and their families. De Droombroom Foundation is a treatment center for children between two and eight years of age who have been diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder and related learning disorders.

For more information: www.autismeweek.nl, www.autisme.nl, www.stichtingdedroomboom.nl

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Michaël van Straalen, chairman of the SME Association of the Netherlands, sounds gong to highlight Week van de Ondernemer (Entre

Michaël van Straalen, chairman of the SME Association of the Netherlands, sounds the gong to highlight the start of the 17th edition of Entrepreneur Week, an initiative of ING and the SME Association of the Netherlands.

From 8 to 10 April, over 10,000 entrepreneurs from a wide range of industries will participate in the Netherlands’ biggest annual event for entrepreneurs. Guests will also be able to witness the opening of the Amsterdam exchange, as the gong ceremony will be moved to the conference floor of Entrepreneur Week for the duration of the event.

The overall theme of this year’s Entrepreneur Week is growth. Entrepreneurs can find inspiration in the motivational words of top speakers from the world of business, politics, media, science and sports, including ministers Asscher, Dijsselbloem, Kamp and Ploumen, as well as football federation coach Louis van Gaal. This year’s event is spread over four storeys, each featuring a special theme-based programme. The themes focus on the factors that enable growth: financiering, innovation, international entrepreneurship and human resources. As in previous years, there will be a special day for family businesses, on Monday 7 April.

For more information: www.weekvandeondernemer.nl

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ING opens trading for 30th anniversary EFR Business Week

In honor of the 30th anniversary of the EFR Business Week and the collaboration between ING and EFR, Mark Pieter de Boer, Global Head of Financial Markets Sales of ING, sounds the gong.

This Wednesday the 2nd of April the official opening of the EFR Business Week takes place at Erasmus University. During the “World of Business” speakers from all over the world inspire students with their unique stories. For 30 years now the EFR Business Week has been the leading student organised conference in Europe. Every year at the beginning of April the event takes place at Erasmus University and other locations in Rotterdam.

For more information: www.efrbusinessweek.nl

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