All Bell ceremonies

Logistics manager of the year

Logistics manager of the year sounds gong for WDP

Logistics real estate specialist WDP (ticker symbol: WDP), since 2015 with a second listing on Euronext Amsterdam, invites Marc van het Bolscher (Tanatex) to sound the gong.

From the 2016 edition WDP sponsors the ‘LMvhJ’ event which aims to get more attention for the profession of the logistics sector and the people work here. At the end it is the people who make the difference. The board of the ‘LMvhJ’ is also invited to take part in the ceremony.

WDP develops and invests in logistics property (warehouses and offices). WDP's property portfolio amounts to more than 3 million m². This international portfolio of semi-industrial and logistics buildings is spread over more than 170 sites at prime logistics locations for storage and distribution in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Romania.

For more information: www.wdp.eu

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SME Export Award

Winner SME Export Award sounds gong

Bart Veldhuizen from Hoenderdaal Fasteners, winner of the SME Export Award, opens trading at the Amsterdam exchange. He opens trading accompanied by Annet Koster of MKB-Nederland, initiator of this export award for SMEs.

New markets, innovative products and efficient logistics. These are the ambitions of Hoenderdaal Fasteners from Veenendaal, manufacturer of fasteners. The company has won the SME Export Award because of the sophisticated export plan that focuses on Sweden as a prelude to further expansion in Scandinavia.

The SME Export Award has been awarded for the fourth year in a row. The award is an initiative of SME Netherlands in collaboration with the National Enterprising Netherlands (RVO.nl) and Language Institute Regina Coeli, designed to encourage SME entrepreneurs to cross the border or to expand their existing international activities.

For more information: www.mkb.nl   

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Nyenrode Digital Transformation Report

Sounding the gong for Nyenrode Digital Transformation Report

Nyenrode Finance Circle recently published a report ‘Digital Transformation in Financial Industry’, on this occasion they visit the Amsterdam exchange of Euronext and open trading.

The contributors to the report are: Prof.dr. Dennis Vink (Nyenrode), Prof.dr. Steven van Belleghem (Vlerick) and Dutch financial institutions APG, PGGM, Optiver, Flow Traders, ING, ABN AMRO, KNAB en PWC.

Digital technologies will have an immense impact on our society and financial institutions are required to lead their organisation throughout a period of transformation.

For more information: www.nyenrodealumni.nl

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HeadFirst Source Group

HeadFirst Source Group visits Beursplein 5

Source Group N.V. and their sector colleague HeadFirst have merged to form the HeadFirst Source Group N.V. (ticker symbol: HFS), making it market leader in the field of hiring external professionals, matchmaking, contracting and pay roll work.

The trading symbol of the stock at Euronext changed from SOURC to HFS on 3 April. The new combination has also launched their new website. To celebrate these activities Gert-Jan Schellingerhout, HeadFirst Source Group's CEO, sounds the gong to open trading at Euronext Amsterdam.

HeadFirst Source Group is market leader in the field of hiring of external professionals, matchmaking, contracting and pay roll work. Daily, more than 4,000 professionals work for in excess of one hundred clients in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg, realising an annual turnover of approximately 450 million euros. HeadFirst, Source and Proud Company are all part of the HeadFirst Source Group.

For more information: www.headfirstsourcegroup.com

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Morningstar Awards

Morningstar Awards winners sound gong

The Morningstar Awards are designed to help investors around the world identify the year's most exceptional funds and fund managers. The 2017 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 2016 and over longer time periods. This year’s winners sounds the gong and open trading at the Amsterdam exchange.

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.

For more information: www.morningstar.nl

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Delta Lloyd ESG Fund

Delta Lloyd Asset Management sounds the gong for the sustainable Delta Lloyd ESG Fund

Delta Lloyd Asset Management will be drawing special attention to the sustainable Delta Lloyd ESG Fund through a national multimedia campaign in the weeks ahead. Jacco Maters, CEO Delta Lloyd Asset Management, sounds the gong.

Jacco Maters: “Sustainability shouldn’t be the exception, but the norm. Our sustainability philosophy drives us to achieve important financial targets while still contributing to a sustainable world by standing up for people and the environment.” Today Delta Lloyd is putting extra force behind these words by sounding the gong to open the Amsterdam stock exchange.

AF Advisors are already calling the fund the best globally-investing sustainable equity fund, and it has received the top rating of five stars from independent analysts Morningstar. The goal of the Delta Lloyd ESG Fund is to maintain low costs while following the value development of the MSCI World Index. The fund adheres to strict sustainability criteria as well as a ‘best-in-class’ investing method which focusses on identifying companies that demonstrate clear sustainability ambition, and supporting them in achieving their goals.

For more information: www.deltalloyd.nl/esgfund

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X-FAB

Listing of X-FAB on Euronext

Rudi De Winter, CEO of X-FAB opens the trading day in Paris

X-FAB specializes in the design and manufacturing of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for the semiconductor and electronics industries. The group develops micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and silicon carbide circuits designed primarily for automotive, industrial and medical applications.
At the end of 2016, X-FAB operated 6 production sites in Germany (3), France, Malaysia and the United States.

EnterNext TechShare

Gong to conclude EnterNext TechShare program 2016-2017

To conclude the second successful EnterNext TechShare program 2016 – 2017 the Dutch participants and partners sound the gong. TechShare is an educational program designed specifically for fast growing tech companies who want to know more about the process of an IPO. The participants have had educational sessions on the capital market in recent months.

TechShare is a unique pan-European program that helps directors of tech companies to better understand the role and functioning of financial markets. Entrepreneurs are thus better able to assess the chances of a listing in relation to their specific projects and to take time to prepare.

The program began in September 2015 in France with a kick-off where 30 companies were present from France, Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands. The customized trainings are organized and supported by regional expert partners.

Dutch partners of the TechShare program are Deloitte, Citigate FF, ABN AMRO and Rutgers & Posch. In four sessions they discussed all relevant issues of the capital market. The open discussions and case studies have resulted in a very useful and professional program for entrepreneurs. 3D Hub, Backbase, BENCOM, Dynamic Credit, Evision- Software, Lebara, Luxexcel, Microes, RES, Treeway and Voiceworks are the participating Dutch companies in the TechShare program.

‘’TechShare has given me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and capabilities of the financial markets more. I found the content of the program and the guidance from the partners very valuable. It is an accessibly way to, when the time is right, make a well-informed choice on the possible funding of Treeway.’’ said Inez de Greef, CEO Treeway.

Due to the success of this second edition, the third edition of TechShare starts this fall, with hopefully equally interesting participants as last year.

For more information: www.enternext.biz

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SNCF Réseau Green Bond

Patrick Jeantet CEO of SNCF Réseau celebrates the success of the agencies second Green Bond issue.

Following its inaugural Green Bond issue for € 900 million at 15 year in 2016, SNCF Réseau has raised onto the market in March one more billion € through a very successful Green transaction with a 17 year tenor. Both to celebrate it than to highlight how sustainable development is part of SNCF Réseau values, Mr. Patrick Jeantet, CEO of SNCF Reseau, will make a brief allocution, before symbolically ring the market opening bell. . 

VEON

Listing VEON

Euronext welcomes VEON (ticker symbol: VEON), a leading global provider of communications services, on Euronext Amsterdam. Jean-Yves Charlier, CEO VEON, and VEON’s global management team celebrate the company’s listing by sounding the gong,

Headquartered in Amsterdam, VEON is the name of the parent company and its new personal internet platform that integrates powerful data analytics and artificial intelligence, with a fresh take on messaging capabilities, enabling users and communities to connect by voice, text, picture and video through a beautifully designed interface.

For more information: www.veon.com  

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The Digital Dutch

KPN sounds gong for The Digital Dutch

On 5 and 6 April KPN Zakelijke Markt (KPN Business Segment) is organizing The Dutch Digital for the second consecutive time. The Dutch Digital is an interactive event for corporate customers and business partners of KPN (ticker symbol: KPN). KPN visits the Amsterdam exchange and opens trading to bring The Digital Dutch to the attention.

The first edition of the event was so well received last year that KPN decided to bring back customers into the world of digital transformation. In 2016, 75% of corporate customers in the event stated that they do exploit digital opportunities enough. With The Digital Dutch, KPN wants to show companies  - from SMEs to large corporates - how ICT solutions can be specifically applied to better serve their customers.

For more information: www.kpn.com

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NVA

NVA and ABN AMRO sound gong for NVA Autism Week 2017

The Dutch Autism Association (NVA), visits the Amsterdam exchange for the gong ceremony for World Autism Day, annually on 2 April.

The ceremony is entirely dedicated to World Autism Day 2017. Special guest this year is Brigitte Blijswijk, COO Functions / COO Office / Management Consultant at ABN AMRO. When she joined ABN AMRO in 1987, she was unaware that she had autism. This diagnosis came when she was 47, when she was tested extensively after a burnout.

This year the NVA organizes the Autism Week for the 8th time, from 2 to 8 April, to create awareness about autism. The theme of the NVA Autism Week 2017 ‘Young and AUT', attention for the early recognition and detection of autism. During the NVA Autism Week the NVA asks attention for the approximately 190,000 people with autism in the country in a special way.

For more information: www.autismeweek.nl

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Etos

Etos sounds gong on Amsterdam exchange

Etos, part of the Euronext listed Ahold Delhaize (ticker symbol: AD), was voted best valued drugstore by customers this year. Managing Director Jan-Derek Groenendaal and Commercial Director Therese Opgenoort sound the gong together with their colleagues from the stores.

For the Gfk Formula Report, five drugstore formulas were assessed by their own customers in eight different aspects: staff expertise, choice in products, staff friendliness, quality, store cleanliness, atmosphere, pricing and attractive offers. The drugstore chain has invested heavily in a new look and feel, new stores and innovations within their own brand last year.

Jan-Derek Groenendaal: "Thanks to the unbridled commitment of 5,000 employees, we can continuously meet the changing needs of our customers. This award underlines the importance of continuing to invest in your brand. I am very proud that today we can sound the gong in honor of our title best drugstore in the Netherlands. "

Etos was founded in 1919 as a cooperative of workers of the Philips group and privatized in 1931 under the name Etos. Since 1973 the company is part of Euronext Listed Koninklijke Ahold, now Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize.

For more information: www.etos.nl

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Special Olympics Team NL

Special Olympics Team NL visits Beursplein 5

Special Olympics Team NL opens trading at Beursplein 5 after the Special Olympics World Winter Games. Michelle Zeeman, Shorttracker and winner of Gold on 333 and Bronze on 500 shorttrack during the Special Olympics World Games 2017, sounds the gong.

From 18 up until 24 March, a total of 3,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 117 countries, competed in the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria. Each athlete of Team NL won a medal, with a total of 42 medals. The 25 athletes competed in four disciplines: short track, skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing and won: 15 times gold, 18 times silver and 9 times bronze.

Main sponsors are Rabobank and Euronext listed Aegon (ticker symbol: AGN). Together with partners VriendenLoterij and Fonds Gehandicaptensport, they show these successes to the world and thus make an important contribution to a positive image of people with intellectual disabilities as full citizens of an inclusive society.

For more information: www.specialolympics.nl  

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DNB

DNB sounds gong for The world of De Nederlandsche Bank

Nicole Stolk, Secretary-director  of De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), sounds the gong on the occasion of the launch of their new online education programme, The World of De Nederlandsche Bank.

This interactive study tool (currently only available in Dutch) allows upper secondary school students to discover DNB's core tasks, and why these tasks are important for prosperity in the Netherlands. It explains economic principles and terms such as interest rates, inflation, purchasing power, economic growth and supervision of financial institutions. The study material covers various attainment targets and concepts from the curriculum, and calls on students' 21st century skills.

Financial education and knowledge transfer are essential to DNB, and young people in education are a prime target audience. That is why they are participating in the Money Week initiative this week. DNB has a visitor center where these subjects are explained to secondary and higher education students and other target groups. The center features interactive exhibitions about how the economy works and the scope of the activities of DNB, and what this means for individual citizens. The public is educated on how to manage money and take responsible financial decisions by developing educational materials such as online games, films, brochures, education programs, posters and comic strips.

For more information: www.dewereldvandnb.nl

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Financial Literacy Week

Financial Literacy Week 2017

Save money or not? ... That is the question for many of us. It was the central theme of the second edition of the Financial Literacy Week which Wikifin.be (FSMA) organized with the support of many partners and this from March 27 to April 2, 2017.

The purpose of the initiative is initiating a broad debate about money and directing the spotlight on financial education. Throughout the week, various activities are organized in Belgium, both for education and for the general public.

Euronext cooperates with the Financial Literacy Week and organised on 27 March, like last year, the official kick-off in its premises with a bell ceremony. The winning teams of the competition Wikifin @ School Challenge: Coloma Plus (Mechelen) and Institut Saint-Boniface (Ixelles) had the honour to ring the bell in the presence of Finance Minister Johan Van Overtveldt and the Chairman of the FSMA, Jean-Paul Servais.

Immediately after the Bell Ceremony, HE Queen Mathilde opened the national conference "Financial Education” with a speech and offered the winning team the Wikifin @ School Challenge price.

Also during this conference the results were announced of a major study on the savings culture of the Belgians: "Saving ... or not?" Why do Belgians save so much? What does influence their behaviour?

Thereafter, the main actors of the financial education in Belgium entered into debate about the challenges they faced and the role of financial education in the society of tomorrow.  The conclusions of this study can be consulted here (NL). The ministers Kris Peeters, Johan Van Overtveldt and Marie-Martine Schyns participated in these discussions.

You too, share your opinion with the keywords # dwvhg17

For further information please visit deweekvanhetgeld.be .

Global Money Week 2017

Sounding of the gong by Child & Youth Finance International marks Global Money Week 2017

Global Money Week (GMW), an initiative of Child & Youth Finance International (CYFI), is an annual international event to create money awareness. Global Money Week engages children worldwide in learning how money works, including saving, creating livelihoods, gaining employment, and entrepreneurship. Child & Youth Finance International sounds the gong.

In 2016, over 7 million youngsters took part in 33,000 activities across 132 countries. The theme of Global Money Week 2017 is ‘Learn.Save.Earn.’, with a focus on educating children and youth about their social and economic rights and responsibilities, building clever savings habits and developing livelihoods and entrepreneurial skills.

CYFI is an international organization based in Amsterdam. CYFI has taken on the challenge of reshaping financial systems – by making sure that everyone works together to help children and youth become empowered economic citizens Through collaboration they ensure that national authorities, CEOs, heads of NGOs, academics, media personalities and young people work together today to make tomorrow more sustainable, equal and stable.

For more information: www.globalmoneyweek.org

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Let’s Colour Walls of Connection

AkzoNobel and MasterPeace join forces to color 100 ‘walls of connection’

AzoNobel (ticker symbol: AKZO) announced it is joining forces with MasterPeace, a global peace movement, in an initiative to paint 100 walls in more than 40 countries. The Let’s Colour Walls of Connection initiative aims to inspire and energize cities around the world and make people’s lives more livable and inspiring. To support their collaboration, they visit the Amsterdam exchange of Euronext and open trading by sounding the gong.

“With a little bit of paint and a lot of creativity, artists and communities are coming together to ‘color peace’,” said Annemieke Kievit, Director Public Affairs and Human Cities at AkzoNobel. “The painting will take place in 40 cities around the world, from Indonesia all the way to Brazil, involving hundreds of artists, AkzoNobel employees, MasterPeace teams and thousands of participants worldwide.” AkzoNobel employees will join forces with MasterPeace teams to paint the walls using community events.

MasterPeace, an award-winning global non-profit and non-governmental peace movement, operates in more than 45 countries and aims to mobilize people around the world to use their talents for peace building.

AkzoNobel creates everyday essentials to make people’s lives more liveable and inspiring. As a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals, they supply essential ingredients, essential protection and essential colour to industries and consumers worldwide.

For more information: www.akzonobel.com

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