All Bell ceremonies

BNP Paribas “World’s Best Bank”

BNP Paribas celebrates “World’s Best Bank” in Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2016 by sounding gong

The Euronext Paris listed BNP Paribas (ticker symbol: BNP) has been named “World’s Best Bank” for 2016 by leading global financial publication Euromoney, in its prestigious annual Awards for Excellence. On this occasion they visit the Amsterdam exchange and open trading.

The principal accolade of “World’s Best Bank” was one of eight wins in total by BNP Paribas, which also included the regional awards “Best Bank in Western Europe” and “Best Bank for Transaction Services in Western Europe”. Euromoney said: “BNP Paribas is that rarity today: a large bank actually delivering on its promises. It is producing better returns even than many of the big US banks, despite being anchored in a low-growth home region, all while proving the benefits of a diversified business model.  Only excellent bank management teams can satisfy shareholders, regulators and customers all at once today. BNP Paribas has one of the very best. Loyal, technically proficient, not given to boasting or to grand visions, this team has built capital, reducing risk and boosting its customer market share. It also boasts a number of powerful global franchises, including a strong corporate and institutional banking business which is starting to excel in transaction services.”

BNP Paribas is a leading bank in Europe with an international reach. It has a presence in 75 countries, with more than 189,000 employees, including over 146,000 in Europe.

For more information: www.bnpparibas.nl

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Fintessa

Fintessa visits Beursplein 5

Fintessa was recently elected as the best asset manager in the Netherlands by the readers of cash and cashcow.nl for the fifth time in a row. Managing Director Martine Hafkamp sounds the gong on this occasion on the Amsterdam exchange.

The award is great compliment for the entire team at Fintessa and expresses great appreciation for the distinct investment philosophy and strategy they use for their clients and express in various media.

Fintessa is an autonomous and independent asset management company and offers customized asset management for assets starting at € 100,000. Asset management is an extension of each individual situation, whether as an individual or institution and is the basis of wealth preservation or capital appreciation. That is being translated into a custom risk profile and investment portfolio. Fintessa expressly does not work with their own products, so that objectivity is always guaranteed.

For more information: www.fintessa.nl

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ASN Bank World prize 2016

ASN Bank sounds gong for ASN Bank World prize 2016

ASN Bank visits Euronext to bring attention to the ASN Bank World prize 2016. Registration for the ninth ASN Bank World prize opened 1 August and entrepreneurs can register up until 23 September.

The ASN Bank World prize is a unique opportunity for future entrepreneurs with smart ideas for a better world. For people who want to solve society’s problems or – at least – contribute to the solution. The ASN Bank World prize is not just a contest, but a pressure cooker with coaching, training, publicity and the chance to win money to give your business a kick start. An expert jury will choose 5 winners in the Grand Finale and divide 40,000 euros between them. Furthermore, there is a public award which can amount to 5000 euros.

ASN Bank invites entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to register their project on the platform at www.voordewereldvanmorgen.nl. ASN Bank World Prize gives sustainable ideas a kick-start, confirms 2014 winner Mariah Mansvelt Beck of Yoni. "The guidance was of great value. We were given access to a network of experts and were able to ask about things like public relations and finance. With the prize money we were able to launch a website and online store."

For more information: www.voordewereldvanmorgen.nl

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Startup Kids

Startupbootcamp sounds gong for Startup Kids

Startupbootcamp is organising a summer camp for kids between the ages of 10 and 12 to explore the fun and excitement of building a start-up. Startup Kids visits the Amsterdam exchange and opens trading by sounding the gong.

The fast growing startup accelerator teaches the kids how to develop business ideas and to ‘pitch’ like a real start-up. The idea for the summer camp was originally suggested by the founders of Startup Kids, Fien Reiling (11) and Nikki de Zeeuw (10). Last December they participated in the Project Prep Awards where they eventually won the competition and the main prize of € 1000. With that achievement they were able to build on their idea to connect kids with each other to work on business ideas. Now, in cooperation with Startupbootcamp, they organise a summer camp to make their idea a reality. Ambassador Princess Laurentien Brinkhorst will officially open the event on 22 August.

For more information: www.startupkids.io

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Sounding of the gong marks start Grachtenfestival

Baritone Raoul Steffani, winner of the Jury Prize of the Grachtenfestival Conservatorium Concours in 2016 opens trading at the Amsterdam exchange and marks the start of Grachtenfestival Amsterdam.

Raoul Steffani will perform in the Uilenburger Shul, during the upcoming festival on Monday, August 15th at 4pm. The jury of the contest said the following about Raoul Steffani: "The award goes to someone who surprised us with his performance and skills at such young age, with his beautiful voice, good diction and storytelling”.

The theme of this year’s Grachtenfestival is 'Bridging'. Not only does it this meaning to bridge between distances, for example, with traveling for a concert in IJmuiden, but also bridging between genres. Besides classical music, visitors can also enjoy jazz concerts, Syrian classical music and Argentine tango. As usual, this year features the famous House, Garden and Rooftop Concerts in beautiful houses along the Amsterdam canals.

The Grachtenfestival is the stage for young talent from all over the world. During the largest classical music festival in the Netherlands they treat the public to unique concerts for young and old. Enjoy ten days of swirling classical music throughout Amsterdam. One of the main sponsors is the Euronext listed Heineken (ticker symbol: HEIA)

For more information: www.grachtenfestival.nl

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Amsterdam Institute of Finance visits Beursplein 5

Amsterdam Institute of Finance (AIF) visits Beursplein 5 with the participants of the Master of Science in Risk Management for Executives program. A Master’s program aimed at professionals in Risk Management. This program is spread over several modules and is held in New York, Amsterdam and Abu Dhabi over the course of one year. The program is offered in collaboration with NYU Stern School of Business.

AIF is a foundation specialized in providing high-level financial training for finance and other professionals. Located in Amsterdam, AIF was established in 1990 as an initiative of the Dutch financial community. Since then, AIF has built a strong presence worldwide for its open enrollment programs as well as its custom made in-company training.

For more information: www.aif.nl

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Opening of trading for the Finance Run

The Finance Run is a sporting and informal networking event in the financial services industry. The profits will be donated to Stichting LEF. LEF stands for Leven En Financiën (Living and Finance). Their goal is to increase financial awareness among youngsters.

This year the Finance Run will take place on Friday 9 September at Grandcafé de Bosbaan in Amsterdam. Over 700 finance professionals are expected to participate, either  on behalf of their company or individually. This year will be the third edition. The number of participants - and thereby the profits for LEF – have grown considerably over the years. The success can partially be attributed to a large number of sponsors and media partners.

Apart from the run itself, there is also an elaborate networking event, which includes dinner and the award ceremony and is accompanied by an auction for the foundation. This year the Finance Run will also host the broadcasting of The Friday Move, the popular BNR program.

For more information: www.financerun.nl

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Gong marks Zomercompetitie 2016

The Zomercompetitie (Summer Competition) is a football and hockey tournament for companies in the Amsterdam area. The competition is being held for the 10th time this summer. For the first time the Summer Competition will also be held in Utrecht and Rotterdam. Samuel Tagwireyi, coach at the Kadish Foundation, flew over from Zambia to open trading at the Amsterdam exchange by sounding the gong.

Between 31 May and 5 August 25 over 80 companies participated in the tournament. Teams compete during the course of 20 playing days, in the hopes of achieving the 2014 football and hockey title. The league has a unique character; both football and hockey takes place at one location, and is played in a format of six against six. In addition to the sport aspect, the Summer Competition provides a networking platform where both participating companies and sponsors can meet young professionals. Ten percent of the profit will go to charity, the Kadish Foundation.

For more information: www.zomercompetitie.com

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Opening gong for children’s therapy with service dogs

On behalf of Hulphond Nederland, Daan and Rudolph Strickwold, Director Marketing & Commerce, sound the opening gong, which denotes the opening of trading at Euronext in Amsterdam. They ask for special attention for the increasing importance of children’s therapy with the use of service dogs.

This year only, in the Netherlands, more than 200 children who suffer from behavioural or development problems, such as Daan, have been successfully treated by therapists with the help of trained therapy dogs. These children deal with autism, ADHD, mental handicaps or suffer from being bullied. By the end of 2016, over 450 children will have a new perspective in life, due to the help of this special therapy program. They learn to function better, communicate more clearly, feel more confident and develop an improved sense of wellbeing. Hulphond Nederland visits the Amsterdam exchange in the context of the International Assistance Dog Week. During this week, which starts at August 7, Hulphond Nederland recognizes and honors the hardworking service dogs.

Hulphond Nederland is the Dutch expert centre for the training of service dogs, which are used for medical and therapeutic care. The foundation teaches dogs up to 70 individual skills, enabling them to offer assistance to individuals with physical handicaps or therapeutic needs. This includes people with significant physical limitations, suffering from epilepsy and physical or emotional traumas, and children with severe behavioural problems, autism, and/or mental handicaps.

For more information: www.hulphond.nl

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ING Starter of the month August Flyboarding.nl sounds gong

Flyboarding.nl has been elected by the ING jury to be ING startup of the month August 2016. For this occasion they open trading at the Amsterdam exchange. Rick Kort, founder, sounds the gong.

Flyboarding is the extreme sport of today: flying above water with water pressure. Flyboarding.nl introduces groups with this new sport at Cablepark Almere. Besides, they’re the only provider which offers a guarantee that you’ll fly.

Every month ING Netherlands (ticker symbol: INGA) organizes the startup of the month election. Previous winners this year are MedAngel and QualityWash

For more information: flyboarding.nl

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Amsterdam Gay Pride opens trading with PostNL for EuroPride 2016

The Amsterdam Gay Pride (EuroPride 2016) opens trading with Euronext listed PostNL (ticker symbol: PNL). Danny de Vries, Communication & Press Amsterdam Gay Pride, opens trading by sounding the gong.

PostNL thinks diversity is very important and therefore takes part of the Canal Boat Parade for over ten years. At PostNL they want every employee, regardless of origin, gender, age, beliefs, religion and sexual orientation to be themselves. This is emphasized by opening the exchange together with the Amsterdam Gay Pride.

This year, the Amsterdam Gay Pride Foundation is organizing a European version of the festival: EuroPride. EuroPride is held in a different European city every year, this year, is Amsterdam's turn. The festival is 15 days with over 200 activities, meetings, conferences and debates. The festival lasts until Sunday, 7 August, the world famous Boat Parade will be held on 6 August. Theme of EuroPride 2016: "Join our freedom, feel free to join us!". With this message the organization wants European countries where people are not able to be themselves, are free to live or where human rights are under pressure, to join our thinking and freedom.

For more information: www.pride.amsterdam

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Lipton Ice Tea launches Sneekweek with stroke on the gong

Maxime Dujardin, Brand Builder Lipton Ice Tea, launched the Sneekweek by sounding the gong at the Amsterdam exchange. The biggest sailing event on inland waterways of Europe is held for the 81st time from 6 to 11 August.

More than 1,800 participants in 35 different sailing classes compete for a spot on the highest podium. The organization of the event is in the hands of the Royal Watersport Sneek. The sailing competitions take place every day at the Sneekermeer, where more than 150 volunteers from the Royal Watersportvereniging will be working all week. From early morning until late at night, they ensure that the regatta runs smoothly. The KWS is thereby financially supported by a number of large nationally operating companies.

Main sponsor of the event is Lipton Ice Tea, the listed on Euronext Unilever (ticker symbol: UNIA). Sub sponsors of the association are among others Heineken and Rabobank.

For more information: www.sneekweek.nl

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ABN AMRO sounds the gong for fintech accelerator Econic

By striking the gong, ABN AMRO celebrates the opening of fintech accelerator Econic in Eindhoven. Fintechs and the bank’s employees will meet each other here in an independent environment to develop and test their ideas together. Day-to-day management of the hub will be carried out by external innovation experts. Last month, Econic started developing six ideas put forward by ABN AMRO employees and four from fast-growing start-ups.

Joop Wijn, member of the ABN AMRO Managing Board: ‘Econic brings together the worlds of fintechs and the bank. Promising ideas will be tested continuously against the bank’s day-to-day reality. This makes the innovation process swift and robust.’  Anique Soetermeer-Gabriëls, innovation expert at Econic: ‘Collaboration between corporates on the one hand and start-ups and scale-ups on the other is key to making a difference in the international knowledge economy. This initiative is an outstanding way of making this happen.’

Econic will work with a proven innovation process, which the experts leading the hub have used previously for High Tech XL and various Dutch top 100 companies. The process, which will now be applied to fintechs and other fast-growing companies for the first time, involves continuous monitoring of the innovation teams, workshops and master classes to achieve a ready-to-market proposition in six months. Besides fintechs, other companies with new ideas that can have an impact on corporate banking are also welcome at Econic.

For more information: www.abnamro.com

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L'Oreal Netherlands opens trade to celebrate takeover IT Cosmetics

L’Oréal Netherlands, part of the Euronext Paris listed L’Oréal (ticker symbol: OR), recently announced the signing of the acquirement of IT Cosmetics, one of the fastest growing prestige beauty brands in the United States. IT Cosmetics, who had net sales of 182 million US dollars – up by 56% more than the year before, was purchased for a price of 1.2 billion US dollars. The largest purchase of L'Oreal in eight years is celebrated by sounding the gong at the Amsterdam exchange.

IT Cosmetics will become part of the Luxe Division of L’Oréal and adding more than 300 skin-care and makeup products to its portfolio. “IT Cosmetics shares L’Oréal’s passion for product innovation. With their ‘Problem Solving Beauty’ mission, IT Cosmetics is providing products whose primary purpose is to help with skin improvement. The acquisition of this unique brand allows us to respond even better to a particularly dynamic market of cosmetics. It is an excellent addition to our existing brand portfolio," says Florian Marrone, Market Director Luxe L’Oréal Netherlands. 

L’Oréal has devoted itself to beauty for over 105 years. With its unique international portfolio of 32 diverse and complementary brands, the Group generated sales amounting to 25.26 billion euros in 2015 and employs 82,900 people worldwide.

For more information: www.loreal.com

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TenneT opens trading as first Dutch corporation to issue ‘green bonds’

TenneT is the first Dutch non-financial enterprise to issue so-called ‘green bonds’ in euros. For this occasion they visit the Amsterdam exchange of Euronext. Trading is opened by Otto Jager, CFO.

The first bond issue in 2015 consisted of two tranches of EUR 500 million each, with terms of 6 and 12 years and coupon rates of interest of 0.875% and 1.750%, respectively. In June 2016, TenneT issued another two tranches of EUR 500 million with terms of 10 and 20 years and coupon rates of interest of 1.000% and 1.875%, respectively. These bonds are all traded on the Euronext exchange in Amsterdam. In May 2016, TenneT also issued EUR 500 million in ‘green loans’ in Germany, a scheme comparable to the green bonds program.

In the future, TenneT will be issuing green bonds more frequently. The company is working on numerous sustainable energy projects that are eligible for green financing. In the next ten years, TenneT is expecting to invest EUR 7 to 9 billion in offshore wind energy projects in the Netherlands and Germany. In the period up to 2023, TenneT will connect to the Dutch grid 3,500 MW of sustainable wind energy generated by wind farms still to be developed in the Dutch sector of the North Sea. This corresponds to the annual energy consumption of over 3.5 million households. Green loans are contributing to the financing of the required grid connections.

For more information: www.tennet.eu

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Chamber of Commerce opens trading for SME Innovation Top 100

The Chamber of Commerce encourages businesses to grow and innovation is an important pillar in this. Innovative entrepreneurs from SMEs boost economy with innovations. For this group of entrepreneurs, the Chamber annually organizes the SME Innovation Top 100. Recently the nominees were published, therefore the Chamber of Commerce visits the Amsterdam exchange of Euronext and opens trading.

This year is the 11th edition and over 300 entrepreneurs from small and medium enterprises compete for this award. The SME Innovation Top 100 is a unique opportunity and to increase the company's visibility innovation and provides innovators in SMEs the springboard to knowledge and new networks. On 29 September, prior to the Day of Innovation, the winner will be announced. The Chamber of Commerce is proud to entrepreneurs who demonstrate courage and perseverance and have an eye for innovation.

The Chamber aims to be a modern online service for all operators in the Netherlands. They want business owners find answers to their questions as easy as possible. They help entrepreneurs in the phase before their start and with the official time of registration. They serve them in finding funding, innovation and entrepreneurship at home and abroad. The Chamber of Commerce provides information and advice to ensure optimum operation and capturing growth opportunities.

For more information: www.kvk.nl

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SOS Children’s Villages opens trading and a new children’s village

SOS Children's Villages opens trading on the Amsterdam exchange of Euronext by sounding the gong. By sounding the gong, the international children's development organization calls attention to a joyful event: the official opening of the SOS Children's Village in Guatemala situated in Santa Cruz del Quiché.

This children’s village was achieved thanks to the donations of Dutch donors. Here, children who lost the care of their parents find a new home in a loving SOS family. The construction of the new children's village in Santa Cruz del Quiché region was very much needed, because the population in this region is struggling with major problems. The village of Santa Cruz del Quiché consists of twelve family houses. 84 children will grow up under the loving wings of an SOS mother.

SOS Children's Villages has been working for children without parents or a safe home for more than 65 years. The international children's organization believes that family is the most important foundation for the healthy development of children. Worldwide, hundreds of thousands of children get solid foundation to develop themselves to promising and independent adults with SOS Children's Villages’ help. Preferably within their own family, but if that is no longer possible in an SOS family in a children's village.

For more information: www.soskinderdorpen.nl

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Sounding of the gong kicks off Boskalis Beach Cleanup Tour

The North Sea Foundation kicks off the Boskalis Beach Cleanup Tour. Managing director Floris van Hest sounds the gong accompanied by a delegation of Euronext listed main sponsor Boskalis (ticker symbol: BOKA).

From August 1 until August 14, The North Sea Foundation cleans up the Dutch coastline with as many volunteers as possible. And this is of great necessity with about 1,2 million pieces of plastic trash on the Dutch beaches. This year, the Boskalis Beach Cleanup Tour is organised in a new way. For the past three years, the North Sea Foundation roamed along the coastline from Cadzand to Schiermonnikoog in one month. This year, The North Sea Foundation will clean the Dutch beaches within two weeks, by starting simultaneously on August 1 in both Cadzand and Schiermonnikoog and finishing in Zandvoort. Last year, The North Sea Foundation has collected 11.555 kilograms of trash from the beaches with the help of over 2000 volunteers.

The Boskalis Beach Cleanup Tour is organised by the North Sea Foundation, the environmental organization that focuses on sustainable use of the North Sea. Since the first edition in 2013, 38,223 kilos of waste have been removed from the Dutch beaches thanks to the help of 4,015 volunteers.

For more information: www.beachcleanuptour.nl

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