All Bell ceremonies

Double listing anniversary KBC

Together, KBC and KBC Ancora write 80 years of stock market history

Today Euronext celebrated a double listing anniversary: that of bank-insurer KBC and its reference shareholder KBC Ancora. They are listed respectively 65 and 15 years on the Euronext markets. On this occasion, Johan Thijs, CEO of KBC Group, and Franky Depickere, CEO of KBC Ancora, opened the financial markets by ringing the bell.

It's 65 years ago that Kredietbank shares were first listed at the then Brussels Stock Exchange. Since the KBC merger in 1998, the shares have been listed under the KBC label.

Since 2001, following the establishment of Almancora by KBC shareholder Cera, that share has also been listed on Euronext,
first as Almancora and later as KBC Ancora. And so it is that, today, KBC and KBC Ancora have chalked up 80 years of stock market history. Over that period, the two institutions have actively contributed to the development of Belgium's economy and society. Today, Johan Thijs, CEO of KBC Group, and Franky Depickere, Managing Director of KBC Ancora, therefore had the pleasure of being invited to ring the bell to start trading at Euronext Brussels.

Johan Thijs looks to the future: 'In the past 18 years, KBC has grown to become an important, visible market  player  that  is  actively  followed  by  both  individual  investors  and  large  institutional  investors, both  at  home  and  abroad.  In  spite  of  the  sometimes  turbulent market  environment,  KBC's  unique integrated bank-insurance model has proved itself as a foundation for sustainable, profitable growth. With  the  support  of  our  core  shareholders,  we  can  confidently  work  on  rolling  out  our  long-term strategy in the interests of our clients, employees, shareholders and other stakeholders.'

Franky Depickere adds: 'Together with Cera and the other core shareholders, KBC Ancora constitutes a shareholder structure for KBC Group that is stable and rooted in the local community as a basis for healthy onward development and the creation of shareholder value in the long term.'

For more information:
www.kbc.com
www.kbcancora.be

Stedelijk Museum

Stedelijk Museum sounds gong for Living in the Amsterdam School

In 2016 the Amsterdam School will return to the Stedelijk. Immerse yourself in a spectacular exhibition of Amsterdam School interior design: furniture, lamps, clocks, ceramics, textiles, and graphic designs such as those for wallpaper. Beatrix Ruf, Director Stedelijk Museum, sounds the gong together with Carlo Verhart, Senior Advisor Marketing & Communications Rabobank Amsterdam.

This exhibition of over 500 works includes work from designers like Jaap Gidding, Michel de Klerk, Piet Kramer, Hildo Krop, and Marie Kuyken. The architecture of the Amsterdam School is internationally renowned. It is regarded as the highly original Dutch correlative to the lively anti-rationalist design movement in Europe between the two World Wars. With this exhibition the furniture and interiors designed by the architects, sculptors and designers of the Amsterdam School get the recognition they deserve for the first time, while revealing that the expressive furnishings functioned within an exuberant, colorful environment.

The exhibition ‘ Living in the Amsterdam School’ runs from April 9 to 28 August, 2016 and is sponsored by Rabobank Amsterdam, the principal sponsor of the Stedelijk Museum.

For more information: www.stedelijk.nl

Download photo

Kempen & Co Structured Products

Kempen & Co brings attention to Structured Products by sounding gong

Kempen & Co visits the Amsterdam exchange to bring attention to their new Structured Products platform and the awards they have won for the same subject. Florian Hillen, Director Structured Investments Kempen & Co sounds the gong.

In the past few weeks, Kempen & Co has worked hard to finalize their new website, www.kempenmarkets.nl, which was created with the help of the input of their clients. This new website provides extensive information about structured products. They hope that this website will help to make this product group easier to understand by presenting the information conveniently and with maximum transparency.

The sounding of the gong to open trading is also to celebrate that recently, for the second year in a row, Kempen & Co has won the ‘Regional Awards - the Netherlands’ for ‘Best Distributor’ at the annual awards ceremony for best structured products of SRP Europe. In addition, Kempen won an award in the category of ‘Best Performance’. The results are determined on the basis of votes cast by active regional producers, distributors and service providers.  

For more information: www.kempenmarkets.nl

Download photo

Nedap MOOV

Nedap sounds gong for launch MOOV

Nedap (ticker symbol: NEDAP),  - leading specialist in vehicle identification and detection technology - launches the next generation of its solutions for vehicle access control. Nedap MOOV is the world’s first access control system specifically designed for vehicle entrances in cities and parking facilities. Eric Urff, CFO, sounds the gong on this occasion.

With this new solution Nedap responds to the worldwide trend towards smarter cities and the increasing focus on mobility challenges in those cities. Nedap has been active in the field of vehicle access control for decades. The Dutch company is also known for its building access control and RFID readers. Nedap MOOV originates from the Dutch market where the product is applied in more than 40 cities to regulate the volume and the flow of motorized traffic in city centres and shopping areas. In these cities, managed vehicle entrances to the city centre are created to control who is granted access and who does not get access.

For more information: www.nedap.com

Download photo

Nyenrode Private Investor Program

Nyenrode Business visits Beursplein 5 for Private Investor Program

Nyenrode Business University opens trading for Private Investor Program. Participants in the Private Investor Program actively learn to analyze and manage their own investment portfolios according to the latest insights in the field of investing. They are being taught by top experts who will assist them in every step of the way ensuring that they make the right investment decisions.

After successful completion of this program, the participants 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. Leonard van Thuijl, graduate of the Nyenrode Private Investor Program, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.executiveeducation.nl

Download photo

ABM Financial News

ABM Financial News sounds gong after acquisition Dow Jones Dutch language services

ABM Financial News acquired the Dutch language service of the renowned Dow Jones Newswires at the end of 2015. The editors of AMB Financial News are now all operating from Beursplein 5, the most famous financial address in the Netherlands. Merwin Bisseling, Managing Director of ABM Financial News, sounds the gong with Simon Rodda, Executive Director Dow Jones.

By merging the two companies the largest financial news feed for the Dutch-speaking region was created. Dow Jones and ABM Financial News work closely together, including in the field of product development. ABM Financial News also gets direct access to the products of Dow Jones, including business newspaper The Wall Street Journal, Barron's investors magazine and the headline service. Dow Jones, on the other hand, will internationally distribute the newsfeed of ABM Financial News in its publications.

‘’By merging these two companies, both of which have some unique qualities, Dutch user gain access to an extremely powerful news service’’ said Merwin Bisseling of ABM Financial News in a statement on the acquisition. The editors of AMB Financial News will continue to operate from Beursplein 5, the most famous financial address in the Netherlands.

For more information: www.abmfn.nl

Download photo

EnterNext TechShare program

Gong to conclude EnterNext TechShare program 2015-2016

To conclude the successful EnterNext TechShare program 2015 – 2016 the Dutch participants and partners sound the gong.  TechShare is an educational program designed especially 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 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. CM, Experty, Leadpharma and Ultimaker the four participating Dutch companies in the TechShare program.

‘’The TechShare program is a unique opportunity for intensive support in the search for alternative forms of capital. Think of it as a ‘crash course’ IPO. I have experienced the contact between professionals, fellow entrepreneurs and institutions as positive. My network has greatly expanded.’’ says Reinier de Jonge, CEO Experty.

Due to the success of the first edition the next edition of TechShare will start soon, where the number of participant companies from the Netherlands will be expanded to 10 companies.

For more information: www.enternext.biz

Download photo

Socially Responsible Investment Funds

Bell Ceremony to promote Socially Responsible Investment Funds

Isabel Ucha, interim CEO of Euronext Lisbon, Flavia Micelotta, executive director of Eurosif, an organisation that promotes sustainability among European financial markets, and Diana Guzman, director of the Carbon Disclosure Project for Southern Europe, talked to more than 40 guests about socially responsible investments and funds. These funds promote sustainability by funding projects with profitability targets under the low carbon economy, such as sustainable forests or other topics related to sustainable development. After the conference, they rang the closing bell.

ENGIE Netherlands

ENGIE Netherlands sounds gong for name change

The Euronext Brussels and Paris listed ENGIE (ticker symbol: ENGI) changed its name from GDF SUEZ. A new name, but with a rich history in the Netherlands. One of the Dutch predecessors of ENGIE was founded 200 years ago by King William I. On this occasion Han Blokland, CEO ENGIE Netherlands, sounds the gong.

The main reason for the change they will make as a company, is the energy transition. ENGIE wants to be the leader in the energy transition: continues the transition from the old to the new energy world and set globally in less CO2 emissions and at the same time ensures that the growing demand for energy available and affordable for the customer.

Because of the climate, ENGIE finds that this transition must happen soon. This acceleration can only happen if more integrated solutions are available that accelerate energy and make it accessible. By combining the power of ENGIE Services and ENGIE Energy, a unique combination of skills and knowledge in the field of renewable energy, technology and digitization is created. As one brand they can serve their customers broader in their overall energy problem.

For more information: www.engie-energie.nl

Download photo

Festival des Métiers

Gong highlights Festival des Métiers from Hèrmes

Hermès Benelux, part of the Euronext Paris listed Hermès (ticker symbol: RMS) organizes the Festival Des Métiers, an exhibition where the different crafts of Hermès are shown in the Hollandsche Manege in Amsterdam.

From April 1 to April 10, the French workshops of Hermès have been moved to the Hollandsche Manege in Amsterdam. The artisans will manufacture a wide selection of handmade Hermès products for 10 days.

It is no coincidence that Hermès has chosen the Hollandsche Manege as venue for the Festival des Métiers. Hermès was founded in Paris as a workshop for saddles, halters and harnesses in 1837. The magnificent building of the Hollandsche Manege houses the oldest riding school in the Netherlands, now a modern and versatile equestrian business. The Hollandsche Manege is the oldest horse riding school in The Netherlands and the history of this riding school dates all the way back to 1744.

For more information: www.hermes.com

Download photo

400th anniversary Royal Vopak

Celebration of Royal Vopak’s 400 Year By Sounding The Gong

This year, Royal Vopak (ticker symbol: VPK) is celebrating its 400th anniversary. To mark this occasion, the opening gong is sounded by a “colleague” from the 17th century in the presence of Royal Vopak’s Executive Board and staff members of the Dutch Vopak terminals.

Eelco Hoekstra, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Royal Vopak: “Our 400th anniversary in 2016 is a unique moment. We would like to celebrate this with all our staff and other parties involved. In our celebrations, we place emphasis on connecting our past, present and future. It is great to see that we are still, 400 years later, standing on the quayside for our customers to facilitate worldwide product flows. And over a period that has seen such immense change. Time and time again the company has been able to adapt to the changing society and maintain its relevance. That is a great source of inspiration and an ongoing challenge for the future.”

Royal Vopak is the world’s leading independent tank storage provider, specialized in the storage and transhipment of bulk liquid products, gases and oil products. Vopak has a worldwide network of tank terminals.

For more information: www.vopak.com

Download photo

NVA Autism Week

Sounding of the Gong for Autism Week of NVA

This year the NVA organizes the Autism Week for the 7th time, from 2 to 9 April, to create awareness about autism. Diederik Weve from Shell sounds the gong.

Diederik Weve is a safety engineer at Shell and with his project “Coming out for Autistics” he laid the very foundations for the Autism Embassy. The embassy is a fast growing network of employees with autism who are successful at making autism visible in their own organizations as a Diversity & Inclusion proposition.

This year the Autism Week focuses on physical activity and sports. More and more research shows that sport contributes to stay healthy - physically as well as mentally. Our brain actually works better when we sport regularly. Data from the Dutch Autism Registry (NAR) show that people with autism are particularly vulnerable to stress and negative feelings and social isolation is a problem among this group. Practicing sports can help to reduce these problems and increase self-confidence. Autism-friendly sports clubs and sports coaches help to overcome barriers to actually join a sports club.

Members of the Dutch Autism Association (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Autisme, NVA) are people with autism and their families. From their perspective the NVA tries to establish an autism-friendly society; a society in which people with autism are optimally integrated, accepted and self-reliant.

For more information: www.autisme.nl

Download photo

Savings Account for UNICEF

Sounding of the gong for a trip with ING for UNICEF

The Euronext listed ING (ticker symbol: INGA) is looking for a pair of energetic travelers to make a trip to Madagascar for UNICEF. They sound the gong to give extra attention to their search.

As ambassadors of the Savings Account for UNICEF the pair will experience first-hand what UNICEF has been able to do with the contributions made by ING customers and what this means for preschool children in Madagascar. ING customers who have a Savings Account for UNICEF automatically support  UNICEF’s work in Madagascar.

The whole trip will be filmed so that everyone interested in the Savings Account for UNICEF can see how UNICEF is using the donations to help as many Madagascan children as possible into preschool. UNICEF staff in Madagascar want to use the trip to provide as full a picture as possible of the effect that preschool education has on the children, their parents and the community they live in. Only 10 per cent of young children are able to go to preschool and thanks to the Savings Account for UNICEF 1,280 children are now able to attend the preschool that has been built in their village

For more information: www.ing.nl

Download photo

Refresco Gerber Listing Anniversary

Refresco Gerber Celebrates One Year Listing Anniversary

Refresco Gerber (ticker symbol: RFRG) celebrates its first year of listing at Euronext Amsterdam. Hans Roelofs, CEO Refresco Gerber, marks this occasion by sounding the gong to open trading.

Hans Roelofs: "Being a listed company offers many new opportunities and it has raised our company profile which is helpful in executing our growth strategy. The share of Refresco Gerber, with an international shareholder base of both private and institutional investors, can look back on an exciting and successful first year."

Refresco Gerber is the European leader in bottling soft drinks and fruit juices for retailers and A-brand owners. At the end of 2015, Refresco Gerber has 25 production sites worldwide including the Benelux, Germany, France and the United Kingdom.

For more information: www.refrescogerber.com

Download photo

The King’s Commissioner of Noord-Holland

The King’s Commissioner of Noord-Holland visits the Amsterdam exchange

Johan Remkes, the King’s Commissioner of Noord-Holland, sounds the gong to open trading at the Euronext exchange in Amsterdam. This ceremony also marks the launch of a new online discussion platform that allows participants to contribute ideas regarding the Province’s economic policy.

Noord-Holland is one of the Netherlands’ most healthy and dynamic provinces and one of the drivers of the country’s economy recovery, which is quickly picking up steam. The coalition formed by VVD, D66, PvdA and CDA in the States-Provincial, which in turn has appointed the Provincial Executive, is making a maximum effort to prime the pump for the steady growth of Noord-Holland’s regional economy and to create new scope for innovation, sustainability and enterprise. The Province will be investing another EUR 160 million for this purpose. The Province aims to realise its ambitions by clearing new paths for employment, accessibility, innovation, sustainable energy, a healthy rural economy and robust nature and recreation areas.

To this end, the Province has established both an innovation fund and a sustainability fund for the SME sector. In addition, the Province intends to promote a more effective alignment of the region’s education sector and employment market. The provincial administration will be investing in outstanding accessibility – both physical and digital – for economic activity in Noord-Holland through initiatives in the ‘Greenports’, the ports of Noord-Holland, the North Sea Canal and at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

For more information: www.noord-holland.nl

Download photo

Winner Prix Veuve Clicquot

Winner Prix Veuve Clicquot opens trading

Businesswoman of the Year is an election organized by Veuve Clicquot Champagne House, part of the LVMH Group, listed on Euronext (ticker symbol: MC). The winner of 2016 visits the Amsterdam exchange and sounds the gong.

Vivienne van Eijkelenborg accepted the prestigous award for succesfull businesswoman for her leading skills at Difrax. 

Prix Veuve Clicquot is an international award for successful businesswomen and was created as a tribute to Madame Clicquot, the woman who put Veuve Clicquot on the global Champagne map.

Since 1981, the Prix Veuve Clicquot is a renowned initiative in the Netherlands. In 2016 this prize is awarded for the 35th time to a special businesswoman. In the past 34 years this award has had a very special and prestigious position and substantially contributed to a positive appreciation of female entrepreneurship. Led by a skilled jury, which this year is chaired by Mrs. Annemarie Jorritsma, the 35th Dutch Businesswoman of the Year will be elected on March 21 2016.

The prize is awarded in 18 countries. In the Netherlands, under the auspices of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin champagne, in collaboration with Stan Huygens Journal of the newspaper De Telegraaf and in cooperation with EY.

For more information: www.veuve-clicquot.nl/prix-nederland

Download photo

Bell Ceremony to promote capital markets

Euronext Lisbon and Portuguese Trade Chambers ring the closing bell to celebrate the Fifth Annual Meeting of Portuguese Trade Chambers around the world (25 were present in the meeting) to promote relations between the two institutions in order to exchange ideas on financing companies and the support that capital markets can provide in meeting this goal.

European Securities and Markets Authority

ESMA Chair Steven Maijoor opens trading

Steven Maijoor, Chair of European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), opens trading at the Amsterdam exchange. With the sounding of the gong the multi-day meeting of the ESMA Board of Supervisors in Amsterdam will start.

ESMA, established in Paris since 2010, contributes to safeguarding the stability of the European Union's financial system by enhancing the protection of investors and promoting stable and orderly financial markets. ESMA is an independent EU Authority that strengthens the coordination between national regulators of financial markets and ensures the consistent application of EU financial legislation in EU countries.

Due to the Dutch presidency of the EU in the first half of 2016, the ESMA Board of Supervisors takes place in Amsterdam once.

For more information: www.esma.europa.eu

Download photo