All Bell ceremonies

Elis celebrates IPO on Euronext Paris

Xavier Martiré, CEO, Elis rings the European trading day in Paris.

Elis is a full-services group leader in Europe and Brazil in the rental and maintenance of professional clothing and linen, offering additional services such as water fountains, rugs and sanitation.
With more than 18,500 employees in 10 European countries and Brazil, ELIS realized in 2013 a turnover of more than 1.225 billion euros. With over a century of expertise in its traditional markets of hotel, catering and health, ELIS now delivers over 240 000 companies of all sizes and in all sectors through its network of more than 256 service centers and production, which guarantees unparalleled customer proximity.

SnowWorld sounds gong to mark one-year listing anniversary

By sounding the gong, SnowWorld (symbol: SNOW) marks its one-year listing on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

The reverse listing in December 2013 did not only improve SnowWorlds solvency, but also provided them access to the capital markets. The company has thuss become less dependent on the future availability of bank credit for the execution of its strategy.

The process of the IPO and subsequent issue of new shares in February 2014 led to a further professionalization of SnowWorld. The introduction of a Supervisory Board has played an important role and SnowWorld has formulated a clear strategy. The implementation of this strategy will take place within a framework of risk management and corporate governance. CEO Koos Hendriks sounds the gong.

For more information: www.snowworld.com

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EnterNext welcomes Safe Orthopaedics on Euronext in Paris

Yves Vignancour, CEO of Safe Orthopaedics, rings the opening bell.

Safe Orthopaedics specializes in the design, manufacture and marketing of medical devices for spine surgery. The company offers implants and instruments in the range of SteriSpine (the first spinal arthrodesis system that is for single use and is sterile and totally traceable).

Emma Children’s Hospital and Albert Heijn sound gong for fundraising initiative

The Emma Children’s Hospital AMC and Albert Heijn sound the gong to call attention to a shared fundraising initiative.

This year, the Emma Children’s Hospital will celebrate it’s 150th birthday. This special occasion is an opportunity to build an internationally leading Intensive Care Neonatal Unit. In order to achieve this goal, the existing unit will need to be entirely renovated and further scientific research is needed.

A fund raising initiative was set up together with Albert Heijn. From February 10 until April 6, customers of 80 Albert Heijn stores may donate their recyclables refund money, with proceeds benefitting the Emma Children’s Hospital.

For more information: www.steunemma.nl

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Opening gong in honor of World Epilepsy Day

The Dutch Epilepsy Foundation sounds the gong on World Epilepsy Day to highlight the launch of their new website and a fundraising event that will take place this year.

Worldwide, 65 million people suffer from the unpredictable condition epilepsy for which there is no cure yet. Consequently, scientific research into the causes of epilepsy is of vital importance. The Dutch Epilepsy Foundation subsidizes studies that may lead to a cure. Furthermore the foundation supports people with epilepsy providing them with the right information, individual help and special holidays for those people who cannot travel by themselves due to their epilepsy.

Wouter de Klein, whose 5-year-old daughter Marte was diagnosed with epilepsy, sounds the gong in the presence of his fellow members of the Round Table 133 Utrechtsche Heuvelrug. They are organising a fundraising dinner and auction. The proceeds will benefit the Dutch Epilepsy Foundation.

For more information: www.epilepsie.nl

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MBI Life Sciences & Health sounds closing gong

Ventures participating in the MBI Life Sciences & Health program visit Euronext Amsterdam to pitch their businesses in front of a number of investors in the Life Sciences & Health industry. Director MBI Life Sciences & Health, Marianne van der Steen, sounds the closing gong.

The MBI Life Sciences & Health is a new program specifically designed for entrepreneurs in the Life Sciences & Health industry. The program is an initiative of top research institutes from the Netherlands and Belgium such as UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University, VIB and FlandersBIO. It is supported by an actively involved advisory board with a proven entrepreneurial track record. It is an ‘learning-on-the-job’ program to accelerate ventures on a global scale. On the 1st of October the program starts with new ventures.

For more information: www.mbi-lifesciencesandhealth.com

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Gong marks IPO GrandVision

GrandVision celebrates listing on Euronext Amsterdam by opening trading.

GrandVision (trading symbol GVNV) is the global leader in optical retail by number of stores (excluding sunglass specialty stores) and delivers high quality and affordable eye care to customers around the world. The high quality eye care offered by GrandVision includes a wide range of services provided by its optical experts, prescription glasses including frames and lenses, contact lenses and contact lens care products, and sunglasses both plain and with prescription lenses. These products are offered through its leading optical retail banners which operate in 43 countries across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. GrandVision serves its customers in over 5,600 stores.

For more information: www.grandvision.com

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Duallisting of Bone Therepeutics in Brussels and Paris

As of 6 February 2015, the Biotech company Bone Therapeutics is listed both on Brussels and Paris. To celebrate this event, CEO Enrico Bastianelli opened the markets with a Bell Ceremony. Wim Goemaere, CFO, had the honor to write the first opening price on the blackboard. Minister Jean-Claude Marcourt, Vice-Minister-President and Minister of Economy of the Walloon Government was our guest of honour.

Bone Therapeutics raised €32.2M in a 2,5 oversubscribed successful IPO on Euronext Brussels and Paris. The reference price was fixed at €16. Market cap amounts to €104.8M on the day of its introduction. With the funds, Bone Therapeutics will accelerate development of their innovative bone cell therapy products for fracture repair and prevention.

Bone Therapeutics  is a biotechnology company and specializes in the development of cell therapy products  for the treatment of osteo-articular diseases and regeneration of bone tissue, based on a technological platform permitting the production of osteoblastic cells from adult stem cells. This therapeutic domain concerns bone reconstruction application and the treatment of diseases such as osteoporosis.

The ticker code is : BOTHE.

If you would like to find out more : www.bonetherapeutics.com/en

EnterNext is the most active European market place in the Life Sciences sector with a market share close to 30% in terms of capital raised at IPO.   The biotech franchise listed on Enternext represents over €6.2bn in market capitalisation for 31 issuers.  At Enternext Brussels,  7 Biotech companies represent €2.2bn in market capitalisation. In the recent years, our Next Biotech Index has outperformed most of the main European indices.

EnterNext welcomes Poxel on Euronext in Paris

Thomas Kuhn, CEO of Poxel, rings the opening bell.

Poxel is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the development of medicines for the treatment of metabolic diseases, primarily type II diabetes.

At the end of 2014, the group had 6 products including 1 in phase II of clinical development (Imeglimin), 1 in phase of preclinical development (PXL770) and 4 in research phase.

Unilever celebrates cooperation with European Federation of Food Banks

Unilever (ticker symbol: UNIA) sounds the gong to celebrate its three-year partnership with the European Federation of Food Banks (FEBA). They have joined forces in the battle against hunger and food wastage in Europe.

Unilever has been working with various members of FEBA at the international level for many years. The company donates 100,000 euro every year to help finance new food banks in Eastern and Southern Europe and to support the activities of existing food banks in those regions. Over 120 million people (almost one fourth of the population of Europe) risk living in poverty, while Europe wastes over 100 million tons of food every year. Tom Hillemans, vice chairman of the Association of Dutch Food Banks, and Bart Kuppens, VP Marketing Foods, Home & Personal Care Unilever Benelux, open trading.

For more information: www.unilever.com

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EnterNext welcomes Lucas Bols N.V.

40 year old leading global spirits player raises €126 million in IPO
 “This IPO is an important milestone in the 440 years of history of our company. We feel honoured to bring back together two of the oldest Dutch companies still active; the oldest stock exchange in the world and the world’s oldest distilled spirits brand. We are excited to enter this next phase together with our new shareholders , and we look forward to execute our international growth strategy and further strengthen our position as the world’s leading cocktail authority.”.”
Huub van Doorne, CEO Lucas Bols

Lucas Bols celebrates IPO

Lucas Bols CEO Huub van Doorne celebrates the company’s listing by sounding the gong. He is accompanied by CFO Joost de Vries, Creative & Communications Director Sandie van Doorne en their Supervisory Board.

Lucas Bols is the world’s oldest distilled spirits brand and one of the oldest Dutch companies still active. Building on its 440 year old heritage dating back to 1575, the company has mastered the art of distilling, mixing and blending old recipes with new flavours for its portfolio of premium and super-premium brands. Lucas Bols’ owns a portfolio of more than 20 brands across a range of spirits products, including liqueurs, genever, gin and vodka used in cocktail bars around the world. Its products are sold in more than 110 countries.

Van Doorne: “This IPO is an important milestone in the 440 years of history of our company. We feel honoured to bring back together two of the oldest Dutch companies still active; the oldest stock exchange in the world and the world’s oldest distilled spirits brand. We are excited to enter this next phase together with our new shareholders, and we look forward to execute our international growth strategy and further strengthen our position as the world’s leading cocktail authority.”

For more information: www.lucasbols.com

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Methorios Capital celebrates listing on Alternext

Fabio Palumbo, Chairman of METHORIOS opens the European trading day in Paris to celebrate their listing on Alternext.

Methorios Capital specializes in providing advisory in corporate finance transactions and assistance to small and medium companies in the research of financial solutions and corporate structures. The group's activity is organized into two sectors:
corporate finance advisory: advisory in mergers and acquisitions, in industrial and financial reorganizations, in renegotiations of lines of credit, in debt restructuring, provision of valuations of companies, implementation of strategic analyses, etc.;
investment banking: equity investment and capital markets.

Neelie Kroes sounds gong for startup climate

Neelie Kroes opens trading to mark the Dutch startup climate. By sounding the gong she raises awareness for the innovation and economic growth that is generated by startups.

In her role as Special Envoy of StartupDelta, Neelie Kroes has been connecting multinationals, startups, investors and government over the last month. The Netherlands is the biggest startup ecosystem in Europe and strives to be in the top 3 of European startup hub’s. To strengthen the current position StartupDelta introduces startup deals that connect all parties in the startup ecosystem to jointly invest in the startup climate. In order to ensure a sustainable climate towards the future, StartupDelta pleads to add coding to the curriculum of elementary schools.

For more information: www.startupdelta.org

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CFO Philips marks start Innovation Award 2015

By sounding the gong CFO of Philips (ticker symbol: PHIA), Ron Wirahadiraksa, marks the start of the 10^th Philips Innovation Award.

The Philips Innovation Award 2015 challenges all students to submit an innovative plan. The jury, presided over by Frans van Houten (CEO of Philips), takes (among other criteria) the impact, sustainability and feasability of the plans into account. Participating students receive personal feedback, training and coaching from top entrepreneurs and professionals. The winner of the 10th edition of the Award will be announced during the final at 21 May 2015.The prize consists of cash and a toolkit of products and services that gives the student-entrepreneurs a kick start.

For more information: www.phia.nl

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Euronext distinguishes capital market participants and calls for portuguese market to move forward

Lisbon - 30 January 2015 – The fourth edition of the Euronext Lisbon Awards, was held yesterday. During the event, the Lisbon Stock Exchange distinguished the issuers, financial intermediaries and other institutions, as well as the individuals who, in 2014, played an important role in the Portuguese capital market. The Minister of Economy, António Pires de Lima, closed the event which took place at Culturgest, and was heavily attended by issuers, brokers, investment banks, analysts, fund managers, law firms, academics, governmental entities, regulators and journalists, among other participants.

In the  opening remarks, Luís Laginha de Sousa, CEO of Euronext Lisbon, underlined: "We cannot ignore the magnitude of the problems that occurred in 2014 in our market and the negative impact they had, particularly in the investor community. We believe that the fundamental challenges being faced by the Portuguese economy and its companies in particular require, more than ever, solutions that can be made available by capital markets. Our effort and energy is dedicated to ensure that Euronext, together with the local ecosystems we serve, can make the best possible use of the potential of the capital market.  In particular we want to help non-financial companies to overcome their structural weaknesses demonstrated by an extremely high degree of indebtedeness, which hinders their development."

He summed up his speech by saying: "Although history does not repeat itself, it provides strong enough evidence that capital markets have an enormous capacity to deal with huge adversities and can be a key instrument to the benefit of the society as a whole, which I’m confident will be the case again."

The fourth Euronext Lisbon Awards edition were hosted by João Vieira Pereira, Director of the Exame magazine and Editor of the weekly newspaper Expresso. Also present to give the Awards to the winners, were several prominent public figures: José de Matos, Miguel Cruz, Miguel Frasquilho, Raul Marques, João Afonso Fialho, José Veiga Sarmento, João Duque, Rui Alpalhão, João da Silva Ferreira, Carlos Magno, Patrícia Vieira Pinto, José António Barros, José Maria Azevedo Rodrigues, Pedro Seixas Vale, Fernando Faria de Oliveira, Rui Leão Martinho, and Francisco Pinto Balsemão (by order of appearance).

The jury of the Euronext Lisbon Awards remained the same as in previous editions: members of the PSI20 Committee namely, João da Silva Ferreira, João Duque and Rui Alpalhão.

Wolters Kluwer celebrates ‘Bronze Class Sustainability Award’

For the eighth year in a row, Wolters Kluwer (ticker symbol: _WKL) has been awarded the Bronze Class Sustainability Award from RobecoSAM, as part of “The Sustainability Yearbook.” In the same week, Wolters Kluwer was again recognized as one of the ‘Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World’ by Corporate Knights for the third consecutive year.

The repeated inclusion in these important environmental, social and governance indices endorses the Wolters Kluwer digital-first and innovation-driven sustainability strategy. Wolters Kluwer continues its commitment towards business practices which minimize the environmental impact and maximize societal benefits.  

RobecoSAM’s The Sustainability Yearbook is the world’s most comprehensive publication on corporate sustainability. Since 2004, The Sustainability Yearbook has listed the world’s most sustainable companies in each industry as determined by their score in RobecoSAM’s annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment. Out of 4609 companies, the Global 100 has selected the 100 best performing stocks globally on the basis of 12 quantitative and sector-relevant sustainability indicators. Company secretary Maarten Thompson sounds the gong.

For more information: www.wolterskluwer.com

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Bell Ceremony at “ICMA-ACI Economic Summit” in Brussels

On 29 January 2015, Alan Strapart, President of ACI Belgium closed the European stock markets with a Bell Ceremony together with Herman Van Cauwenberge, President of ICMA Belgium at the Brussels Hotel Métropole to celebrate the opening of the Economic Summit. The conference was organised by these 2 organisations : ICMA and ACI.

The mission of ICMA is to promote resilient and well functioning international debt capital markets. Such markets are necessary for economic growth, and benefit market participants and their clients alike.

ACI Belgium is a member of ACI The Financial Market Association. ACI was founded in France in 1955 following an agreement between foreign exchange dealers in Paris and London.

If you would like to find out more about these 2 associations : www.acibelgium.be and www.icmagroup.org