All Bell ceremonies

Eurovision Song Contest

Douwe Bob sounds the gong before Eurovision Song Contest

On May 10 the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals will be held in Stockholm. Douwe Bob will represent the Netherlands with the song ‘Slow Down’. Before he leaves for Stockholm he visits the Amsterdam exchange and sounds the gong.

Douwe Bob wrote the song to create an awareness that one occasionally may take things slower in life. "Slowdown is a protest song against myself, against the speed with which I live in Amsterdam." The Netherlands is 6th in line during the semi-finals and thus stands between two women from Croatia and Armenia. Douwe Bob will sing ‘Slow Down’ for all of Europe between the power-ballads of his contestants. 18 participants take part in the first semifinal.

Douwe Bob amassed fame by winning "Best Singer-Songwriter Netherlands' in 2012. After that yielded a successful collaboration with Anouk with their hit" Hold Me "and the album 'Pass It On' the earned the number one position in the Album Top 100. Douwe Bob’s new album, ‘Fool Bar’ will be released on May 6.

For more information: www.douwebob.nl

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ABN Amro and Singer Laren

ABN Amro and Singer Laren confirm collaboration by sounding gong

Last week, Johan van Hall, vice-Chairman and member of the Executive Board of the Euronext listed ABN AMRO (ticker symbol: ABN), and Evert van Os, Managing Director of Singer Laren Museum, signed the renewed main sponsor contract. This sealed their long-term partnership of over 25 years. To corroborate their collaboration once more they sound the gong to open trading at the Amsterdam exchange.

Evert van Os was very proud and pleased that the bank, the main sponsor of the museum since 1990, chose to renew its partnership with Singer Laren. The confidence that ABN AMRO expresses with its renewal in our exhibitions, theater productions, the construction of the new theater and other activities is fantastic for us as a subsidized cultural organization.

ABN AMRO and culture have gone hand in hand for a very long time. The bank's sponsoring ensures that art, music, design and theater reach a maximum audience. This long relationship goes beyond just sponsoring. The bank is truly Singer Laren Museum's partner, sharing its knowledge and network. This is why ABN AMRO is equally pleased to announce its renewal of its long-term partnership with Singer Laren Museum.

For more information: www.abnamro.nl 

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Mediawan

Listing of Mediawan

Pierre-Antoine Capton, CEO, Mediawan opens the European trading day in Paris.

Mediawan is an investment trust specializing in acquiring stakes in companies operating in the media and entertainment sectors.

Aimforthemoon

Aimforthemoon opens trading and brings entrepreneurs and corporates together

Aimforthemoon is a collective of entrepreneurs in Amsterdam and aims to bring together the different worlds of entrepreneurs and companies to jointly launch as new businesses. They visit Beursplein 5 and open trading.

Recently, Aimforthemoon organized the Skylab event. During this event entrepreneurs and corporate business were introduced to one another. The focus was on exploring how to join forces in order to build new businesses. ‘’Corporate Innovation the Startup Way!’’. Aimforthemoon works together with, among others, the following Euronext listed companies: Wolters Kluwer, Robeco, Randstad, PostNL, KPN and NN.

Aimforthemoon was founded early 2013 in Amsterdam and has grown into a like-minded and passionate community of entrepreneurs who love to kick start and scale new ventures together with corporate businesses. Their dream is to create a global community of entrepreneurs and innovative companies and stimulate and facilitate co-creation between those different worlds.

For more information: www.aimforthemoon.com

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Launch TALX magazine

Trading day opened by 3D printed robot for launch TALX magazine

Trading day at the Amsterdam exchange is opened by a fully 3D printed robotic arm. The Amsterdam Leadership Exchange (TALX) is an event on the impact of disruptive technology on various industries. The gong is sounded for the launch of TALX magazine.

A team of students from the Nova College developed the 3D printed robotic arm. TALX is an interactive inspirational platform for business leaders who want to be inspired by national and international experts from the world of innovation and technique. In active debate sessions, they discuss the future of the following sectors: Finance, Healthcare, Automotive, Retail, Smart Industries (3D printing, Internet of Things, Big Data), Data Security, Law, Recruitment, Smart Cities, Food, Media, Eduction and Energy. Partners of TALX are among others the Euronext Listed ING, Heineken, ABN AMRO and IBM, EY and NXP

For more information: www.talx.nl

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Agfa Gevaert in TECH40

Agfa Gevaert new entry in TECH40

EnterNext presents a new selection of the TECH40 label of the year 2016. The TECH40 covers the 40 leading, small and mid cap Tech companies listed on Euronext’s markets. These 40 companies were drawn up from the total of 320 listed Tech companies (digital companies, life sciences and eco-industry). A nine-member committee then made the final selection using qualitative and quantitative criteria.  This year, Agfa Gevaert is part if this selection and joins other Belgian companies  such as Ablynx, Barco, Celyad, Econocom, EVS and Zenitel

To consult the complete list of the TECH40 label composition: tech.euronext.com/en/our-tech-companies/tech-40-label

National Hennessy Hospitality Award

National Hennessy Hospitality Award winner visits Beursplein 5

The winner of the National Hennessy Hospitality Award (Nationale Hennessy Gastvrijheidsprijs), Moët Hennessy is part of the Euronext listed LVMH Group (ticker symbol: MC), visits Beursplein 5 to open trading.

The purpose of the annual competition is to put a spotlight on the hosts and hostesses in the hospitality industry and to promote knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic hospitality. Since 2012 the competition goes under the name of National Hennessy Hospitality Award. The original Alliance Hennessy Hospitality Award was initiated in 1999 by former president Jaap Klosse, honorary member of Alliance Gastronomique Néerlandaise (currently Alliance Gastronomique ) Hans Flink and the Hennessy Cognac House. Nowadays, the seven major culinary associations of the Netherlands - united in the G7 - participate in the initiative. These culinary associations are: Alliance Gastronomique, Chateaux et Residences gastronomiques, Fine Eastern Restaurants, Jeunes Restaurateurs d'Europe Netherlands Les Patrons Cuisiniers, Relais Restaurants and Selected Indonesian Restaurants.

The 2016 edition of the National Hennessy Hospitality Award was handed over to Thomy Kleijngeld of restaurant Wollerich in Sint-Oedenrode by Maurice Hennessy.

For more information: www.moethennessy.nl

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ING Starter of the month:QualityWash

ING Starter of the month April QualityWash sounds gong

QualityWash has been elected by the ING jury to be ING startup of the month April 2016. For this occasion they open trading at the Amsterdam exchange. Jordy Bakker, co-owner QualityWash, sounds the gong.

QualityWash offers a car wash service which is different from others. They do not use water,  make use of sustainable products and have a flexible service. QualityWash washes your car at any venue and without the use of water. They save approximately 100 liters per car doing so. On top of that, every wash provides extra protection for the car paint.

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

For more information: www.qualitywash.nl  

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Witbe

Listing of Witbe on Alternext

Marie-Véronique Lacaze, co-founder & President - Chief Executive Officer, Witbe and Jean-Michel Planche, co-founder & Senior  Vice President Innovations & Technologies, Witbe open the European trading day in Paris.

Witbe specializes in business monitoring services. The company offers solutions to manage Quality of Experience (QoE) of services delivered to any platform (enterprise application, website, IPTV servers, etc.) to any device (PC, tablet, smartphone, mobile phone, etc.) and to any type of network (fixed, mobile, etc.). Witbe provides testing and monitoring system designed to help enterprises and service providers keep their commitments to their end-users by proactively identifying service defects and producing accurate, yet relevant indicators.

Winner Artcadia

Winner Artcadia opens trading day at Amsterdam exchange

Het Vellesan College from IJmuiden has won the art and technology competition Artcadia of Arcadis. The winning design is the “air bath”, a solution combining water savings and comfort. The winners visit the Amsterdam exchange and open trading.

After months of competition 12 different schools presented their ideas in the Evoluon in Eindhoven. Innovative and creative ideas ranged from a solution for the refugee problem and sustainable water use in different formats to energy production with the help of trains and airplanes.

The competition is organized by design and consultancy firm Arcadis (ticker symbol: ARCAD), Koninklijke Nederlandsche Heidemaatschappij (KNHM) foundation and print services provider Canon Business Services and aims to involve students in the exciting world of technical solutions. A record number of 112 schools participated in this year’s edition.

Arcadis is a global Design & Consultancy firm for natural and built assets. Applying their deep market sector insights and collective design, consultancy, engineering, project and management services they work in partnership with their clients to deliver exceptional and sustainable outcomes throughout the lifecycle of their natural and built assets.

For more information: www.artcadia.nl

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GeNeuro lists on Euronext Paris

Jesús Martin-Garcia, Chairman and CEO of GeNeuro, rings the opening bell, while the company celebrates its listing on Euronext Paris.

GeNeuro is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing a new approach to the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and other diseases associated with human endogenous retroviruses (HERV). GeNeuro seeks to block a suspected source of the inflammatory and neurodegenerative components of the disease, rather than targeting the immune response of the body as do most current treatments.

Morningstar Awards

2016 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 2016 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 2015 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. The 2016 Morningstar Awards winners visit Beursplein 5 and sound the gong.

For more information: www.morningstar.nl

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Asparagus For Life Foundation

Asparagus For Life Foundation opens trading on the eve of the new asparagus season

On the eve of the 2016 asparagus season, the Asparagus For Life Foundation will present itself. In honor of this event, asparagus ambassador Joop Braakhekke, opens trading at the Amsterdam exchange  with the traditional gong ceremony.

15 April is the first day of the 2016 asparagus season and on that day a new wing of the AVL hospital is completed. A special day on which a special event will also take place. A charity event, hosted by Erik de Zwart, where guest will be treated to a sumptuous dinner with fresh asparagus served in several variations prepared by Hostellerie De Hamert in cooperation with the Brotherhood de l'Asparagus Limbourgondië.

With a series of activities during and outside of the asparagus season, the Asparagus For Life Foundation will raise funds for the benefit of the DNA and immunology research of the Dutch Cancer Institute and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Foundation.

Partners of this event are, among others, Euronext listed Moët Hennessy and BNR, FD, Radio Veronica, Muller Visual/Grafiplaza.

For more information: www.aspergesvoorleven.nl

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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

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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

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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

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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

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