All Bell ceremonies

Benfica SAD

Benfica SAD rings the closing bell

To celebrate the listing of €50 million in bonds, Benfica SAD management team rang the closing bell, along with the Euronext team. Bonds demand exceeded offer in 2.6 times. This bonds pay 4.25% in interest rate, and more than 6,800 investors purchased Benfica SAD 2016-2019 bonds.

DPA and De Nieuwe Zaak

DPA and De Nieuwe Zaak celebrate joint venture by sounding gong at Euronext

To mark the occasion of their new joint venture, DPA (ticker symbol: DPA) and De Nieuwe Zaak sounded the opening gong to usher in the new trading day on Euronext. These two companies have launched Digital Marketing Professionals B.V., which focuses on the (ongoing) training, and placement of young professionals and senior marketing specialists.

This initiative will contribute to the improved recruitment and promotion of online marketers. “We ensure that talented individuals acquire specific knowledge and experience, enabling them to immediately offer clients added value. This is especially useful for organizations that want to optimize their online marketing strategy and operations, or that want to design new online activities,” says Eric Winter, DPA’s CEO.

Johan Keurentjes, the Managing Director of De Nieuwe Zaak, points out that, in partnership with Windesheim University, the new company has developed a traineeship for college and university level students. “Our experienced specialists provide them with a wealth of knowledge on topics such as online advertising, SEO, social media and big data analytics. In addition to strategic, legal and technical modules, they will also take a training course in communication skills. They will then start work on appropriate projects, under the guidance of our clients. In this way, these young people develop into fully-fledged online marketing professionals in a very short space of time.”

For more information: www.dpa.nl

Download photo

World Wish Day

Make-A-Wish The Netherlands sounds gong on World Wish Day

Every year on the 29th of April Make-A-Wish celebrates World Wish Day all over the world. In 1980 the first wish was granted to the 7-years old Chris, he suffered from leukemia. The whole village contributed enthusiasm to fulfil his dearest wish: being a cop. Make-A-Wish The Netherlands is founded in 1989 and annually fulfills more than 500 dearest wishes of children between 3 and 18 years with a life-threatening illness. Fulfilling a wish means a world of difference for these children and provides them and their family with hope and strength for the future.

For more information: www.makeawishnederland.org

Download photo
 

DeGiro

DeGiro opens trading at Amsterdam exchange

DeGiro, market leader among Dutch Retail Brokers, opens trading at the Amsterdam exchange. Martijn Rehling of DeGiro sounds the gong.

‘’In all of our processes we make optimal use of technology resulting in efficient processes. We give all the benefits of our efficient approach to our customers through low costs. Technology allows us to offer a service in which our clients benefit fair rates. At the same time DeGiro is able to create a stable financial institution with solid results.’’, says Gijs Nagel, director DeGiro.

DeGiro was established in 2008 in The Netherlands. Their vision was to service the professional market as well as retail investors with a highly innovative and low-cost alternative to the existing range of brokerage platforms. Low prices combined with a secure, reliable and innovative trading platform has resulted in rapid growth.

For more information: www.degiro.nl

Download photo

King’s Day

Koninklijke Bond van Oranjeverenigingen sounds gong on King’s Day

On King’s Day many ‘Oranjeverenigingen’ are busy organizing a village or town festival. The KBOV is the national representative of all ‘Oranjeverenigingen’. They visit Beursplein 5 and sound the gong.

The KBOV helps ‘Oranjeverenigingen’ with advice and information and organizes meeting points for exchange of experiences and ideas. In addition, the KBOV want to make clear that this kingdom, which is not bound by party or group, will be present in the plural society for every Dutch citizen, regardless of origin, race or religion.

The KBOV stresses the importance of promoting and strengthening the bond between the Dutch population and the House of Orange. It seeks to achieve this by initiating and stimulating celebrations, churchal- and other commemorations to mark heyday in the House of Orange. Meanwhile, more than 320 local ‘Oranjeverenigingen’  are a member of the KBOV.

For more information: www.oranjebond.nl

Download photo

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

Download photo

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 

Download photo

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

Download photo

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

Download photo

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

Download photo

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  

Download photo

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

Download photo

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

Download photo

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

Download photo