SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of January
VAN DER MOOLEN HOLDING N.V.
(Translation of Registrant 's name into English)
Keizersgracht 307
1016 ED Amsterdam
The Netherlands
(+31) 20 535 6789
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Form 20-F _____X_____ Form 40-F ___________
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-s(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.)
Yes _____________ No _____X_____
(if "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- .)
Schedule of Information Contained in this Report:
1. The English language press release of Van der Moolen Holding N.V.
dated January 2, 2006 announcing that Van der Moolen closes
acquisition of Curvalue.
Van der Moolen closes acquisition of Curvalue;
Richard den Drijver, CEO of Curvalue, nominated to Van der Moolen's
Executive Board; Mr. den Drijver expected to succeed Mr. Boettcher as
Chief Executive in 2006
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 2, 2006--Van der
Moolen is pleased to announce that its acquisition of Curvalue
Financial Services was completed on January 2, 2006. All assets and
liabilities of Curvalue, including its undistributed retained earnings
for the full calendar year 2005, are consolidated with those of Van
der Moolen Holding NV from that date.
We expect operational integration of the two firms to be complete
by the end of 2006. Although we will seek to maximize the cost savings
made possible by the combination, we anticipate few if any staff
reductions as a result of the acquisition. Most of the synergies
arising from the combination will be on revenue rather than cost
lines.
With the integration of Curvalue and some additional development
work, Van der Moolen's business will consist of three key activities,
each offering considerable potential:
-- We expect our NYSE specialist unit to adapt successfully in
the new Hybrid market environment, and if the history of
changes to the NYSE's market model is any guide, the Hybrid
will stimulate trading activity. While our specialist unit
will continue to be primarily dependent on external conditions
to drive its growth, its fixed costs and capital intensity
will be reduced.
-- Our European trading activities will be greatly expanded, and
significantly improved in quality. With increased scope and
scale, and with solid reserves of intellectual capital and
technological sophistication to draw on, they will be able to
create a virtuous circle of innovation driving revenues which
can fund further innovation.
-- Starting from a competitively advantageous position, the
Online Trader brokerage activity that we have acquired with
Curvalue will have very substantial room for growth, not only
in Europe but throughout the world. We want Online Trader to
be the portal through which our customers worldwide can access
all public markets in any instrument.
Longer term, we expect integration to become more complete as we
introduce principal facilitation to the Online Trader platform.
Richard den Drijver, founder and CEO of Curvalue, has been
nominated to the Executive Board of Van der Moolen Holding NV, subject
to the approval of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
scheduled for April 5, 2005.
F.M.J. Boettcher, CEO of Van der Moolen, remarked, "We are
delighted to welcome the management and staff of Curvalue to the Van
der Moolen Group. We believe that the combined firms are truly greater
than the 'sum of their parts,' offering exciting growth opportunities
well beyond the initially realizable cost synergies. This acquisition
fulfills our strategic requirements for an activity that reinforces
our European presence, returns us to derivative trading and provides
us with the means to develop an institutional customer business.
Moreover Curvalue brings us an excellent successor for my position."
Van der Moolen will announce its earnings for the full year 2005
on February 23, 2006, at which time we will outline the strategy for
the combination of Curvalue and Van der Moolen in more detail. As a
result of the closing, the date of the Q1/2006 earnings release is
amended to May 18, 2006. For more information about Van der Moolen,
please visit www.vandermoolen.com.
Van der Moolen trades on the leading US and European equity,
option and fixed income exchanges. The group trades in open outcry and
electronic markets in several time zones. On the NYSE, Van der Moolen
currently has a market share of nearly 11% of transaction volume for
which it acts as specialist. Van der Moolen's traders worldwide
execute an average of 100,000 trades a day. Turnover and price
volatility are the most important factors influencing its results. Van
der Moolen's shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (VDMN.AS).
American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) representing Van der Moolen shares
are listed on the NYSE (VDM).
Disclaimer:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of, and which have been made pursuant to, the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements regarding our
future financial condition, results of operations and business
strategy, plans and objectives are forward-looking. Statements
containing the words "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "estimate,"
"expect," "hope," and words of similar meaning are forward-looking. In
particular, the following are forward-looking in nature: statements
with regard to strategy and management objectives; pending or
potential acquisitions; pending or potential litigation and government
investigations, including litigation and investigations concerning
specialist trading in the U.S.; future revenue sources; the effects of
changes or prospective changes in the regulation or structure of the
securities exchanges on which our subsidiaries operate; and trends in
results, performance, achievements or conditions in the markets in
which we operate. These forward-looking statements involve risks,
uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control,
which may cause our results, performance, achievements or conditions
in the markets in which we operate to differ, possibly materially,
from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements.
We describe certain important factors to consider in connection with
these forward-looking statements under "Key Information - Risk
Factors" and elsewhere in our annual filing with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission on Form 20-F. We caution you not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect our
management's view only as of the date of this Report. We have no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: Van der Moolen Holding NV
Investor Relations/Corporate Communications
Telephone: +31 (0)20 535 6789
info@vandermoolen.com
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
VAN DER MOOLEN HOLDING N.V.
Date: January 2, 2006 By: /s/ Friedrich M.J. Bottcher
---------------------------
name: Friedrich M.J. Bottcher
title: Chairman of the Executive
Board
By: /s/ Leo J. Pruis
---------------------------
name: Leo J. Pruis
title: Chief Financial Officer
Member of the Executive Board
By: /s/ Casper F. Rondeltap
----------------------------
name : Casper F. Rondeltap
title: Member of the Executive Board