October 28, 2007

Biz Quizzard 187

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week October 22 - 27. Hope you enjoy it.

1. The Aditya Birla Group has changed the name of ‘Birla Plus’ cement brand to which name?

2. According to a report last week, Japanese auto major Toyota is launching its used car programme in India. What is it called?

3. Which MNC, according to a report last week, has decided to form a global joint venture with illycafe SpA for premium ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee?

4. Which special economic zone (SEZ) is being advertised through a print campaign with the baseline ‘IMPACT >> STRUCTURE FOR INDIA’?

5. Which MNC last week agreed to pay 285 million pounds ($582 million) cash for Umbro, supplier of kit to the English football team?

6. Skoda India last week announced the launch of a new variant of its best selling model Laura. What has it been sub-branded as?

7. Which Indian business group has ventured into the home décor market and is launching stores under the brand name OMA?

8. Which Indian company, according to a report last week, has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with US-based Cherokee for bringing its value family lifestyle brand, Cherokee, to India?

9. Which company last week claimed to be the first Indian company to establish brand presence in Second Life, a popular virtual world internet site?

10. Reliance Retail last week launched its first specialty health and beauty care store in Hyderabad. What has the format been branded as?

11. Which MNC last week sealed a deal to buy a 1.6% stake in Palo Alto-based Facebook for $240 million?

12. Which media brand has launched an ad campaign in the print medium with the baseline ‘Imagine the India that can be’?

Please mail your answers before Friday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 187 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

October 21, 2007

Biz Quizzard 186

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week October 15 - 20. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Why were Leonid Hurwicz, Eric Maskin and Roger Myerson of USA and their work Mechanism Design theory in news last week?

2. Which financial entity last week advertised the high profile M&A deals facilitated by it, in the print medium with the baseline ‘Acumen at work’?

3. Which automobile company last week launched a 125cc gearless scooter ‘Flyte’?

4. The new look of Deccan (formerly Air Deccan) was unveiled last week after a teaser campaign. Name the advertising agency?

5. Which MNC, according to a report last week, is sponsoring a project called Gen next, which will select 12 designers from the best fashion schools across India?

6. Which MNC is celebrating its 75 years of existence in India?

7. Which retail major, according to a report last week, has kicked off its regional food initiative in Maharashtra under the brand name ‘Thank You Aunty’, under which it has roped in local experts to prepare delicacies at the counters?

8. Why was 18, Poes Garden in Chennai, in news last week?

9. Hero Honda Motors Ltd (HHML) last week rolled out is fourth offering in the 150cc motorcycle segment. What has it been branded as?

10. Which MNC has acquired Yasu Technologies, a Hyderabad-based business rules management (BRM) systems provider, for an undisclosed sum?

11. According to a report last week, which fashion brand’s recently-launched premium sub-brand Elite will soon be expanding its range with accessories such as footwear and eye wear?

12. Which Bangalore-based company last week announced the acquisition of US-based DWI Holdings, its third buyout this calendar year?

Please mail your answers before Friday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 186 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

October 15, 2007

Biz Quizzard 185

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week October 08 - 13. Hope you enjoy it.

1. According to a news snippet last week, a group of infrastructure funds led by JP Morgan Chase & Co agreed to buy which UK water company from Royal Bank of Scotland for 1.3 billion pounds ($2.7 billion)?

2. Which brand has launched its campaign ‘Make the most of now’ across media?

3. Which advertising agency has been appointed by PepsiCo as the new creative agency for 7UP – its clear lemon brand – ending the 17-year-old exclusive relationship with ad agency JWT?

4. Which company last week launched two new electric scooters – Velociti & Optima?

5. Which consumer durables company has launched its ‘Magic Chalao, Dream Home Sajao’ offer for the festive season?

6. Which company last week agreed to buy the switchgear business of Tamco Corporate Holdings in Malaysia for $108 million?

7. Which company/brand last week released an advertisement announcing the launch of ‘Offix’, its new retail office stationery mart in November?

8. Which MNC last week unveiled its new global campaign ‘Simplify IT’ in India?

9. Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Retail last week opened its first exclusive apparel store, spaced across 30,000 sq. ft., in Gurgaon. What has it been branded as?

10. The first exclusive Hush Puppies store in India opened last week. Which city?

11. Actress Kareena Kapoor can be seen in the print advertisement for which fashion/retail brand?

12. Which Indian MNC last week agreed to take over the business and assets of Nokia Siemens Networks’ radio access-related R&D activities in Berlin?

Please mail your answers before Friday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 185 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

October 8, 2007

Biz Quizzard 184

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week October 01 - 06. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which company last week bought Lonely Planet, the travel publisher?

2. Which financial index is being advertised in the print medium with the baseline ‘Think mid, think big’?

3. Which legendary brand mascot in India turned forty this year?

4. Which Indian company last week crossed the 50 million customers mark?

5. According to a news snippet last week, which MNC has agreed to buy digital mapmaker Navteq Corp. for $8.1 billion in a deal that shakes up the GPS market?

6. Eastman Group, which manufactures automotive parts and accessories, last week signed on which celebrity as its brand ambassador?

7. Which celebrity has been roped in to endorse the Essel Group-promoted DishTV?

8. Which MNC last week bought Jellyfish, a US firm specializing in comparison shopping online?

9. Mr Som Mittal has been appointed the new president of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM). He heads the services business for Asia-Pacific for which MNC?

10. The winners of The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence 2006-07 were announced last week. Who is the Business Leader of the Year?

Please mail your answers before Friday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 184 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

October 1, 2007

Biz Quizzard 183

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week September 24 - 30. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Textile major Donear has roped in which celebrity as a brand ambassador?

2. Radico Khaitan, according to a report last week, has roped in which celebrity in a mega endorsement deal for its Magic Moments vodka brand?

3. Which MNC last week announced that it would acquire the shared service centres of the 27-billion euro Royal Philips Electronics for an all cash deal of $28 million?

4. NDTV last week launched the country’s first city channel in English for Delhi and NCR. What has it been branded as?

5. Titan last week launched a new collection with nine themes inspired by Konark, Ajanta, Taj Mahal, Jantar Mantar and other Indian masterpieces. What has the collection been branded as?

6. Which shampoo brand is being advertised on television with the baseline ‘Beautiful You. Today, Tomorrow.’?

7. Mahindra & Mahindra last week launched its lifestyle Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). What has it been branded as?

8. Which personality, according to a report last week, has become the highest tax-paying politician in the country?

9. Which MNC last week entered into an agreement to acquire Singapore-based design services semiconductor firm Oki Techno Centre Singapore (OTCS) in an all-cash deal?

10. Which MNC has signed on actress Sagarika Ghatge of Chak De India fame as brand ambassador for its women’s collection?

Please mail your answers before Friday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 183 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli