August 26, 2018

Biz Quizzard 752

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period August 20 - 25. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which company has been ranked as the top company globally on Fortune's 'Change The World' list that ranked companies using the profit motive to help the planet and tackle social problems?

2. Which brand has launched its new campaign ‘KahaanKaPiya?’?

3. Which chocolate brand has launched the campaign ‘ek rakhi aur’?

4. Which food delivery service has launched a new campaign ‘Purane prices, naya app’?

5. Which fintech lender has acquired personal finance management startup Walnut for $30 million in a cash-and-stock deal?

6. Which Hyderabad-based cloud communications provider will acquire Karix Mobile and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Unicel for Rs 340 crore in a combination of cash and stock?

7. Which MNC will buy carbonated drink-machine maker SodaStream for $3.2 billion?

8. Which agro-chemical firm has announced the acquisition of four brands from American company FMC Corporation for an undisclosed amount?

9. Which Hyderabad-based digital media entertainment player has acquired a 51% stake in Chintala Sports Private Limited, which is the curator of Telangana Premier Kabaddi League (TPKL)?

10. Which company has made its debut in the Indian consumer brand space with an investment in men’s grooming firm Bombay Shaving Company?

11. Which company is planning to unveil a range of linen-blended fabrics under a new brand name, Mazury, complementing its offering of linen-blended apparels under the Cavallo brand?

12. Which actress has been roped in to endorse Vega - one of the biggest beauty accessory and appliances brand in India?

13. Which housing finance company has launched the campaign ‘#GharBanegaTohDeshBanega’?

14. Which fashion and lifestyle brand has signed a licensing agreement with Brandzstorm India to expand its offline and online presence in the country?

15. Which footwear brand has signed on cricketers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as brand ambassadors?

16. Which brand’s 'Post-Independence Day' campaign explores how the national flag often ends up discarded and disrespected?

17. Which company is acquiring 80% equity stake in Gujarat-based Avadh Snacks for Rs 148 crore through a combination of primary and secondary investments?

18. Which company has launched 2GUD, its own platform to sell refurbished goods?

19. Global private equity fund Advent International is all set to acquire a controlling stake in which Bengaluru-based packaging solutions company?

20. Who has been ranked seventh on the Forbes list of highest-earning women sportspersons in the world?

21. Which company last week launched its sub-brand Poco that will compete with high-end devices from the stables of OnePlus, Apple and Samsung?

22. Which company has acquired Liv.ai, an artificial intelligence- (AI-) led speech recognition startup?

23. Which company will acquire Czech-based engineering services firm Inter-Informatics for €5.4 million (around Rs 8 crore) through a wholly-owned subsidiary?

24. Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) has decided to launch a new Hindi movie channel, replacing its existing Zee Classic. What has it been branded as?

25. Which sanitary pads brand has launched the campaign ‘#SurakshaBandhan’?

26. Myntra will soon foray into multi-brand brick-and-mortar retailing of beauty and cosmetics products under which brand?

27. Reliance Retail has roped in which south Indian actress as the brand ambassador of Southern region for Trends, the apparel and accessories speciality chain of the group?

28. Which company has agreed to buy Noida-based SaaSFocus, a digital transformation company focused on the Salesforce platform, for an undisclosed amount?

29. Which company is to acquire the Pithampur (Madhya Pradesh) manufacturing plant of MAN Trucks, a Volkswagen group company, for an undisclosed amount?

30. Reliance Industries (RIL) last week became the first Indian company to cross which market capitalisation mark?

31. Which company last week acquired a minority stake in Goa-based grocery chain Magsons Group?

32. Which direct selling beauty brand has appointed Frederic Widell as the Vice President and Head of South Asia & Managing Director of India?

33. Which brand has launched a make-up collection, co-created with the brand ambassador, Kareena Kapoor Khan?

34. Which fashion chain has launched its Raksha Bandhan campaign ‘#BrotherLikeNoOther’?

35. One of Maersk Line’s container vessels has set a ‘world record’ by achieving a load of 19,038 TEU. What is the vessel’s name?

Please mail your answers before 12 pm next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 752 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

August 19, 2018

Biz Quizzard 751

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period August 13 - 18. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which private equity giant has reached a definitive agreement to acquire 60% stake in Hyderabad-based Ramky Enviro Engineers for $530 million, or Rs 3,660 crore?

2. Which edible oil brand has launched a campaign with the positioning 'har nivala, andar se tough banane wala'?

3. Which company has acquired 71.7% stake in SPI Cinemas, owners of Sathyam Cinemas, one of the largest screen exhibitors in south India, in a cash-plus-stock deal?

4. The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has tied up with Hayre Group to open Vivanta hotel in London. Which location?

5. Which hospital brand has launched the ‘#GetSecondLife’ campaign for organ donation?

6. Which food delivery app recently celebrated its four-year anniversary by launching a new campaign that is an ode to its delivery partners?

7. Which company has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Chinese lifestyle brand YOYOSO to bring it stores to India?

8. Fair trade regulator Competition Commission (CCI) has approved the acquisition of Ruchi Soya by which company?

9. Which electrical appliances brand, that was closed down more than a decade ago, is restarting its operations from Thrissur?

10. Who is the richest Indian woman, according to the Kotak Wealth Hurun - Leading Wealthy Women 2018 report?

11. Which company has appointed Ben Legg as the managing director for its UK operations, soon after it announced its plans to enter the market?

12. Which former American professional boxer will soon be coming to India to promote a new mixed martial arts league, Kumite 1 League?

13. Which healthcare major last week announced acquisition of 51 per cent stake in Dehradun-based Windlas Healthcare Private Ltd (WHPL) for Rs. 155.55 crore?

14. Most of you must have seen the video ‘The half day rant', which went viral. Which company is behind it?

15. Which fast food brand has collaborated music celebrities Darshan Raval, Bianca Gomesto and Clinton Cerejo to curate a theme song on its brand philosophy – ‘Make It What You Want’?

16. Google's Ignition Labs and which advertising agency have come together in what they've termed a Creative Intelligence Partnership (CiP)?

17. Dangal star, Fatima Sana Shaikh is the new brand ambassador of which watch brand?

18. Which newspaper brand has launched a short film ‘Perspective’?

19. Which mobile handset brand has launched the ‘#ProudlyIndian’ campaign?

20. Which is the most patriotic brand in India, according to a YouGov survey?

21. Which women-centric food and beverage brand has raised seed funding from venture capital firm Matrix Partners India?

22. Which company has made its first move towards offline gaming with a minority investment in InstaSportz Consultancy which builds virtual reality (VR) gaming lounges across the country?

23. Which company is putting in place a team to sell its internal learning platform Lex to clients after rebranding the product?

24. Which MNC has acquired media rights for the Indian subcontinent of Spanish football league, La Liga, one of the most watched football leagues?

25. Isuzu Motors India has signed on which sports celebrity to promote the brand and V-Cross in India?

26. Which company has acquired PowerDrift Studios Private Limited which operates content platform PowerDrift?

27. Which company last week launched its fashion portal thevoiceoffashion(dot)com, targeted at the changing Indian consumers?

28. Which Indian jewellery design and manufacturing firm has agreed to acquire US-based Jay Gems for about Rs 200 crore?

29. Which MNC has appointed Anand E Stanley, a veteran leader in the global aerospace and defence industry, as president and managing director of Indian operations?

30. Which is India’s most valuable brand this year as per the latest findings by Brand Finance, a U.K.-based independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy?

31. Which mobile phone retail chain has roped in South Indian film actor Akkineni Samantha as its brand ambassador as it unveiled a new brand identity?

32. Safecrop Holdings, a consortium comprising WestBridge Capital, billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjunwala and Madison Capital has agreed to acquire which health insurer?

33. Which salon brand has launched its new campaign, featuring Dia Mirza, Aahana Kumra and Saiyami Kher?

34. Which company has announced the One Million Handshake movement to spread the world of Health by way of #UmbrellaHandshake?

35. Which company has launched the country’s first 150T electric drive rear dump truck?

Please mail your answers before 12 pm next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 751 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

August 12, 2018

Biz Quizzard 750



Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period August 06 - 11. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which company will acquire Medall Healthcare, a leading integrated pathology and radiology company, for Rs 1,450 crore ($212 million)?

2. Nivea has signed which actor as its new face for Nivea Men?

3. Which airline has launched a twitter campaign featuring 'food influencers' Rocky Singh and Mayur Sharma?

4. Which Bangalore-based agarbatti brand has rolled out its new TVC campaign featuring Hema Malini?

5. Which company has launched a new Over-the-counter (OTC) product – ‘KABZEND Natural Laxative Granules’ to help relieve constipation?

6. Which celebrity has picked up a minority stake in Guardian Healthcare, the master franchise partner of US-based health and nutrition company GNC in India?

7. Which company has launched #RoadToGold, a nationwide crowdfunding campaign to develop grassroots sporting talent?

8. Which company has acquired Adityaa Milk Ice Cream brand?

9. Which global leader in the superbike segment last week signed a memorandum of understanding with the Telangana government to set up an indigenous manufacturing plant near Hyderabad?

10. Indra Nooyi will step down as the Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo on which date?

11. Chinese component maker Holitech last week signed a MoU with which state government for a plant to be based on 75 acres of land, its first major expansion outside China?

12. Google last week announced the name of the next version of Android. Name it?

13. Which FMCG company is celebrating 100 years in the business and has launched a new brand identity and philosophy?

14. Which news and entertainment content application, that provides content in 14 different languages, has announced the launch of its trailblazing digital campaign, ‘#HarBhashaEqual’?

15. Which biscuit brand has launched the digital film ‘#LetsTakeCare’?

16. Which healthcare company has unveiled its latest campaign 'Be Brave. Be Bold.'?

17. Which celebrity has picked up a 25% stake in sports tech startup Run Adam?

18. Which company has appointed Nyrika Holkar as executive director?

19. Actor Shahid Kapoor's wife Mira Rajput has appeared in her debut ad for a skincare brand. Name it?

20. Ola last week announced its plans to enter which country?

21. Which biscuit brand launched a web series featuring Abish Mathew and Mallika Dua for Friendship Day?

22. Which pizza chain has released a fresh new campaign featuring actor Abhay Deol and his ‘friends’ – a gang of puppets?

23. New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra, the world’s biggest dairy exporter, has entered into an equal joint venture with which business group to launch dairy products in India?

24. Premji Invest, the investment arm of Wipro chairman Azim Premji, has pumped in Rs 400 crore into which domestic float glass manufacturer?

25. Which Japanese water and housing products major has invested Rs 400 crore in its first sanitaryware manufacturing facility in India in Bhimadole, Andhra Pradesh?

26. Which ecommerce marketplace last week forayed into the online grocery segment with the launch of ´Supermart´?

27. Which sportwear brand has roped in cricketer KL Rahul as its brand ambassador?

28. Which fashion brand has launched its #InLoveWithSanganer collection?

29. Which Chinese consumer electronics and smartphone retail chain, has chosen to kick off its global expansion by launching its own branded products into the Indian market?

30. IPL’s brand valuation has crossed which milestone mark, according to corporate finance advisory firm Duff & Phelps, which released its IPL Brand Valuation Report 2018?

31. The board of directors of which company has appointed Nikhil Nanda as the Chairman and Managing Director?

32. Which internet thinktank and lobby group has appointed Rameesh Kailasam as CEO?

33. According to a report last week, which athlete has inked a multi-crore two-year deal with sports management firm Infinity Optimal Solutions (IOS)?

34. Which company’s subsidiary Optare PLC had received order for 31 units of electric double-decker buses from Transport for London?

35. WestBridge Capital, an India-focused investment fund, has picked up a controlling stake of about 65% in which salon chain?

36. Which hospitality company has acquired Weddingz, an online marketplace for wedding venues and vendors?

37. Which company has formed a joint venture with private equity firm True North for its pain management and orthopaedic products business in India and Nepal?

38. Anant Bajaj, 41, passed away last week. He was the managing director of which company?

39. Which company has signed an agreement with U.K.-based GKN Aerospace, a premier aerospace supplier, for the manufacture of specialised helicopter fuel tanks?

40. Paresh Sukthankar has resigned as the deputy managing director of which bank?

Please mail your answers before 12 pm next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 750 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

August 5, 2018

Biz Quizzard 749

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period July 30 - August 04. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Uber last week announced that it has rolled past which rides milestone mark in the India and South Asia region?

2. Which brand has launched the campaign ‘#SortedHai’, featuring social media sensation Mithila Palkar?

3. Which advertising agency has appointed Gautham Narayanan as Managing Director?

4. Which sports personality has announced his foray into sports-inspired fitness business with the launch of ‘Cardio Tennis’?

5. Which Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras incubated start-up has launched an indigenously developed smart air purifier, Vistar?

6. Which business personality has been honoured with the prestigious International Advertising Association’s (IAA) Business Leader of the Year Award, 2018?

7. Which company has joined hands with NGO Save The Children to highlight, tackle child trafficking via its #KidsNotForSale campaign?

8. Mahindra & Mahindra has unveiled the name of its new crossover utility vehicle. Name it?

9. Which commercial vehicle manufacturer’s India MD & CEO Erich Nesselhauf is moving out of the country to another position in the company?

10. Which company is set to become the first Indian drug maker to launch biosimilar pegfilgrastim in Europe?

11. Twelve years after it entered which country, Tata Motors has decided to reduce its operations there as it finds the business “sub-scale” and “not sustainable”?

12. Which UK-based company, which has a technology innovation and production centre in Bengaluru, launched phase 2 of its flagship product S3D Medimagic?

13. Which MNC has partnered Japanese consumer firm Kao Corporation to enter baby diaper market in India?

14. Which ecommerce major has launched the campaign ‘#ChooseYourAge’?

15. Which confectionary major has launched a new web series by joining hands with celebrity chef Ranveer Brar to make everyday dishes more interesting?

16. Which MNC has launched a new ad, a rap composed by popular rapper Emiway Bantai, to inspire Mumbaikars to recycle its cartons?

17. DLF Brands is shuttering the India store network of which US women’s accessories brand?

18. I liked this campaign. Which business group, along with Nanhi Kali, has launched the campaign ‘Ladki Haath Se Nikal Jaayegi’?

19. Which jewellery brand has launched the campaign ‘#FriendsFirst’ for Friendship Day?

20. Which company has become the first ever principal sponsor of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)?

21. Which company has acquired Pretr, a Mumbai based end-to-end omnichannel platform for retail?

22. Which domestic handset-maker last week announced a new mobile accessories brand "Nexez"?

23. Vinod Nambiar has resigned as the chairman of which company?

24. Which company has recently launched its new TVC-led campaign ‘Print Befikar’?

25. The government has appointed Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla and ITC chairman Y C Deveshwar as nonofficial independent directors for which company?

26. Which Hyderabad-based real estate company has introduced furniture brands - Contorno Interiors and Designs and Doimo Cucine - to the Indian market?

27. Which air compressor manufacturer has acquired Pulford Air and Gas, an Australian company, at a total cost of Australian $11.04 million?

28. Which company has acquired Mumbai-based on-demand delivery firm Scootsy?

29. Which advertising agency in India has bought back 40% stake held jointly by Young & Rubicam, part of WPP, and Japanese ad giant Dentsu?

30. According to reports last week, Sachin Tendulkar will be the brand ambassador of which tyre company?

31. Which company has acquired two companies in the travel space - Mumbai-based Mercury Travels and Delhi-based Leisure Corporation - for a cumulative amount of $14.2 million?

32. Which online consumer lending platform has acquired PhotographAI, an AI-as-a-service platform, which provides various computer vision Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)?

33. Which Chennai-based company has launched Prism, a wireless speaker?

34. Which MNC is building the first end-to-end diamond industry blockchain platform named ´Tracr´ in collaboration with other players?

35. Which company last week became the first $1 trillion publicly-listed US company?

Please mail your answers before 12 pm next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 749 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli