Biz Quizzard 231

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week August 25 - 30. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which company, according to a report last week, will be launching a formalwear apparel brand called Balmoral?

2. Which MNC is all set to acquire UK-based Axon Group, a SAP consulting services company listed on the London Stock Exchange, for about $753 million in an all-cash deal?

3. Which company is launching a men’s personal care brand Roamno in India this month?

4. Which company has become the first Indian life insurance firm to feature among the world’s top 3 in the million dollar round table (MDRT), a grouping of world’s top insurance advisors?

5. Which Indian company has announced the signing of an agreement to fully acquire Control Point Solutions (CPS) of the US?

6. Which company last week unveiled its new brand positioning a fresh logo with the tagline ‘Karo Zyaada Ka Iraadaa’?

7. Gitanjali Gems last week launched a new brand studded with gold jewellery cubic zirconia (CZ) stones. Name it?

8. Which automobile brand is being advertised in the print medium with the baseline ‘changes everything’?

9. Which company, according to a report last week, has set up India’s first ever rural BPO at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh?

10. The visual shown was splashed across the world last week. Name the brand with which it was associated?



11. Ms Kalpana Morparia, one of the public faces of ICICI Bank, quit last week after a stint of over 30 years. She will now head the Indian operations of which financial major?

12. Which apparel brand, according to a report last week is getting ready to introduce its branded mobile handsets in the Indian market?

13. Which company last week entered into an agreement with Apollo Sindhoori Capital Investment (ASCIL) to acquire 56% stake in the retail broking company for Rs 198.8 crore?

14. MRF last week launched a new tyre, Aero Muscle, which will be supplied to Indian defence. For which segment has it been launched?

15. Indra Nooyi, Sonia Gandhi, Mayawati and which other Indian business personality have made it to the list of 100 most powerful women in the world compiled by Forbes?

16. Which MNC has agreed to buy Greenfield Online, owner of European comparison website ciao.com for about $486 million to boost its internet search and e-commerce business in Europe?

17. Which advertising agency has opened a new chapter in its creative shop, Water Consulting, which is a brand strategy and design consultancy?

18. Low-cost carrier Simplify Deccan will be rebranded. What is the new name?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 231 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 230

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week August 18 - 23. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Bharti Airtel last week announced that it has crossed the 75 million mark to become the fourth largest in-country mobile operator in the world. Which is the largest?

2. Nokia last week announced, 3 days before the launch of 3G-enabled iPhone in India, the impending launch of its new ‘killer product’ to take on iPhone. What has it been branded as?

3. Which Indian company last week acquired Bolix S.A. (Bolix) of Poland, a leading provider of external insulation finishing systems (EIFS) from Advent International, a global private equity group?

4. Which Indian company last week signed an agreement to form a 51:49 joint venture in China with Jiangsu Yueda Yancheng Tractor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (Yancheng Tractor)?

5. The Aditya Birla Group is launching a new retail chain for luxury brands. What will it be branded as?

6. Which company has acquired US-based firm Pyxis Solutions for an enterprise value of $25 million in an all-cash deal?

7. Anil Ambani-led ADAG last week launched its fully digital home entertainment service on the latest MPEG4 Direct-to-Home (DTH) platform. What has it branded as?

8. Which mobile service provider last week launched its operations in Mumbai?

9. Which well known personality is all set to float his own media venture – Walkwater Media?

10. India’s longest runway was opened last week. Which city?

11. Actor Jerry Seinfield, known for his eponymous television sitcom, will be one of the key celebrity pitchmen in the $300-million advertising campaign for which MNC?

12. According to a report last week, which MNC bank earned a record 64.5 million yuan ($9.42 billion) in the first half to become the world’s most profitable bank?

13. STAR India is finally set to roll out its second regional general entertainment channel, a Bangla GEC. What has it been branded as?

14. Which celebrity has been roped in by premium American jeanswear brand Levi’s as its brand ambassador in India?

15. Tata Motors last week launched the new generation of country’s first and filly indigenous car – the Indica. What has it been branded as?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 230 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 229

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week August 11 - 18. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which MNC, according to a report last week, is giving final touches to the roll out of one of its global brands, SoBe, in India?

2. Titan plans to launch a kids range in October. What will it be branded as?

3. Why was Chandigarh-based Rs 300-crore Hitech Group, which has interests in agro- and meat-processing, computer gaming, live-stock genetics and pharmaceuticals, in news last week?

4. Which celebrity has been roped in by Gili, a part of the Gitanjali Group, as its new brand ambassador?

5. Mr AS Bindra, father of Olympics gold medal winner Abhinav Bindra last week announced plans to set up a 5 star hotel with an investment of Rs 200 crore. What is the proposed name?

6. Which retailing giant has signed an exclusive franchisee agreement with Trent, the retail arm of Tata Group?

7. According to a print ad last week, which hotel in India has been rated 2nd best hotel in the world and the number 1 in Asia by Travel + Leisure in the 2008 Reader’s Poll?

8. Which celebrity, according to a report last week, has launched a production house – S2?

9. Two Indian origin executives Shantanu Narayen and Francisco D’Souza have made it to the league of young CEOs with the fattest pay package in the US, as per a list compiled by Forbes. Name the companies that the 2 respectively head?

10. Which brand has recently undergone a major repositioning exercise, centered on a new punchline, ‘Suno Apne Dil Ki Awaaz (‘Listen to Your Heart’)?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 229 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 228

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week August 04 - 09. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which MNC in India, according to a report last week, is selling its seaweed cultivation business to Aquagri Processing?

2. Ahmedabad-based Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) has launched a high-end, eco-friendly collection of fashion garments. What has it been branded as?

3. Which Indian firm has taken over the Australian guarding and mobile patrol business units of American conglomerate United Technologies Corp (UTC) in a deal worth $235 million (around Rs 1,000 crore)?

4. Which Indian company last week bought Nasdaq-listed Philippines-based BPO PeopleSupport for $250 million?

5. Altamount Road in Mumbai, where Mukesh Ambani is building his house, has been ranked among the 10 costliest streets in the world. Which street tops the list?

6. Which celebrity has been signed on by Sujatha Biotech to promote their brands Nivaran 90 and Memory Vita?

7. According to a report last week, Tata Motors has asked its existing dealers to compact showrooms to stock Nano. What will the showrooms be called?

8. After signing on Kareena Kapoor as its brand ambassador in 2007, which celebrity has been signed on as a brand ambassador for Head & Shoulders by P&G?

9. Diamond jewellery brand Nakshatra has appointed which celebrity as its new brand ambassador?

10. Sify Technologies’ network of internet cafés, branded ‘iWay’, will soon be rechristened. What is the new name?

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 227

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week July 28 - August 02. Hope you enjoy it.

1. According to a report last week, Reliance Retail has clinched a deal with the world’s largest toy shop. Name the brand?

2. Anna Patterson and two other former Google engineers are launching a search to upstage their former employer. What has it been branded as?

3. Which MNC last week launched its “Conversation Starters” collection?

4. Which MNC last week said it had agreed to sell its laundry detergents business, including All, Snuggle and Wisk brands, to private equity investor Vestar Capital Partners for $1.45 billion?

5. Which well known company has appointed Justice MS Rane (retd) as the ombudsman for speedy redressal of consumer disputes?

6. Which company last week launched its high-end range electric scooter ‘Marathon’ in Kochi?

7. Which drug has toppled Swiss drug major Novartis’ pain killer Voveran to emerge as the country’s largest selling drug in June?

8. British mogul Sir Richard Branson and American aerospace designer Burt Rutan last week unveiled their exotic jet that will carry a passenger spaceship to launch altitude. What has it been branded as?

9. Which MNC last week ousted its chairman Serge Tchuruk and CEO Patricia Russo?

10. An easy one. Which campaign has been launched with the baseline ‘Let’s learn to teach’?

11. The Central Board of Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) last week allowed 3 private players to manage its funds along with SBI. Name the three?

12. Which MNC last week signaled its entry into the two-wheeler segment by agreeing to buy the assets of Kinetic Motor Company for Rs 110 crore?

13. Which retail chain has tied up with IPL teams to launch a new format – the sports café?

14. The world’s largest work-uniform and custom corporate-wear company is foraying into India. Name it?

15. Which company, according to a report last week, is the largest grower of pepper in the country?

16. Which Indian plastic products maker last week acquired 90% stake in Germany-based Geiger Technik for Euro 35.6 million?

17. Which MNC has launched its mineral water brand BonAqua in select markets in north India in April?

18. Which company has signed on Bipasha Basu to endorse Sugar Free Gold, a sugar substitute?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 227 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli