The Hindu Business Line : Investment quiz

1) The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company is the joint owner of one of larger companies in the world. It holds a stake of 80 per cent in this company and the rest is held by BAE Systems, the successor to British Aerospace. Which company are we referring to?

2) Over the past couple of weeks, the mantle of the `world's most valuable media company' has shifted from AOL-Time Warner. Who wears this crown now?

3) If you buy or sell FUTIDX and OPTIDX in the futures & options segment of the National Stock Exchange, what would you be trading on?

4) It started off as industrial lime production operation in 1833, when Leon Pavin took over a business acquired by his family in 1749. The family had acquired the domain rights to a region in France, which was rich in limestone deposits. A few decades after it started operations, this company went on to supply 1,10,000 tonnes of lime for the construction of the Suez Canal. It is now the second largest in the world in its core business. The company is...

5) Actor Kamal Haasan has recently indicated that his company — Rajkamal International — may come out with an IPO next year. Radhika Sarathkumar and Revathi are two artistes from South India who have already promoted listed companies that focus on the entertainment business. Name the companies they promoted?

6) J. K. Ansell (makers of Kama Sutra condoms), J. K. Helene Curtis (owner of popular grooming accessories) and Color Plus (a premium brand in ready-made garments) are owned by...

7) A consortium led by Mr Purnendu Chatterjee, who also controls Haldia Petrochemicals, recently acquired the world's largest producer of polypropylene and polyethylene in the world. Reliance Industries, too, had bid for this property before pulling out at a later stage. Which company did the consortium pick up?

8) Walgreens is the largest drug-store chain in the world. It dominates the drug marketing landscape in the US with close to 4,000 stores. But it also holds the distinction of inventing a product that would not be remotely associated with its business profile. The product invented by Walgreens is...

9) The Eicher group has recently decided to exit tractor business, which has been acquired by a south-based business group renowned for its conservative approach to business. To whom has Eicher sold its tractor business? That may be a tad easy for those who follow business developments closely. Could you name the name of the CEO of the acquiring company?

10) Name the person in the accompanying photograph. "In the US, I may have brokered bigger deals, but here, it's much more at the cutting edge of reform, the ability to influence, to shape." She outlined this view in a comment to TIME magazine when it chose her as among the most influential global personalities in 2002. Three decades ago, she became the first Indian woman to graduate from the Harvard Business School. She spurned lucrative opportunities and returned to India to pursue a career.

She has worked with the names that matter in the world of finance and banking and occupied positions of influence in organisations such as ANZ Grindlays and Morgan Stanley.

When HSBC wanted to expand its capital market operations in India, it zeroed in on her to spearhead the operations.

Answers

1) Airbus Industrie

2) Google.

3) BANKNIFTY, a contract the CNX Banks Index that was introduced a couple of weeks ago.

4) Lafarge.

5) Radaan Medianetworks and Tele Photo Entertainment.

6) Raymond.

7) Bassell.

8) Malted Milkshake

9) TAFE; its CEO is Ms Mallika Srinivasan.

10) Ms Naina Lal Kidwai.