THE winner of the Business and Finance Christmas Quiz is Mr Frank Shalloo, Ardscoil Ris, North Circular Road, Limerick. He is an Irish teacher and guidance councillor with Ardscoil Ris. His prize is a case of wine, Findlater's Directors Dozen.
The answers are as follows
(1)Martin Naughton said "we're not hoteliers, just simple businessmen".
(2)The annual rate of inflation to mid November was 2.4 per cent.
(3)The Central Bank of Ireland warned bankers not to discuss its intervention in currency markets with the media.
(4)It was true to say that Northern Foods purchased a controlling stake in Green Isles for £24.7 million. It was false to say the Pretty Polly factory in Killarney closed with the loss of 1,500 jobs. It was true to say that Joe Malone and Cathal Mullan set up a car hire company.
(5)Baroness Denton said "maybe I'm closer to the nitty gritty because I don't have to, fortunately, dash around every foreign affairs conference".
(6)Leo Conway will be the director general of the new Irish Takeover Panel.
(7)Chryssantie O'Reilly joined the board of Waterford Wedgwood.
(8)Aran Energy shareholders were urged to reject the bid from ARCO.
(9)It was false to say the following that the Ulster Bank did not break the £100 million sterling profit barrier for the first time, that Jurys purchased the 14,000 bedroom Cardiff International Hotel for £7 million and that the Jefferson Smurfit Group said it had damaged the Colombian rain forest.
(10)AIB generated an annual profit of £341 million.
(11)A shareholder said the Aran Energy's egm was a charade".
(12)Denis O'Brien said "the phone has not stopped ringing this morning with banks asking to come and have a chat".
(13)The children and grandchildren of Elan Corporation's chairman, Don Panoz, stand to realise £52 million between them.
(14)A shareholder at the Irish Press agm said she could "name names
(15)AIB paid £101 million for a 75 per cent stake in John Govett.
(16)Michael Lowry said "I believed then, and I believe now that I was (under surveillance).
(17)Roy Douglas, chief executive, Irish Permanent was paid £321,000 last year.
(18)It was true to say the following JWT was sold to First Choice for £5.3 million, Independent Newspapers reached an out of court settlement of £7 million with Conrad Black over the Fairfax takeover and Paddy Moriarty urged the Government to privatise the ESB.
(19)Nick Leeson said "I can guarantee to you that I can count".
(20)This question asked if it was true or false to say Business This Year (BTY) will reveal all. One quotation was omitted from the final proof of BTY so readers who answered either true, or false, qualified for the quiz.
