CFA Institute's India Chapter, Indian Association of Investment Professionals, hosted the western zone India edition of the Global Investment Research Challenge® on 22nd January, 2011.

FLAME School of Business won the western zone Indian Investment Research Challenge.  The teams that competed in the western zone of the Investment Research Challenge included: Jamnalal Bajaj (JBIMS)- Mumbai,  NMIMS – Mumbai, FLAME – Pune, Symbiosis – Pune, Symbiosis ( SCMHRD) Pune, NITIE – Mumbai, SP Jain – Mumbai, Sydenham – Mumbai and  IIM Ahmedabad. 

The annual challenge in which student teams from the respective zones B Schools write an equity research report on a company assigned. The teams then present their findings to a panel of investment industry experts from the zone.  Each student team is paired with a mentor, who is either an equity research analyst or a portfolio manager, to advise the students on their research and provide feedback on their written research report. 

The winning team, FLAME School of Business from the western zone, has now advanced to compete in the National Finals of the Investment Research Challenge, to be held in Mumbai in February 2011. One winner will advance to compete in the Asia Pacific Regional Investment Research Challenge hosted by CFA Institute, to be held in Bali, Indonesia in February 2011. The AP Challenge will consist of one winner from each Member Society of the Asia Pacific Region. The competition will culminate with the 5th Annual Global Investment Research Challenge®, to be held in Omaha, Nebraska, United States on 8th April 2011. The Global Challenge consists of the winners of the regional finals held in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America.    

Noted investment manager, Head of Equities at Reliance Mutual Fund, and President of CFA Institute's India Chapter, Mr. Sunil Singhania gave away the awards.

The judges included:

• Mr. Sampath Reddy – Head of Equities at Bajaj Allianz Life
• Mr. Ajay Bhatia – President, Capital Markets Division, Indiabulls Securities
• Mr. Ajit Khasnis – Director at Wealth Managers India Pvt. Ltd.

The Students representing FLAME School of Business are:

• Rishabh Chudgar
• Keval Shah
• Purva Shah
• Punit Soni
• Shaurin Shah