Karachi, January 03, 2012: At the finale of the 4th CFA Institute Research Challenge (IRC) hosted by CFA Pakistan at a local hotel in Karachi , students of Institute of Business Management (IoBM) emerged as winners to represent Pakistan at the 2012 Asia Pacific Regional Final of the competition to be held in Hong Kong on March 2, 2012.

The subject company for research this year was Engro Foods Limited, on which students from 8 leading business schools were required to prepare detailed equity research reports. The IRC is an annual competition organized by CFA Pakistan giving students from Pakistan’s top business schools the opportunity to learn from industry experts and compete with their peers. The challenge teaches participants best practices in equity research through hands-on mentoring and intensive training in company analysis and presentation skills.

This year’s panel of judges for the Pakistan Final comprised Mr. Farid Khan, CFA, Mr. Qasim Lakhani, CFA, Mr. Imtiaz Gadar, CFA , Mr. Muhammad Sajid, CFA and Dr. Amjad Waheed, CFA.

Congratulating the winning team at the finale, Mr. Afnan Ahsan, CEO, Engro Foods Limited said, “On behalf of Engro Foods Limited, I would like to congratulate all the winners for putting in so much thought and effort into their report. Apart from testing the research capacities of the youth, the competition aimed at instilling a sense of confidence and team work, giving them a glimpse into the functioning of the corporate world. I have no doubt in my mind that you will make Pakistan proud at the Final leg of this competition later this year.’