Pop quiz: Initials of famous companies

IBM

IBM’s full company name is International Business Machines Corporation. It is a multinational technology and consulting corporation. The company was founded in 1911 and headquartered in the United States.

DHL

DHL provides international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services to its customers. The company’s name DHL is derived from the last names of the then three budding entrepreneurs, Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom and Robert Lynn who founded the company.

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TLC

The specialty cable channel TLC is the initials for The Learning Channel. The company also operates the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and The Science Channel, as well as other learning-themed networks.

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FIAT

The full company name of FIAT is Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino meaning Italian Automobile Factory of Turin. This company is an Italian automobile manufacturer which was founded in 1899. \

(Photo: Reuters Pictures)

HMV

The British global entertainment retail chain, HMV’s full company name is His Master's Voice. Apart from being listed on the London Stock Exchange, the company also operates in Hong Kong and Singapore.

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TCS

TCS stands for Tata Consultancy Services Limited. It is considered to be one of India’s valuable company and a multinational information technology, services, business solutions and outsourcing services company.

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SAP

SAP stands for System Analysis and Program Development. This German software company makes enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations.

(Photo: Reuters Pictures)

Amul

The company is based out of a small town in Gujarat called Anand. It is a daily cooperative which is now and again referred to as Anand Milk Union Limited. The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation is India’s largest exporter of dairy products and also the largest food product marketing organization with an annual turnover of $2.5 billion for 2011-2012.

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IKEA

IKEA is a Sweden-based company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture. IKEA is an acronym made out of four letters - Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd. I is for Ingvar, the first name of the founder of IKEA stores. K is for Kamprad, the last name of the founder of IKEA stores. E is for Elmtaryd, the name of the farm where Ingvar Kamprad grew up. A is for Agunnaryd, the name of the village near Kamprad's boyhood home.

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HTC

The Taiwanese manufacturer of of smartphones and tablets now known as HTC was founded with the name High Tech Computer Corporation. Initially a manufacturer of notebook computers, HTC began designing some of the world's first touch and wireless hand-held devices in 1998.

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JBL

With someone like AR Rahman endorsing the brand in India, it could only be a matter of time that JBL products would find their way into the homes of music-loving Indians. The audio electronics company is owned by Harman International and JBL are the initials of the name of the company’s founder James Bullough Lansing.

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3M

A multinational conglomerate corporation in the United States, 3M was formerly known as Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. Adhesives, abrasives, laminates, passive fire protection, dental products, electronic materials, medical products, car care products, electronic circuits and optical films are some of the products of the company.

(Photo: Reuters Pictures)

H&M

It is known as one of the world’s popular brands for fast-fashion clothing for men, women, teenagers and children. The name of the Swedish company is Hennes & Mauritz AB but it is popularly known and operates as H&M.

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AT&T

An American multinational telecommunications corporation and the largest provider of both mobile telephony and of fixed telephony in the United States, American Telephone and Telegraph Company is often referred to as AT&T. The company also provides broadband subscription television services.

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ING Group

ING Group is a financial institution which offers banking, asset management, and insurance services. ING is an abbreviation for International Netherlands Group.

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BMW

BMW is an abbreviation for Bayerische Motoren Werke. It is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1917 which produces automobiles and motorcycles across all its brands. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

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KFC

Kentucky Fried Chicken is one of the world’s largest chain of fried chicken fast food restaurant. It is popularly known by its abbreviation KFC, across the globe. It has over 17,000 outlets in 105 countries.

(Photo: Reuters Pictures)

BPL

The company commonly referred to as BPL stands for British Physical Laboratories. This Indian electronics company deals with consumer appliances, home entertainment products and health care devices. It was established in 1963, by MT P G Nambiar.

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BASF

BASF is recognized as one of the largest diversified chemical companies in the world. The company offers products to various industries and has customers in over 200 countries. The initials BASF stands for Baden Aniline and Soda Factory.

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BEML

The full and original name of BEML is Bharat Earth Movers Limited. Headquartered in Bangalore, the company is an Indian Public Sector Undertaking and manufactures a variety of heavy equipment, such as that used for earth moving, transport and mining.

(Photo: Company Website)

BHEL

BHEL is based in New Delhi and is engaged in the design, engineering, manufacture, construction, testing, commissioning and servicing of a wide range of products and services for the core sectors of the economy. BHEL is an abbreviation for Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited.

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ICICI

The financial services company, ICICI Bank is headquartered in Mumbai offers retail and corporate customers a wide range of banking products and financial services. Earlier, the bank was known as Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India Bank, it later changed its name to the abbreviated ICICI Bank.

(Photo: Reuters Pictures)

HDFC

India’s largest mortgage company, HDFC was founded in 1977. The financial services company has over 300 outlets and caters to non-resident Indians as well. The full name of HDFC is Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited.

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ESPN

Sports related global television network, ESPN’s name is derived from Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. Some of its programs include live and recorded event telecasts, sports talk shows and other original programs.

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HCL

Headquartered in India, HCL is a global technology and IT Enterprise that operates in over 30 countries of the world. The company mainly focuses on the IT hardware market. HCL is the abbreviation for Hindustan Computer Limited.

(Photo: Company Website)

HSBC

The full name of the company HSBC is Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. HSBC is a multinational banking and financial services company which operates within business groups such as commercial banking; global banking and markets, retail banking, wealth management and global private banking.

(Photo: Reuters Pictures)

L&T

L&T is India’s multinational conglomerate corporation which is headquartered in Mumbai. The company’s business includes technology, engineering, construction and manufacturing goods. L&T stands for Larsen & Toubro.

(Photo: Company Website)

LEGO

The name LEGO is an abbreviation of the two Danish words ‘leg godt’, meaning play well. The LEGO Group was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen and the company provides toys, experiences and teaching materials for children in more than 130 countries.

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MRF

India’s major tyre manufacturing company, Madras Rubber Factory is popularly known as MRF. It is considered to be the largest tyre manufacturer in India which makes all types of tyres, from auto to sedan, bias to radial including tubes and conveyor belts.

(Photo: Company Website)

CEAT

Mumbai based tyre manufacturing company, CEAT is an abbreviation for Cavi Elettrici e Affini Torino. CEAT tyres were founded in Italy by Virginio Bruni Tedeschi and the company established its manufacturing in India in 1958.

(Photo: Company Website)

HMT

HMT was formerly known as Hindustan Machine Tools. Some of the company’s products include watches, tractors, printing machinery and plastic processing machinery among others.

(Photo: Company Website)

WIPRO

One of India’s most popular information technology firm, Wipro was formerly known as Western India Products Limited. The company’s operations include IT products and services, consumer care and lighting, healthcare and infrastructure engineering.

(Photo: Reuters Pictures)

ITC

ITC’s full company name used to be India Tobacco Company. The Indian public conglomerate has diversified business operations in FMCG markets, hotels, paperboards, packaging, agri-business and information technology.

(Photo: Company Website)

CAT

Caterpillar Inc is popularly known as CAT. Apart from designing, manufacturing, marketing and selling machinery, this company sells financial products and insurance to customers around the world.

(Photo: Reuters Pictures)

INTEL

The world’s largest chip maker, Intel’s full name is Integrated Electronics. The company makes motherboard chipsets, network interface controllers and integrated circuits, flash memory, graphic chips, among other products.

(Photo: Reuters Pictures)

CNN

The Cable News Network is popularly referred to as CNN. This company is a cable news channel whose broadcast is seen by viewers in over 212 countries and territories. The cable network was launched in 1980.

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NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is popularly known as NASA. This United States government agency takes responsibility for space program, aeronautics and aerospace research.

(Photo: Reuters Pictures)

HP

The full name of one of the most popular information technology corporation, HP is Hewlett-Packard Company. The company provides products, technologies, software, solutions and services to consumers and other enterprises.

(Photo: Reuters Pictures)

GE

The company GE’s full name is General Electric Company. This corporation is popularly known as GE and operates through segments such as energy,technology infrastructure, capital finance, consumer and industrial.

(Photo: Reuters Pictures)

P&G

The multinational consumer goods company, P&G’s full name is The Procter & Gamble Company. Over 20 brands of P&G’s brands have more than a billion dollars in net annual sales, according to the 2011 Annual Report.

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Can you think of any more abbreviations of brands that are global giants? Please share your suggestions by posting a comment below.