From the BBC this morning, news of a lucrative merger that has yielded the year's most unfortunate name:
Russia's energy giant Gazprom has signed a $2.5bn (£1.53bn) deal with Nigeria's state operated NNPC, to invest in a new joint venture.
The new firm, to be called Nigaz, is set to build refineries, pipelines and gas power stations in Nigeria.
That is correct: Nigaz.
Gazprom probably pronounces it NIGH-gahz. As if sounding pretentious when you're being offensive makes everything cool.
Do I have to repeat myself? Step away from the portmanteaus, people. Nine times out of ten, they'll just embarrass you. At the very least, peel off a few Benjamins from that stack of billions and hire a consultant familiar with Urban Dictionary.
Thanks to PopeHat for the tip. And kudos to CatchThis, the naming blog (right here in O-town), for its apt response:
Word.
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