Try this array formula** :

=INDEX(B2:B7,MATCH(MAX(IF(A2:A7=D2,C2:C7)),IF(A2:A 7=D2,C2:C7),0))

** array formulas need to be entered using the key combination of
CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER (not just ENTER)

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"SteveC" wrote in message
...
A variation of a multiple criteria lookup question, this time using the
"max"
function:

Column A Column B Column C
Apples text1 1
Apples text23 2
Apples text52 20
Apples etc 14
Oranges 2
Oranges 23

Cell D2 = Apples

What formula in cell E2 will find the maximum value Column C for all
Apples,
and return the associated cell in Column B (in this case, "text52")

thanks a lot!

Stevec