1.

Founded in 1917, Germanys Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) has been admired for its awe-inspiring range of automobile, motorcycle and engine products for more than a century. It ranks at No.14. 2. From Mickey Mouse to Cars 2 to Disneyland, Walt Disneys creations across animation, movies and entertainment products have captured our imagination for more than 50 years. The company is ranked as the 13th most admired in the world.

3. Very few companies can claim to be as integral part of our infancy, childhood and youth, as Johnson & Johnson. Founded in 1887, the companys iconic products include Band-Aid Brand line of bandages, baby products, Neutrogena skin and beauty products, Clean & Clear facial wash and Acuvue contact lenses. The company ranks at No.12 in Fortune magazines list of Worlds 50 Most Admired Companies. 4. Everyone around the world seems to be Lovin it!. McDonalds ranks at No. 11 in the list. Critics may have slammed the chains menu, expansion and business practices, but it hasnt stopped fans from queuing up to grab their favourite burgers, french fries, breakfast items, soft drinks, shakes and desserts. In response to changing consumer tastes, the company has now expanded its menu to include salads, wraps, smoothies and fruit. The company is valued at close to $100bn.

5. Tenth-ranked Southwest Airlines Co is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. It is one of the largest airlines in the US based upon domestic passengers carried.

6. Trusted for its range of products such as Tide, Ariel, Pantene, Olay, Head & Shoulders and Pampers, Procter & Gamble has been rated the ninth most admired company in the world.

7. Seattle-based coffee chain Starbucks (No.8) will open its first coffee shops in India in August or September. According to Reuters, the company aims to have 50 outlets by year-end through a tie-up with the Tata group. 8. Led by the 'Oracle of Omaha,' Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway (No.7) averaged an annual growth in book value of 20.3% to its shareholders for the last 44 years, while employing large amounts of capital, and minimal debt. Berkshire now owns a diverse range of businesses including confectionery, retail, railroad, home furnishings, encyclopedias, manufacturers of vacuum cleaners, jewelry sales; newspaper publishing; manufacture and distribution of uniforms; as well as several regional electric and gas utilities

9. If the name FedEx doesnt ring an instant bell, well, its the same company that actor Tom Hanks character worked for in the 2000 film Cast Away. The Tennessee-based logistics

services company is one of the biggest courier services in the world, and ranks at No. 6 on this list. 10. The Indian unit of the fifth-ranked IBM was ranked ninth in Fortune Indias Most admired Indian companies list and also rated as one of India's best 10 to work for, in another survey.

11. Thanda Matlab'...? Carbonated soft-drink Coca Cola is the fourth most-admired company in the world. 12. E-readers and tablets may be the 'in-thing' for reading - but many around the world still love to read normal books - probably for the touch of paper and smell of fresh print. And multinational electronic commerce company Amazon has served millions of bibliophiles around the world, who will vouch for its impeccable service. The online bookstore has now diversified into selling DVDs, CDs, MP3 downloads, software, video games, electronics, apparel, furniture, food, and toys. Amazon's Kindle e-book reader is also popular.

13. Multinational Internet and software corporation specialized in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies, Google, is the world's second most admired company.

14. Apple ranks as the most admired companies in the world today. The company also ranked as the world's most innovative in another survey. Everything about Apple is incredible, including its cash hoard of $98bn. The amount is more than the GDP of many countries.