What is the best way to handle company names in a db. Should names be saved with or without abreviations or should they be spelled out.

ie Acme Ltd
Acme Limited
Acme

And then of course there the companies like GE also known as General Electric and again, Ltd or maybe Inc. I really do not know know.

Eitherway, I am trying to avoid the confussion of there being three different entries for Acme

Thoughts?

A company only has one name, legally speaking. The only variation you should use is the accepted abbreviation for types such as Ltd for Limted. GE PLC may be colloquially known as General Electric but you wouldn't use that in a business communication.