The merit list is finally out. Interbrand, the global brand consultancy firm, and BusinessWeek have announced the list of 100 best global brands of '06.

Coca-Cola with a brand value of around one-tenth the GDP of India ($67bn), has retained its position at the top even after a 1 percent drop in its brand value. Microsoft and IBM follow in the second and third spots, respectively.

While Microsoft has lost around 5 percent brand value as compared to last year in the face of stiff competition from Google and Apple, IBM has benefited from hiving off its PC division to Lenovo, and its brand value has gone up by 5 percent.

GE, Intel and Nokia have retained their places at the fourth, fifth and sixth spots, respectively. While Nokia has won the imagination of customers globally with its fashionable and low-cost product offerings, Intel has suffered heavily at the hands of rival AMD.

Toyota has jumped two spots to the seventh position, backed by robust topline growth, while digital distribution of TV shows has helped Disney show a 5 percent increase in its brand value.

McDonalds sent the right signals through its healthy living campaign. Mercedes-Benz was the lone new entrant to the top 10 elite, displacing Marlboro.

Google, at the 24th spot has been the top gainer with a 46 percent increase in it brand value. US accounted for 51 percent of the best global brands while Germany, Japan and France had 8 percent share each. Interestingly, Samsung scored over Sony as the more preferred consumer electronics company.