Match Similar (But Not Exact) Text Strings

Hi Guys, hope you can help.

I have a list of 10,000 companies in column A but there are duplicates. For example ABC Ltd, ABC Ltd. A B C LTD etc.

I need a way of assertaining whether a cell is similar but not exact.

Is there a way of doing this? . . .

Real Example . . .

Allied Domecq Spirits & Wine (Investments) Ltd
Allied Domecq Spirits & Wine (Overseas) Ltd
Allied Domecq Spirits & Wine Holdings Ltd
Allied Domecq Spirits & Wines (Finance) Ltd

How do you decide whether they are the same or different? Wouldn't you real examples all be different? If not, why not and how do you distinguish how close the match should be in deciding whether they should be treated as the same company?

What you are looking for (I think) is a fuzzy matching algorithm. There are a few out there, try http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/For...b-fb0d45713e1d as a starter for 10