Professional Documents
Culture Documents
on Intangible Assets
How Hard do Malaysian Companies
Work at their Brands?
08.08.2008
Foreword 02
Glossary of Terms 03
Executive Summary 04
Key Findings 08
Malaysia’s Top 10 11
Malaysia’s Top 50 17
Intangible Assets 18
Methodology 22
ABOUT BRAND FINANCE
Brand Finance is the world’s leading independent brand and intangible asset valuation firm. We advise organisations
across a wide range of sectors on how to maximise shareholder value through effective management of their
intangible assets. Headquartered in London, Brand Finance was founded in 1996 and now has 23 offices in 22 countries.
Our services complement and support each other, resulting in an in-depth understanding of intangible assets from
financial, consumer and commercial perspectives:
VALUATION We are an international leader in the field of intangible asset valuation and
transfer pricing.
- purchase price allocations and impairment reviews
- financial reporting
- transfer pricing
- litigation
ANALYTICS We help companies quantify the return on marketing investment and track
brand performance.
- brand investment dashboards
- return on marketing investment
- marketing mix modelling
- benchmarking
TRANSACTIONS We help clients extract value from their intellectual property through transactions.
- intellectual property and brand due diligence
- intellectual property structuring
- licensing
- joint venture, mergers, acquisitions, investment and
divestment decisions
Brand Finance has worked with many of the world’s leading brand owners and branded enterprises. We also advise
private equity companies, investment banks, intellectual property lawyers and tax authorities.
1
FOREWORD
The global economic paradigm has shifted from one that valued
tangible assets to one that increasingly favours intangible assets.
Developed economies are relying more on intangible assets to
generate economic value. Even fast developing economies like
China and India recognise the need for their companies to own and
develop intellectual property (IP).
David Haigh
Chief Executive
Brand Finance plc
2
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Enterprise Value
The combined market value of the equity and debt of a
business, less cash and cash equivalents.
Other notes
The valuation date of this report is 31 December 2007.
Quantitative data is obtained from Bloomberg, listed company data sources such as annual reports, websites, analyst and industry reports and
other publicly available data sources.
Neither all nor portions of this report may be reproduced or published without acknowledgment to, or the express written authorisation of Brand
Finance Singapore.
3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Objective of Study
The argument for intangible assets has gained much prominence in the past decade. Brand Finance plc has been a
champion of brands and intangible assets since it began operations in the UK in 1996. Today, Brand Finance has 23
offices in 22 countries, an affirmation of the rising interest amongst companies to understand brands and intangible
assets and learn how to manage them well.
While intangible assets now account for 66% of global market value, management skills have not grown at the same
pace. Many companies are poor at taking stock of their intangible assets, let alone using these intangible assets to drive
cash flow and enterprise value.
This study will identify the most valuable brands and brand portfolios of Malaysia and the best rated brands. It will also
be timely to benchmark the findings of this study with the inaugural study which Brand Finance conducted last year.
A useful starting point is Brand Finance’s Global Intangible Tracker 2007 where Malaysia can glean useful insights
regarding the performance of its intangible assets on a global level. Global Intangible Tracker is the most extensive
study on intangible assets, covering 32 leading stock markets, more than 10,000 companies and 99% of global listed
value. It validates the importance of intangibles and demonstrates the significant growth in global intangible value, even
in countries which have traditionally been dominated by commoditised sectors. Aside from brands, intangible assets
include patents and technology, contracts, copyright, customer relationships, design rights and human capital.
Along with South Korea, Croatia, Turkey and Japan, Malaysia is one of five countries with the largest proportion of their
value made up of tangible net assets. Malaysia is ranked 29th in the world for intangible assets’ contribution to enterprise
value. This compares with the US in the first spot, where intangible assets make up 75% of enterprise value. India and
China are ahead of Malaysia with intangibles contributing 73% and 58% to enterprise value respectively. Compared
to neighbouring Singapore where intangible assets account for 50% of enterprise value, Malaysia’s intangible asset
contribution stands at 43%.
While our report clearly shows that Malaysian companies are undervaluing their intangible assets, there is a silver lining.
The total brand value of Malaysia’s Top 50 brands has increased by 9% from MYR 59.1 billion in 2006 to MYR 64.8 billion in
2007. We shall discuss this in greater detail in the later part of this report.
Disclaimer
Brand Finance Singapore has produced this study with an independent and unbiased analysis. The values derived and opinions produced in this study are based only on publicly
available information. No independent verification or audit of such materials was undertaken. Brand Finance Singapore accepts no responsibility and will not be liable in the event
that the publicly available information relied upon is subsequently found to be inaccurate.
The conclusions expressed are the opinions of Brand Finance Singapore and are not intended to be warranties or guarantees that a particular value or projection can be achieved in
any transaction. The opinions expressed in the report are not to be construed as providing investment advice. Brand Finance Singapore does not intend the report to be relied upon for
technical reasons and excludes all liability to any organisation.
4
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management know-how and pertinent skill sets.
Brands, branding and brand management are amongst the most frequently discussed topics in the boardrooms and
business schools. Companies that can master the science and art of branding stand in good stead to improve shareholder
value, since brands represent a sizeable portion of intangible assets.
5
Malaysia’s Most Valuable Brands & Brand Portfolios
The total value of Malaysia’s 50 largest brands and brand portfolios is MYR 64.8 billion, representing a 9% jump over last
year’s study. However, the increase is partly due to Brand Finance re-categorising some companies as conglomerates
as opposed to treating them as separately listed entities. In addition, the brand value for most companies has increased
as compared to last year except for the banking industry due to the sub prime crisis and credit crunch that affected the
global financial market.
While some brands have demonstrated improvements in their value and we applaud their achievements, other brands
have not been able to tackle challenges present in the challenging external environment. Unlike our study last year,
this report puts the spotlight on conglomerates in Malaysia. A critical observation that Brand Finance has made about
Malaysia is the presence of conglomerates which dominate Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE). Except for banking
and telecommunications, they have diverse businesses that range from agriculture, construction, oil and gas, shipping to
entertainment. We believe that more intangible assets and intellectual property (IP) will be created not only in traditional
manufacturing and service sectors, but also in the realm of service, education, arts and entertainment.
Brand Finance has ranked the brands and brand portfolios of KLSE listed companies by their absolute dollar value.
Congratulations to:
• PETRONAS Group for retaining the title of the ‘Most Valuable Malaysian’ brand; and
• Genting for being the Most Highly Rated Malaysian brand with an ‘AA+’ rating.
Brands create value by shifting both the demand and supply curves. On the demand side, they influence consumer
behaviour, leading to greater trial, improved frequency of use, increased loyalty and a willingness to pay a price premium.
On the supply side, strong brands can attract better talent, influence terms of trade, and even reduce the cost of capital.
• Brand managers need to understand how brands influence consumer perceptions and behaviour in order to develop
strategies that optimise market performance and brand value.
• Finance managers are faced with impairment risks as well as transfer pricing considerations that require an
understanding of intangible asset values. They also play a role in protecting brand value by maintaining adequate
levels of brand investment in bad and good times.
• Deal makers increasingly need to gauge the investment value and value potential of brands in assessing the merits of
a transaction.
6
THE WAY FORWARD
2008 has been a rocky year thus far. With record high oil and
commodity prices, and inflation on the back of a credit crisis,
equity markets have been bearish. Investor confidence has been
shaken. There is no better time than now to defy conventional
wisdom because short-sighted reductions in brand investment can
destroy long term value. Companies with the courage to challenge
the status quo, cut through the market noise of gloom and doom,
will find worthy investments and use this time to strengthen their
brands and intangible assets.
Lucy Gwee
Managing Director
Brand Finance Singapore
7
KEY FINDINGS
• Intangible asset value increased steadily between 2001 and 2007 on a worldwide basis. Intangibles now
account for 66% of global market value. For Malaysia, intangibles account for 43% of the enterprise value
of Bursa Malaysia listed entities.
• Malaysia is ranked 29th for the contribution of intangible assets to enterprise value and lags India and
China where intangibles account for 73% and 58% of enterprise value respectively. The global leaders are
the USA and Switzerland where intangibles contribute about 75% of market value.
• Malaysia’s 50 largest brands and brand portfolios are worth MYR 64.8 billion (US$19.4 billion). Compare
this with Singapore’s Top 50 brands which amount to S$36.2 billion (US$25.0 billion). and Australia’s Top
50 brands which account for A$80 billion (US$69.6 billion).
• PETRONAS Group has the most valuable brand portfolio of listed Bursa Malaysia companies with a brand
value of MYR 8.3 billion.
• Genting is the most highly rated brand and the only Malaysian brand to receive an ‘AA+’ rating.
• Resorts World makes its first entry into the Malaysia’s Top 10 brands with a brand value of MYR 2.3 billion
in place of Malaysian Airlines, which is now ranked 12th place. The improved revenues and prospects of
Resorts World can be attributed to the continued investments in its brand.
8
MOST VALUABLE MALAYSIAN BRAND
PETRONAS, the only Malaysian company in the Fortune Global 500 list of the world’s biggest firms,
has recaptured the number one position in this year’s league table.
As part of their forward-looking strategy, PETRONAS is considering the development of palm oil based
biofuels in view of the growing popularity of renewable energy. As one of the world’s largest exporters of
crude palm oil, there is an enormous opportunity for PETRONAS to expand its research and development into
biofuels.
In a bid to enhance its branding efforts and place PETRONAS on the international stage, PETRONAS became
involved in Formula One (F1) with its sponsorship of the then Red Bull Sauber Ford Racing Team. This foray
turned out to be a successful one and continual sponsorship in F1 motorsports helped boost PETRONAS’
corporate image and heightened its brand presence. Not only did the global awareness of the PETRONAS
brand increase, its engagement in F1 reinforced its technological capabilities through research and
development based on F1 technology.
The PETRONAS brand is also well received by the community due to its commitment in spreading public
service messages. It has a long running tradition of coming up with heartwarming advertisements during
festive seasons, and its advertisements have received many top awards.
9
M O S T H I G H LY R AT E D M A L A Y S I A N B R A N D
Genting Berhad has emerged to be the most highly rated Malaysian brand with an ‘AA+’ rating,
which translates to a “Very Strong” brand.
The ‘AA+’ brand rating ties to a brand score of 70 (out of 100) which is an indicator of the brand strength of
Genting. As with most conglomerates, Genting has deployed a monolithic brand strategy to unify the group’s
diverse business units and accord each business unit strength, credibility and trust.
Compared to Brand Finance’s Malaysian Brand Study in 2006, the Genting brand value has risen close to 12%
from MYR 3.73 billion to MYR 4.17 billion in 2007. The stronger Genting brand has helped the group deliver
steady earnings. Revenues for the group increased by 17.4% and 27.3% to MYR 5.45 billion and MYR 6.94
billion for 2005 and 2006 respectively. Net profit recorded an impressive jump of 34.4% for 2005 and 23.8% in
2006. For the 3 months ended 31 March 2008, revenues are up 7% to MYR 2.16 billion. The sustained revenue
growth reflects an increase in the demand for Genting’s products and services.
The Genting brand will now expand outside its home base to Singapore. As one of Singapore’s two integrated
resorts, we believe that the additional brand exposure and additional revenue will generate a higher brand
value for the brand.
10
M A L A Y S I A’ S T O P 1 0
The ten most valuable brands and brand portfolios (listed in the table below) of Malaysia are
worth MYR 36.3 billion which represent approximately 56% of the total brand value of the Top 50
Malaysian brands. Our brand valuation methodology can be found at the end of this report.
BRAND/
ENTERPRISE VALUE TRADEMARK VALUE ENTERPRISE BRAND
RANK PARENT COMPANY BRAND (MYR) (MYR) RATING
VALUE
Incorporated in 1974, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) has emerged to become Malaysia’s most valuable brand.
Wholly owned by the Government, this fully integrated oil and gas corporation has grown rapidly to include 103 wholly
owned subsidiaries, 19 partly owned outfits and 57 associated companies. PETRONAS, with an extensive network in more
than 32 countries worldwide, has been ranked by Fortune to be the 8th most profitable company globally and the most
profitable in Asia.
In line with its vision to become the “Leading Oil and Gas Multinational of Choice”, PETRONAS forayed into the
motorsports business in 1995 and managed to secure title sponsorship rights to Formula One Grand Prix. These
sponsorship efforts helped heighten the awareness of its brand, placing both PETRONAS and Malaysia on the
international stage.
Standing tall at 88 floors, the PETRONAS Twin Towers (once termed the world’s tallest buildings) has been an icon for
Malaysia since its completion, reflecting Malaysia’s financial stability and success. Its Merdeka campaigns have also been
well-received by Malaysians over the years as it leverages on the country’s national values. Most recently, PETRONAS
responded to cyclone-hit Myanmar by sending aids to the victims and sending employees to assist in the coordination of
the relief supplies distribution.
11
M A L A Y S I A’ S T O P 1 0
The Genting Group, a collective name for Genting Berhad and its subsidiaries and associates, was founded back in
1965. Genting Berhad is the investment holding and management company of Genting Group and is currently one of the
leading and lowest cost palm oil producers in Malaysia. From its initial engagement of leisure and hospitality activities,
the Genting Group has diversified into other operations, comprising power generation, oil palm plantation, property
development and oil & gas. From just a 38-room hotel, the Group has developed into a global empire spanning resorts,
with more than 27,000 employees worldwide, 11,000 acres of prime resort land and over 80,000 hectares of plantations.
The Group today has evolved to become one of Asia’s leading and best managed multinational corporations, renowned for
its strong management leadership, financial prudence and sound investment discipline.
Malayan Banking, more commonly known as Maybank, commenced operations in 1960 and is today the largest financial
services group in Malaysia by market capitalisation. 1994 was a landmark year for Maybank as it became the first
financial institution in the country to exceed the RM1 billion profit mark. As a leading financial group in Malaysia for over
three and a half decades, the domestic bank has an established network of more than 450 branches nationwide and
presence in 14 countries with over 80 international offices. The Group offers an extensive range of financial products and
services including commercial banking, trustee services, stock broking, investment banking and venture capital.
Widely recognised by consumers and the industry for its corporate governance, management skills, excellence and
trustworthiness, Maybank has garnered several awards and accolades. The outstanding ones include Maybank being
named the Best Foreign Exchange Bank by Global Finance in 2008 and is also ranked 91 within Brand Finance’s study of
Global Top 100 Most Valuable Banking Brands.
The Maybank brand, distinct for its black and yellow corporate hues, is often associated with its commitment to make
banking simple and accessible for its customers. Maybank recently stepped up promotional campaigns targeting its
diverse customer base by introducing upscale signature branches to offer a complete range of services in strategic and
major locations. In addition, Maybank is expanding its foothold aggressively throughout South East Asia via acquisition,
including a recent 15 percent stake in Vietnam’s An Binh Bank and 20 percent of the ordinary shares in MCB Bank Ltd.,
the fourth largest bank by asset in Pakistan.
12
M A L A Y S I A’ S T O P 1 0
Maxis Communications Berhad (Maxis) began commercial operations in 1995 as a private company. Since then, it has
successfully grown to become a leading mobile communications service provider, with a dominant market share of 41.5%
and a subscriber base of about 8.5 million in 2007. Other than operating its business in Malaysia, Maxis has ventured
into 2 of the world’s fast growing and low penetration markets, namely Indonesia and India. This overseas expansion is in
line with Maxis’ aspiration to become the regional communications leader of choice. In Malaysia, Maxis’ mobile service is
offered under the Maxis brand for postpaid services and Hotlink for prepaid services.
Maxis has received much recognition for its excellence in the Malaysian Telecommunications industry and outstanding
awards include being named Service Provider of the Year by Frost & Suvillian in 2008. It was also awarded Asian Mobile
Operator of the Year at the Asian Mobile News Award 2008 in Singapore, for its efforts in innovation, rewarding customer
experience and fast growth in the industry. In an effort to continue maintaining its position as the market leader through
increasing brand awareness, Maxis has been aggressive in its marketing efforts. Maxis came up third in advertising
expenditure in 2007 according to Nielsen. Recently, Maxis entered an exclusive partnership with Yahoo! which will see to
a variety of graphic advertisements sold and served by the giant search engine.
Maxis was de-listed from Bursa Malaysia on 25th June 2007 following the successful completion of the privatization offer
by Binariang GSM Sdn Bhd.
Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), with a history that can be traced back to 1949, started out as a Central Electricity Board
serving 45,000 customers. Today, TNB has expanded rapidly to become the largest electricity utility company in Malaysia,
with a customer base of more than 7 million being served by 28,000 employees. Its infrastructure lies in the generation,
distribution and transmission of electricity, controlling Malaysia’s largest generation capacity of about 11,200 megawatts.
TNB is also involved in several diversified businesses related to the power industry, which includes the manufacture of
transformers, property development, architectural engineering and project management services. Besides being among
the top 10 most valuable brands of Malaysia, TNB is fast becoming an internationally respected and recognised company.
Its recent achievement in becoming 1 of the top 5 finalists for the “Power Company of the Year” in the 2007 Platts Global
Energy Awards has made it the only Asian company shortlisted.
TNB is also recognised for its contribution to its country when it celebrated Malaysia’s 50th Independence Anniversary by
sponsoring a national patriotic song and video clip, specially created to celebrate the occasion. TNB has increased its efforts
in enhancing its brand image by improving the image and quality of its service outlets, currently known as “Kedai Tenaga”.
Meanwhile, new corporate uniforms have been introduced and initiatives undertaken to train its front line staff to improve
service quality. TNB has also extended its branding through its higher education vehicle, Universiti Tenaga Nasional.
13
M A L A Y S I A’ S T O P 1 0
Established in 1910, Sime Darby Berhad took its name from its 2 founders, William Middleton Sime and Henry Darby.
Sime Darby has since made great strides and has grown from a single company providing a sole product and service in
Malaysia, into a successful multinational company with principal activities in plantation, property, motors, industrial,
energy and utilities. In 2007, 3 Malaysian giants, Golden Hope Plantations Berhad, Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad and Sime
Darby Berhad successfully merged into the vehicle identity called Synergy Drive.
With this merger, it became one of the world’s largest listed oil palm plantation groups, accounting for nearly 6% of the
total palm oil production in the world. Sime Darby also holds exclusive dealership Caterpillar rights in the Asia Pacific
region and its Property Division is currently focusing on developing residential and commercial properties. Examples of
carriers of the Sime Darby brand are Wisma Sime Darby building, PNB Darby Park, Darby Park Executive Suites, Sime
Darby Convention Centre (“SDCC”), Sime Darby Enterprise Center, Sime Fresh (a sub-brand within the food division),
Sime Tyres (product brand in manufacturing), Sime Darby Travel services, Sime Darby Engineering services, and Subang
Jaya Medical Centre (a strongly endorsed sub-brand).
With a global footprint spanning across 20 countries (including Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom and Vietnam), it
is supported by more than 100,000 employees all over the world. Sime Darby has been venturing into China, aiming to
establish a strong foothold in the utilities and infrastructure sectors.
Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Berhad (BCHB), previously known as Commerce Asset-Holding Berhad, has a heritage
that began way back in 1924 in Kuching. BCHB is now the listed holding company for the CIMB Group, which carries
out a wide range of business activities. The Group operations include consumer banking, investment banking, asset
management, insurance products and services catered for various customers, from the smallest retail client to the
largest corporations. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, CIMB operates its business through 3 main brand entities,
namely CIMB Bank, CIMB Investment Bank, CIMB Islamic, as well as Niaga Bank in Indonesia. With about 7 million
customers served by a total staff strength of over 25,000, the Group’s operations extend across 11 countries, with main
markets in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
CIMB in the recent years has transformed itself from one of Malaysia’s top investment banks to one of South East Asia’s
leading universal banking groups. In 2007, the Group had focused its resources to achieve its long term aspiration of becoming
“South East Asia’s most valued universal bank” based on 2 main themes: Optimization and Regionalization. CIMB is fast
establishing its regional footprint, and was ranked 22nd in the 2007 Asian Banker poll on Asia Pacific’s 300 strongest banks.
The new “CIMB Group” brand and its brand entities have collectively established themselves as a leading Malaysian
brand in a very short period of time. All branches were rebranded as “CIMB Bank”, by August 2007 and diverse
advertising mediums were undertaken to drive acceptance of the new brand.
14
M A L A Y S I A’ S T O P 1 0
Founded in 1946 as a Malayan Telecommunications Department, Telekom Malaysia has since expanded to become a
leading communications corporation in Asia today. TM was first listed on the main board in 1990, and undertook several
identity changes over the years. In 2005, marking its 15th anniversary, it went through a major brand transformation and
TM was adopted as the new brand.
The TM Group underwent a recent demerger in 2007 into 2 business entities: RegionCo (TM International) and FixedCo
(TM), of which the latter entity is being valued in this case. RegionCo would group TM’s regional mobile operations
under TM International, domestic mobile operations under Celcom, and pursue listing status as a separate entity. On
the other hand, FixedCo (TM) would keep hold of TM’s domestic interests in fixed line, voice, broadband, data and other
non-telecommunication services. TM has a stronghold in the Malaysia market, with 95% and 96% market share in the
fixed-line and broadband business respectively. TM’s success in the broadband business has been widely recognised
and at the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Malaysia Telecom Awards, TM was awarded the Broadband Service Provider of the year.
Furthermore, TM and the Government are spending a total of RM15.6 billion to ensure that Malaysia will have top quality,
competitive high speed broadband infrastructure within the next ten years. TM also aspires to achieve 50% household
broadband penetration rate by 2010.
In late 2007, TM chose Malaysian based Total Sports Asia (TSA) as its sports marketing agency. TSA will support TM’s sports
and sponsorship strategy and activities. TM’s engagement in sports, including holding the title sponsorship of the Malaysian
Football League, is driven by TM’s plan to build the nation, enhance its brand and develop new revenue avenues.
Public Bank was established back in 1966, and from the humble beginnings of a single branch, Public Bank has grown to
cover a well distributed network of 241 full service bank branches nationwide. The bank is supported by more than 14,000
employees across Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Sri Lanka. As a premier banking group in
Malaysia today, the Group has a diversified portfolio of banking and financial services, including commercial banking,
retail wealth management and card businesses. It has earned recognition and trust for its strong financial performance,
and, bagged 31 awards in 2007, including the “Best Domestic Bank in Malaysia 2007” by The Asset. 2007 was a landmark
year for Public Bank as its pre-tax profits crossed the RM 3 billion mark for the first time.
Down through the years, Public Bank has positioned itself as the bank which is committed to making a difference in
serving its customers and earning the loyalty from each one of them. The focus on customer care has been ingrained as
part of its resources to increase customer satisfaction. The interlocking of the 2 octagons in the logo of the bank depict
security, strength and stability, which has a strong association with the Public Bank brand. The Group has also adopted
the Bougainvillea flower as its corporate flower. The multi-coloured flower represents the diversity of its clients and
range of services that it provides.
15
M A L A Y S I A’ S T O P 1 0
Incorporated in 1965, Resorts World today plays a pivotal role in the development of Malaysia’s tourism industry by
actively engaging in leisure and hospitality services. Genting Highland Resort, more popularly known as Genting – The
City of Entertainment, is the currently the main face of the brand. Catered for families and holidaymakers, this leading
highland resort offers 6 hotels, a theme park, 170 dining and shopping places, mega shows, and business convention
facilities all at one location. Genting, a brand name synonymous with endless entertainment and fun, is gaining a
strong foothold in the tourism industry, where it managed to draw 19.6 million visitors in 2007 from Malaysia and its
neighbouring countries.
Resorts World leverages on the use of Information Technology and e-Commerce to enhance its overall business
operations. Its website has proved to be a very successful online marketing channel. On average, over 29,000 unique
visitors would access the website on a peak day, and online sales have increased by 23% in 2007. The Group’s customer
loyalty programme has also expanded to reach 2.5 million cardholders in 2007, and is recognised at more than 2,200
locations in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
As the proud winner of the World’s Leading Casino Resort (2005 and 2007) and 2008 Hospitality Asia Platinum Award, it
is a testimony for its hard work and commitment towards quality and excellence. Besides this integrated resort, Resorts
World has further extended its resort management expertise to include the Awana chain resort of hotels and operating
two seaside properties in Malaysia. As of 30 April 2008, the Group also holds a 19.3% stake in Star Cruises Limited, a
global cruise brand ranked as the 3rd largest cruise operator in the world.
Notes:
1. Since our report emphasises brands of Malaysian origin, the following brands have been excluded:
• Carlsberg
• Guinness-Anchor
• Heineken
• Pelikan
• Jusco
• Shell
• KFC
• Esso
• Lafarge
2. There are many conglomerates in Malaysia that adopt monolithic branding strategy. Hence, Brand Finance has chosen to consolidate the
individually listed entities of the holding company to better reflect the value of the master brand.
3. Due to the demerger of Telekom Malaysia in 2007, we have treated Celcom as a separate brand from TM, where it was included in last year’s
brand value of TM as an entire group.
4. Although these brands are not listed on KLSE, they are included for their Malaysian origin and sizeable revenues.
• Maxis
16
ENTERPRISE TRADEMARK BRAND/
BRAND
RANK PARENT COMPANY BRAND VALUE VALUE ENTERPRISE
RATING
(MYR m) (MYR m) VALUE
17
I N TA N G I B L E A S S E T S
Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) is a set of accounting standards issued or adopted by Malaysian Accounting
Standards Board (MASB) for application by all entities other than private entities.
There are different definitions of ‘intangible assets’. According to Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 138 ‘Intangible
Asset’ (revised from the International Accounting Standard (IAS) 38 ‘Intangible Asset’), an intangible asset is ‘an
identifiable non-monetary asset without physical substance held for use in the production or supply of goods or services,
for rental to others, or for administrative purposes’. According to FRS 138, the definition of an intangible asset requires it
to be:
A) Non-monetary
B) Without physical substance
C) ‘Identifiable’
In order to be ‘identifiable’ it must either be separable (capable of being separated from the entity and sold, transferred or
licensed) or it must arise from contractual or legal rights (irrespective of whether those rights are themselves ‘separable’).
In addition, there is what is sometimes termed ‘Unidentified Intangible Assets’, including ‘internally generated goodwill’
(or ‘going concern value’). It is important to recognize the distinction between internally-generated and acquired
intangible assets. Current accounting standards only allow acquired intangible assets to be recognized on the balance
sheet provided that they meet the above mentioned criteria. i.e.; the internally generated intangibles of a company cannot
be explicitly stated on its balance sheet.
This results in what is sometimes described as ‘internally generated goodwill’. This is the difference between the
fair market value of a business and the value of its identifiable net assets. Although not an intangible asset in a strict
sense (i.e. a controlled “resource” expected to provide future benefits – see below), this residual value is treated as an
intangible asset in a business combination when it is converted into goodwill on the acquiring company’s balance sheet.
Intangible assets that may be recognized on a balance sheet under FRS 138 are typically only a fraction of the total
intangible asset value of a business, with the remaining value continuing to be classified as ‘goodwill’. Brands, if
acquired, can be identified under these rules and added to the balance sheet. This results in the unusual situation where
internally-generated brands of the acquiree may be recognised on the acquirer’s balance sheet but the acquirer’s own
internally-generated brands may not. For this reason, Brand Finance thinks there is a strong case for the inclusion of
internally-generated brands on the balance sheet.
Brands fulfill the definition of intangible assets above, in that they are controlled by management, provide future
economic benefits and are identifiable and therefore can be sold, transferred or licensed as appropriate. We are
increasingly seeing companies taking advantage of this transferability by moving brands (including trademarks and
other associated intellectual property, such as design rights and other marketing collateral) to special purpose
vehicles, such as brand holding companies, for the purpose of raising finance and tax planning.
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F I N A N C I A L R E P O R T I N G O F I N TA N G I B L E A S S E T S
Until 2001, no countries required recognition of acquired intangible assets separately from goodwill. International
Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 3 now requires that, on acquisition, intangible assets should be separately disclosed
on the acquiring company’s balance sheet providing they meet the above criteria and if the value of the intangible asset
can be determined reliably (FAS 141 introduced the same requirement for US companies four years earlier, in 2001).
In 2005, all listed companies in EU member countries – as well many other countries - switched to IFRS. Listed
companies in most major markets outside the US are now required to adapt or report under International Financial
Reporting Standard (IFRS) but there are a number of notable exceptions such as Japan, South Korea, Switzerland,
Canada and the major South American markets. The table below summarises the countries which do and do not
currently require all listed companies to report under IFRS.
Yes No
Australia, Belgium, Finland, Brazil, Canada, China, India,
France,Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico,
Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Russia, South Korea,
Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, US
Africa, Spain, Sweden, UK
The accounting standards mean that the value of disclosed intangible assets is likely to increase in the future. Strong
advocates of ‘fair value reporting’ believe that the changes should go further and that all of a company’s tangible and
intangible assets and liabilities should regularly be measured at fair value and reported on the balance sheet, including
internally generated intangibles such as brands and patents, so long as valuation methods and corporate governance are
sufficiently rigorous.
Some go as far as to suggest that ‘internally generated goodwill’ should be reported on the balance sheet at fair value,
meaning that management would effectively be required to report its own estimate of the value of the business at
each year end together with supporting assumptions. However, the current international consensus is that internally
generated intangible assets generally should not be recognised on the balance sheet. Under IFRS, certain intangible
assets should be recognised, but only if they are in the “development” (as opposed to “research”) phase, with conditions
on, for example, technical feasibility and the intention and ability to complete and use the asset. ‘Internally generated
goodwill’, as well as internally generated “brands, mastheads, publishing titles, customer lists and items similar in
substance”, may not be recognised.
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FRS 3: Allocating the cost of a business combination
In Malaysia, the Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 3 ‘Business Combination’ is consistent with IFRS 3 in all material
aspects. The Malaysia FRS 3 is effective as at 1 January 2006. This FRS requires all business combinations within
its scope to be accounted for using the purchase method. It replaces the old FRS 122 where permitted business
combinations are to be accounted for using one of two methods: the merger method for combinations classified as
merger and the acquisition method for combinations classified as acquisitions.
Under FRS 3, at the date of acquisition, an acquirer must measure the cost of the business combination by recognising
the acquiree’s identifiable assets (tangible and intangible), liabilities and contingent liabilities at their fair value. Any
difference between the total of the net assets acquired and the cost of acquisition is treated as goodwill (or negative
goodwill).
Goodwill: After initial recognition of goodwill, FRS 3 requires that goodwill be recorded at cost less accumulated
impairment charges. Whereas previously goodwill was amortised over its useful economic life, it is now subject to
impairment testing at least once a year. Amortisation is no longer permitted.
Negative Goodwill: Negative goodwill arises where the purchase price is deemed to be less than the fair value of
the net assets acquired. It must be recognised immediately as a profit in the profit and loss account. However, before
concluding that “negative goodwill” has arisen, FRS 3 requires that an acquirer should “reassess” the identification and
measurement of the acquired identifiable assets and liabilities.
Impairment of Assets
The old FRS 136 ‘Impairment of Assets’ required the recoverable amount of an asset to be measured whenever there is
an indication that the asset may be impaired. This means that an impairment test was only required if a ‘triggering event’
indicated that impairment might have occurred. However, under the revised rules, FRS 136 now also requires an annual
impairment test is required for certain assets, namely:
• Intangible assets with an indefinite useful economic life (e.g. strong brands) and intangible assets not yet available
for use. The recoverable amount of these assets must be measured annually (regardless of the existence or
otherwise of an indicator of impairment) and at any other time when an indicator of impairment exists. Brands are
one major class of intangible assets that are often considered to have indefinite useful economic lives. Where
acquired brands are recognised on the balance sheet post acquisition, it is important to establish a robust and
supportable valuation model, using best practice valuation techniques that can be consistently applied at each
annual impairment review. There are also new disclosure requirements, the principal one being the disclosure of the
key assumptions used in the calculation. Increased disclosure is required where a reasonably possible change in a
key assumption would result in actual impairment.
20
I M PACT O N M A N AG E M E N T A N D I N V E S TO R S
Management
Perhaps the most important impact of new reporting standards has been on management accountability. Greater
transparency, rigorous impairment testing and additional disclosure should mean more scrutiny both internally and
externally. The requirement for the acquiring company to attempt to explain at least a part of what was previously lumped
into “goodwill” should help analysts to analyse deals more closely and gauge whether management has paid a sensible
price. The new standards are also having a significant impact on the way companies plan their acquisitions. When
considering an acquisition, a detailed analysis of all the target company’s potential assets and liabilities is recommended
to assess the impact on the consolidated group balance sheet and profit and loss post-acquisition.
Companies need to pay close attention to the likely classification and useful economic lives of the identifiable intangible
assets in the target company’s business. This will have a direct impact on the future earnings of the acquiring group.
In addition to amortisation charges for intangible assets with finite useful economic lives, impairment tests on assets
with indefinite useful economic lives may lead to one-off charges, particularly if the acquired business falls short of
expectations post-acquisition. The requirement for separate balance sheet recognition of intangible assets, together
with impairment testing of those assets and also goodwill, is expected to result in an increase in the involvement of
independent specialist valuers to assist with valuations and on appropriate disclosure.
Investors
The requirement for companies to attempt to identify what intangible assets they are acquiring as part of a corporate
transaction may provide evidence as to whether a group has paid too much in a deal. Subsequent impairment tests may
also shed light on whether the price paid was a good one for the acquiring company’s shareholders. Regular impairment
testing is likely to result in a greater volatility in financial results. Significant one-off impairment charges may indicate
that a company has overpaid for an acquisition and have the potential to damage the credibility of management in the
eyes of the investment community. Analysts and investors are often skeptical about disclosed intangible assets. In the
case of brand (and other intangible asset) valuation, where a high degree of subjectivity can exist, it will be important to
demonstrate that best practice techniques have been applied and that the impairment review process is robust.
21
METHODOLOGY
The ‘Royalty Relief’ method is based on the notion that a brand holding company owns the brand and licenses it to an
operating company. The notional price paid by the operating company to the brand company is expressed as a royalty
rate. The NPV of all forecast royalties represents the value of the brand to the business. The attraction of this method is
that it is based on commercial practice in the real world. It involves estimating likely future sales, applying an appropriate
royalty rate to them and then discounting estimated future, post-tax royalties, to arrive at a NPV.
Brand Finance uses the ‘Royalty Relief’ method for two reasons:
• It is favoured by tax authorities and the courts because it calculates brand values by reference to be documented,
third-party transactions.
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This quantitative data is obtained from Bloomberg, company data sources such as websites and annual reports,
investment analyst and industry expert reports and other publicly available data sources.
22
I M PACT O N M A N AG E M E N T A N D I N V E S TO R S
• Estimated financial results for 2007 using Institutional Brokers Estimate System (IBES) consensus forecasts.
• Estimated four-year financial forecast (2008-2011), based on historic growth trends for the brand, IBES consensus
forecasts, and Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
growth forecasts.
• Perpetuity growth, based on a combination of growth expectations (IBES and OECD forecasts).
• Royalty rate ranges were set for each industry by reference to a review of comparable licensing agreements and
industry norms. A review of publicly available licensing agreement indicates the royalty rates set between third
parties in arm’s length commercial transactions.
• Compare royalty rates with operating margins in the industrial sector.
• Fundamental profitability in each industrial sector influences the determination of royalty rate ranges. This must be
taken into account when determining the royalty rate ranges. A ‘Rule of Thumb’ exists within the licensing industry
(‘Rule of 25’), which states that, on average, a licensee should expect to pay between 25% and 40% of its expected
profits for access to the licensed intellectual property.
• For example, if profit margin is 20%, an appropriate royalty rate should fall between 25% x 20% = 5% and
40% x 20% = 8%. The rule is based on heuristic evidence of a relationship between market royalty rates and margins
earned in licensee businesses. Royalty rates may be higher or lower than 25% of profits, depending upon a variety of
quantitative and qualitative factors that can and do affect commercial negotiations. When determining royalty rate
ranges, the ‘25% rule’ is a useful indicator of what an appropriate royalty rate range might be in each industrial sector.
• BVA® analysis is a research driven process, which estimates the proportion of income attributable to each category
of intangible asset, including brand, to determine the proportion of margins, which should be attributed to the
brand. This process uses a ‘Brand Power Matrix™’ to systematically map the relative importance of different tangible
and intangible assets in the value creation process. The results of this BVA® analysis refine the margin analysis in
determining royalty rate ranges.
• Establish the appropriate royalty rate within the range for each brand portfolio.
Having established the royalty rate range, it is necessary to pinpoint where in the range is appropriate for each brand
portfolio under review. This is calculated by reference to ‘ßrandßeta®’ analysis.
23
‘ßrandßeta®’ analysis is a benchmarking study of the strength, risk and future potential of a brand relative to its
competitor set. It is conceptually similar to a credit rating. Brand portfolios are awarded Brand Ratings based on their
strength, risk and future earning potential.
A Brand Rating:
• Quantifies the strength and performance of the brand being valued .
• Provides an indication of the risk attached to future earnings of the brand.
The Brand Finance plc Brand Ratings panel considered a variety of factors in this ‘ßrandßeta®’ analysis process. Factors
include both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ brand performance measures:
I. Input measures:
• Brand Management
• Brand Presence
Brand Ratings incorporate both quantitative and qualitative data. Qualitative data is compiled by Brand Finance from
secondary research. Quantitative data is sourced from Bloomberg and annual reports.
The final Brand Ratings are expressed as an index score from 0-100. Brand Ratings are also expressed alphabetically
from AAA to D. AAA is a very strong and growing global brand. D is a sub-optimal or moribund brand.
24
Brand Rating Definitions
Rating Definition
4. Calculate the notional future royalty income steam for each brand portfolio
This is calculated by applying the royalty rate, determined in step 3, to sales in the explicit forecast and perpetuity
periods.
5. Calculate discount rate specific to each brand portfolio, taking account of its size, international presence,
reputation and Brand Rating
Brand Ratings are used to determine a Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC), debt costs, equity costs and the debt
to equity ratio are all given a discount or premium based on the strength of the brand. The principle being that a strong
brand should command a lower discount rate in the valuation calculation than a weak one.
The result is the brand value for inclusion in our table. Where enterprise values can be calculated by reference to public
market information the brand value is expressed as a percentage of Enterprise Value (EV).
25
Contact Details
Brand Finance is the leading independent intangible asset valuation
and strategy firm, helping companies to manage their brands more
intelligently for improved business results.