PRESS RELEASE:

Maybank tops Malaysia's most valuable
brands at RM9.6 billion
Friday November 16, 2007

Inaugural “Malaysia’s Most Valuable Brand” league table revealed

KUALA LUMPUR, Fri: Five Malaysian brands – Maybank, Public Bank, Maxis, Genting and Celcom – have each been valued at over a billion US dollars, (RM3.35 billion), it was revealed at the Malaysia’s Most Valuable Brands (MMVB) Gala Night today.

The glitzy event was presided by Deputy Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Abdul Razak, as the Guest of Honour.

Maybank, valued at RM9.645 billion, is the most valuable Malaysian brand. It led a list of 30 companies, seven of them banks, to take the top spot. The other billion US dollar brands are Public Bank at RM6.866 billion, Maxis (RM5.308 billion), Genting (RM4.588 billion) and Celcom (RM4.073 billion).

The MMVB is part of a national brand valuation study commissioned by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As) and conducted by Interbrand, the leading global brand consultancy – using its well-established brand valuation methodology.

Interbrand Group Chief Executive, Jez Frampton, who presented the MMVB league table, said the inaugural ranking will assist in emphasizing the role of brand contribution in business performance. The rankings provide top line measures of economic performance, stating what the brand is worth overall and among competition.

Reiterating this, 4As President, Datuk Vincent Lee said, “This study must act as a catalyst to inspire the great players in this country to look forward to being in the global top 100 brands”. Malaysia now joins a select few countries in Asia that have commissioned such a study by the world’s leading global brand consultancy – Interbrand. Taiwan, China and Singapore are the other markets that have recently embarked on similar studies.

Congratulating the 30 brands, Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak, said, “The role of branding in nation building cannot be underestimated. Brands are the engine of economic growth. The growth of Malaysian brands will herald the arrival of Malaysia as a key contender in the global marketplace.”

The list of Top 30 brands are listed as below:

Convert rate: USD 1 = MYR 3.35 as of 13 November 2007