The banking group, which is an important player in the Asian wealth management market, stays top of the heap in having the most valuable brand in Singapore, according to Brand Finance.

DBS has been ranked most valuable brand in Singapore for the third consecutive year, while Singapore Airlines comes second, with agribusiness firm Wilmar in third and OCBC and UOB in fourth and fifth spots, respectively. 

The Singapore-listed bank, which provides services including wealth management, has extended its lead over second-placed Singapore Airlines by 50 per cent to $ 1.48 billion. The bank’s overall brand value has more than tripled in the past six years, rising from $1.36 billion in 2009 to its current value of $4.416 billion.

Each brand is accorded a brand rating: a benchmarking study of the strength, risk and future potential of a brand relative to its competitor set; and a brand value, which is a summary measure of the financial strength of the brand.

“DBS continues to dominate the top position in Singapore with strong brand strength and brand value growth. It is one of only two brands in Singapore with a ‘AAA’ brand rating. Their dominance can be further demonstrated by their over 11 per cent contribution to the total value of the Top 100 Singapore brands,” Samir Dixit, managing director of Brand Finance Asia Pacific, said.

In sixth place came Singtel Group (telecoms); seventh was Keppel Corp, the telecoms and transport group; eighth was Great Eastern (insurance), ninth was Sembcorp (engineering and construction) and tenth was F&N (food and beverages).

The analysis of the 100 ranked firms said that their total enterprise value, as at the end of 2014, rose by $36 billion as compared to 2013’s level. This increase was driven by an increase tangible net assets of $25 billion and with an slight increase in intangible assets of $21 billion. In 2014, intangible assets value made up 32 per cent of enterprise value, a fall of 9 per cent from 2012. This result is significantly lower than the global average where the intangible asset percentages of enterprise value is 53 per cent.