Siemens Energy is a German industrial company that manufactures heavy equipment used in the production and distribution of electricity, such as gas turbines, grid technologies and wind turbines. We investigate how Siemens Energy, which has now been mostly spun out of the Siemens group, is positioned for the material transformations underway in global energy markets. This as power grids modernise and increase capacity and flexibility, renewable energy continues to grow and gas turbines remain an indispensable source of base-load energy.

Founded in 1833 as a trading business, Shell began importing exotic seashells from Asia after founder, Marcus Samuel, identified a substantial demand from the interior design industry. Following his death in 1870, his sons expanded the business into oil trading. In 1892, Shell became the first company to trade and import oil via the Suez Canal using a fleet of steamboats. This reshaped the oil industry and revolutionised the transport of oil.

Piaggio is Europe’s largest manufacturer of two-wheel motor vehicles and has operations in North America and Asia. It also manufactures and sells light commercial vehicles, predominantly in India. We discuss the transport dynamics of the regions in which the group operates and why we believe it is well positioned to deliver shareholder value.

The Pretoria Portland Company, or PPC, was founded in Pretoria in 1892 as De Eerste Cement Fabrieken Beperkt. Following various name changes over the years and listing on the JSE in 1912, PPC is the largest manufacturer of cement in South Africa today. It has the most geographically diversified footprint in the local market, with operations in Botswana and Zimbabwe. We explore the dynamics of the cement market and how PPC is beneficially positioned.