Business Expansion

Business Expansion is one of our largest categories and looks at the core functions of business operations within the sector.

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This consists of any projects that have expanded the company’s footprint in the sector, including: contract wins; launching in new territories; launching new product lines; the acquisition and expansion of facilities and real estate; acquisition of new machinery or other assets; improved logistics; partnerships; and significant staff increases.

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  • Anglo American
  • BHP
  • Fortescue
  • Glencore
  • Rio Tinto
  • Vale

Environmental

The Environmental category aims to highlight companies that are undertaking projects that reduce their impact on the natural environment or contribute to its general health. With the effects of climate change becoming ever more obvious, corporations have a responsibility to update and change their practices to prevent further damage being caused.

This category includes any projects that have led or will lead to a significant reduction in a company’s environmental impact and carbon footprint. This can include changes to materials and manufacturing, supply chain reviews; reduction in energy use or switches to renewables; recycling initiatives; and carbon offsetting. The category also includes projects that contribute to the environment such as tree planting schemes and river cleaning.

  • Barrick Gold
  • Copperstone Technologies
  • Fortescue
  • Gold Fields
  • Rio Tinto
  • Shougang
  • Thyssenkrupp

Financing

Financing recognises companies and institutions that have raised significant capital during the research period whether it be through corporate finance, the capital markets or fund raising.

This includes any significant raising of finance by a company within the sector, this can include corporate lending, funding rounds and equity and debt capital markets issues including share offers and bond issues. We will be specifically looking at high value deals; novel structures; and companies using (for them) new forms of financing such as high-yield bonds.

  • Compass Minerals
  • Cornish Lithium
  • G Mining
  • H2 Green Steel
  • Hastings Technology Metals
  • Sabina Gold & Silver
  • Shalina Resources
  • Tianqi Lithium

Innovation

Innovation is the category with one of the widest scopes within the Excellence Rankings as it looks at novel new approaches in every area, from the fruits of research and development to novel new business practices. What all the ranked entities have in common is the demonstration of new concepts not just within their own business but in the sector as a whole.

The category includes any projects that demonstrate an innovative approach to the market. The category crosses over with many of our other categories and can include new products, novel product features, new business practices, new marketing and sales strategies and more.

  • ABB
  • BHP
  • BluVeinXL
  • DB Engineering & Consulting/Echion Technologies
  • DLT Labs
  • Hitachi Energy
  • Locus Mining Solutions
  • Siemens
  • Zijin

Investments

The Investments category looks at any significant financial investments into a company or its assets, specifically those investments that facilitate expansion of a company’s operations. This can be an investment by the company itself into its operations or by an outside investor be that another company, financial institution, private equity or venture capital firm.

  • Boliden
  • CMOC
  • Government of Canada
  • MMG
  • Posco
  • Vale

M&A

This category includes organisations that have expanded their business operations by entering into significant mergers and acquisitions deals within the sector.

The category specifically looks at the acquisitions of whole businesses or stakes rather than asset transactions and deals must have been closed during the research period.

  • AKROPOL GROUP
  • Ardagh Group
  • Cosan
  • Kinross Gold Corp
  • Newcrest Mining
  • Sandfire Resources

Product Launches

The Product Launches category recognises companies that have launched notable new products or services into the market. This can include physical products, software as well as the launch of services and concepts.

We are specifically looking at novelty, including companies launching products into new areas or innovation in the product’s design, manufacture or marketing.

  • ABB
  • Accutrak
  • Sandvik

Research and Development

This category includes organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to the research and development of new products and/or new processes. This can include discovering or creating a unique material, transferring a research or technology development to practice, improving the performance of an existing product or creating a new simulation or design tools.

The category also includes companies that have made significant investments into their R&D processes.

  • INCIMMET
  • Komatsu/Codelco
  • Shell
  • Vale