Not Just for Boomers: The Case for UK Shares in 2025
Tracking the histories of the UK companies whose AGMs I attended so far during this AGM season
🧠💼 Think UK Plc is dusty? Think again.
I’ve been tracking the backstories of every UK company whose AGM I’ve attended this season—from 18th-century sugar traders to FTSE giants shaping the future of finance.
This isn’t history for history’s sake—it’s power, strategy, and ownership.
💥 If you want a say in how the world works, start by knowing who built it.
👇 Tap in. Learn. Question. Own it.
🛩️ Rolls-Royce Holdings
Founded in 1906 as a luxury carmaker by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, the company soon pivoted to aero engines, powering WWII icons like the Spitfire. Nationalised in 1971 and re-privatised in 1987, today it’s a global leader in civil and military aerospace, nuclear, and power systems. (Not to be confused with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, now owned by BMW.)
📚 Pearson plc
Started in 1844 as a construction firm, Pearson built railways and canals before evolving into a media empire—owning the Financial Times, The Economist, and Penguin Books. By 2020, it had reinvented itself again as the world’s largest digital-first education company.
🛡️ BAE Systems
Formed in 1999 through the merger of British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems, BAE Systems is a major British defence, security, and aerospace company. Its roots trace back to the 1977 consolidation of several UK aircraft manufacturers, including the British Aircraft Corporation and Hawker Siddeley.
More on BAE at the end of this post.
🐜 Rentokil Initial
Established in 1925 as a pest control business, Rentokil Initial has expanded into a global services company offering hygiene and facilities management solutions. Notably, it became the world's largest pest control firm after acquiring Terminix in 2022.WikipediaMarketWatch+2MarketWatch+2The Times+2
💼 Rathbones Group
Founded in 1742 as a timber trading business in Liverpool, Rathbones transitioned into financial management in the early 20th century. Today, it is a UK-based provider of personalised investment and wealth management services.Lloyds Banking Group+7Wikipedia+7rathbones.com+7
🔌 Centrica
Centrica was formed in 1997 following the demerger of British Gas plc, inheriting the gas sales, trading, services, and retail businesses. It is now a leading energy and services company, known for its British Gas brand.Centrica PlcCentrica Plc+1City AM+1
📦 Mondi Group
Mondi's origins date back to 1967 with the establishment of the Merebank Mill in South Africa by Anglo American plc. It has since grown into an international packaging and paper group with operations in over 30 countries.Wikipedia+1wikirate-production-storage.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com+1Mondi Group+1investinizmir.com+1
💰 Aberdeen (formerly abrdn)
Aberdeen's history includes the 2017 merger of Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management, leading to the rebranding as 'abrdn' in 2021. In 2025, the company reverted to the 'Aberdeen' name to refocus on its core mission and reputation.Business Insider+2Financial News London+2Wikipedia+2
📈 Man Group
Established in 1783 as a sugar cooperage and brokerage, Man Group evolved into a commodities trading firm before transitioning to financial services. Today, it is a leading global active investment management firm.Wikipedia+1Editable Templates+1
🔮 Phoenix Group
Founded in 1857 as The Pearl Loan Company, Phoenix Group has grown through acquisitions to become the UK's largest long-term savings and retirement business. It manages a range of life insurance and pension brands.Wikipedia+1Phoenix Group+1
🏦 Prudential plc
Prudential was established in London in 1848 to provide loans and life assurance to the middle class. It has since become a multinational insurance and financial services company with operations in Asia and Africa.Insurance Business+1Wikipedia+1
🔄 TP ICAP
TP ICAP's heritage dates back to 1866, with the founding of Rich, Marshall & Co. The company evolved through various mergers, including the 2016 merger of Tullett Prebon and ICAP's voice-broking business, forming the current TP ICAP Group.tpicap.com+2tpicap.com+2tpicap.com+2
🐎 Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank was founded in 1765 as Taylors & Lloyds in Birmingham. It expanded over the centuries and, following the acquisition of HBOS in 2009, became Lloyds Banking Group, one of the UK's largest financial services organisations.Wikipedia+2Lloyds Banking Group+2Lloyds Banking Group+2
🛡️ BAE Systems – A Deep Heritage in British Defence and Aerospace
BAE Systems plc was officially formed on 30 November 1999 through the merger of British Aerospace (BAe) and Marconi Electronic Systems (MES)—the defence division of the General Electric Company (GEC). However, the company's roots span well over a century and include some of the most historic names in British engineering.
🛩️ British Aerospace (BAe)
British Aerospace was created in 1977 as a result of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act, which nationalised and merged several prominent UK aircraft manufacturers. These included:
British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) – itself a 1960 consolidation of English Electric Aviation, Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft), Bristol Aeroplane Company, and Hunting Aircraft.
Hawker Siddeley – known for iconic aircraft like the Hawker Hurricane and Harrier jump jet.
Scottish Aviation – a smaller but respected manufacturer with military and civilian designs.
British Aerospace became a public limited company (plc) in 1981 when it was partially privatised, and was fully privatised in 1985 under Margaret Thatcher’s government. It soon expanded into civil aerospace (working with Airbus) and defence systems globally.
⚙️ Marconi Electronic Systems (MES)
Marconi Electronic Systems was the defence and aerospace division of GEC, a British industrial conglomerate. MES had deep expertise in radar, naval systems, military communications, electronics, and shipbuilding, and included major acquisitions like:
Plessey’s defence business – acquired in 1989 (in partnership with Siemens).
Yarrow Shipbuilders, Vosper Thornycroft, and other naval assets.
By the late 1990s, GEC decided to refocus on telecommunications (later becoming Marconi plc), leading to the sale of MES to BAe in 1999—forming BAE Systems.
🧭 Global Expansion and Strategic Shifts
Since 1999, BAE Systems has evolved into one of the world’s largest defence contractors, with operations across the UK, US, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and beyond. Key milestones include:
Acquisition of United Defense (2005), strengthening its US land systems business.
Divestments of its commercial aerospace stakes, including its share in Airbus (sold in 2006), to focus solely on defence and security.
Longstanding participation in joint ventures and multilateral programmes such as Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35 Lightning II, Astute-class submarines, and Tempest (the UK’s future combat air system project).
🔭 Today
BAE Systems today employs over 90,000 people worldwide and operates across five key sectors: Air, Maritime, Land, Cyber & Intelligence, and Platforms & Services. It is a FTSE 100 company and the largest defence contractor in Europe, with a unique transatlantic footprint in both the UK and US markets.
Its lineage includes the legacy of some of Britain’s most storied industrial names—making BAE Systems not just a product of 1999, but the culmination of over 100 years of British aerospace and defence innovation.