India’s Siemens to explore energy business spin-off, shares jump to record high

BENGALURU : India’s Siemens Ltd will explore a spin-off of its energy business at the behest of some of its stakeholders, the electrical appliances-maker said on Monday, sending its shares to a record high.

Its board also approved the incorporation of a unit in the financial hub of Mumbai, if and when the company decides to implement the demerger, it said in an exchange filing.

Its German affiliate Siemens Energy, one of the shareholders calling for the demerger, has been reviewing options to exit some markets and products of its struggling wind turbine business in a bid to shore up its balance sheet after swinging to an annual net loss last month.

Siemens Energy has also been considering selling some of its 24 per cent stake in Siemens Ltd to its former parent Siemens AG.

Germany-based Siemens AG and its unit are also the other shareholders calling for a demerger of the Indian energy business.

Shares of Siemens Ltd, which has added nearly 50 per cent in value so far this year, rose as much as nearly 7 per cent after the news.

Apart from the energy segment, which includes manufacturing transformers, the Indian firm also makes home appliances, smart infrastructure, and provides cyber-security services.