The ‘S’ word — synergies — is back

Stocks

Deep in the heart of Germany’s industrial Ruhr Valley, the “S” word is making a comeback, even if few are ready to say it out loud

The ‘S’ word — synergies — is back

Investors are always curious to know about Foreign institutional investors, FIIs) holding in the equity market as they usually deal in big amounts and most of the occasions their stance decides the trend. In the calendar year 2021, FIIs remain net buyers to the tune of about Rs 25,750 crore in the Indian equity during the same time period the benchmark index Sensex has gained about 22 percent, and BSE Smallcap Index has gained about 25 percent. Moneycontrol’s analysis of BSE small-caps stocks, shows there are about 76 companies where FIIs have consistently increased their stake in each of the four quarters of 2021. Interestingly from the list, 26 stocks have at least doubled investors’ wealth in the last one year and 7 of them have gained more than 200 percent. (Data Source: ACE Equity). Take a look.

Joe Miller Joe Kaeser could not have been clearer. “Synergies,” the erstwhile chief executive of Siemens told anyone who would listen, “don’t create growth.” For years his views were applauded by activist investors, and by the army of management consultants who had pushed for Germany’s former industrial giants to expand with abandon in the first place. Their cheerleading led to Siemens separating into three businesses, and to Thyssenkrupp selling off its prized lifts business for €17bn, alongside several smaller units. Spin-offs from less…