From Godrej to Wadia: Biggest family feuds that shocked the business world
The 127-year-old Godrej Group’s founding family has agreed to divide the conglomerate.
According to the group’s statement, Godrej has been divided into two branches, with Adi Godrej (82) and his brother Nadir (73) on one side and their cousins Jamshyd Godrej (75) and Smita Godrej Crishna (74) on the other side.
Though common in the business world, the news comes as a surprise. Here are some other major business separations in India.
Amarchand Mangaldas & Suresh Shroff, India’s largest law firm, faced a split in 2015 between Cyril Shroff and Shardul Shroff due to a legal dispute over their mother’s equity, ultimately leading to a division of the firm.
Founder of pharmaceutical giant Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd Bhai Mohan Singh divided his business among his three sons in the 1980s, with Parvinder inheriting Ranbaxy, only to follow a public conflict in the family later.
The Singhania family, particularly Vijaypat and Gautam Singhania, had a public spat over property issues related to Raymond Ltd, resulting in legal battles.
Chairman of Apollo Tyres Onkar S Kanwar faced controversies within his family, including a public dispute with his father over control of the company and later accusations of mismanagement by his brother.
Chairman & MD at The Anil Nanda Group Anil Nanda chose to separate from the family business after his father’s passing, focusing on Goetze India instead of staying united with Escorts.
The chairman of the Wadia Group Nusli Wadia had conflicts with his father over business decisions, notably resisting the sale of Bombay Dyeing Ltd and eventually gaining support from other entities to maintain control.
Kushagra Nayan Bajaj, the promoter and non-executive chairman of the Bajaj Group of Companies, engaged in a public feud with his family over control of certain companies, eventually succeeding in obtaining transfer of ownership as desired.
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