The Tata Group owns nearly 100 brands, of which 29 companies are listed on stock exchanges. None of these companies are owned by any individual; Instead, ownership rests with a single company.

Ratan Tata, the wearer of many hats, passed away at the age of 86 on October 9 at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital. Known for his humility and humanity, he led more than 29 companies in over 100 countries. Ratan Tata has left behind a legacy that will challenge future generations of the Tata Group. Currently, the Tata Group consists of 29 listed companies, each with its own top management team. The question remains: Who has the authority to hold these companies together?

Interestingly, the Tata Group management structure makes it different from other industrial houses. So the question arises as to what is the force that unites the Tata companies and monitors their operations?

There is no single force

The Tata Group boasts an impressive portfolio of nearly a hundred distinct brands, 29 of which are listed on the stock market for public trading. These companies are not the personal property of any one person but are collectively held under the umbrella of a single person. It simply means that no single individual can be recognized as the owner of a vast group. Ownership is in the hands of a trust with members of the Tata family named as shareholders.

Tata Group

The Tata Group is spread across various sectors such as engineering, IT, materials, chemicals, consumer goods, energy and services. All these areas work under the management of Tata Sons. Tata Sons was established in 1917 as a trading company. He has evolved to become the custodian of the Tata brand, protecting its trademark. It is worth noting that this element has the final authority in the major decisions of the group. Tata Trust owns 66 percent of Tata Sons. The two major trusts are Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust, which together hold 50% of the shares of Tata Sons.

Who owns which share?

• Sir Dorabji Tata Trust holds 27.98% stake in the Tata Group.
• Sir Ratan Tata Trust owns 23.56%, making it the second largest shareholder.
• Shapoorji Pallonji Group owns 18.38% of Tata Group.
• Other trusts, including JRD Tata Trust, Tata Education Trust and Tata Social Welfare Trust, each have stakes ranging from 3.73% to 4.01%.
• RD Tata Trust owns 2.19%, while other Tata Group companies hold smaller stakes.

Who holds supreme power in Tata Group?

Decisions on the integration of Tata Group companies are in the hands of Tata Sons, meaning that the Chairman of Tata Sons plays a key role in driving the entire group forward.

The key figure is not chosen at random but by a team of seven directors known as the Board of Directors. Currently, that important person is N. Chandrasekaran, who was appointed as the chairman of Tata Sons in 2017.