Sources Report: Tata Sons, Fibe, Weaver Services, Centrum Housing, and Hero Future Currently Subject to Media Attention
Tata Sons and Shapoorji Pallonji Group in Talks for Potential Exit
In a significant development, Tata Sons and the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group have reignited discussions regarding the latter's potential exit from Tata Sons. The talks, which are still at a preliminary stage, focus on finding a financially viable exit route for the SP Group, which holds 18.37-18.4% of unlisted Tata Sons [1][3][5].
Two main exit options are under consideration. One is Tata Sons buying back the SP Group’s stake, but the SP Group is reluctant due to a substantial capital gains tax liability and the significant capital outlay required from Tata Sons. The other option is bringing in external buyers to acquire the SP stake, but this has proved difficult due to Tata Trusts' desire to keep Tata Sons unlisted [1].
The discussions have included at least one meeting between Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran and SP Group head Shapoor Mistry — their first formal engagement since relations deteriorated after Cyrus Mistry’s ouster as Tata Sons chairman in 2016 [3][5]. Despite this engagement, progress has been limited so far [1].
Meanwhile, several other business updates are making headlines. Weaver Services is planning to acquire a majority stake in Centrum Housing Finance. Fibe, a company backed by TPG, has appointed Vimal Saboo as CEO of its NBFC arm. Ares Asia has secured a key Limited Partner for its new special situations fund with an India mandate.
Fibe is also planning an Initial Public Offering (IPO), as is Tata Capital, a Tata Sons-backed company. Hero Future Energies is set to file draft papers for an IPO. Amara, a mid-market PE firm, has tapped a greenshoe for its maiden fund and is launching its maiden fund with a greenshoe.
The key driver behind the SP Group’s interest in exiting is financial. They aim to use proceeds from the potential sale of their Tata Sons stake to repay around ₹8,810 crore (~$1 billion) bonds issued by Goswami Infratech Pvt, maturing in April 2026. Repaying this debt would relieve financial pressure and free funds for other projects [2][4].
These negotiations are set against regulatory pressures, including an RBI directive that Tata Sons list itself. However, there is speculation about a possible exemption to this listing mandate, but no official word yet [1]. The path forward remains complex due to tax, regulatory, and structural hurdles [1][3][5].
Investors from the SP Group are considering exiting from Tata Sons, as the proceeds from such a sale could finance the repayment of approximately ₹8,810 crore (over $1 billion) in bonds issued by Goswami Infratech Pvt, maturing in 2026. Meanwhile, Fibe, a firm backed by TPG, and Tata Capital, a Tata Sons-backed company, are planning Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in the business arena.
