Shapoorji Pallonji approved AoA changes at Tata Sons, say Srcs

The controversy surrounding the abrupt dismissal of Cyrus Mistry as Tata Sons refuses to down. After Mistry, in an explosive letter to Tata Group board members, alleged that he didn’t have a free hand at decision-making, sources in the group have refuted the charges.

People privy to the developments at the group told CNBC-TV18 that Shapoorji Pallonji, which has an 18 percent stake in Tata Sons, approved the changes to Articles of Association (AoA). The decision to change AoA was taken after extensive discussions between Ratan Tata and Mistry, they said. It is said that Justice BN Srikrishna advised  them on AoA amendments.

In the letter, Mistry wrote: "After my appointment, the Articles of Association (AoA) were modified, changing the rules of engagement between the Trusts, the Board of Tata Sons, the Chairman and the operating companies. Inappropriate interpretation followed. It severely constrained the ability of the group to engineer the necessary turnaround.”

Further, the sources said that the AoA was modified to put in place a proper governing structure for group and as Tata Sons and Trusts had different chairmen after a long time. Also, they said that Mistry was a board member since 2006 and was well aware of the challenges the group was facing before he was appointed Chairman in 2012.