K K Birla's will likely to be opened next week

The complete succession plan of the Rs 10,000-crore K K Birla group is likely to be known next week when the will is opened.

Following the demise of K K Birla yesterday, the “baithak” (prayer meet) would take place today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. “The will is likely to be opened after that,” sources close to the K K Birla group said.

Birla has three daughters - Nandini Nopany, Shobhana Bhartia and Jyoti Poddar. Most of his business empire was distributed among his three daughters.

The sugar and textile businesses are being looked after by Chandra Shekhar Nopany, son of Nandini, the engineering units and Texmaco are run by Saroj Poddar, husband of Jyoti, and the media business is being looked after by Bhartia.

However, the sources said, it is not known who would inherit the fertiliser business of the group, which has two companies Chambal Fertilisers, which has a turnover of Rs 3,500 crore, and Zuari with a turnover of Rs 2,500 crore.

At present, these two companies have all the three sons-in-law on their boards. The sources said, “Once the will is opened, it will be clear to whom the fertiliser businesses will go.” Birla left behind about 15 companies, some of which are listed and some closely held.

The sugar companies are Oudh Sugar Mills, New India Sugar Mills, Upper Ganges Sugar and Gobind Sugar.

Birla also created several modern institutions, including the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) at Pilani, Rajasthan, his birthplace. It also has campuses in Dubai, Goa and Hyderabad.