New Delhi, May 2 -- In the increasingly contentious world of family business splits, the peaceful division of the 127-year-old Godrej empire worth $5.7 billion is a rare occurrence.

According to the company, Adi Godrej, who is head of the family and his brother Nadir Godrej, will retain control of the five listed companies of the Godrej Group.

"Godrej was founded in 1897 to help build economic independence for India," Nadir Godrej said.

"This deep purpose of innovating for a cause - the values of trust and respect and the belief in trusteeship and making communities that the companies operate in stronger and better - continue to form the bedrock of who we are 127 years later," Nadir Godrej said.

According to a stock exchange filing, t...