Fast food chain McDonald's on Wednesday told the NCLAT that settlement of dispute with Vikram Bakshi, its joint venture partner for north and east India, is not possible.
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, which had last week asked both the parties to consider settling the dispute among themselves, has ordered them to file replies within a week on the petitions the two estranged partners filed against each other.
Posting the matter for next hearing on September 21, NCLAT Chairman Justice SJ Mukhopadhyay said: “We find no scope of amicable settlement.” The tribunal had last week asked both the parties to decide by August 30, whether they would consider settling dispute on their own or not.
McDonald's on August 21 terminated franchisee agreement for the 169 outlets in north and east India that were operated by Connaught Plaza Restaurant Ltd. (CPRL), the joint venture with Bakshi.
.jpg "Vikram Bakshi, managing director of McDonald's India. (Photographer: Sanjit Das/Bloomberg News)")
As part of the termination, CPRL has ceased to use McDonalds's name, system, trademark, designs and its associated intellectual property, among others within 15 days of the termination notice.
Bakshi was ousted from the post at the McDonald's franchisee in August 2013, following which he approached the National Company Law Tribunal. He has been at loggerheads with McDonald's over management of CPRL.
He was reinstated as the MD of CPRL by the NCLT on July 14, following which McDonald's approached the appellate tribunal.
Also Read: Vikram Bakshi Considers Legal Options After McDonald's Cancels Franchise Pact
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