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Settlement With Franchise Partner Vikram Bakshi Not Possible: McDonald's To Tribunal

Tribunal had earlier asked both parties to consider settling dispute Next hearing on September 21, says NCLAT Chairman McDonald's on August 21 terminated franchisee pact for 169 outlets

CPRL has ceased to use McDonalds's name, system, trademark, designs and associated intellectual property
CPRL has ceased to use McDonalds's name, system, trademark, designs and associated intellectual property

New Delhi: Fast food chain McDonald's on Wednesday informed the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) that settlement of dispute with Vikram Bakshi, its joint venture partner for north and east India, was not possible. The NCLAT, which had last week asked both the parties to consider settling the dispute among them, has ordered them to file within a week replies on cross petitions filed against each other. Posting the matter for next hearing on September 21, NCLAT Chairman Justice S J 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 that were operated by Connaught Plaza Restaurant Ltd (CPRL), the joint venture (JV) with Mr Bakshi.

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 termination notice.

Mr Bakshi was ousted from the post at the McDonald's franchise in August 2013, following which he approached the NCLT in September the same year. He has been at loggerheads with McDonald's over management of CPRL.

He was reinstated as the MD of CPRL by NCLT on July 14 following which McDonald's approached the Tribunal.