Estranged partners McDonald's and Vikram Bakshi Thursday announced an out-of-court settlement, ending their almost six-year-long dispute.

As part of the agreement, the US fast-food chain will buy out for an undisclosed sum Vikram Bakshi and his entities' 50 per cent stake in Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt Ltd (CPRL) that operates McDonald's chain of quick-service restaurants in northern and eastern India.

The company also announced the appointment of Robert Hunghanfoo as Head of CPRL with immediate effect, who will be supported by McDonald's global leaders along with the CPRL team, to facilitate a smooth transition.

"CPRL is now wholly owned by MIPL and its affiliate MGM (McDonald's Global Markets LLC) following the completion of a settlement reached with former JV partner, Vikram Bakshi...," the company said in a statement.

It follows "the acquisition by MGM of 50 per cent voting equity shares in CPRL, held since inception by Bakshi and his affiliated entity".

Commenting on the development, Hunghanfoo said,&nbsp;"Accomplishing a mutually agreed settlement in this matter means that our customers can now look forward to a reinvigorated, consistent and uniquely McDonald's experience when they visit us".

During the transition, MIPL will be focused on two key areas providing employees with clarity and confidence in their future at McDonald's and leveraging its global system expertise to fortify high operating standards for our local customers.

Ron Christianson, Global Head of Corporate Relations, International Developmental, Licensee Markets, McDonald's, said that the company is looking for a partner to run the operation in the north and east India.

"We are still actively progressing the search for an ideal partner for North and East India. That process is still ongoing but certainly, rest assured once we do, the ownership will transition to whoever the individual is," Christianson said.

On Monday, the estranged partners McDonald's and Bakshi had told the NCLAT that they are working towards an out-of-court settlement to end their&nbsp;over five-year-old dispute.

McDonald's and Bakshi in 1995 had signed a partnership agreement to open outlets of the US fast food chain in India. It was for a period of 25 years.

The two partners had formed a 50:50 joint venture -- Connaught Plaza Restaurant Ltd (CPRL) -- which was responsible for outlets of the fast-food chain in the country's northern and eastern regions through the franchise route.

A tussle between them started after Bakshi was ousted as the managing director of CPRL in 2013, following which he approached the Company Law Board (CLB).

He was later reinstated as the MD of CPRL by National Company Law Tribunal (which had taken over CLB functions) on July 14, 2017, following which McDonald's approached the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

In 2017, McDonald's terminated CPRL's franchise agreement citing non-payment of royalties.

A long-winding legal tussle and battle for control of the business ensued afterwards with Bakshi keeping around 165 McDonald's branded outlets operational in northern and eastern regions of the country.

In southern and western regions, McDonald's outlets are run by Amit Jatia-led Westlife Development.

In August 2017, McDonald's had told the NCLAT that settlement of dispute with its estranged partner Bakshi was not possible.&nbsp;

Estranged partners McDonald's and Vikram Bakshi Thursday announced an out-of-court settlement, ending their almost six-year-long dispute. As part of the agreement, the US fast-food chain will buy out for an undisclosed sum Vikram Bakshi and his entities' 50 per cent stake in Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt Ltd (CPRL) that operates McDonald's chain of quick-service restaurants in northern and eastern India.

Estranged partners McDonald's and Vikram Bakshi Thursday announced an out-of-court settlement, ending their almost six-year-long dispute. As part of the agreement, the US fast-food chain will buy out for an undisclosed sum Vikram Bakshi and his entities' 50 per cent stake in Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt Ltd (CPRL) that operates McDonald's chain of quick-service restaurants in northern and eastern India. The company also announced the appointment of Robert Hunghanfoo as Head of CPRL with immediate effect, who will be supported by McDonald's global leaders along with the CPRL team, to facilitate a smooth transition. "CPRL is now wholly owned by MIPL and its affiliate MGM (McDonald's Global Markets LLC) following the completion of a settlement reached with former JV partner, Vikram Bakshi...," the company said in a statement. It follows "the acquisition by MGM of 50 per cent voting equity shares in CPRL, held since inception by Bakshi and his affiliated entity". Commenting on the development, Hunghanfoo said, "Accomplishing a mutually agreed settlement in this matter means that our customers can now look forward to a reinvigorated, consistent and uniquely McDonald's experience when they visit us". During the transition, MIPL will be focused on two key areas providing employees with clarity and confidence in their future at McDonald's and leveraging its global system expertise to fortify high operating standards for our local customers. Ron Christianson, Global Head of Corporate Relations, International Developmental, Licensee Markets, McDonald's, said that the company is looking for a partner to run the operation in the north and east India. "We are still actively progressing the search for an ideal partner for North and East India. That process is still ongoing but certainly, rest assured once we do, the ownership will transition to whoever the individual is," Christianson said. On Monday, the estranged partners McDonald's and Bakshi had told the NCLAT that they are working towards an out-of-court settlement to end their over five-year-old dispute. McDonald's and Bakshi in 1995 had signed a partnership agreement to open outlets of the US fast food chain in India. It was for a period of 25 years. The two partners had formed a 50:50 joint venture -- Connaught Plaza Restaurant Ltd (CPRL) -- which was responsible for outlets of the fast-food chain in the country's northern and eastern regions through the franchise route. A tussle between them started after Bakshi was ousted as the managing director of CPRL in 2013, following which he approached the Company Law Board (CLB). He was later reinstated as the MD of CPRL by National Company Law Tribunal (which had taken over CLB functions) on July 14, 2017, following which McDonald's approached the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). In 2017, McDonald's terminated CPRL's franchise agreement citing non-payment of royalties. A long-winding legal tussle and battle for control of the business ensued afterwards with Bakshi keeping around 165 McDonald's branded outlets operational in northern and eastern regions of the country. In southern and western regions, McDonald's outlets are run by Amit Jatia-led Westlife Development. In August 2017, McDonald's had told the NCLAT that settlement of dispute with its estranged partner Bakshi was not possible.

McDonald's strikes out-of-court settlement with Vikram Bakshi ending six-year-long dispute

McDonald&#39;s on Thursday warned people against eating at the burger giant&#39;s outlets in north and east India.&nbsp;

McDonald&#39;s said eating at the outlets posed a potential health hazard.&nbsp;

McDonald&#39;s eateries in north and east India are run by the company&#39;s estranged partner Connaught Plaza Restaurants Ltd (CPRL).&nbsp;

Eighty-four of the 160 restaurants run by CPRL <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/almost-all-mcdonalds-in-east-india-shut-vikram-bakshi-27706" target="_blank">shut down</a> last week.&nbsp;

The shutdowns happened after CPRL&#39;s logistics partner Radhakrishna Foodland discontinued its services, allegedly due to the non-payment of dues.&nbsp;

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CPRL&#39;s franchise agreement with McDonald&#39;s was terminated in August but the company decided to keep its outlets open. The two companies are now locked in a bitter legal battle.&nbsp;

McDonald&#39;s on Thursday said that since the termination of the franchise agreement, it has not been able to verify if the &quot;restaurants operated by CPRL are complying with applicable McDonald&#39;s standards&quot;.&nbsp;

CPRL MD Vikram Bakshi, in response to the allegations by McDonald&#39;s, was quoted in media reports as saying CPRL had found a new logistics partner.&nbsp;

The new partner, ColdEx, said Bakshi, is the national distribution partner of Starbucks, KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Wendy&#39;s and Carl&#39;s Jr.&nbsp;

McDonald's said eating at the outlets posed a potential health hazard

McDonald's on Thursday warned people against eating at the burger giant's outlets in north and east India. McDonald's said eating at the outlets posed a potential health hazard. McDonald's eateries in north and east India are run by the company's estranged partner Connaught Plaza Restaurants Ltd (CPRL). Eighty-four of the 160 restaurants run by CPRL shut down last week. The shutdowns happened after CPRL's logistics partner Radhakrishna Foodland discontinued its services, allegedly due to the non-payment of dues. × CPRL's franchise agreement with McDonald's was terminated in August but the company decided to keep its outlets open. The two companies are now locked in a bitter legal battle. McDonald's on Thursday said that since the termination of the franchise agreement, it has not been able to verify if the "restaurants operated by CPRL are complying with applicable McDonald's standards". CPRL MD Vikram Bakshi, in response to the allegations by McDonald's, was quoted in media reports as saying CPRL had found a new logistics partner. The new partner, ColdEx, said Bakshi, is the national distribution partner of Starbucks, KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Wendy's and Carl's Jr.

McDonald's: Not safe to eat in north, east India outlets

McDonald&#39;s estranged joint venture partner Vikram Bakshi said Monday that nearly all outlets of the fast-food chain in east India had been shut and several others in the north are on the verge of closing down due to discontinuation of supplies by its logistics partner.

All in all there are 80 outlets that have been hit by this cutoff in supplies by Radhakrishna Foodland, a move which is seen as a fallout of the ongoing spat between the fast food major and Bakshi.

&quot;Almost all the outlets in east India have been shut because of the move by logistics partner, and others (in north India) are also under pressure due to supply crunch,&quot; Bakshi told PTI, adding that a total of over 80 outlets are suffering currently considering the limited stock each outlet has.

in a letter dated December 20, Radhakrishna Foodland Pvt Ltd wrote to CPRL, the 50:50 JV between Bakshi and McDonald&#39;s India, saying it is discontinuing the supply chain services due to reduction in volume and uncertainty of the future, among others as also non-payment of certain additional amount.

A copy of the letter has been seen by PTI.

The otherwise massive business in the festive season for McDonald&#39;s is set to see a huge blip which will hit the food chain&#39;s revenue.

&quot;Our long standing logistics vendor Radhakrishna Foodland allegedly in collusion with McDonald&#39;s corporation and their wholly owned subsidiary McDonald&#39;s India Pvt Ltd....Has decided to hold back stock paid for approximately Rs 10 crore by us,&quot; Bakshi said in a letter to the landlords and developers of his outlets.

He further wrote: &quot;While the American company and its subsidiary, MIPL, may have with their usual mala fide and malicious actions managed to give CPRL a temporary business setback at the end of the year and during this high sale festive season, yet we have made and are making alternative arrangements and shall be back to serve our customers very soon.&quot;

Bakshi has been at loggerheads with the fast food chain over the management of CPRL after he was ousted from the post of MD of the McDonald&#39;s franchisee in August 2013.

McDonalds&#39;s India in August terminated the franchise agreement and had asked CPRL not to use its brand system, trademark, designs and its associated intellectual property, among others.

Bakshi had moved the NCLT following termination of the licence by McDonald&#39;s India Pvt Ltd (MIPL).

When contacted, a McDonald&#39;s India spokesperson said: &quot;We were informed that their vendors have stopped delivering supplies...This is between CPRL and their vendors, not MIPL.&nbsp;

Bakshi, McDonald's estranged joint venture partner, added that several outlets in the north are on the verge of shutting down

McDonald's estranged joint venture partner Vikram Bakshi said Monday that nearly all outlets of the fast-food chain in east India had been shut and several others in the north are on the verge of closing down due to discontinuation of supplies by its logistics partner. All in all there are 80 outlets that have been hit by this cutoff in supplies by Radhakrishna Foodland, a move which is seen as a fallout of the ongoing spat between the fast food major and Bakshi. "Almost all the outlets in east India have been shut because of the move by logistics partner, and others (in north India) are also under pressure due to supply crunch," Bakshi told PTI, adding that a total of over 80 outlets are suffering currently considering the limited stock each outlet has. in a letter dated December 20, Radhakrishna Foodland Pvt Ltd wrote to CPRL, the 50:50 JV between Bakshi and McDonald's India, saying it is discontinuing the supply chain services due to reduction in volume and uncertainty of the future, among others as also non-payment of certain additional amount. A copy of the letter has been seen by PTI. The otherwise massive business in the festive season for McDonald's is set to see a huge blip which will hit the food chain's revenue. "Our long standing logistics vendor Radhakrishna Foodland allegedly in collusion with McDonald's corporation and their wholly owned subsidiary McDonald's India Pvt Ltd....Has decided to hold back stock paid for approximately Rs 10 crore by us," Bakshi said in a letter to the landlords and developers of his outlets. He further wrote: "While the American company and its subsidiary, MIPL, may have with their usual mala fide and malicious actions managed to give CPRL a temporary business setback at the end of the year and during this high sale festive season, yet we have made and are making alternative arrangements and shall be back to serve our customers very soon." Bakshi has been at loggerheads with the fast food chain over the management of CPRL after he was ousted from the post of MD of the McDonald's franchisee in August 2013. McDonalds's India in August terminated the franchise agreement and had asked CPRL not to use its brand system, trademark, designs and its associated intellectual property, among others. Bakshi had moved the NCLT following termination of the licence by McDonald's India Pvt Ltd (MIPL). When contacted, a McDonald's India spokesperson said: "We were informed that their vendors have stopped delivering supplies...This is between CPRL and their vendors, not MIPL.

Almost all McDonald's in east India shut: Vikram Bakshi

After months of intense battle with its Indian joint venture partner Vikram Bakshi, fast food giant Mcdonald&#39;s India may soon appoint a licensee partner for the north and east India region.

In August this year, McDonald&#39;s had terminated franchise agreement for 169 out of its 430 fast food outlets operated by Bakshi-led Connaught Plaza Restaurant Ltd (CPRL) in the north and east India, alleging breach of contract terms and payment default by the operator.

Post franchise agreement termination, both the sides are locked in a protracted legal battle at various courts, including National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the Delhi high court.

Bakshi, who has challenged the termination, continues to operate the outlets saying he will run them until there is a amicable solution by the courts or an acceptable offer by McDonald&#39;s to buyout of his stake in CPRL. 
CPRL is a 50:50 joint venture between McDonald&#39;s India Pvt Ltd (MIPL) and Bakshi.

&quot;We are actively progressing towards finding the right Developmental Licensee partner for the region so that we can grow the business and rebuild the McDonald&#39;s brand,&quot; a McDonald&#39;s India spokesperson told PTI.

Sources in the know said the US-based food chain has finalised the criteria for selection of licensee partner and would come out with a name probably in a couple of months.

It was widely speculated that Hardcastle Restaurants, which runs McDonald&#39;s stores in the west and south, is the front-runner for the job. However, there are other players who are keen to grab the license in the region, considering the high-profit margins at which McDonald&#39;s outlets operate.

The spokesperson, however, declined to comment on the interested parties.

Commenting on the ongoing conflict that grabbed headlines post-termination, he said: &quot;These restaurants (McDonald&#39;s outlets being run by Bakshi) need to be closed immediately. As such, we are taking steps to exercise our contractual and legal rights&quot;.

As per the termination notice, CPRL was ceased to use McDonalds&#39;s name, system, trademark, designs and its associated intellectual property, among others.

The company said it is not aware of the food and safety standards as the outlets being run are unauthorised.

&quot;Since the termination, MIPL has not been able to verify if these unauthorised McDonald&#39;s restaurants are following operational procedures and controls, supplies and safety standards,&quot; the spokesperson said.

After months of intense battle with its Indian joint venture partner Vikram Bakshi, fast food giant Mcdonald's India may soon appoint a licensee partner for the north and east India region

After months of intense battle with its Indian joint venture partner Vikram Bakshi, fast food giant Mcdonald's India may soon appoint a licensee partner for the north and east India region. In August this year, McDonald's had terminated franchise agreement for 169 out of its 430 fast food outlets operated by Bakshi-led Connaught Plaza Restaurant Ltd (CPRL) in the north and east India, alleging breach of contract terms and payment default by the operator. Post franchise agreement termination, both the sides are locked in a protracted legal battle at various courts, including National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the Delhi high court. Bakshi, who has challenged the termination, continues to operate the outlets saying he will run them until there is a amicable solution by the courts or an acceptable offer by McDonald's to buyout of his stake in CPRL. CPRL is a 50:50 joint venture between McDonald's India Pvt Ltd (MIPL) and Bakshi. "We are actively progressing towards finding the right Developmental Licensee partner for the region so that we can grow the business and rebuild the McDonald's brand," a McDonald's India spokesperson told PTI. Sources in the know said the US-based food chain has finalised the criteria for selection of licensee partner and would come out with a name probably in a couple of months. It was widely speculated that Hardcastle Restaurants, which runs McDonald's stores in the west and south, is the front-runner for the job. However, there are other players who are keen to grab the license in the region, considering the high-profit margins at which McDonald's outlets operate. The spokesperson, however, declined to comment on the interested parties. Commenting on the ongoing conflict that grabbed headlines post-termination, he said: "These restaurants (McDonald's outlets being run by Bakshi) need to be closed immediately. As such, we are taking steps to exercise our contractual and legal rights". As per the termination notice, CPRL was ceased to use McDonalds's name, system, trademark, designs and its associated intellectual property, among others. The company said it is not aware of the food and safety standards as the outlets being run are unauthorised. "Since the termination, MIPL has not been able to verify if these unauthorised McDonald's restaurants are following operational procedures and controls, supplies and safety standards," the spokesperson said.

McDonald's may appoint new partner for north, east India

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McDonald's strikes out-of-court settlement with Vikram Bakshi ending six-year-long dispute

McDonald's: Not safe to eat in north, east India outlets

Almost all McDonald's in east India shut: Vikram Bakshi

McDonald's may appoint new partner for north, east India