The privately-held franchisee of McDonald’s Corp. (MCD) for south and west India Friday said it plans to merge with its India-listed parent, a move that will allow investors to benefit from the rapid growth of the U.S. fast food chain in the South Asian nation.

Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd.–a master franchisee of McDonald’s restaurants in west and south India–will become a direct subsidiary of India-listed Westlife Development Ltd., a press release from the Indian company said. It didn’t specify a timeline for the change.

Rising incomes in a country of nearly 1.2 billion people has attracted Western food chains as young Indians are increasingly willing to spend on food and entertainment.

In October, Starbucks Corp. tied up with India’s Tata Group to open the first of three outlets in the country. Dunkin’ Brands Inc. has five outlets in India, operated in partnership with a local Indian company. Dunkin’ Brands also runs 473 Baskin Robbins ice-cream parlors in India through a franchise agreement.

“The consolidation of our companies under Westlife Development opens up options for us to accelerate our growth plans for expanding McDonald’s restaurants in west and south India,” Westlife Vice-Chairman Mr. Amit Jatia said.

Hardcastle Restaurants’ net profit for the Indian financial year ended March was 425.1 million rupees ($7.8 million), up 126% from the previous year, the press release said. Revenue for the period rose 44% on-year to 5.44 billion rupees, it said.

The company has 148 restaurants across west and south India to date, up 20% from a year earlier. Capital expenditure in the last fiscal year was 780 million rupees.