According to news reports the privately-held franchisee of McDonald’s Corp. (MCD) for south and west India has planned to merge with its India-listed parent. The move comes as the fast food giant looks to consolidate and allow investors to benefit from the rapid growth of the QSR segment in India.

Once the deal is completed Hard…castle 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. Ian a complex web of shareholding Westlife Development has two direct subsidiaries – Westpoint Leisureparks Pvt Ltd and West Leisure Resorts Pvt Ltd. Westpoint, in turn, owns 80 per cent of Triple A Foods Pvt Ltd – the firm which owns almost the entire stake (99.9 per cent) of Hardcastle.