The dispute between Zee and Sony over the failed merger will be heard at the Singapore Arbitration International Centre in emergency arbitration proceedings on Wednesday.

Senior advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi will represent Zee and Sony respectively at the international arbitration court.

Zee promoters are going after Sony on all legal fronts. In an exchange filing last week, Zee stated that it will be filing two cases, one at the NCLT and the other at SAIC stating that Culver Max and Bangla Entertainment (Sony) are in default of their obligations to give effect to and implement the merger scheme, sanctioned by the NCLT.

“The company has called upon Culver Max and Bangla Entertainment to immediately withdraw the termination and confirm that they will perform their obligations to give effect to and implement the merger scheme, sanctioned by the NCLT. The company has reserved all its rights in this regard,” Zee said.

SAIC will commence hearing the matter on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Zee shareholders, Mad Men also approached the NCLT to implement the merger scheme between Zee and Sony. NCLT has sought a reply from Sony which needs to be filed in three weeks. The next date of hearing is 12th March.

The proposed amalgamation, which would have created a $10-billion media entity, was called off by Sony through a termination notice issued to ZEEL on January 22.

On January 22, Sony terminated its merger agreement with Zee, ending the media consolidation which had been in the works for nearly two years. Even after a period of extended negotiations both sides were not able to come to a consensus. Both sides are blaming each other for the failed merger. While Sony has alleged that Zee did not fulfil conditions for the merger, Zee has dismissed these claims saying that they had proposed an extension of a maximum period of six months for consummation of the transaction.

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