Judge questions future viability of Violet Oon Inc if it is not bought over or wound up

WITH restaurateur Violet Oon and her family having brought a suit against their business partner, the presiding judge on Wednesday (Jul 19) asked how both parties could continue to work together if the company’s ownership remains divided.

Defendant Manoj Murjani holds 50 per cent of the shares in Oon’s eponymous group of restaurants, while Oon and her two children own the balance. Oon’s family is seeking either a court order to be able to purchase Murjani’s 50-per-cent shareholding in Violet Oon Inc, or for the company to be wound up.

Justice Philip Jeyaretnam asked Murjani: “If the court makes no buyout order, and no winding-up order... how would the company be able to continue to do business effectively?”