Royalty Payments

General licence fees (royalty) paid by FMCG major Nestle India to its Switzerland-based group entity Societe des Produits Nestle S.A. were up 13.91 per cent to Rs 1,024.5 crore in FY26, according to the company's latest annual report. Besides, Nestle India also paid a 'withholding tax on general licence fees' of 102.47 crore for the financial year ended March 2026. In the preceding year of FY25, Nestle India paid a general licence fee of Rs 899.41 crore and Rs 89.71 crore as 'withholding tax on general licence fees'. Nestle India obtains access to the Nestle Group's technology and intellectual property through General Licence Agreements for manufacturing and marketing its products, while continuously benefiting from technological advancements and innovations across the product categories it produces and sells. It pays a royalty of 4.5 per cent of net sales to its parent firm. Promoter entities Nestle S.A. and Maggi Enterprises Ltd together hold a 62.76 per cent stake in Nestle Ind

Royalty and technical knowhow payouts relative to the value of goods produced have fallen to their lowest since FY10, shows the data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE)

In one out of four times, listed entities paid royalties exceeding 20% of their net profits to related parties. And 185 instances of royalty payments were by companies that made losses

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said one out of two times listed companies that paid royalty, did not pay dividend or paid more royalty to RPs than dividend paid to other shareholders

The Centre in September had said there were several 'errors apparent in the judgment', and sought a review of the judgement of nine-judge bench

On July 25, a nine-judge constitution bench ruled that the power to tax mineral rights lies with the states and that royalty paid on minerals is not a tax.

Listed companies have seen a sharper rise

As many as 57 per cent of the company's shareholders had rejected the proposal, the company had informed the exchanges

The change will not affect existing franchisees who are maintaining their current footprint or who buy a franchised location from another operator

The SC had held that UDF collected by the DIAL is in the nature of statutory levy and the same would not be taken as consideration against any services

The decision is part of the 64 amendments introduced through the Finance Bill 2023

One of Xiaomi's four frozen bank accounts in India is at Deutsche, according to the court documents

The government has reduced the rate of interest levied on delayed payment of royalty, rent and fee from coal mines, a move that would give a fillip to ease of doing business. The coal ministry has amended the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 (MCR) aimed at decriminalising its provisions. The Centre has been taking action in a bid to reduce compliances for business and citizens, the coal ministry said in a statement. "To further promote and boost the 'Ease of doing business' policy of the government, the amendment in MCR decriminalised 68 provisions whereas penalty has been reduced for 10 provisions of MCR," it said. MCR relates to the application and grant of mineral concessions such as reconnaissance permit, prospecting license, and mining lease. These concessions are pre-condition for development and operationalisation of mines, necessitating many compliances. For adjusting additional or shortfall royalty, express provision has been brought in. "Further, rate of penal interest

Declining trend in royalty payment unlikely to cushion the fall

Figures are based on percentage of a country's GDP

Reduction in royalty can help them reduce the cash outflow, bring down the vehicle prices and help in boosting their domestic sales, Goyal added

Royalty is paid to a foreign collaborator for the transfer of technology, usage of brand or trademarks

New 5% threshold set by market regulator is unlikely to create discomfort for listed firms

Starting April 1, cos where such payments exceeded 2% of turnover had to obtain shareholder nod

Payments to MNC parents need checks and balances