ORCHID CHEMICALS AND PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED,CHENNAI vs. DCIT, CHENNAI

Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax Co Circle 5(1), Chennai ……………………......Respondent Date of concluding the hearing : November 3, 2016 Date of pronouncing the order : November 30, 2016 Appearances by: T Banusekar for the appellant S Bharat for the respondent O R D E R Per Pramod Kumar AM [1] This appeal, filed by the assessee, calls into question correctness of the order dated 26th February 2016 passed by the Assessing Officer under section 143(3) r.w.s. 144C (13) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for the assessment year 2011- 12.

[2] Ground no. 1 is general in nature and it does not call for any adjudication by us.

[3] In the second ground of appeal, the assessee has raised the grievance to the effect that the authorities below “erred in confirming that the Distribution Partners (DPs) are deemed AEs u/s 92A(2)(i) of the Income Tax Act, 1961”.

Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 2 of 21 [4] To adjudicate on this appeal, a few material facts need to be taken note of. The assessee before us, to use the words of the Transfer Pricing Officer, is “a global pharmaceutical company with established research, manufacturing and marketing capabilities”. It produces active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished dosage forms (FDFs), including formulations, and sells them around the world. While the assessee has a strong presence in the less regulated markets like India, China, Latin American and CIS countries, Far East Asia, Africa and Middle Eastern countries, the assessee is increasingly focussing on well regulated markets like USA, Canada, Europe and Australia. It is in this context perhaps that the assessee had entered into distribution channel arrangements with certain entities which is well entrenched in these markets and are in a position to market the products of the assessee. In certain cases, one more entity, which assists is developing the products for the related market, is also roped in. The way this business model works is that the profits are worked out by reducing, from sale realization from the end customer, cost of products sold and the marketing costs, and the profits so worked out are shared, in an agreed ratio, between the parties to this arrangement. As for the cost of goods sold, it is an agreed amount between the parties, and in that sense, rather than being the precise cost of goods sold, it is a notional price which is taken as, by the parties, cost of goods sold. Out of the total sales of Rs 1,57,512.88 lakhs, total exports of the assessee is Rs 1,32,549.88 lakhs out of which total exports, though distribution partner, is only Rs 7,452.15 lakhs. In percentage terms thus, the exports through this distribution partner channel works out to under 5% of total sales and under 6% of total exports. In the relevant previous year, the assessee was in an agreement with Northstar Healthcare Ltd, a non resident company with its principal place of business in Cork, Ireland (Northstar, in short). In terms of the said agreement, the Northstar was to pay, in addition of the agreed price which was defined as ‘cost of goods sold’ in the said, fifty percent of excess of sale price realized by Northstar from end customers of such products plus marketing costs over the agreed price i.e. cost of goods sold as specified in the agreement. The additional payments, over and above the agreed price, was thus worked out as follows:

Price at which Northstar sells the products to the end customer a Minus: Marketing expenditure actually incurred by Northstar b Reference Price a-b

Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 3 of 21

Minus: Agreed price i.e. cost of goods sold, as specified in the agreement c Excess of sale price realized by Northstar over the cost of goods sold (i.e. agreed price) and marketing exps incurred by Northstar (a-b) – c i.e. profit through Distribution channel or, a – (b+c) Profit through distribution channel to be shared Equally between the assessee and the Northstar Northstar 50% The assessee 50% In effect thus, the realization by the assessee, with respect to its sales, under the aforesaid agreement was agreed price (i.e. agreed cost of goods sold under the contract), plus 50% of the profits from distribution channel mechanism [5] On somewhat similar lines, the assessee also had a tripartite agreement with Northstar and another non-resident by the name of Actavis Elizabeth LLC, USA (Actavis, in short). Under this arrangement, Northstar was to do distribution channel marketing and distribution arrangement, Activas was to do necessary research and development work and the assessee was to manufacture the products. The distribution channel profit were to be computed in the same manner as illustrated above, but the sharing of distribution channel profit was to be done as follows- Northstar 50%, Activas 25% and the assessee 25%.

[6] On these facts, the Transfer Pricing Officer was of the view that the assessee and its distribution partners (namely Northstar and Activas in this year) were associated enterprises under section 92A(2)(i). The legal provision relied upon provides that “For the purposes of sub-section (1), two enterprises shall be deemed to be associated enterprises if, at any time during the previous year……….(i) the goods or articles manufactured or processed by one enterprise, are sold to the other enterprise or to persons specified by the other enterprise, and the prices and other conditions relating thereto are influenced by such other enterprise". The Transfer Pricing Officer relied upon the findings of the Settlement Commission, vide order dated 28.3.2012, for the assessment year 2006-07 to 2010-11. This order takes note of the statement of Shri Krishnan, CFO of the assessee company, to the effect that selling prices are Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 4 of 21 determined exclusively by the distribution channel partners and the assessee has no control or influence over the matter. It is also noted that these distribution channel partners exercise substantial control, in the form of management committees and executive committees etc. inasmuch as even sourcing of raw material is subject to approval by such committees. This influence is not only on the existing products but also on what products the assessee is to develop in future. It is in the background of these observations that the Settlement Commission held that the assessee and the distribution partners, including Northstar, were associated enterprises. Since the Transfer Pricing Officer has simply relied upon the order of the Settlement Commission, and, to that extent, adopted the reasoning taken by the Settlement Commission, we consider it appropriate to reproduce the relevant observations in the said order:

Export to Distribution Partners 2.2.4.3 The first objection of the Applicant is that the Department has not been able to establish that the Distribution Partners (DPs) and the Applicant are "Associated Enterprises". It has been argued that the sub-section (2) of Section 92A can come into play only if sub-section (1) is satisfied. It is submitted that Section 92A(1) requires direct/indirect participation in the management / control / capital of one enterprise of the other and such participation in management/control/capital should be at the enterprise level and not at the transaction level. It is the case of the Applicant that, in its case, it has not been established that there is any participation at enterprise level and only influence at transaction level has been attempted to be established. 2.2.4.4 This argument of the learned A.R. is not acceptable as sub- section (2) of Section 92A is a deeming provision and the Applicant and the DP have been considered be "Associated Enterprises" under Section 92A(2)(i). In our view, Section 92A(1) specifies what "Associated Enterprises" means and lays down the conditions which should be satisfied for treating an enterprise as an "Associated Enterprise". On the other hand, sub-section (2) contains the deeming provisions. It has specified certain situations where two enterprises shall be "deemed" to be "associated enterprises". In other words, if an enterprise is not directly covered by Section 92A(1), it can still be deemed to be an "Associated Enterprises" if any one of the conditions specified in sub- section (2) of Section 92A is satisfied. 2.2.4.5 The next objection raised by the learned A.R. is that clause (i) of the sub-section (2) of Section 92A is not satisfied by the Applicant and hence it cannot be deemed to be an "associate enterprise" of the Distribution Partner (DP). In support of this contention the Applicant has raised two objections. According to the learned A.R. clause (i) specifies that 100% of the goods manufactured or processed by one enterprise are sold to the other enterprise which is not a fact in the Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 5 of 21 Applicant's case and secondly the prices and other conditions relating thereto are influenced by such other enterprise. He stated that, in the Applicant's case, the prices and other conditions are not influenced by the DPs. 2.2.4.6 (a) We are unable to agree with the learned A.R. on this ground also. His argument is that, while percentages are mentioned in other clauses, it is not specified as to which percentage of the goods or articles manufactured or processed by one enterprise are required to be sold to the other enterprise for the applicability of the clause. He also stated that the use of the article "the" in the provision also indicates that the entire or 100% of the goods manufactured or processed by an enterprise are required to be sold to the other enterprise if the provisions of the clause are to come into play. We are of the considered view that such is not the position. Clause (g), (h) of (i) of Section 92A(2) relate to "control" as envisaged in Section 92A(1). In clause (g) the word "wholly" has been mentioned. In clause (h) the phrase "90% or more" has been used. Hence, if it had been the intention of the legislature that 100% of the goods or the whole of the goods manufactured or processed by one enterprise were to be sold to the other enterprise, the clause would have specified that situation. In other words, in the Applicant's case, it is sufficient if only a part of the goods manufactured by it are sold to the DPs because, in our opinion, the emphasis in the clause are on the words "the prices and other conditions relating thereto are influenced by such other enterprises". The sale of goods or articles is only a condition which should precede the influencing of prices and other conditions. In other words, even if 1/2% of goods or articles manufactured or processed by one enterprise is sold to the other enterprise (as long as they are manufactured or processed by the enterprise concerned) clause (i) would still come into play if the prices and other conditions relating to the sale are influenced by the other enterprise. The quantum of sales (%) has no relevance as long as the other limb of the clause (viz. "influence" on prices and other conditions) is satisfied. (b) We would like to point out one more aspect. In our view, in the situations sought to be covered by clause (i) of Section 92A(2), what is imperative to be established is that there is an influence on 'sale price and other conditions' -- the quantum or percentage of sale is immaterial. This is because it is this "influenced price" which would be required to be adjusted to determine the arms length price. This must have been another intention of the legislature in not specifying a percentage in clause (i) unlike what has been done in some of the other clauses of Section 92(A)(2). 2.2.4.7 The second objection of the learned A.R. is that the DPs are not in a position to influence the prices and other conditions relating to the sale of goods by the Applicant. 2.2.4.8 We are unable to agree with this proposition. The amount which the Applicant ultimately receives for the products supplied by it to the DPs (subsequently sold to the end customers) consists of two components. The first component constitutes the cost of manufacturing such products and the second component is the 50% share of profit

Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 6 of 21 computed after deducting the marketing cost from the selling price to the ultimate customer. Though the Applicant contended that the selling price is determined jointly by itself and the respective DPs, this contention is not borne out by the facts. We find that the final price (at which the goods are sold to the end customers) is exclusively decided by the DPs. As has been argued before us, it is possible that this price may be influenced by market forces. However, the fact remains that the ultimate determination of the price is done by the DPs. In other words, market forces may influence the judgement of the DPs but do not determine the final selling price as such determination remains the exclusive prerogative of the DPs. Thus, in effect, the amount which the Applicant ultimately gets by way of 50% share of the profits is also determined by the DPs. The share of profits + cost of manufacturing/marketing - both constitute the selling price of the Applicant's products to the DPs which is fully influenced and in fact is determined by the DPs. 2.2.4.9 In this context we would like to refer to the Applicant's agreement with Par Pharmaceuticals. Clause 4.4.1 of that agreement clearly states that the element of responsibility and decision making control with regard to marketing and pricing of the products shall belong solely with Par Pharmaceuticals. There are similar stipulations in the agreement with North Star Healthcare Ltd………... Relevant clauses of those agreements with the Applicant are reproduced as under :- Agreement with NHL "Clause 6.1 Prices: NHL shall pay to Orchid for each Product supplied a Price in an amount equal to the Cost of Goods Sold, plus fifty percent (50%) of the difference between the Reference Price less the Cost of Goods Sold. The current Cost of Goods Sold for each Product is set forth on Schedule 2 attached hereto next to such Product. There shall be no increase in the API Conversion Cost nor the Finished Dosage Form Conversion Cost during the initial three (3) year term of this Agreement. Any increases thereafter will be discussed between Orchid and NHL in good faith based on market conditions and such increases will be subject of NHL approval. If, in connection with the half-yearly analysis, it is determined that the Cost of Goods Sold as set forth in Schedule 2 are less than or greater than the actual Cost of Goods Sold, then Schedule 2 shall be amended to reflect such new Cost of Goods Sold for the six (6) month period following such half-yearly inspection and thereafter, unless further revised pursuant to this Clause 6.1." "Clause 2.10 Half-Yearly Cost Analysis. Within thirty (30) days of the end of each half-year anniversary of the Effective Date, Orchid shall submit to NHL a detailed breakdown of Cost of Goods Sold. NHL shall have the right upon providing at least two (2) weeks advanced written notice (but no more than twice per year) to audit the books and records of Orchid during normal business hours to verify the accuracy of the analysis: provided however, that NHL shall have the right to audit such books and Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 7 of 21 records of Orchid solely to the extent they relate to the subject matter of this Agreement. In the event that Orchid and NHL disagree with respect to any such analysis, the senior accounting executives of both Orchid and NHL shall meet and attempt in good faith to resolve any disputed matters". 2.2.4.10 As we have stated earlier, though such selling prices may be relatable to prevailing market forces, this does not neutralize the control of the DPs as the decision to finalise the sale price to the end customers remains with the DPs. The final selling price so determined is merely communicated to the Applicant. In fact, the Applicant has admitted that it has no mechanism for verifying if the final selling price has been fixed correctly or not and it accepts the selling price fixed by the DPs in good faith. 2.2.4.11 We also find that the DPs also influence "and other conditions relating thereto" as contemplated in clause (i) of Section 92A(2). Such control is exercised by the DPs for the entire value chain of the products concerned. The DPs have influence in deciding which products are to be developed, the production plan and the manufacturing process. They also have the sole discretion to reject the products supplied to them. The agreements with the DPs contain provisions for having joint committees for taking certain decisions relating to production and other activities. 2.2.4.12 In view of the above, we are satisfied that the Applicant is covered by clause (i) of sub-section (2) of Section 92A and thus can be deemed to be an associate enterprise of the DPs for the purpose of Section 92A(1). The provisions of Transfer Pricing, therefore, would come into play. 2.2.4.13 Here we would like to discuss the argument of the Applicant that, though there are similar agreement of one of the DPs (North Star) with other Indian companies, the Department has not initiated any transfer pricing proceedings in the hands of such Indian companies. It is contended that since the DP concerned (North Star) is sharing profits at 50:50 (i.e. in the same ratio as with the Applicant) with the other Indian companies, the same ratio should be accepted as reasonable in the Applicant's case also. The Department had been directed by us to make enquiries in this respect and report the findings. The Department has made enquiries and reported to us that it is true there are similar agreements of North Star with a few other Indian pharmaceutical companies and such agreements are on the same lines (sharing of profit in addition to recovery of cost, etc.). However the learned CIT-III has also pointed out that, just because no transfer pricing proceedings have been initiated in other cases, it does not mean that the issue cannot be considered in the Applicant's case on merits. We agree with the contentions of the learned CIT-lll. It is not the case of the Applicant that enquiries in respect of transfer pricing issue have been made in the case of those Indian pharmaceutical companies and then dropped. The issue has not at all been examined by the Department in their cases. Apparently the transactions of such pharmaceutical companies with the North Star have not been reported by them as an international transaction in the report in Form 3 CEB under Section 92E. In fact, even

Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 8 of 21 the Applicant had not reported the transactions with the DPs as an international transaction. It is only subsequent to the directions u/s 245D(3) given by us that this issue has been examined and it has been found that the transaction in question were actually international transactions and that the DPs and the Applicant were "Associated Enterprises". Therefore, it is irrelevant that the transfer pricing issue has not been considered in the hands of the other Indian pharmaceutical companies though they have similar agreements with one of the DPs of the Applicant.

[7] It is on the basis of the aforesaid reasoning of the Settlement Commission that the Transfer Pricing treated Northstar and Actavis as associated enterprises of the assessee. The TPO, inter alia, observed that “There is no need to give a separate finding on the objections raised (which included objections against Northstar and Activas being treated as AEs) since they have been adjudicated by a higher forum” and that “since the facts have not undergone any change for this year, it is desirable to stick to the same stand…”. When assessee raised the objection before the Dispute Resolution Panel, against the Assessing Officer proposing to make ALP adjustments by treating Northstar and Activas as AEs of the assessee, the DRP also confirmed the stand of the TPO by simply brushing aside all these submissions and rather mechanically giving a one sentence decision to the effect that “In view of the justification given by the TPO and completing the TP adjustment following the decision of Hon’ble Settlement Commission, the objections of the assessee cannot be accepted”. The assessee is not satisfied and is in appeal before us.

[8] We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material on record and duly considered facts of the case in the light of the applicable legal position.

[9] We find that there is no dispute about the fundamental legal position that the decisions of the Settlement Commission do not constitute a binding precedent and, therefore, the only way the reliance of the authorities below, on the order of the Settlement Commission, can be rationalized is that these authorities have adopted the same line of reasoning as adopted by the Settlement Commission in their order dated 28th March 2012. It is in these circumstances, and for the limited purpose of deciding correctness of the impugned ALP adjustments, that we deal with the reasoning adopted by the authorities below. As we do so, we may take note of the relevant legal provision, i.e. 92A, as follows:

Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 9 of 21

Meaning of associated enterprise.

92A. (1) For the purposes of this section and sections 92, 92B, 92C, 92D, 92E and 92F, “associated enterprise”, in relation to another enterprise, means an enterprise—

(a) which participates, directly or indirectly, or through one or more intermediaries, in the management or control or capital of the other enterprise; or (b) in respect of which one or more persons who participate, directly or indirectly, or through one or more intermediaries, in its management or control or capital, are the same persons who participate, directly or indirectly, or through one or more intermediaries, in the management or control or capital of the other enterprise.

(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), two enterprises shall be deemed to be associated enterprises if, at any time during the previous year,—

(a) one enterprise holds, directly or indirectly, shares carrying not less than twenty-six per cent of the voting power in the other enterprise; or (b) any person or enterprise holds, directly or indirectly, shares carrying not less than twenty-six per cent of the voting power in each of such enterprises; or (c) a loan advanced by one enterprise to the other enterprise constitutes not less than fifty-one per cent of the book value of the total assets of the other enterprise; or (d) one enterprise guarantees not less than ten per cent of the total borrowings of the other enterprise; or (e) more than half of the board of directors or members of the governing board, or one or more executive directors or executive members of the governing board of one enterprise, are appointed by the other enterprise; or (f) more than half of the directors or members of the governing board, or one or more of the executive directors or members of the governing board, of each of the two enterprises are appointed by the same person or persons; or (g) the manufacture or processing of goods or articles or business carried out by one enterprise is wholly dependent on the use of know-how, patents, copyrights, trade-marks, licences, franchises or any other business or commercial rights of similar nature, or any data, documentation, drawing or specification relating to any patent, invention, model, design, secret formula

Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 10 of 21 or process, of which the other enterprise is the owner or in respect of which the other enterprise has exclusive rights; or (h) ninety per cent or more of the raw materials and consumables required for the manufacture or processing of goods or articles carried out by one enterprise, are supplied by the other enterprise, or by persons specified by the other enterprise, and the prices and other conditions relating to the supply are influenced by such other enterprise; or (i) the goods or articles manufactured or processed by one enterprise, are sold to the other enterprise or to persons specified by the other enterprise, and the prices and other conditions relating thereto are influenced by such other enterprise; or (j) where one enterprise is controlled by an individual, the other enterprise is also controlled by such individual or his relative or jointly by such individual and relative of such individual; or (k) where one enterprise is controlled by a Hindu undivided family, the other enterprise is controlled by a member of such Hindu undivided family or by a relative of a member of such Hindu undivided family or jointly by such member and his relative; or (l) where one enterprise is a firm, association of persons or body of individuals, the other enterprise holds not less than ten per cent interest in such firm, association of persons or body of individuals; or (m) there exists between the two enterprises, any relationship of mutual interest, as may be prescribed.

[Emphasis, by underlining, supplied by us] [10] A plain reading of this statutory provision makes the legal position quite clear. The basic rule for treating the enterprises as associated enterprises is set out in Section 92A(1). The illustrations in which basic rule finds application are set out in Section 92A(2). Section 92A(1) lays down the basic rule that in order to be treated as associated enterprise one enterprise, in relation to another enterprise, participate, directly or indirectly, or through one or more intermediaries, “in the management or control or capital of the other enterprise” or when “one or more persons who participate, directly or indirectly, or through one or more intermediaries, in its management or control or capital, are the same persons who participate, directly or indirectly, or through one or more intermediaries, in the management or control or capital of the other enterprise” . Section 92(A)(2) only

Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 11 of 21 provides illustrations of the cases in which such an enterprise participates in management, capital or control of another enterprise. In other words, what Section 92A (1) decides is the principle on the basis of which one has to examine whether or not two or more enterprise are associated enterprise or not. The principle is, as we have noted above, that one of the enterprise, in relation to other enterprise, participate, directly or indirectly, in the management or control or capital of the other enterprise and that persons who participate in such management, control or capital of both the enterprises are common. As long as an enterprise participates in any of the three aspects of the other enterprise, i.e. (a) management; (b) capital; or (c) control, these enterprises are required to be treated as associated enterprise, as also is the position when common persons participate in management, control or capital of both the enterprises. However, the expression ‘participation in management or capital or control’ is not a defined expression. To find the meaning of this expression, one has take recourse to Section 92(2) which gives practical illustrations, which are exhaustive and not simply illustrative- as clarified in the Memorandum explaining the provisions of the Finance Bill 2002 which, while inserting the words “For the purpose of sub section (1) of section 92A” in Section 92A(2), observed that “It is proposed to amend sub-section (2) of the said section to clarify that the mere fact of participation by one enterprise in the management or control or capital of the other enterprise, or the participation of one or more persons in the management or control or capital of both the enterprises shall not make them associated enterprises, unless the criteria specified in sub-section (2) are fulfilled”. In this sense, Section 92A(2) governs the operation of Section 92A(1) by controlling the definition of participation in management or capital or control by one of the enterprise in the other enterprise. If a form of participation in management, capital or control is not recognized by Section 92A(2), even if it ends up in de facto or even de jure participation in management, capital or control by one of the enterprise in the other enterprise, it does not result in the related enterprises being treated as ‘associated enterprises’. Section 92A(1) and (2), in that sense, are required to be read together, even though Section 92A(2) does provide several deeming fictions which prima facie stretch the basic rule in Section 92A(1) quite considerably on the basis of, what appears to be, manner of participation in “control” of the other enterprise.

[11] As a matter of fact, when we look at all the clauses of Section 92A(2)- barring clause (i) which we shall deal with a little later and clause (m) which is a Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 12 of 21 residuary clause enabling any other test being prescribed by the Government, the common factor in all these clauses is that all the clauses therein refer to control by one enterprise over the other enterprise- whether by way of participation in capital or in management or through any other mechanism. The situations envisaged by the statue, and the parameters set out by the statute, unambiguously demonstrate the scheme of the Act in this respect. An analysis of Section 92A(2) shows that there are three distinct segments of this sub section- participation in capital, participation in management and participation by way control otherwise. First segment consists of clauses (a) to (d). Clause (a) refer to shareholding with 26% of voting power in other enterprise, clause (b) refers to common shareholding with 26% of voting powers in both the enterprise, clause (c) refers to advance by one enterprise to the other to the tune of 51% or more of the books value of the assets of the latter, and clause (d) refers to one enterprise guaranteeing not less than 10% of borrowings of the other enterprise. In all the four situations above, what is clear is that role played by one of the enterprise in the capital of the other enterprise, whether equity capital or loan capital or even by guaranteeing borrowings by the other enterprise, is so significant that one enterprise has de facto control over the other. The second segment, which consists of clause (e) and clause (f), covers participation in management. Clause (e) refers to the situation in which more than half of the board of directors can be appointed by the other enterprise, and clause (f) enterprise refers to the situation in which more than half of the board of directors of both the enterprise can be appointed by the same person. These two segments thus refer to the participation in the capital and the management. That leaves us with third segment of the basic rule, enshrined in section 92A(1), i.e. “control”, and interestingly, this expression ‘control’ finds way in addition to the control which is inherent in participation in capital and participation in management. Such a control could either be on account of commercial relationships or personal relationships. In our considered view, third segment, which consists of clauses (g) to (l), refers to the situations in which relationship between the two enterprises is of such a nature that one enterprise has de facto control over the other enterprise, and the control is not on account of participation in capital or management. Clauses (g), (h) and (i) refer to the control by one of the enterprise over the other enterprise on account of commercial relationship. Clause (g) refers to a situation in which manufacture or processing of products of one of the enterprise is “wholly dependent” on certain types of intellectual properties etc owned by the other enterprise or in respect of which such other enterprise has exclusive rights. Clearly, the role of these valuable

Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 13 of 21 inputs is so significant that the enterprise owning or having exclusive rights has de facto control over the other enterprise. Clause (h) refers to the situation in which ninety per cent or more of the raw materials and consumables required for the manufacture or processing of goods or articles carried out by one enterprise, are supplied by the other enterprise, or by persons specified by the other enterprise, and the prices and other conditions relating to the supply are influenced by such other enterprise. Here also the role of the enterprise supplying or controlling the supplies of raw materials and consumables is so significant that it virtually ends up having control over the enterprise. Clause (m), which is at the core of this dispute before us, refers to the situation in which the goods or articles manufactured or processed by one enterprise, are sold to the other enterprise or to persons specified by the other enterprise, and the prices and other conditions relating thereto are influenced by such other enterprise but then interestingly no quantitative threshold finds place in the statute. We will deal with this clause in greater detail a little later but one thing which is immediately discernible is that if this clause is interpreted literally,. even when sales of one enterprise to the other enterprise constitute less than one percent and that other enterprise can influence the prices at which the goods are sold, these two enterprise will be treated as associated enterprises on account of commercial relationship. That is clearly incongruous and infact absurd because the level of commercial relationship, in such a situation, will be so insignificant that there cannot be any “control” by one of the enterprise over the other, which is a sine qua non for invoking the status of associated enterprises under third limb of test laid down by Section 92A(1). That’s clearly a case in which the prescription of Section 92A(2) has gone far beyond the mandate of Section 92A(1). Be that as it may, let us move on to the last segment of situations dealing with participation in control over the other enterprises, i.e. control by way of relationships other than commercial relationships. Clauses (j), (k) ad (l) deal with this segment. Clause (j) refers to the situation in which an enterprise is controlled by an individual and the same person controls, either on his own or along with his relatives, the other enterprise and when relatives of that person control the other enterprise. Essentially, the emphasis is on control of the enterprises, though by way of relationships other than commercial relationships. Clause (k) is a slight variation of clause (j) dealing with a situation in which an enterprise is controlled by an HUF and the other enterprise is controlled by member of such an HUF or relative of its member- jointly or independently. The element of control is fundamental in the situation envisaged by clause (j) as well. Clause (k) deals a situation in which an Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 14 of 21 enterprise is a partnership firm, body of individuals or association of persons, and the other enterprise holds at least ten percent interest in the same. The threshold limit of ten percent essentially relates to significance of the quantum of holding and the control through the same. The common thread in all the clauses of Section 92A(2), barring section 92A(2)(i) with which we will be dealing separately and section 92A(2)(m) which is a dead letter as on now as nothing has been prescribed thereunder, is that one of the enterprise has participation in capital of the other enterprise (clauses a, b, c and d), participation in management of the other enterprise (e and f) or participation by way some of degree of control over the other enterprise ( g and h due to commercial relationship and j, k and l due to other than commercial relationships between the enterprises).

Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 15 of 21 13. We may, at this stage, take note of decision of a coordinate bench of this Tribunal, in the case of Page Industries Limited Vs DCIT [(2016) 159 ITD 680 (Bang)]. That is a case in which the coordinate bench has held that even though the provisions of Section 92A(2)(g) are satisfied in a case, the assessee cannot be treated as an associate enterprise of the non resident company granting it licence to manufacture its products, because the provisions of Section 92A(1) are not satisfied.

Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 16 of 21 sections (1) and (2) should be fulfilled” and justified this approach by observing that “if we were to hold that there is a relationship of AE, once the requirements of sub-sec.(2) are fulfilled, then the provisions of sub-sec.(1) renders otiose or superfluous” and that “it is well settled canon interpretation of statutes that while interpreting the taxing statute, construction shall not be adopted which renders particular provision otiose”. The coordinate bench then further observed that “when interpreting a provision in a taxing statute, a construction, which would preserve the purpose of the provision, must be adopted”. The legal position thus summed up by the coordinate bench is that in a situation in which the conditions, with respect to a set of enterprises, set out in section 92A(1) are clearly not fulfilled, even if the conditions under one of the clauses of section 92A(2) are fulfilled, such enterprises cannot be treated as associated enterprise under section 92A. To the limited extent of the principle so laid down by the coordinate bench, we are in considered agreement with the views of the coordinate bench, and it is this principle which is relevant for the purposes of our adjudication. It does directly affect the issue in appeal before us inasmuch as we are also dealing with a situation in which admittedly words of section 92A(2)(i) are clearly satisfied on the facts of this case, the scale of commercial relationship is so insignificant vis-à-vis total business operations of the assessee that there is admittedly no participation in control by one of the enterprise over the other enterprise so as to satisfy the mandate of Section 92A(1).

“…..in various countries, the concept of associated enterprises may even cover relationships between independent enterprises, for instance, where a foreign buyer has a strong negotiating power. For example, an Indian software company has a customer in Netherlands which is responsible for more than 90% of turnover of Indian software developer. The Dutch customer is able to dictate the prices to Indian software developer. The Indian software company is, therefore, able to charge a price with 1% margin/mark up, which is very low compared to his Indian counterparts (which apply, for instance, 6% mark up).

According to the Indian transfer pricing law, if the gods or articles manufactured or processed by one enterprises, are sold to other enterprise

Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 17 of 21 abroad or to person specified by such other enterprise, and the prices and other conditions relating thereto are influenced by such other enterprises, the two enterprises shall be deemed to be associated enterprises [See section 92A(2)(i) of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961]

The Indian tax authorities consider the Indian software developer and its Dutch customer to be associated. They may adjust the prices and tax an unrealized profit, i.e. difference between real results and results based on prices derived from other software developers in India. The Netherlands does not consider the companies to be associated as it applies a narrow concept that does not include “de facto control” as a criterion for association. “Control” in the absence of company law based relationship or in the absence of any formal right to exercise control can be described as “de facto” control. Participation in capital and management can be characterized as “de jure” concepts; concepts covered by company law.

[Emphasis, by underlining, supplied by us]

Assessment year: 2011-12 Page 20 of 21 requires this expression to be read as a dominant influence in the sense of control by one enterprise over the other. Given the fact that the assessee’s exports through the distribution part constitutes less than 5% of its entire exports, and less than 6% of its entire sales, Northstar is certainly not in a position to exercise any dominant influence, over the assessee. The assessee’s decision to accept the terms set out by Northstar, even if that be so, may be justified on account of commercial expediencies or warranted by business exigencies or may simply be compulsion of this somewhat unique and complex business model, but it cannot, by any stretch of logic, be on account of dominant influence of Northstar as a customer. It may even be a sound business strategy to accept a rather passive and back seat role, if one can term it that way, in day to day decision making under this business model, but cannot be on account of dominant influence that Northstar exercises on buying of products from the assessee. The influence of Northstar, given the scale of business through Norrthstar as a distribution part, is too modest to make it a dominant influence in the nature of control. In this view of the matter, as also bearing in mind the earlier discussions on the issue, the assessee and Northstar can not be treated as ‘associated enterprises’ under section 92 A. We uphold the plea of the assessee.