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10.1 Coming to the second limb of the transfer pricing adjustment which pertains to interest on loan, it is seen that the assessee had given loan to two foreign subsidiaries in UK and Thailand and had charged interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.1% and 7% respectively whereas the TPO had applied the interest rate at 14%. The reason for the TPO in applying interest rate of 14% was that since the assessee has chosen itself as the tested party, the rate to be applied was to be seen from the perspective of the tested party in the Indian bank and further for the reason that the loan advance of Dabur Thailand was from borrowed capital. While allowing relief to the assessee, the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (A) took into consideration the submission of the assessee that the loan advanced to the UK subsidiary was at ITA No.575/Del/2014 ITA No.3495/Del/2014 LIBOR plus 1.1% and the loan taken by the UK subsidiary from ABM AMRO Bank was at LIBOR +1.5% with the corporate guarantee of the assessee and further the corporate guarantee loan was available to the UK subsidiary at LIBOR plus 1.5%. With respect to the loan to Dabur Thailand @7%, the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (A) was of the view that LIBOR plus 1.5% could be used as the basis for arriving at the ALP for the loan transaction. Accordingly, the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (A) held that interest of both the loans was to be charged at LIBOR plus1.5%. We also note that the Ld. DRP for immediately preceding assessment year 2006-07 has held that the foreign loan given to UK subsidiary was to be benchmarked at LIBOR plus 100 bps plus certain risk adjustment and accordingly, rate of LIBOR plus 300 bps was proposed by the Ld. DRP. Although the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (A) has duly made a mention of this direction of the Ld. DRP for assessment year 2006-07, it is apparent that he has not considered the directions of the Ld. DRP while deciding this issue. We also note that the assessee has not filed any appeal against this direction of the Ld. DRP for assessment year 2006-07. Accordingly, in view of the factual ITA No.575/Del/2014 ITA No.3495/Del/2014 matrix, this issue needs to be restored to the file of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (A) to be decided afresh after considering the directions of the Ld. DRP in this regard in assessment year 2006-07 and after giving the assessee a proper opportunity present its case. Accordingly, this ground stands allowed for statistical purposes."

The appellant has relied on the Hon"ble Delhi ITAT in the case of Cotton Naturals (I) Pvt. Ltd. (supra) and argued that the rate charged for the international transaction of loan is 7% for the FY 2007-08 (AY 2008-09) which is higher than the external LIBOR Rates prevalent during the FY 2007-08 as per table below:
   1-Month                         3-Month 6-Month     12-Month
 LIBOR RATES-March 2008             2.8066%      2.7825% 2.6798%
 2.5133%

For AY 2007-08, the Ld CIT(A) XXIX has held as under:

The appellant has relied on the decision of the Hon'ble Delhi ITAT in the case Cotton Naturals (supra) and other case laws wherein it has been held that LIBOR is the best measure for benchmarking loan to AE in respect of international transaction For AY 2007 08, the Ld CIT(A) XXIX has held that the interest Fresenius Kabi Oncology Ltd. rate of 14% charged by the TPO is in contravention of the Rule 10(B)(2) and that interest for Dabur UK and Dabur Thailand should be charged at LIBOR PLUS 1.5%. The facts of the present case are exactly similar to the facts as in AY 2007-08 The LIBOR RATE for F.Y 2007-08 was 2.5133%. In the instant case, the rate charged for the international transaction of loan is 7% for the FY 2007-08 (AY 2008-09) which is higher than LIBOR PLUS 1.5% prevalent during FY 2007-08 Respectfully following the decision of the Hon'ble Delhi ITAT in the case of Cotton Naturals (supra) and also the decision of the Ld CIT(A) XXIX for AY 2007-08, I hold that the interest charged by the appellant at 7% from its AEs, viz., (i) Dabur Oncology Pic, UK (in short 'Dabur UK") (ii) Dabur Pharma (Thailand) Company Ltd, Thailand (in short 'Dabur Thailand j satisfies the arm length principles. Accordingly, the AO/TPO is directed to delete the addition made in this regard. These grounds of appeal are allowed."

10.1 Coming to the second limb of the transfer pricing adjustment which pertains to interest on loan, it is seen that the assessee had given loan to two foreign subsidiaries in UK and Thailand and had charged interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.1% and 7% respectively whereas the TPO had applied the interest rate at 14%. The reason for the TPO in applying interest rate of 14% was that since the assessee has chosen itself as the tested party, the rate to be applied was to be seen from the perspective of the tested party in the Indian bank and further for the reason that the loan advance of Dabur Thailand was from borrowed capital. While allowing relief to the assessee, the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (A) took into consideration the submission of the assessee that the loan advanced to the UK subsidiary was at LIBOR plus 1.1% and the loan taken by the UK subsidiary from ABM AMRO Bank was at LIBOR +1.5% with the corporate guarantee of the assessee and further the corporate guarantee loan was available to the UK subsidiary at LIBOR plus 1.5%. With respect to the loan to Dabur Thailand @7%, the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (A) was of the view that LIBOR plus 1.5% could be used as the basis for arriving at the ALP for the loan transaction. Accordingly, the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (A) held that interest of both the loans was to be charged at LIBOR plus1.5%. We also note that the Ld. DRP for immediately preceding assessment year 2006-07 has held that the foreign loan given to UK subsidiary was to be benchmarked at LIBOR plus 100 bps plus certain risk adjustment and accordingly, rate of LIBOR plus 300 bps was proposed by the Ld. DRP. Although the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (A) has duly made a mention of this direction of the Ld. DRP for assessment year 2006-07, it is apparent that he has not considered the directions of the Ld. DRP while deciding this issue. We also note that the assessee has not filed any appeal against this direction of the Ld. DRP for assessment year 2006-07. Accordingly, in view of the factual matrix, this issue needs to be restored to the file of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (A) to be decided afresh after Fresenius Kabi Oncology Ltd. considering the directions of the Ld. DRP in this regard in assessment year 2006-07 and after giving the assessee a proper opportunity present its case. Accordingly, this ground stands allowed for statistical purposes."