“The Decade-Long Battle” Between the New and Old Owners of Tân Tân Peanuts
Chairman of Tân Tân Company Prosecuted for Non-Compliance with Court Orders
In relation to the recent turmoil at Tân Tân Joint Stock Company, the People’s Procuracy of Dĩ An City, Bình Dương Province, has issued an indictment against Mr. Trần Quốc Tân, Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors, and his brother, Trần Quốc Tuấn, for “Failure to Comply with Court Orders.” Mr. Tân is also facing additional charges for “Tax Evasion.”
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Tân Tân Joint Stock Company is regarded as the creator of the renowned Tân Tân peanut brand, which holds a significant market share in Vietnam. The company’s factory is situated on a vast plot of land spanning approximately 44,300 square meters on Thống Nhất Street, Bình An Ward, Dĩ An City. This location is considered one of the most prime areas in Bình Dương Province due to its direct connection to Ho Chi Minh City.
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According to our investigations, Tân Tân Joint Stock Company has ceased production for several years now, following a leadership dispute with the former management, headed by Mr. Trần Quốc Tân.
The Tân Tân peanut products available in the market over the past decade are not from this company. Instead, they are manufactured by Tân Tân Trading, Production, and Agricultural Limited Company, owned by Mr. Trần Quốc Gia Phước, son of Mr. Tân.
Established in October 2012, this company was initially named TANS Limited Company, with Mr. Phước serving as its director. A land lease contract was signed between these two parties on July 1, 2015. The lease agreement covers a period from July 2015 to 2030, involving a total land area of 12,266 square meters, for a monthly rent of just 100 million VND.
However, on June 2, 2016, TANS Limited Company leased a portion of this land to Hoàng Lâm Food and Technology Joint Stock Company for 62,280,000 VND per month. The leased area measures 1,582 square meters, with land without workshops renting at 20,000 VND per square meter per month, and land with workshops at 40,000 VND.
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Observations reveal that the land houses several old workshops constructed with corrugated iron sheets. Currently, Tân Tân Trading, Production, and Agricultural Limited Company operates on a portion of this land.
As per the indictment by the People’s Procuracy of Dĩ An City, from July 2015 to November 2022, Tân Tân Joint Stock Company earned 8.6 billion VND from renting houses, workshops, and warehouses. However, this rental income was not invoiced, nor was it declared or reported for tax purposes.
On May 8, 2024, the new management of Tân Tân Joint Stock Company notified the units operating on this land, stating, “Tân Tân Joint Stock Company is taking over and resuming business operations at its head office located at 32C Nội Hoá 1, Bình An Ward, Dĩ An City, Bình Dương Province.”
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Despite Tân Tân Joint Stock Company’s cessation of operations for several years, products bearing the Tân Tân peanut brand continue to be sold in the market. These are manufactured by Tân Tân Trading, Production, and Agricultural Limited Company.
Although the company was established only in 2012, making it 12 years old, its website claims, “For over 40 years, Tân Tân peanuts have consistently demonstrated their value, uniqueness, and the powerful appeal of a major brand.” Additionally, the packaging of the Tân Tân peanut products displays the phrase “since 1984.”
In an open letter dated August 3, Tân Tân Trading, Production, and Agricultural Limited Company asserted its ownership of exclusive technologies and formulas used for production, marketing campaigns, and intellectual property rights associated with the products it sells. The company stated that it has the exclusive right to use these assets in accordance with the law.
Recently, the legal representative of Tân Tân Joint Stock Company submitted a request to the National Office of Intellectual Property, seeking to revoke the trademark registration related to the “Tân Tân and image” brand, which was previously transferred by the old management of Tân Tân Joint Stock Company to Mr. Trần Quốc Gia Lộc, another son of Mr. Tân.
According to our sources, on June 12, 2011, Mr. Tân signed a contract transferring the ownership of industrial property rights to Mr. Lộc for two trademarks: “Tân Tân and shrimp image” and “Tân Tân and peanut old man image.” Notably, this transfer was made without any monetary compensation (free of charge).
Interestingly, the date of this trademark transfer contract, June 12, 2011, was just 23 days before Mr. Tân signed a contract to transfer his shares worth 11 billion VND to Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thanh. On June 19, the National Office of Intellectual Property confirmed the receipt of the complete case file regarding this matter.
By Xuân An
Investigation into Tax Evasion Suspected in the Case of Fraudulent Real Estate Project in Binh Thuan
As the investigation into the TP Holding case, accused of fraudulent sale of a ‘ghost’ project in Binh Thuan province, is still ongoing, authorities are now also looking into possible tax evasion by this company.
Catch the Director Buying Fake Invoices Worth Billions of Dong
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Proposal to prosecute 4 corporate directors for causing a loss of over 16 billion VND in tax revenue
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Legal lessons from ‘under-declaring property transfers’
The real estate market in Vietnam has faced significant challenges from 2020 until now. Besides objective factors leading to difficulties in real estate transactions, there have been numerous cases of lack of transparency, fraudulent activities, and deception during the transaction process. This has resulted in unpredictable legal consequences for both sellers and buyers.
Xuân Vượng Company Showing Signs of Tax Evasion: Transmitting Information to Quảng Nam Police
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