One of Patriciu's lieutenants buys 40% in Bucharest's most expensive restaurant

Dorin Gherman, former Rompetrol CEO, has bought around 40% in Heritage, the most expensive restaurant in Bucharest, which is already 51% controlled by Dinu Patriciu.

Sources close to the transaction say Gherman made an offer to all 22 shareholders, but only 20 agreed to sell, at a price less than half the initial investment, which stood at one million euros upon the restaurant's opening. According to the cited sources, Dinu Patriciu was allegedly behind the transaction.

The businessman paid 500,000 euros at the beginning of 2008 for a 30% stake in Heritage, making him its majority shareholder. Patriciu's entry into the shareholder structure of the luxury restaurant occurred via a capital increase. The former Rompetrol owner subsequently boosted his stake to 51%.

Heritage's shareholders included Robert Rekkers, CEO of Banca Transilvania, Anca Ioan, CEO of Tiriac Holdings, Rasvan Radu, executive president of UniCredit Tiriac Bank, and Dan Pascariu, chairman of the BD of UniCredit Tiriac Bank. "Heritage" is also known as "bankers' restaurant" because of the large number of bank presidents and vice-presidents among its shareholders.