EUR25M Deal Between Billionaires: Tiriac Sells 500 Mercedes-Benz Vans To Patriciu

05.31.2011 By Bogdan Alecu , Catalina Apostoiu

Casa Auto Bucuresti, a Mercedes-Benz dealer part of TiriacAuto's network, is set to deliver a fleet of 500 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans to Mercadia, the retail company owned by Dinu Patriciu that controls Mic.ro convenience store chain.

This is one of the largest fleets delivered by the German brand domestically.

"Casa Auto Bucuresti today delivered the first 20 Mercedes Sprinter units, out of a total of 500 contracted. The value of the contract is confidential," Cristina Munteanu, corporate communication manager with Tiriac Holdings, told ZF.

She specified that the vans had been retrofitted into mobile stores in Germany, in partnership with RKB Karosseriewerk GmbH.

The vans will be used in the Mic.ro network of mobile stores, a retail concept developed by Dinu Patriciu shortly after selling Rompetrol group to Kazakhstan's KazMunayGas.

"We will acquire 500 Mercedes-Benz vans from Casa Auto Bucuresti. They will be delivered by yearend. In parallel, we have the contract with AutoItalia underway for Fiat utility vehicles," stated Dan Ionescu, general manager of Mercadia and one of the key people close to Patriciu during the Rompetrol group days, as well.

According to ZF estimates, the value of the contract amounts to some EUR25 million, taking into account an average price of EUR50,000 per unit.