Cristian Burci in talks to buy Astra Vagoane from Trinity Industries

Businessman Cristian Burci is in talks to buy Astra Vagoane Arad factory from the Americans at Trinity Industries. The deal also entails buying other companies of the European division of Trinity Industries, which wants to get out of Europe and focus on North America instead. Market sources told ZIARUL FINANCIAR that Burci is very close to striking a deal. The eight entities to be part of the transaction are three Romanian companies, the largest of which is Astra Vagoane Arad, a factory from the Czech Republic, two from Slovakia, one from Switzerland and one from the UK. The buyer will be International Railway Services S.A. (IRS), a Romanian company registered in Luxembourg, which is controlled by businessman Cristian Burci, known to invest in mass-media, advertising and more recently in industry. IRS and Trinity’s European factories will make a cumulated turnover put at 350 to 400 million euros in 2006, the same sources stated. The value of the deal was not disclosed, and talks involve all the eight companies and are not carried out on a factory-by-factory basis. In Romania, businessman Cristian Burci controls Meva Drobeta Turnu Severin, train car factory Romvag Caracal, has a 33% stake in Severnav shipyard and owns the couponing company CuponPro. Cristian Burci is known for his investments in media and advertising. He is the founder of advertising company Graffiti BBDO. Last year he sold about 50% in Prima TV to SBS Broadcasting. He is known as being close to the former ruling party, PSD (Social Democrat Party).