American entrepreneur Joel Weinshanker purchased a controlling stake in CADB, the company managing Bran Castle, often referred to as 'the castle of Count Dracula' in Romania. This was reported by Profit.ro.
Bran Castle served as the prototype for Count Dracula's residence in Bram Stoker's novel.
The deal was concluded with the heirs of Romanian Princess Ileana (Habsburg). As a result, through the VT Bran structure, the American side acquired about 80% of the shares of the company managing the tourist site in Brașov. The remaining share stayed with the heirs of the Habsburg family.
Weinshanker heads the Ad Populum holding, which specializes in the entertainment and collectibles industry, and is also known as the manager of Graceland estate — the home of Elvis Presley.
The deal was the result of a long-standing arbitration dispute in the U.S. regarding the ownership structure of CADB. After its completion, the management of the company passed to representatives of Ad Populum, who also began recruiting staff for the operational management of Bran Castle.
Bran Castle is located in the eponymous area on the border of the historical regions of Muntenia and Transylvania and is considered one of Romania's main attractions. In 2015, it was visited by about half a million tourists, and the net profit of the castle's owners amounted to €1 million.
