Softbinator co-founder returns as second-largest shareholder in €500K+ deal
What's the deal? Marius Băisan, co-founder of Romanian software development firm Softbinator Technologies, is buying back into the company by acquiring the stake held by IT group Bittnet Systems. The total transaction exceeds €500,000 and will make Băisan the second-largest shareholder with a 10.53% holding.
Softbinator trades on the AeRO market of the Bucharest Stock Exchange under the ticker CODE. In the first phase, Băisan acquired part of Bittnet's stake, with the full transfer to follow.
Why now? Băisan stepped away from Softbinator's operations three years ago to focus on research and cybersecurity. The company says his return coincides with an acceleration of its international expansion and a strategic pivot toward high-value projects in AI and cybersecurity.
"I've constantly followed the company's evolution and was glad to see that Softbinator is one of the few Romanian tech companies that managed to build and scale service exports to the United States and other innovative markets," Băisan said.
Daniel Ilinca, board chairman and fellow co-founder, said Băisan's cybersecurity expertise and international relationships align well with Softbinator's next growth phase.
What could go wrong? Softbinator reported consolidated revenue of 26.3 million lei in 2025 — down 8% year on year — though net profit edged up 1% to 2.1 million lei. The company said it eliminated all debt last year, but a shrinking top line in a competitive software services market raises questions about how quickly the international push can deliver results.
For 2026, Softbinator forecasts consolidated revenue of 28.7 million lei, EBITDA of roughly 4 million lei, and net profit of 2.8 million lei.
The signal: The deal reflects a broader pattern in Central and Eastern European tech: founders returning to companies they helped build as the AI wave reshapes demand for software services. It also underscores how small listed tech firms in the region are trying to reposition around higher-margin work — AI, cybersecurity — rather than compete on volume alone.
Read more: zf.ro
