Maib’s Alexandru Sonic appointed to the Board of the newly established Moldova International Exchange

The newly founded Moldova International Exchange (MIE), led by the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), has been officially incorporated, and its management team has been announced. Alexandru Sonic, Deputy Chairman of maib, responsible for Corporate, has been appointed as a member of the Board of Directors. The initiative, led by BVB, brings modern infrastructure and capital markets expertise with the participation of the Public Property Agency (APP) and leading private sector companies from Moldova as shareholders.

Importance of the new exchange platform

Moldova International Exchange is designed to enhance transparency, liquidity, and investor protection, offer investment products, while serving as a gateway for international capital to flow into Moldovan businesses. Its establishment marks a key milestone for the country’s capital markets, providing a modern trading platform that supports corporate issuers and attracts both domestic and international investors.

Experienced leadership team

Executive Team

• Veronica Arpintin – Chief Executive Officer (formerly State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalisation)
• Andrian Iastremschi – Deputy CEO (former CEO of Moldova Stock Exchange)

Board of Directors

• Paul Dogaru – BVB representative, Director of Operations at Romania’s Central Depositary
• Dorin Recean – APP representative (former Prime Minister of Moldova)
• Alexandru Sonic – maib Deputy Chairman, in charge of Corporate
• Andrei Plamadeala – Donaris Vienna Insurance Group, finance director
• Dumitru Vicol – Independent board member, financial strategist with global investment experience

Alexandru Sonic, maib Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, commented:

“The establishment of the Moldova International Exchange marks a defining moment for the country’s financial system. A transparent, liquid, and well-governed stock market is essential for attracting long-term investment and for connecting Moldovan businesses with international capital. Maib’s involvement reflects our responsibility as the country’s largest issuer and a leading financial institution to help build a market that earns the confidence of both local and foreign investors.”

The exchange will now focus on obtaining its operational license from the National Commission for Financial Markets (CNPF) and preparing for its operational launch next year.

Maib – a key player in Moldova’s capital markets

Maib’s participation as a co-founder of the Moldova International Exchange reflects its central role in the country’s financial ecosystem:

• Largest bond issuer in Moldova
• Maib shares are the most widely traded securities on the existing stock exchange
• Leading intermediary in Moldova’s capital market
• Key underwriter
• Largest primary broker for government securities

As both issuer and market participant, maib contributes to investment opportunities, investor protection, issuer disclosure, and corporate governance—critical elements for building a credible stock market capable of attracting foreign capital.

Maib has been a leader in Moldova’s bond market. Since 2023, maib bond programmes have been publicly issued and listed on the existing exchange:

• Bond Programme I (2023): MDL 258 million raised
• Bond Programme II (2023–2024): MDL 565 million raised
• Bond Programme III (2025 – ongoing): Programme size up to MDL 1.5 billion, of which MDL 961 million has been raised to date.

In addition, maib recently underwrote a fully subscribed municipal bond issue of Costesti municipality. These results demonstrate sustained investor demand and underscore the importance of a modern trading venue capable of supporting higher issuance volumes, improved secondary market liquidity, and broader participation by both domestic and international investors.

About maib

Maib is the largest bank in Moldova, with a share of 35.5% of deposits and 37.7% of loans of the entire banking system as of the end of Q3 2025. Maib is a disciplined lender with an NPL ratio of 1.0% (IFRS) and is well-capitalised with a CAR of 20.7% as of 30 September 2025. The Bank is of systemic importance to the country, serving nearly half of the population and is one of the largest private employers in Moldova, with a workforce of over 2,500 people. The Bank is committed to returning capital to shareholders, having paid out 45% of its 2024 profits in dividends (totalling nearly EUR 32 million). Maib is well-known in Moldova and internationally for its customer-centric approach and leadership in innovation having received a number of recognitions, such as Best Bank in Moldova, Best SME Bank in the region and other. Since 2018, maib's largest shareholder has been a consortium that includes the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Invalda INVL, a leading asset management group in the Baltic States, and Horizon Capital, a private investment fund focused on emerging markets.