Equitas Small Finance Bank allotted 2,87,860 equity shares of Rs.10/- each on May 05, 2026, pursuant to the exercise of stock options by eligible employees under the ESFB Employee Stock Option Scheme, 2019 ("ESOP Scheme"). The allotment was made to option grantees who exercised their vested options under the said scheme, resulting in a corresponding increase in the bank's paid-up share capital.

Key Details of the ESOP Allotment

The following table summarises the key parameters of the allotment:

Impact on Share Capital

Following the allotment, the paid-up share capital of Equitas Small Finance Bank increased from Rs. 11,41,28,51,170/- to Rs. 11,41,57,29,770/-. The newly allotted equity shares rank pari-passu with the existing equity shares of the bank in all aspects, meaning they carry the same rights and entitlements as the previously issued shares.

Regulatory Disclosure

The intimation of this allotment was formally communicated to both the National Stock Exchange of India Limited and BSE Limited on May 05, 2026. The disclosure was made by N Ramanathan, Company Secretary of Equitas Small Finance Bank, in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited has completed the publication of its audited financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2026, fulfilling all regulatory requirements. The Chennai-based small finance bank demonstrated remarkable resilience in its fourth-quarter performance while facing challenges in overall annual profitability.

Regulatory Compliance and Publication Details

The bank fulfilled its regulatory obligations by publishing the audited financial results in Financial Express across all editions on May 1, 2026. Company Secretary N Ramanathan confirmed through official correspondence to stock exchanges that the vernacular language publication in Makkal Kural (all editions) was completed on May 2, 2026. The Tamil publication had been delayed due to the Labour Day holiday on May 1. The results were approved by the Board on April 30, 2026.

Exceptional Quarterly Performance Drives Recovery

The bank delivered outstanding quarterly results with net profit surging dramatically year-on-year. The fourth quarter performance marked a substantial improvement in profitability metrics, with net profit reaching ₹2,126.83 crore compared to ₹421.08 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Revenue for the quarter grew to ₹18,363.49 crore from ₹16,439.71 crore in the same period last year.

Improved Asset Quality Metrics

The bank showed significant improvement in asset quality on a quarter-on-quarter basis. Both gross and net NPA ratios declined, indicating enhanced credit management and recovery efforts. The gross NPA ratio improved to 2.60% from 2.75% in the previous quarter, while the net NPA ratio decreased to 0.72% from 0.92%.

Annual Results Show Decline Despite Income Growth

While quarterly performance was robust, the bank's annual results reflected challenges with profitability declining compared to the previous financial year. Total income for FY26 grew substantially, but higher provisions and expenses impacted bottom-line performance.

Capital Position and Business Growth

The bank maintained strong capital adequacy while showing improvement in key financial metrics. The capital adequacy ratio remained robust at 20.31%, providing adequate buffer for future growth.

The audited results received an unmodified opinion from joint statutory auditors M/s. ASA & Associates LLP and M/s. Suri & Co. The bank continues to focus on its core banking operations while maintaining regulatory compliance and capital adequacy requirements.