South Indian Bank grants 27.36 lakh ESOPs for FY26
- South Indian Bank granted 27,36,230 ESOPs to 306 employees for FY26 variable pay
- Exercise price set at ₹22.50, a 50% discount to the ₹45.00 market price
- Options vest over three years: 30% at 12 months, 30% at 24 months, 40% at 36 months
- Valuation based on Black-Scholes model with an option premium of ₹30.96 per option

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
South Indian Bank approved the grant of 27,36,230 employee stock options during its board meeting on August 20, 2026. The awards form part of the non-cash variable pay for FY26.
The bank allocated the options under Tranche 21 of the SIB ESOS Scheme 2008 to 306 eligible employees. The move complies with Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations 2015.
Pricing and Valuation
The exercise price is set at ₹22.50, representing a 50% discount to the market price of ₹45.00. This market price reflects the NSE closing price on August 19, 2026, the trading day immediately preceding the grant date with the highest volume.
A registered valuer computed the option premium at ₹30.96 per option using the Black-Scholes model, in accordance with extant RBI guidelines.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total options granted | 27,36,230 |
| Eligible employees | 306 |
| Exercise price | ₹22.50 |
| Market price reference | ₹45.00 |
| Discount | 50% |
| Option premium | ₹30.96 |
Vesting Schedule
The options vest in three tranches over three years from the grant date:
- 30% vests after 12 months
- 30% vests after 24 months
- 40% vests after 36 months
Employees may exercise the options within five years from the respective vesting dates. If fully exercised, the options will convert into 27,36,230 equity shares of face value Re.1 each.
What the Numbers Show
The significant discount between the exercise price (₹22.50) and the market price (₹45.00) highlights the value proposition of the non-cash compensation. This pricing structure aims to align employee incentives with long-term share price performance while providing immediate intrinsic value upon vesting.
Historical Stock Returns for South Indian Bank
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +0.36% | -2.29% | -2.21% | +12.79% | +51.44% | +425.73% |
How might the dilution of approximately 2.7 million shares impact South Indian Bank's earnings per share (EPS) and return on equity (ROE) over the next three years?
Given the 50% discount to market price, what is the projected non-cash compensation expense the bank will recognize in its P&L statements under Ind AS guidelines?
Will this employee retention strategy help South Indian Bank compete more effectively for talent against private sector banks offering similar or higher cash-based variable pay?


































