French multinational bank BNP Paribas executed a significant divestment in RBL Bank on Wednesday, offloading 60 lakh shares worth ₹178 crore through a bulk deal. In a corresponding transaction, BofA Securities acquired nearly the same number of shares in the private sector lender.

Transaction Details

The bulk deal was executed at ₹296 per share, representing a 0.80% premium over the previous day's closing price of ₹293.70 on BSE. BNP Paribas, which held its equity stake through affiliate BNP Paribas Financial Markets, significantly reduced its position in the bank.

Prior to this transaction, BNP Paribas held a 2.47% stake in RBL Bank as of December 31, 2025, equivalent to 1.52 crore shares. Following the bulk deal, the French bank's holding decreased to 92.57 lakh shares, representing approximately 1.50% of the total equity.

Stock Performance Analysis

RBL Bank shares have experienced consolidation over the past three months, declining nearly 9.00% during this period. The stock has underperformed major benchmarks, with both Nifty and BSE Sensex falling approximately 3.00% over the same timeframe.

Despite recent weakness, the bank's shares have delivered impressive returns over a longer horizon, posting 90.00% gains over the past year. The stock currently trades below its 50-day simple moving average of ₹308.70 while remaining above its 200-day SMA of ₹263.20.

Strong Q3 FY26 Financial Performance

RBL Bank reported exceptional financial results for the third quarter of FY26, demonstrating significant operational improvements across key metrics.

The lender achieved a remarkable 555.00% increase in net profit, rising from ₹33 crore in Q3 FY25 to ₹214 crore in Q3 FY26. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, profitability grew by 20.00%.

Asset Quality Improvements

The bank demonstrated significant progress in asset quality parameters during the quarter, reflecting improved risk management and collection efficiency.

The gross NPA ratio improved to 1.88% as of December 31, 2025, from 2.32% at the end of September 2025. The net NPA ratio also declined to 0.55% from 0.57% over the same period. The provision coverage ratio, including technical write-offs, stood at a robust 93.20%.

Analyst Outlook

Motilal Oswal maintained a Buy rating on RBL Bank with a target price of ₹370, indicating a potential upside of 14.00% from current levels. The brokerage noted that while the bank reported an earnings miss due to higher provisions, pre-provision operating profit exceeded expectations, supported by strong other income. Management has provided guidance for healthy business expansion, projecting wholesale advances growth of 20-25% year-on-year and retail advances growth of 25-30% year-on-year.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has granted regulatory approval for Emirates NBD Bank's proposed stake acquisition in RBL Bank . This regulatory clearance marks a significant development in the transaction process, enabling the UAE-based banking institution to move forward with its investment plans in the Indian private sector bank.

Regulatory Approval Details

The CCI's approval represents a crucial regulatory milestone for the proposed transaction. The competition regulator's clearance indicates that the proposed stake acquisition has been assessed and found to comply with applicable competition law requirements.

Significance for Banking Sector

The regulatory approval paves the way for Emirates NBD Bank to proceed with its investment in RBL Bank. This development represents notable foreign interest in India's private banking sector, with the UAE-based institution seeking to establish a strategic presence in the Indian market.

Next Steps

With the CCI clearance secured, the transaction can progress through subsequent stages of the acquisition process. The regulatory approval removes a key procedural hurdle, allowing both institutions to advance their strategic partnership plans.

The approval demonstrates the regulator's assessment that the proposed transaction will not adversely impact competition in the Indian banking sector, facilitating Emirates NBD Bank's entry into the Indian market through its investment in RBL Bank.