IDFC FIRST Bank Limited has secured regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited to acquire a significant shareholding in the bank. The approval, communicated on February 11, 2026, marks an important development in the bank's shareholding structure.

RBI Approval Details

The central bank has granted permission to ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited, along with group entities of ICICI Bank Limited, to acquire an aggregate holding of up to 9.95% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of IDFC FIRST Bank Limited. This approval comes after the applicant had formally sought RBI's prior approval for the proposed acquisition.

Regulatory Conditions and Compliance

The RBI approval comes with several stringent conditions and compliance requirements that the acquiring entity must adhere to. The approval is subject to compliance with relevant provisions of multiple regulatory frameworks:

• Banking Regulation Act, 1949
• Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks - Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights) Directions, 2025 dated November 28, 2025
• Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999
• Securities and Exchange Board of India regulations
• Other applicable statutes, regulations and guidelines

Timeline and Restrictions

The RBI has imposed specific timeline requirements for the completion of the acquisition. The approval includes a critical condition that if ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited fails to acquire the major shareholding within one year from the date of the RBI letter, the approval will automatically stand cancelled.

Additionally, the applicant must ensure that the aggregate holding in IDFC FIRST Bank does not exceed 9.95% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights at all times, maintaining strict adherence to the prescribed limits.

Disclosure and Transparency

IDFC FIRST Bank has made this disclosure under Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. The communication was signed by Satish Gaikwad, General Counsel and Company Secretary of the bank, ensuring proper corporate governance and transparency in the disclosure process.

This regulatory approval represents a significant step in the potential restructuring of IDFC FIRST Bank's shareholding pattern, subject to the successful completion of the acquisition within the stipulated timeframe and continued compliance with all regulatory requirements.

IDFC First Bank has announced comprehensive financial projections indicating significant improvements across key performance metrics. The bank expects fund costs to drop below 6% this financial year, driven primarily by strategic savings account rate cuts that are reshaping its cost structure.

Enhanced Financial Outlook

The bank's updated projections demonstrate a multi-faceted improvement strategy across various financial parameters:

Operational Efficiency Improvements

IDFC First Bank predicts a significant decrease in its cost-to-income ratio to the mid-50s, reflecting enhanced operational efficiency. This improvement, combined with the reduced fund costs, is expected to result in a return on equity (ROE) ranging between 1.6% to 1.7%.

Regulatory Impact Assessment

The bank has identified potential regulatory challenges with new Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) guidelines starting April 1. These new guidelines may lead to a slight impact of 1% to 1.5% on the bank's LCR, though the bank appears well-positioned to manage this transition.

Strategic Cost Management

The anticipated drop in fund costs below 6% represents a strategic achievement for IDFC First Bank, primarily attributed to effective management of savings account rates. This cost optimization strategy aligns with the bank's broader efficiency initiatives and positions it favorably for sustained profitability improvements in the current financial year.