Equitas Small Finance Bank has secured regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India for a significant stake acquisition by ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited and associated group entities of ICICI Bank Limited. The approval permits the acquisition of up to 9.95% of the bank's paid-up equity capital or voting rights.

RBI Approval Details

The bank received official intimation from RBI on February 10, 2026, at 16:37 hours regarding the approval granted to ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited along with group entities of ICICI Bank Limited. The approval specifically covers an "aggregate holding" structure, allowing the combined entities to acquire the specified stake in the small finance bank.

Regulatory Compliance Framework

The RBI approval comes with comprehensive regulatory compliance requirements that the acquiring entities must adhere to throughout the acquisition process. The approval is contingent upon compliance with multiple regulatory frameworks governing banking sector investments.

Key regulatory requirements include:

• Banking Regulation Act, 1949 provisions
• 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 provisions
• Securities and Exchange Board of India regulations
• Other applicable statutes, regulations and guidelines

Approval Validity and Timeline

The regulatory approval carries a validity period of one year from the date of approval, providing the acquiring entities with a defined timeframe to complete the stake acquisition process. This timeline ensures that the transaction proceeds within RBI's specified regulatory window while maintaining compliance with all applicable banking sector guidelines.

The approval represents a significant development in the small finance banking sector, facilitating institutional investment from established financial services entities. The transaction structure allows ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited and ICICI Bank group entities to collectively hold the approved stake percentage in Equitas Small Finance Bank.

Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited has completed the allotment of 69,655 equity shares under its Employee Stock Option Scheme on February 04, 2026. The allotment represents the exercise of stock options by eligible employees under the bank's ESFB Employee Stock Option Scheme, 2019.

Share Allotment Details

The bank allotted equity shares with a face value of Rs. 10 each to option grantees who exercised their stock options under the ESOP scheme. The allotment process was completed on February 04, 2026, as communicated to both the National Stock Exchange of India Limited and BSE Limited.

Impact on Share Capital

The allotment has resulted in an increase in the bank's paid-up share capital. The share capital structure reflects the expansion following the ESOP exercise by employees.

Share Rights and Trading

The newly allotted equity shares will rank pari-passu with the existing equity shares of the bank in all aspects. This means the new shares carry equal rights and privileges as the existing shares, including voting rights, dividend entitlements, and other corporate benefits. The bank has informed both stock exchanges where its shares are listed about this corporate action for investor awareness and regulatory compliance.