Bandhan Bank has categorically denied reports of acquisition-related discussions with First Abu Dhabi Bank, providing official clarification to stock exchanges that it is not in deal talks and has received no communication from Gulf investors. According to the latest stock exchange filings, the bank confirmed to both BSE and NSE that it is unaware of deal talks or communication from Abu Dhabi-based entities. The bank emphasized that it has not entered into any negotiations regarding a potential stake acquisition, providing definitive clarity to market participants and stakeholders who may have been following the speculation. The bank's latest clarification specifically addresses a news item published on moneycontrol.com on October 27, 2026, which suggested potential acquisition discussions with First Abu Dhabi Bank, stating that the reference to Bandhan Bank in the article is factually incorrect and that no acquisition-related proposals are underway with First Abu Dhabi Bank. As per NDTV Profit, the bank's exchange filing on Tuesday stated that it is not involved in any such discussion and categorically denied the reported speculation regarding any acquisition-related discussions or proposal involving Bandhan Bank and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Bandhan Bank shares were up 1.5%, trading at ₹153.15 as of 2:45 pm following the official denial of acquisition-related speculation. As reported by NDTV Profit, the stock movement occurred following the bank's official denial of acquisition-related speculation. The trading activity reflects market reaction to the clarification provided by the bank regarding the reported discussions with First Abu Dhabi Bank. The stock exchange filings also confirmed that no material undisclosed events or negotiations exist requiring SEBI LODR disclosures. The bank's shares have shown resilience, ending at ₹157 on Monday, up 13.32% year to date, for a market value of ₹25,351.40 crore. The bank has reiterated its commitment to adhering to regulatory compliance and continues to meet all applicable requirements under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, as and when required.
The acquisition speculation emerged amid reports that Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company (IHC) and First Abu Dhabi Bank were in early-stage talks to acquire a strategic stake in Bandhan Financial Services Ltd. (BFSL), the bank's promoter entity. According to earlier reports, BFSL is looking to sell a stake of 25% to 32% to strategic investors, potentially providing an exit route for some of its early investors. The reported discussions came as BFSL seeks to monetize its stake in the bank, creating a potential exit opportunity for existing promoter shareholders. However, Bandhan Bank has categorically denied any involvement in these discussions, emphasizing that it is not involved in any such discussion and that the reference to the bank in the reported speculation is factually incorrect.
Bandhan Bank maintains a robust financial profile with a total loan book of ₹1.56 lakh crore and total deposits of ₹1.65 lakh crore as of June 30. The bank holds one of the largest microfinance loan books in India at ₹35,000 crore and operates 1,988 branches with a total customer base of 31.8 million. The bank demonstrates strong capital adequacy with a capital adequacy ratio of 18.2% and common tier 1 ratio of 17.5% on June 30. However, the bank faced challenges in recent quarters, slashing its FY27 return on assets (RoA) guidance while announcing its June quarter results in July, which triggered a 15% plunge to ₹177.50, marking its sharpest intraday decline since the Covid-19 market crash in March 2020.
While the acquisition speculation has been officially debunked, Bandhan Bank filed clarification statements with BSE and NSE confirming no involvement in acquisition negotiations with Gulf entities. The bank launched its credit card portfolio in collaboration with Mastercard in September 2026 to expand consumer offerings. Market participants are expected to refocus on fundamental operating metrics and microfinance sector recovery dynamics, with the bias remaining neutral following management's explicit denial of acquisition talks. The focus is shifting back to underlying asset quality, loan growth, and capital adequacy metrics that drive long-term valuation in banking equities.
