Jio Financial Services Demerger from RIL Poses Threat to Existing NBFC Players, Experts Warn

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Jio Financial Services Demerger from RIL Poses Threat to Existing NBFC Players, Experts Warn
21 Jul 2023
4 min read

News Synopsis

Jio Financial Services Demerger Creates a Financial Behemoth

Experts anticipate that the demerger of Jio Financial Services from Reliance Industries will give birth to a financial behemoth in India. With its 6.1% holding in Reliance treasury shares and other valuable assets, JFSL will start with a net worth of nearly ₹1.5 lakh crore.

This sizeable foundation is expected to position Jio Financial Services as a major competitor in the NBFC sector, leveraging its strong parentage, extensive reach, and low funding cost.

JFSL's Potential Threat to Existing Players

Jio Financial Services is poised to rival key players in the NBFC and Payment space due to several advantages, including its superior management expertise, robust data access through its retail stores and telecom business, and the ability to build advanced lending models.

Experts believe that the company's entry into various facets of the financial services industry, such as insurance, asset management, digital broking, and lending, further strengthens its competitive position against existing players.

Valuation and Market Cap Projections

With an estimated market cap of around $20 billion, based on the current discovery price, JFSL is set to join the league of major NBFC firms. Its entry into the market with a valuation of ₹1.6 lakh crore signifies the company's recognition of the robust lending business ecosystem, boosted by supportive regulatory measures.

Reliance Industries' Track Record of Disruption

Drawing from Reliance Industries' successful history of disrupting various businesses, experts believe that Jio Financial Services has the potential to challenge established players in the financial market.

The company's access to vast customer data, retail touchpoints, and a large subscriber base in the telecom sector offers a competitive edge to venture into the financial services industry.

Execution and Monitoring of JFSL's Performance

While analysts express optimism about JFSL's prospects, they also highlight the importance of monitoring the company's execution and underwriting expertise in the lending sector. As the financial services landscape continues to evolve, JFSL's performance over the coming quarters will provide a clearer picture of its impact on existing NBFC players and its potential for disruption in the market.

Conclusion

The demerger of Jio Financial Services (JFSL) from Reliance Industries (RIL) has set the stage for the emergence of a formidable financial behemoth in the non-banking financial sector. With a net worth of approximately ₹1.5 lakh crore and a market cap projection of around $20 billion, JFSL is well-positioned to challenge existing NBFC players like Bajaj Finance and disrupt the financial services industry.

Experts highlight JFSL's strategic advantages, including its strong parentage, vast customer footprint, access to key data points, and a large subscriber base through its telecom business. These factors provide JFSL with the potential to build superior lending models and make a significant entry into various facets of the financial services market.

The successful track record of Reliance Industries in disrupting various businesses adds to the optimism surrounding Jio Financial Services' potential to reshape the financial landscape. As the company ventures into insurance, asset management, digital broking, and lending, it poses a tough competition to existing players and leverages its access to massive data reserves for strategic growth.

However, amid the excitement, analysts caution that the company's execution and underwriting expertise need to be carefully monitored in the coming quarters. The financial services industry continues to evolve, and JFSL's performance will determine its impact on the market and the extent of its disruptive potential.

Overall, JFSL's demerger marks a significant milestone in India's financial landscape, and its entry into the market as a formidable player is poised to reshape the dynamics of the NBFC sector, making it an intriguing player to watch in the months and years ahead.

TWN In-Focus