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Back in November 2022, when <keyword id="19918826" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ChatGPT" source="keywords">ChatGPT</keyword> was launched for the public, interest around <keyword id="19896272" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="generative-AI" source="keywords">generative AI</keyword> reached new heights. The AI chatbot’s ability to respond to questions in a manner as if a human being was talking left many people surprised as well as awestruck. Soon, AI became a buzzword in the tech industry and investors started pouring funds heavily into AI companies. <h2><keyword id="19959576" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dunzo" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Dunzo" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Dunzo">Dunzo</keyword> co-founder staring his <keyword id="20128843" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-company" source="keywords">AI company</keyword></h2>In May, an Economic Times report based on insights from market research firm Tracxn said that AI startups in India have already raised USD 91.7 million in funding so far this year, which is a significant increase from USD 29.6 million during the same period last year. And now, former <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/quick-commerce-platform-dunzo-lays-off-30-of-its-workforce/articleshow/99290084.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Dunzo </a>chief <keyword id="22628971" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mukund-Jha" source="keywords">Mukund Jha</keyword> is reportedly looking forward to start his own AI company. A Moneycontrol report citing sources said that Jha is in discussions to raise between Rs 50-80 crore (approximately $6-10 million) from <keyword id="22628972" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Together-Fund" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Together Fund" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Together Fund">Together Fund</keyword> for his new venture. This comes after Jha stepped down from the board of the cash-strapped startup Dunzo last year. Jha's new venture reportedly focuses on generative <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/ai-startup-neysa-raises-20-mn-from-matrix-partners-nexus-venture-partners-more/articleshow/109181059.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">artificial intelligence</a> (Gen AI) and aims to automate quality assurance (QA) processes. "Think of it as a blend of AI and SaaS," an insider told Moneycontrol. QA involves creating and running tests, identifying errors, and providing feedback to ensure products meet quality standards. <h2>What happened with Dunzo?</h2>The delivery startup Dunzo delivers essential goods like groceries, household items, fruits and vegetables, pet supplies, pharmaceuticals etc to people locally. Supported by <keyword id="19901342" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-Retail" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reliance Retail" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reliance Retail">Reliance Retail</keyword>, the startup has faced strong competition from companies like Zepto, Swiggy, and BlinkIt. Despite raising around $500 million, Dunzo has struggled to secure additional investment and manage payroll. In February, there were rumors that Flipkart might acquire the platform, but there have been no updates on this matter since. Dunzo, on the other hand, was making headlines earlier this year for facing various financial struggles. The company’s top investor Lightbox also exited in May this year. On the other hand, the company is reportedly experiencing a cash crunch and owes approximately Rs 11.4 crore to various vendors, including Google India, Nilenso, Clover Ventures, Facebook India, Cupshup, Koo, and Glance. <h2>About Together Fund</h2>Together Fund, from which Jha is reportedly going to raise funds for his new venture, has invested in over 20 companies across various SaaS sectors, including recruitment, sales intelligence, marketing, healthcare, and cloud solutions for connected devices. “Our areas of focus span across SaaS, enterprise software, developer tools, open source software, cloud-native infrastructure and API-first businesses. We typically invest early (seed, pre A or series A) to help founders through the crucial zero-to-one part of their journey,” the company’s website reads. Together Fund was founded in 2021 by Girish Mathrubootham of Freshworks, Manav Garg of Eka Software, and Shubham Gupta formerly of Matrix Partners India. It initially raised USD 85 million for its first fund and increased the total to USD 150 million with its second fund announced in 2023

Dunzo co-founder Mukund Jha plans to start his own AI company, seeks to raise up to Rs 80 crore from Together Fund

<keyword id="19938772" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-Industries-Ltd" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reliance Industries Ltd" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reliance Industries Ltd">Reliance Industries Ltd</keyword> (<keyword id="20002939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RIL" source="keywords">RIL</keyword>) is set to hold its much-anticipated 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) today, August 29, 2024. The AGM, which will be held virtually, is expected to feature some key announcements that could be of great interest to investors as well as shareholders. The meeting will start at 2:00 p.m. IST and will be live-streamed across various digital platforms. Read on to know all about <keyword id="22949345" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Reliance-AGM" source="keywords">Reliance AGM</keyword> and what can be expected from it this year. <h2>What is Reliance AGM?</h2> The Reliance Annual General Meeting (AGM) is an important event where Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) presents its financial performance, future strategies, and key developments to shareholders and the public. Held annually, this meeting is led by RIL Chairman <keyword id="19916798" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mukesh-Ambani" source="keywords">Mukesh Ambani</keyword> and serves as a platform for major announcements, including potential IPOs, business expansions, and technological advancements. The AGM attracts widespread attention from investors, analysts, and industry watchers, as it provides insights into the company’s direction and its impact on various sectors. <h2>Where to watch livestream</h2> The AGM will begin at 2:00 p.m. IST and will be conducted virtually, allowing millions of shareholders and investors to join from anywhere. The event will be live-streamed across various digital platforms, including RIL's social media pages on YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook. Shareholders can join the live broadcast using the following link: <a href="https://jiomeet.jio.com/rilagm" target="_new">https://jiomeet.jio.com/rilagm</a>. <h2>What to expect from Reliance AGM 2024</h2> IPO announcements: One of the most closely watched aspects of the AGM is the potential announcement of IPO timelines for Reliance <keyword id="19906886" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jio" source="keywords">Jio</keyword> and Reliance Retail. The possibility of these two giants going public has been a topic of discussion since 2019, and with the five-year mark approaching, investors are keen to hear concrete plans. Energy projects: Reliance’s foray into the green energy sector has been a key focus in recent years. The AGM is expected to provide updates on the progress of the company’s ambitious new energy projects, particularly the development of a large green energy complex in Jamnagar. This complex, featuring giga factories for solar PV, energy storage, and other technologies, is part of Reliance’s broader strategy to transition from traditional energy sources to more sustainable options. Investors will be looking for detailed timelines and potential earnings projections from these ventures. 5G Rollout: Reliance Jio’s 5G rollout is another critical area of interest. The company has already made significant strides in expanding its 5G network across India, and the AGM is expected to shed light on how RIL plans to monetize this infrastructure. This could include potential partnerships, new service offerings like the JioPhone 5G, and strategies to increase subscriber growth. The success of Jio’s 5G rollout will be crucial in maintaining its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving telecom market. AI focus: In addition to its core business areas, Reliance is also expected to make announcements related to artificial intelligence (AI). With global tech giants increasingly focusing on AI, RIL is likely to reveal new AI initiatives tailored to the Indian market. This could include expansions to Hanuman AI, a generative AI tool developed with leading Indian institutions, which supports multiple Indian languages. Succession planning: Another topic of interest is Reliance’s succession plan. With Mukesh Ambani having previously outlined a blueprint for leadership transitions within the company, shareholders will be looking for updates on how these plans are being implemented. The AGM may provide further clarity on the roles of Ambani’s children—Akash, Isha, and Anant—who have been earmarked to lead the telecom, retail, and energy segments, respectively.

Reliance AGM 2024 at 2 pm today: What it is, where to watch, and what to expect

Billionaire <keyword id="19916798" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mukesh-Ambani" source="keywords">Mukesh Ambani</keyword>'s Reliance Industries and <keyword id="19924335" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tata-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Tata Group" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Tata Group">Tata Group</keyword> have made it to the prestigious TIME's list of 100 World's Most Influential Companies of 2024. TIME called Reliance 'India's Juggernaut'. This is the second time that Reliance has found its way into the TIME list. Jio Platforms, the firm that holds digital properties of the conglomerate, was included in the inaugural TIME 100 Most Influential Companies List of 2021. Serum Institute is the other Indian company on the list. TIME listed Reliance in the 'Titans' category (one of the five categories under which the companies were divided, other being Leaders, Disrupters, Innovators, and Pioneers). Tata was listed in 'Titan's' category while Serum under 'Pioneers'. "Reliance Industries was founded as a textile and polyester company 58 years ago by Dhirubhai Ambani. Today the sprawling conglomerate -- which has aligned its growth with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a 'self-reliant' India -- is the country's most valuable company, with a market capitalisation of more than USD 200 billion," TIME said. Now led by Dhirubhai's son Mukesh, the Mumbai-based company has ventures in energy, retail, and telecommunications, among others, and has made its chairman Asia's richest man, it said. The publication went on to stated that in February, Reliance came out on top in a fiercely competitive race to dominate India's burgeoning streaming market by striking a USD 8.5 billion merger deal with Disney's India business. "The deal will bring together more than 100 television channels and give the combined group around a 31 per cent share of India's streaming market compared to rivals Netflix and Amazon Prime with 8 per cent each," according to analytics firm Comscore. Reliance has revolutionised several economic sectors in the world's most populous country by making world-class products and services available at affordable prices with multiple innovations. Under Mukesh Ambani, the firm's telecom arm Jio revolutionised India's digital landscape and drove digital inclusion on an unprecedented scale with the most affordable mobile data tariffs in the world. It set up the world's largest single location refining complex. Reliance Retail is ranked among the top 100 retailers globally and in FY24 it registered 1.06 billion footfalls across its 18,800+ stores (67 per cent of which are in small towns and villages). Reliance is investing USD 10 billion in building the most comprehensive ecosystem for new energy and new materials in India and has set an ambitious goal to reach net-zero carbon by 2035. TIME described Serum as the world's biggest vaccine maker, churning out billions of vaccines. The company makes 3.5 billion doses every year, including for measles, polio, and most recently, HPV. "Serum's CEO Adar Poonawalla says the company's success can largely be chalked up to its private ownership. Not being beholden to shareholders allows it to keep vaccine prices low (the R21 will cost USD 4 a shot)," the publication said. Tata Group, it said, was founded in 1868 and has a vast portfolio extending from steel, software, watches, subsea cables, and chemicals, to salt, grains, air-conditioners, fashion, and hotels. "But as rivals have aggressively courted new businesses, it struggled to keep up with stiff competition. In 2017, after over a century of family management, N Chandrasekaran took over as chairman despite having no personal ties to the family -- highly unusual when India's business landscape is ruled by family succession plans," TIME said. As chair, he has transformed the group by investing in tech manufacturing, AI, and semiconductor chips. In 2023, it became the first Indian company to assemble iPhones, and is building another plant, it said, adding that in September, Tata announced a partnership with Nvidia to develop an AI cloud in India. "And this year, it announced plans for the country's first major semiconductor manufacturing facility. The moves seem to be paying off: in February, Tata's combined market capitalisation reached a whopping USD 365 billion, more than the entire economy of India's neighbour and rival, Pakistan," it added. This is the fourth edition of annual TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, highlighting companies making an extraordinary impact around the world. To assemble the list, TIME solicited nominations across sectors, and polled its global network of contributors and correspondents, as well as outside experts. Then, TIME editors evaluated each on key factors, including impact, innovation, ambition, and success. The result is a diverse group of 100 businesses helping chart an essential path forward. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/lok-sabha-exit-poll-2024-what-are-they-when-will-they-be-announced-and-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/110565608.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/lok-sabha-exit-poll-2024-what-are-they-when-will-they-be-announced-and-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/110565608.cms" target="_blank">Lok Sabha Exit Poll 2024 – what are they, when will they be announced and all you need to know</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/truecaller-can-now-detect-if-the-caller-is-using-ai-how-to-use-it-to-prevent-ai-call-scams/articleshow/110556100.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/truecaller-can-now-detect-if-the-caller-is-using-ai-how-to-use-it-to-prevent-ai-call-scams/articleshow/110556100.cms" target="_blank">Truecaller can now detect if the caller is using AI – How to use it to prevent AI call scams</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/indias-t20-world-cup-team-matches-and-everything-you-need-to-know/slidelist/110551798.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/indias-t20-world-cup-team-matches-and-everything-you-need-to-know/slidelist/110551798.cms" target="_blank">India’s T20 World Cup team, matches and everything you need to know</a>

Reliance, Tata on TIME's list of world's most influential companies

New Delhi, <keyword id="58448" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reliance-retail" source="Orion">Reliance Retail</keyword> has unveiled its all new <keyword id="10873635" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="jiobook" source="Orion">JioBook</keyword>, a lightweight and pocket-friendly 4G-LTE powered laptop designed to cater to all age groups. JioBook touted as 'India's First Learning Book' will be available at Rs 16,499 starting August 5, 2023, and customers can purchase JioBook from <keyword id="10926" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="reliance" source="Orion">Reliance</keyword> Digital's online and offline stores, as well as through Amazon.in. The JioBook packs a punch with stylish design featuring matte finish, and ultra slim built, and is light weight at 990 grams. It features 4G-LTE and dual-band WiFi capabilities, powerful octa-core chipset for smooth multitasking, 11.6-inch (29.46CM) anti-glare HD display, Infinity keyboard and large multi-gesture trackpad. With its advanced JioOS operating system, design and always-connected features, JioBook promises to redefine the learning experience for every individual. "We are dedicated to introduce innovative products that empower individuals in their learning journey. The all-new JioBook is our latest offering catering to learners of all ages with its advanced features and seamless connectivity options," Reliance Retail spokesperson said. The JioBook will transform the way people learn, opening new opportunities for personal growth and skill development, the spokesperson added. From attending online classes, to learning to code, or exploring new ventures such as starting a yoga studio or delving into online trading, JioBook aimed to provide an exceptional platform for all learning endeavours. Earlier this month, Jio had launched internet-enabled <keyword id="17888486" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="jio-bharat" source="Orion">Jio Bharat</keyword> phones at Rs 999, packing-in cheaper monthly plan of Rs 123 for unlimited voice calls and 14 GB data. At Rs 999, Jio Bharat was positioned as "the lowest entry price for an internet-enabled phone". The new offering aimed to accelerate the '2G Mukt Bharat' vision, as India still has 250 million mobile subscribers in the 2G era with feature phones. Beta trial for first 1 million Jio Bharat phones started from July 7, 2023. Brokerages tracking the sector had said that the launch of internet-enabled Jio Bharat phones at an "attractive pricing" will enable Jio to gain market share at the lower end segment and signals a reduced probability of tariff hike in the near term.

Reliance Retail unveils new JioBook laptop priced at Rs 16,499

<keyword id="19938772" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-Industries-Ltd" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reliance Industries Ltd" meta.hostid="267" meta.entityid="Reliance Industries Ltd">Reliance Industries Ltd</keyword> has won a vote of confidence from global rating agencies <keyword id="20043943" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SP" source="keywords">S&amp;P</keyword> and <keyword id="19950093" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fitch" source="keywords">Fitch</keyword> after its robust earnings in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, supported its growth aspirations and kept leverage under check. S&amp;P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings in separate notes spoke of its <keyword id="19957744" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="EBITDA" source="keywords">EBITDA</keyword> (loosely known as pre-tax profit) rising in the current fiscal year and next on rising revenue and past investments. "<keyword id="19896380" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-Industries" source="keywords">Reliance Industries</keyword> Ltd's (<keyword id="20002939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ril" source="keywords">RIL</keyword>) strong earnings will keep leverage in check as the company continues to pursue growth ambitions. We expect the company's debt-to-EBITDA ratio to remain commensurate with the rating (BBB+/Stable/--)," S&amp;P said in a note. The oil-to-telecom-and-retail conglomerate's growth aspirations remain intact, it said, adding the company has ramped up investments in the media business in recent months. In 2024, it entered into binding definitive agreements with The Walt Disney Co for a media joint venture in which RIL will invest Rs 11,500 crore. The company subsequently agreed to buy Paramount Global's 13.01 per cent stake in local entertainment network Viacom18 Media Pte Ltd for about Rs 4,300 crore. "These investments are in line with RIL's strategy to diversify and have a strong presence in a few key industries," the rating agency said. Also, the company received government approval in 2024 to develop gas reserves in the KG-D6 block in the Bay Of Bengal. This could increase the company's gas production capacity by 13-17 per cent. RIL's earlier announced investments include a Rs 75,000 crore expansion plan over five years (starting 2022) for the oil-to-chemicals business. "RIL's earnings will benefit from past investments," S&amp;P said. "We project the company's adjusted EBITDA will rise 2-4 per cent in fiscal 2025 (year ending March 31, 2025)," it added. Just as in the past two years, the digital services segment (Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd) will be the key growth driver, with segment's EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation) increasing 10-12 per cent in fiscal 2025. Reliance Jio's wireless subscriber base and average revenue per user will gain from the company's investments in its 5G network since late 2022. Meanwhile, earnings in the oil and gas as well as retail segments will reap the rewards of increased production volume and a wider retail store network. "The EBITDA improvement that we expect in fiscal 2025 comes after a 14 per cent increase to Rs 1.6 lakh crore in fiscal 2024," it said. S&amp;P saw RIL's rising earnings providing it greater balance-sheet flexibility for growth. "We expect the combination of robust operating performances and continued spending to keep the company's debt-to-EBITDA ratio at 1.8x-2.0x over the next two years. This compares with our estimate of 1.7x for fiscal 2024 and our downgrade trigger of 2.5x," S&amp;P said. RIL's leverage has some distance from the upper end of the company's internal leverage target. RIL has reiterated its intention to keep its net debt-to-EBITDA ratio (by its own calculations) below 1x. The ratio was 0.65x as of March 31, 2024. Separately, Fitch Ratings said RIL's EBITDA net leverage is likely to remain below 1x in the medium term, supported by increasing cash flows and lower capex intensity, even as the conglomerate's absolute capex and investments remain high in the near term. "We expect RIL's EBITDA to increase by 8 per cent year-on-year in the financial year ending March 2025 (FY25) and 14 per cent in FY26, while capex intensity (capex/revenue) is likely to reduce below 13 per cent by FY26 (FY24: 15.3 per cent). Lower capex intensity would be driven by growing revenue and reduction in capex after FY25," it said. Fitch expected the conglomerate's Cash Flow from Operations (CFO) to be sufficient to fund its capex from FY26, which will limit additional debt funding and keep its EBITDA net leverage below 1.0x in the medium term (FY24: 0.9x, FY23: 1.1x). "Fitch estimates RIL's FY24 EBITDA net leverage at 0.9x, better than our expectation of 1.1x, driven by marginally higher EBITDA and Rs 20,900 crore of equity raised mainly from the sale of a stake in a subsidiary, even as its capex remained high at Rs 1.5 lakh crore (FY23: Rs 1.4 lakh crore)," the rating agency said in a statement. It rates RIL at 'BBB'/Stable, one notch above India's rating (BBB-/Stable). "We expect the EBITDA increase in the near to medium term to be driven by the telecom and retail businesses, supported by contribution from the upstream oil and gas segment and marginal recovery in petrochemical spreads in the oil to chemical (O2C) segment," Fitch said, adding EBITDA from digital services, largely telecom, is likely to benefit from a 10-15 per cent tariff hike and 15-20 million of additional subscribers in FY25 (FY24: 482 million subscribers). Digital services EBITDA rose by 13 per cent in FY24, as Reliance added 42 million subscribers and monthly average revenue per user increased to Rs 182. Monthly user data consumption increased by 24 per cent to 28.7 GB, one of the highest globally. Fitch expected retail EBITDA to increase by 20-25 per cent in FY25 (FY24: 28%) as Reliance continues to expand its physical stores and digital channels. EBITDA would be supported by a 22.2 per cent increase in its registered customer base to 304 million in FY24. Also, O2C segment EBITDA is expected to remain above Rs 60,000 crore in FY25 (FY24: Rs 62,400 crore), as a gradual improvement in petrochemical spreads from FY24 lows is expected as a supply overhang recedes. Upstream oil and gas EBITDA should stay at around Rs 20,000 crore in FY25 (FY24: Rs 20,200 crore), assisted by the expectation of a 10 per cent increase in gas production in the first full year of operation of three gas fields in the KG-D6 block, which should offset the potential reduction in price realisation with lower gas prices in international benchmarks. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/jnk-india-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/109597273.cms">JNK India IPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/jiocinema-introduces-new-ad-free-premium-plans-starting-at-29/articleshow/109581033.cms">An Ambani disruption in OTT: At just ₹1 per day, you can now enjoy ad-free content on JioCinema</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/ultraviolette-f77-mach-2-electric-sports-bike-launched-in-india-starting-at-2-99-lakh/slidelist/109615934.cms">Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 electric sports bike launched in India starting at ₹2.99 lakh</a>

Reliance gets thumbs-up from S&P, Fitch as strong earnings keep leverage in check

<ul><li>Market is not rushing to downgrade <keyword id="17277356" type="General" weightage="90" keywordseo="jio-fin" source="Orion">Jio Fin</keyword> rivals just yet, despite its deep pockets and ability to disrupt.</li><li><keyword id="2003276" type="General" weightage="70" keywordseo="jio" source="Orion">Jio</keyword> Fin’s aggression in the unsecured loan business will decide how badly rivals will be impacted in times to come.</li><li>Given that cost of funds for JFS is expected to be significantly lower than other NBFCs, it can price its offerings much better than rivals in consumer finance. </li></ul> A behemoth was born on Monday with the listing of the financial services business of <keyword id="6355199" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="reliance-industries" source="Orion">Reliance Industries</keyword> on the exchanges. With the listing of <keyword id="15323576" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="jio-financial-services" source="Orion">Jio Financial Services</keyword>, the obvious question is the impact that this entity will have on other listed financial services players because it will take them head on. The obvious assumption is that companies that currently are in the consumer and MSME lending space will be directly impacted. Jio Fin’s rich parentage and high capital base will be its biggest advantage. The net worth of the newborn is higher than its nearest competitor and this will enable it to build a large loan book much faster. But this may not be enough to win in the marketplace as it is a total novice when it comes to underwriting and execution. The market will closely monitor Jio Fin’s aggression in the consumer finance business before downgrading its competitors. For now, the jury is out. Like all other businesses that Reliance has set foot in, even in financial services the market is expecting two things – scale and mega disruption. The first segment that Jio is set to rock first is the lending space. Jio Financial Services ahead of its listing on 18 August released some details on the structure of the company and businesses it would operate in. Jio Financial Services is not just a systemically important non-banking financial institution but also a core investment company (CIC). The RBI has mandated the conversion of Jio Fin into a CIC and NBFC over the next three months. What this essentially means is that all the other businesses will operate under this holding company as subsidiaries. In time, all the subsidiaries could also be listed. The key businesses that Jio Financial Services will be present include: Reliance Retail Finance, Reliance Retail Insurance Broking, Reliance Payment Solutions, Jio Payments Bank, the Asset Management Company will be a joint venture with Blackrock. Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings will be the sole beneficiary of the 6.1% stake in Reliance Industries. Jio Information Aggregator Services will pursue the account aggregator business, which is yet to commence. Jio Infrastructure Management Services will offer project management services. The first segment that Jio Fin seeks to aggressively pursue is retail lending. The dominant player in this segment is Bajaj Finance, which offers small ticket loans to consumers to buy consumer durables. This business has been mastered by Bajaj Finance over the last decade and a half by tying up with stores like Vijay Sales and Croma. This is where Jio will strike first. Reliance Retail has over 550 digital stores against 517 stores owned by its two rivals Croma (387 stores) and Vijay Sales (130 stores). In merchant lending, its focus is on financing options for merchants in grocery, digital, fashion and pharma formats. According to Nomura, the focus of its MSME lending business will be better geographic penetration. Jio Fin will seek to meet the borrowing needs of small businesses that often resort to high-interest informal channels for small-ticket loans. The company will enter into secured loans in the medium term. Over a period of time Jio Fin will offer unsecured loans too. Sources in the banking industry believe that the new entrant will disrupt the sector with differentiated and cheaper offerings as it can afford to do it because of its strong capital base. The cost of funds of JFS are expected to be significantly lower than other NBFCs. According to Morgan Stanley, “The consolidated entity is starting with a capital base of Rs 114.1 bn as of March 2023 (Rs 193.5 bn ex-book value of RIL stake). If it were to allocate this capital to the lending business, this would likely result in it being among the largest NBFCs by net worth. While this implies significant capacity to lend, we will need to see the pace and mode of execution (organic/inorganic). Hence, the market will closely watch every move JioFS makes.” While the markets believe that Jio will put technology and analytics at the heart of the business, building data will take time. Also, given the competition in the sector, borrowing by consumers is high and that is also leading to higher delinquencies. Therefore, the franchise that Jio builds will matter more than the scale of the loan book. The other issue that analysts see is the capital base of the new entity. Jio Fin as a consolidated entity has a capital base of Rs 114,100 crore or Rs 1.14 trillion as of March 2023 (Rs19,350 crore ex-book value of RIL stake). According to Nomura, if Jio Fin were to allocate this capital to the lending business, this would likely result in it being among the largest NBFCs by net worth. “While this implies significant capacity to lend, we will need to see the pace and mode of execution (organic/inorganic). Hence, the market will closely watch every move JioFS makes,” the report adds.

You Searched For "reliance retail ventures" and got 6 results

Dunzo co-founder Mukund Jha plans to start his own AI company, seeks to raise up to Rs 80 crore from Together Fund

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Reliance Retail unveils new JioBook laptop priced at Rs 16,499

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Reliance gets thumbs-up from S&P, Fitch as strong earnings keep leverage in check

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