Exclusive: What did Paytm MD & CEO say after weak listing; Know his opinion on Macquarie report

In an exclusive chat with Zee Business Managing Editor Anil Singhvi, One-97 Communications-backed Paytm Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Vijay Shekhar Sharma sounded bullish while talking about the business model of the company and termed it as wholesome multi-variety ‘Thalli’. 

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Paytm is a platform for many businesses and it has business model from giving financial services to a payment platform. On consolidated basis, there is a loss, as we are in initial phase on investment but in standalone and segment wise the company is doing quite good.” Sharma said during an interview.  

#ZBizExclusive #Paytm की कमजोर लिस्टिंग...

आगे के लिए क्या है Paytm की योजना?

देखिए लिस्टिंग पर कंपनी के MD & CEO विजय शेखर शर्मा से एक्सक्लूसिव बातचीत

देखिए पूरा इंटरव्यू यहां- https://t.co/rBqutGTE4M#PayTmIPO | #PaytmListing | @Paytm | @vijayshekhar | @AnilSinghvi_ pic.twitter.com/KYCNfUIECn

— Zee Business (@ZeeBusiness) November 18, 2021

India’ biggest initial public offer (IPO) in a decade has been completed today with the listing of Paytm shares on exchanges. The company made a weak market debut with a discount of around 9 per cent to Rs 1950 apiece versus Rs 2150 per share issue price on both BSE and NSE on Thursday. 

Incorporated in 2000, Paytm is a India’s largest payment platform with over 34000 crore customers and over 2.2 crore clients in different segments. The Rs 18600 crore IPO was subscribed 2 times in three days between 8-10 November, 2021. 

On tepid or weak listing, the MD and CEO of Paytm mentioned that investment is never of one day and those who have been selling the shares after listing cannot be called as investors.  

“We have just started and it’s a biggest achievement for us and the country’ the founder of Paytm says commenting further, “Wickets on the first two balls, doesn’t mean the match is lost.” 

Post regulator coming out with digital lending guidelines in 2020, the growth rate in our lending business have surged from 90 days to 30-45 days, says Sharma. Adding further, “our payment getaway, cloud and commerce have been profitable so far, however, we are in process of investment and start of the other business, especially in financial section such as credit and MFs.” 

The BFSI sector gets extremely incredible opportunity, the moment we couple it with technology, the India’s largest digital payment platform founder says. 

The MD & CEO seemed quite confident with growth prospect as he assured investors that “Once our quarterly results are out a growth trend will be visible to the investors.” 

On Macquarie downgrading report, Sharma said that what the brokerage firm said in a report was completely a one-sided opinion, besides, we haven’t got an opportunity to explain or talk to them about our business model.” 

He concluded before adding, “We are a wholesome meal ‘Thalli’ (platter) with different varieties, while Macquarie is looking for a business model of pizza.