Paytm shifts offline merchant business to subsidiary post-RBI’s PA license
In a significant development, Paytm parent One 97 Communications has completed the transfer of its offline merchants’ payment business to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL). This move comes after PPSL received the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) license to operate as a Payment Aggregator (PA). The approval from the RBI is a major milestone for Paytm, as it will now be able to resume the onboarding of new merchants, a process that had been under an RBI freeze since November 2022.
The transfer of the offline merchant business to PPSL is a strategic move by Paytm, as it will enable the company to comply with the RBI’s guidelines for payment aggregators. The RBI had introduced the Payment Aggregator (PA) guidelines in March 2020, which require all payment aggregators to obtain a license from the central bank to operate. The guidelines aim to regulate the payment aggregator space and ensure that all players operate in a fair and transparent manner.
Paytm’s decision to transfer its offline merchant business to PPSL is a testament to the company’s commitment to complying with the RBI’s guidelines. By doing so, Paytm will be able to ensure that its offline merchant business operates in a regulated environment, which will provide an added layer of security and trust for its merchants and customers.
The RBI’s license to PPSL is a significant development, as it will enable the company to resume the onboarding of new merchants. The onboarding process had been put on hold since November 2022, when the RBI had frozen the process due to non-compliance with the PA guidelines. With the license in place, PPSL will now be able to onboard new merchants, which will enable Paytm to expand its offline merchant network and increase its market share.
The transfer of the offline merchant business to PPSL is also expected to have a positive impact on Paytm’s financials. The company has been investing heavily in its offline merchant business, and the transfer of the business to PPSL is expected to generate significant revenue for the company. Paytm has been focusing on expanding its offline merchant network, and the RBI’s license to PPSL will enable the company to achieve its goal of becoming the largest payment aggregator in the country.
The development is also expected to have a positive impact on the Indian payment ecosystem. The RBI’s guidelines for payment aggregators have been designed to regulate the space and ensure that all players operate in a fair and transparent manner. The license to PPSL is a testament to the fact that the RBI is committed to creating a level playing field for all players in the payment ecosystem.
In recent years, the Indian payment ecosystem has witnessed significant growth, driven by the increasing adoption of digital payments. The growth of the payment ecosystem has been driven by the government’s push for digitalization, as well as the increasing demand for convenient and secure payment solutions. The RBI’s guidelines for payment aggregators are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of the payment ecosystem, and the license to PPSL is a significant milestone in this journey.
In conclusion, the transfer of Paytm’s offline merchant business to PPSL is a significant development, as it will enable the company to comply with the RBI’s guidelines for payment aggregators. The RBI’s license to PPSL will enable the company to resume the onboarding of new merchants, which will drive growth and expansion for the company. The development is also expected to have a positive impact on the Indian payment ecosystem, as it will create a level playing field for all players and ensure that the ecosystem operates in a fair and transparent manner.