RTA inter-operable Platform for enhancing investors’ experience in Mutual Fund transactions / service requests

Last updated: 28 July 2021

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Quick Summary

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is introducing a new, industry-wide platform to improve the experience for mutual fund investors. This platform will allow investors to easily manage transactions like purchases and redemptions, as well as service requests such as updating personal details. It aims to provide a single, integrated interface for accessing all mutual fund services and reports across different funds.

Securities and Exchange Board of India

CIRCULAR

SEBI/HO/IMD/IMD-II DOF3/P/CIR/2021/604

July 26, 2021

All Mutual Funds (MFs)/ Asset Management Companies (AMCs)/
Trustee Companies/ Board of Trustees of Mutual Funds/
Registrar and Transfer Agents of Mutual Funds (RTAs)
Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI)
Depositories

Sir / Madam,

Subject: RTA inter-operable Platform for enhancing investors’ experience in Mutual Fund transactions / service requests

In order to make it more convenient to the existing and future investors to transact and avail services while invested in Mutual Funds and pursuant to discussions with various stakeholders including AMFI, Depositories and the RTAs, the following has been decided:

1. RTAs shall implement standardized practices, system interoperability amongst themselves to jointly develop a common industry wide platform that will deliver an integrated, harmonized, elevated experience to the investors across the industry. AMCs and Depositories shall facilitate the RTAs for development of the proposed platform.

2. The aforesaid platform shall, inter alia in phases, enable a user-friendly interface for investors for execution of mutual fund transactions viz. purchase, redemption, switch etc., initiation and tracking of service requests viz. change of email id / contact number / bank account details etc., initiation and tracking of queries and complaints, access investment related reports viz. mutual fund holdings (both in demat and standard Statement of Account), transactions reports (including historic transactions), capital gains/loss report, details of unclaimed dividend/redemption etc. Through this platform, investors will be able to access these services for all Mutual Funds in an integrated manner. In this regard, AMCs, RTAs and Depositories shall take necessary measures to provide data via APIs on a real time basis to the proposed platform. Additionally, RTAs and Depositories shall also share their respective data feeds between themselves for generation of investment related reports.

3. The platform may also over time, provide services to the distributors, registered investment advisors, AMCs, Stock Exchange platforms and digital platforms for transacting in mutual funds to further augment ease of investing and servicing of investors through the above stakeholders in consultation with SEBI.

4. AMCs, RTAs and Depositories shall review and agree to harmonize the processes across the industry to provide a single-window, integrated, simplified investment and service experience for the investors.

5. AMCs, RTAs, and Depositories shall adopt the data definitions and standards as provided / recommended by SEBI for data exchange amongst various participants.

6. The Platform should be scalable with robust cyber security protocols and supported through an API-based architecture. In this regard, the platform shall adopt the Cyber Security and Cyber Resilience framework specified by SEBI from time to time to “MIIs” (Market Infrastructure Institutions such as Stock Exchanges, Depositories and Clearing Corporations) and “Qualified RTAs” (QRTAs). Further, on request basis, APIs could be exposed to other industry stakeholders such as distributors, registered investment advisors, Stock Exchange platforms and digital platforms etc. with due approval of the concerned Mutual Fund on mutually agreed terms.

7. The RTAs are jointly and severally responsible for compliance with all the applicable regulations including system audit and cyber security audit. Further, RTAs shall ensure that the platform complies with the guidelines for Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Disaster Recovery (DR) specified by SEBI from time to time to “MIIs”.

8. All the stakeholders are advised to collaborate and work together towards the development and implementation of the proposed investor-friendly platform.

9. AMCs and Depositories shall facilitate and RTAs shall make the aforesaid platform operational in a phased manner (starting with non-financial transactions) and shall be fully operational by December 31, 2021.

10. AMCs, RTAs, Depositories, AMFI and key stakeholders are advised to create awareness about this initiative amongst the investors.

11. Any RTA providing its services to Mutual Fund(s), subsequent to issuance of this circular, shall follow the guidelines specified in this circular or amendments thereto as may be intimated by SEBI from time to time.

12. This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11 (1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, read with Regulation 77 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996 to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.

Yours faithfully,
Bithin Mahanta
General Manager
Tel no.: 022-26449634
Email: bithinm@sebi.gov.in

FAQ :

The platform is designed to create a common, industry-wide system that offers a unified and improved experience for investors managing their mutual fund transactions and service requests.

Investors will be able to perform mutual fund transactions (purchase, redemption, switch), initiate and track service requests (like updating contact details), and access investment reports (holdings, transaction history, capital gains, unclaimed dividends).

The platform is being implemented in phases, starting with non-financial transactions, and is expected to be fully operational by December 31, 2021.

Registrar and Transfer Agents (RTAs) are responsible for implementing standardized practices and developing the platform, with facilitation from Asset Management Companies (AMCs) and Depositories.

Yes, the platform may over time provide services to distributors, registered investment advisors, AMCs, and digital platforms to further enhance ease of investing and servicing.

The platform must be scalable with robust cyber security protocols and adopt SEBI's Cyber Security and Cyber Resilience framework for Market Infrastructure Institutions.