CAMS participates at the ICC’s Regional Mutual Fund Conclave (2016) at Bhubaneswar

Exploring growth avenues for the Mutual fund industry

Since the year 2012, concerted efforts had been taken to promote participation in Mutual funds from beyond the country’s top 15 cities. SEBI had introduced several measures to encourage investments and tap the potential of B15 as effective destinations for Mutual fund operations; four years later, it would appear that the regulator’s attempts have finally paid off; financial inclusion and awareness in India has risen to a substantial extent, with a steady rise in participation from investors based out of B15 cities.

CAMS as a professionally managed, institutionally owned, SEBI regulated entity has always been committed to the task of leveraging technology to add value to the operations of the BFSI sector. Also, it takes strategical efforts towards promoting investor awareness on the various services that it facilitates in the world of Mutual fund transactions – ranging from Aadhar-based eKYC to common OTM registrations.

ICC Mutual Fund Conclave 2016

Motivated to reach out to investors in the B15 regions and promote meaningful Mutual Fund Conclaves in these cities, CAMS had extended its association to a first-of-its-kind Regional Conclave organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in the city of Bhubaneswar. The event was a forerunner of sorts with deference to ICC’s Flagship Annual 10th Mutual Fund Summit 2017, to be held at Kolkata.

The Bhubaneswar conference, where CAMS had consented to be the esteemed Technology Partner, was held on 23 September 2016, at Hotel New Marrion. The event brought together top policy makers and industry leaders, for facilitating meaningful exchanges and addressing strategic concerns of the Mutual Fund Industry.

CAMS President & CEO honored as Special Guest

Mr. N.K Prasad, President & CEO, CAMS, graced the occasion as Special Guest at the Inaugural Session for ICC Mutual Fund Conclave.

The forum witnessed the coming together of industry veterans, thought-leaders and stakeholders from all over the country, enabling extensive discussions on issues of vital importance to the Mutual Fund industry. An interesting panel discussion titled “B-15 Cities-The new destination for Mutual Fund Industry”, was organized at the event. Digitization of Financial Services and its impact of increasing accessibility of Mutual funds to investors across the country was a key subject that was discussed. Dialogues were also conducted on GST and the effect it is to bear on Mutual funds as a service.

The Distinguished Guest List

Other eminent guests from the industry included-

Binod Kumar Sharma, AGM, SEBI

Vikas Rathie, Zonal Business Head-East, Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management Ltd

Shibani Kurian, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Group, Kotak Mahindra AMC Ltd

Vikas Rathie, Zonal Business Head-East, Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management Ltd

Chittaranjan Panda, AVP Regional Head, SBI Funds Management Pvt Ltd

Narayan Venkat, Assistant Vice President, NSDL

The event saw a vibrant exchange of thoughts on various opportunities, challenges and trends to be expected in the coming days, ending on a high note of informed optimism that heralded exciting days for the Mutual fund industry.

About CAMS

Computer Age Management Services (CAMS) is India’s premier Mutual Fund Transfer Agency serving over 62% of assets of the industry across 16 Mutual Funds. Leveraging superior technology, CAMS brings several innovative services to Mutual Fund investors and distributors. CAMS is also a service partner to leading Insurance Companies, Banks, NBFCs and Alternate Investment Funds. To know more visit http://www.camsonline.com

Weekly Roundup – September 24

CAMS brings you a weekly glimpse at the key happenings in the BFSI sector, in India and abroad. Regulatory updates or important news, here are some which might have had an impact on the sector.

India and EU to sign Broad Based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) for free trade of pharma exports

China and Kazakhstan come together to build a joint free trade zone centred at Horgos, as a part of the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor.

A recent UN study reveals that Tanzania’s economy could receive a shot in the arm in the event of deploying digital payments

Indian Government nominates members to the Monetary Policy Committee that would henceforth decide and set up policy rates.

Issue date for the much anticipated Sovereign Gold Bond has been postponed to September 30, 2016, confirms RBI.

India’s special drawing rights with the IMF has plunged by USD 2.3 million, while forex reserves has dipped by ~USD 1.7 billion, reveals RBI data.

SEBI to permit foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) for direct trading in corporate bonds; More regulations eased in favour of foreign investors including Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

Over INR 11,600 Crore worth of investments flow into equities from mutual funds, thanks to robust input from retail investors.

Electronic insurance expected to render convenience to policyholders by facilitating higher degree of interaction and accessibility to insurers.

About CAMS:

Computer Age Management Services (CAMS) is India’s premier Mutual Fund Transfer Agency serving over 62% of assets of the industry across 16 Mutual Funds. Leveraging superior technology, CAMS brings several innovative services to Mutual Fund investors and distributors. CAMS is also a service partner to leading Insurance Companies, Banks, NBFCs and Alternate Investment Funds. To know more visit www.camsonline.com

Cafemutual Confluence 2016: CAMS CEO brainstorms on factors that will catalyze Industry growth

Upbeat Times for the Industry
Earlier in July, the article titled ‘Calm despite the storm’, had captured how equity mutual fund investors in India surprised observers with a significant upsurge in transactions, even as the rest of the world was reeling from the Brexit impact. Recently, investments worth Rs. 11,600 Crore was seen flowing into equity markets from Mutual Funds, for the first time in the last few years. Apparently, Indian Mutual Fund industry is going through a constructive phase of growth now. Industry experts expect the trend to continue, backed up by PMI data (as of August 2016) pertaining to growth in performances of the Manufacturing and Service Sectors.

Cafemutual Confluence 2016 (CC16)
In such settings, this week witnessed Cafemutual successfully rolling out the fifth edition of its flagship event, Cafemutual Confluence 2016 (CC16), at The Lalit, Andheri East, Mumbai. The one-day event themed “Today’s Vision: Tomorrow’s Reality”, held on September 20, 2016, was attended by the crème de la crème of the Indian Mutual Fund industry.

Cafemutual had arranged for an impressive array of more than 25 speakers, comprising of industry veterans, pioneers and thought-leaders, who articulated their views on an assortment of subjects ranging from the future of the Indian Mutual fund industry to the implications of the recently instituted GST on industry proceedings.

Leading CEOs Brainstorm on Factors that will Catalyze Industry Growth
Computer Age Management Services (CAMS), was invited to participate in the prestigious event, in acknowledgement of the organization’s significant contribution to the growth of the Indian Mutual Fund industry.

Mr. N. K. Prasad, President and CEO, CAMS, was one of the esteemed contributors to a high energy CEO panel discussion titled ‘How do we shape the future?’, as staged at the event. Co -panelists who were part of the discussion included –

Mr. Abizer Diwanji, Partner & National Leader-Financial Services, EY

Ms. Anuradha Rao, MD & CEO, SBI MF

Mr. Ashutosh Bishnoi, MD & CEO, Mahindra MF

Mr. Swarup Mohanty, CEO, Mirae Asset MF

Mr. Vikaas Sachdeva, CEO, Edelweiss Mutual Fund

The Distinguished Guest List
Other eminent guests from the industry who marked their presence at the event included-

Mr. John Praveen, Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist, Prudential International Investments Advisers, USA

Mr. Karan Datta, Chief Business Officer, Axis MF

Mr. Sandeep Walunj, CMO, Reliance Nippon Life AMC

Mr. Amit Tripathi, CIO-Debt, Reliance Nippon Life AMC

Mr. Anoop Bhaskar, Head-Equities, IDFC MF

Mr. Navneet Munot, ED & CIO, SBI MF

Mr. Prashant Jain, ED & CIO, HDFC MF

Mr. S Naren, ED & CIO, ICICI Prudential MF

Mr. Sourabh Mishra, Former Group Chief Strategy Officer & Whole Time Director, Bates CHI & Partners India

Mr. Divyesh Lapsiwala, Tax Partner, EY India

Mr. Satheesh Krishnamurthy, ‎SVP & Head – Affluent Business (Wealth Management & Private Banking) Axis Bank

Ms. Molly Kapoor, Head – Marketing, Birla Sun Life MF

Mr. Karl Gomes, Chief Fanatic at Fanatics

Mr. R. Jagannathan, Noted journalist & Editorial Director, Swarajya

Mr.  Raj Raghunathan, Professor, University of Texas, Austin

Mr. Nikunj Dalmia, Senior Stocks Editor, ET Now

Mr. Prem Khatri, Founder & CEO, Cafemutual

The Way Ahead
The event saw a vibrant exchange of thoughts on various opportunities, challenges and trends to be expected in the coming days, ending on a high note of informed optimism that heralded exciting days for the Mutual fund industry.

About CAMSComputer Age Management Services (CAMS) is India’s premier Mutual Fund Transfer Agency serving over 62% of assets of the industry across 16 Mutual Funds. Leveraging superior technology, CAMS brings several innovative services to Mutual Fund investors and distributors. CAMS is also a service partner to leading Insurance Companies, Banks, NBFCs and Alternate Investment Funds. To know more visit http://www.camsonline.com

 

CAMS enters MoU with Sankara Nethralaya

“Better health is central to human happiness and well-being. It also makes an important contribution to economic progress, as healthy populations live longer, are more productive, and save more.”
(As quoted in the official website of World Health Organization.)

Mr N K Prasad, President and CEO, CAMS and Ms. Akila Ganesan, Senior General Manager, Sankara Nethralaya, are seen entering into a MoU affirming CAMS’ commitment to support initiatives of the Healthcare provider

An eye for sustained progress: Health and economy

One might tend to overlook the profound relationship that the economic status of a nation has with that of the state of health of its general public. Surely, good health is a strategic cornerstone of enhanced productivity and economic growth.

CAMS has a distinct side of deep Social Responsibility to it and engages with a number of not-for-profit entities to promote health, sanitation, educational facilities, programs for self employment.

Computer Age Management Services (CAMS) had associated itself with Sankara Nethralaya, a not-for-profit charitable hospital that has specialized in providing world-class tertiary eye care in India for the last four decades. CAMS, in a genuinely humane move, has pledged its support to bear expenses pertaining to 500 Cataract Surgeries as offered Sankara Nethralaya, in this year; the surgeries are to be performed on 500 Patients from the economically underprivileged strata, as nominated by the healthcare provider.

MoU with Sankara Nethralaya

In a meeting held on August 2, 2016, Mr N K Prasad, President and CEO, CAMS and Ms. Akila Ganesan, Senior General Manager, Sankara Nethralaya, had entered into an MoU, affirming CAMS’ commitment to walk with the prestigious healthcare provider in making better health accessible to all.

CAMS, as an organization, believes in giving back to the society and has rolled out several initiatives on the lines of Corporate Social Responsibility, working closely with several well-known NGOs and Social Welfare Organizations that serve genuinely and work for the betterment of the society at large.

About CAMS:

Computer Age Management Services (CAMS) is India’s premier Mutual Fund Transfer Agency serving over 62% of assets of the industry across 16 Mutual Funds. Leveraging superior technology, CAMS brings several innovative services to Mutual Fund investors and distributors. CAMS is also a service partner to leading Insurance Companies, Banks, NBFCs and Alternate Investment Funds. To know more visit http://www.camsonline.com

Weekly Roundup – September 17

CAMS brings you a weekly glimpse at the key happenings in the BFSI sector, in India and abroad. Regulatory updates or important news, here are some which might have had an impact on the sector.

ASSOCHAM National council for Insurance recently hosted the 9th Global Insurance Summit 2016 – themed “Insurance: The Next Powerhouse in Financial Industry” on 16th September 2016, Mumbai. Inaugurated by the honorable Chief of IRDAI, Mr. T. S. Vijayan, the Chief Guest, the summit was attended by noted speakers and top representatives from the Indian Insurance industry.

US Treasury Secretary lauds G20 for being instrumental in mobilizing the Global Economy and for how it had put policy tools to effective use.

Prospects for Ukrainian economy improve as IMF makes a move to hand over the nation an emergency payment of $1 billion, in a bid to support its dwindling finances.

India ranks 112 among 159 countries in the World Economic Freedom Index. The huge letdown by 10 positions as compared to 2015, is attributed to India’s  scores in terms of legal system and property rights, sound money, freedom to trade internationally and regulation.

RBI to be mindful of low inflation rateswhile reviewing policies governing rate cuts, affirms Hon.Financial Minister of India, Mr. Arun Jaitley. A six-member MPC would serve to set the rates, he said.

RBI unveils new rules that dictate banks to cap their credit exposure to large corporate borrowers at ₹10,000 crore per borrower, by April 1, 2019.

UCC and PAN made obligatory for all trade transactions concerning on commodity exchanges, according to a new SEBI release.

Mutual funds register another 11 lakh folios owing to steady retail investor participation; Net inflows over INR 18,000 crores recorded in equity schemes.

IRDAI Chief hints at International Reinsurance players beginning operations in India, from January 2017.

About CAMS:

Computer Age Management Services (CAMS) is India’s premier Mutual Fund Transfer Agency serving over 62% of assets of the industry across 16 Mutual Funds. Leveraging superior technology, CAMS brings several innovative services to Mutual Fund investors and distributors. CAMS is also a service partner to leading Insurance Companies, Banks, NBFCs and Alternate Investment Funds. To know more visit www.camsonline.com

CAMSRep at the prestigious 9th Global Insurance Summit 2016 organized by Assocham

CAMSRep CEO MR. S. V. Ramanan speaks at the prestigious 9th Global Insurance Summit 2016

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), is one of the premier trade associations in the country that has been serving in the interest of Indian trade and Commerce for nearly 100 years. The ASSOCHAM National council for Insurance, has been distinguished in its service as an interface that brings together representatives from the industry, government and other significant stakeholders on policy issues and initiatives.

ASSOCHAM National council for Insurance recently hosted the 9th Global Insurance Summit 2016 – themed “Insurance: The Next Powerhouse in Financial Industry” on 16th September 2016, Mumbai. Attended by pioneers, veterans and thought leaders from the insurance industry, the occasion was one of high, palpable energy, charged with arrays of thoughts and dialogues covering the recent developments, challenges and opportunities in the field.

Inaugurated by the honorable Chief of IRDAI, Mr. T. S. Vijayan, the Chief Guest, the summit saw noted speakers’ and top representatives from the Indian Insurance industry, recording their experts’ perspective of the many Policy Reforms, Regulations, executory challenges and the role of intermediaries.

Speaking at the event, Mr. S. V. Ramanan, CEO, CAMS Insurance Repository Services Ltd (CAMSRep), remarked how the Insurance industry had always been an arena “where the race is perpetually on, and the rules are constantly evolving”. Underscoring the dynamic nature of the industry, Mr. Ramanan observed how regulatory changes have been pivotal in effecting several operational changes in the field of Insurance, in life and as well as non-life.

Mr. Ramanan marked his appreciation for the meticulous process through which new changes are incorporated in the industry by the IRDAI; Executed in distinct phases, such as the cursory release of Exposure Drafts that solicit participation on its standards-setting activities, sufficient room is created for stake holders to review the many opportunities and challenges that the new change(s) would present, before proceeding to finalize and release the proposed modification or new regulation.

Speaking on Central KYC, Mr. Ramanan observed that there might be a need to relook at its dependencies on paper-based formalities, as the Aadhar-based eKYC might as well meet all the requirements to be met with the former, in a refreshingly technology enabled, paperless, convenient way that also ensures deduplication.

As the CEO of one of the country’s first ever electronic Insurance Repository that facilitates policy holders buy and keep insurance policies in electronic form since 2013, Mr. Ramanan lauded IRDAI for bringing about the Issuance of e-Insurance Policies Regulations 2016, which would come into effect from 1^st October, 2016, bound to revolutionize the Indian Insurance industry in its enormity. The other dignitaries who were present expressed their acknowledgement as he stated how these electronic policies, besides bringing convenience and safety, also reduce risk by eliminating paper and associated risks of storage and loss.

About CAMSRep

CAMS Insurance Repository Services Ltd (CAMSRep), a subsidiary of CAMS, is one of the major Insurance Repositories in India Licensed by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). CAMSRep, as an Insurance Repository opens unique eInsurance Accounts (eIA) for policy holders,which in essence are convenient, safe and relatively risk-free electronic policies. CAMSRep also acts as a single point of service for all ePolicies held by a policy holder. Apart from repository services, CAMSRep also provides outsourcing services to multiple Insurance Companies in accordance with IRDAI regulations.

CAMS CIO speaks on how CAMS leverages Superior Technology to attain Service Excellence

Strategic innovation and sustained performance delivery are aspects that have set apart winners from the rest. When it comes to organizations, technology-driven innovation fuels higher operational efficiencies, which in turn serve to effect better performance proficiencies and achieve overall service excellence.

Computer Age Management Services (CAMS) is India’s premier Mutual Fund Transfer Agency serving over 62% of assets of the industry across 16 Mutual Funds, which essentially converts to handling a great deal of public information.

With evolving industry dynamics and requirements from regulators and investors, many leading firms continue to entrust and outsource strategic operational activities to CAMS, and the latter unrelentingly delivers superior value services and solutions, thanks to its efficiencies in terms of scale, technology and process innovations.

Deeply mindful of its role as a custodian of information, CAMS is sensitized to the requirements of data security, and strongly believes in managing and keeping IT in-house and not outsourced. CAMS has consistently added value to its client firms through multiple product/process innovations, built in-house.

In an interview with ET CIO, Mr. N Ramakrishnan, Chief Information Officer, CAMS has elaborated on the organization is leveraging technology right from mobile app to analytics to deliver value to clients and a superlative user experience for investors.

Mr. N. Ramakrishnan CIO, CAMS Pvt Ltd

Excerpts from the ET CIO Story –

How CAMS is leveraging IT

“As an RTA (Registrar Transfer Agent) house, we hold nearly 62% of the mutual fund market data with us. Basically, this is public information and we don’t claim ownership but are effective custodians of our client database, so we have huge responsibilities.

Throughout our 26 years’ existence, we are backed by IT enablement service providers and people. Technology is the second biggest spend next to people and annually we do make local investments in new technology, which is our strong forte. As we speak at this point in time, we are working on digital transformation and digital dedicated strategy, because we don’t want to be left behind.

With huge data volumes, we are the only RTA that has achieved 92% of industry led data aggregation.

We are having our own data centers and in-house staff for application development and infrastructure management. This power of having everything in-house gives us tremendous flexibility and agility in terms of responding to our customer request and ensuring that product turnaround time is greatly minimized, gives greater convenience to our customer and so we would like to retain this edge.

We provide an online real-time exclusive BI service via micro strategy backed by an RTA BI reporting tool, so sales person will know the exact details of sales targets and every regional manager (RM) will able to create a monthly summary report. The regional sales head will be able to access and see how each RM has performed by drilling to each transaction level based on the individual AMC sales hierarchy through our CAMS Smart BI application.”

To read the entire story as published, please visit: http://cio.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/strategy-and-management/technology-is-the-second-biggest-spent-next-to-people-cams-cio-ramakrishnan/53950464

About CAMS

Computer Age Management Services (CAMS) is India’s premier Mutual Fund Transfer Agency serving over 62% of assets of the industry across 16 Mutual Funds. Leveraging superior technology, CAMS brings several innovative services to Mutual Fund investors and distributors. CAMS is also a service partner to leading Insurance Companies, Banks, NBFC’s and Alternate Investment funds. To know more visit http://www.camsonline.com