Computer Age Management Services Limited (CAMS) is a

mutual fund A mutual fund is a professionally managed investment fund that pools money from many investors to purchase securities. The term is typically used in the United States, Canada, and India, while similar structures across the globe include the SICAV i ...

transfer agency serving Indian asset management companies. The company was incorporated in 1988 and is headquartered in

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

. It became publicly listed in October 2020, subsequent to an

initial public offering An initial public offering (IPO) or stock launch is a public offering in which shares of a company are sold to institutional investors and usually also to retail (individual) investors. An IPO is typically underwritten by one or more investment ...

(IPO) through an offer by its existing shareholders.

History

CAMS was founded in early 1988 by V Shankar working in software development and computer education. During

Y2K The year 2000 problem, also known as the Y2K problem, Y2K scare, millennium bug, Y2K bug, Y2K glitch, Y2K error, or simply Y2K refers to potential computer errors related to the formatting and storage of calendar data for dates in and after ...

, CAMS pivoted to domestic financial services. The Indian financial services industry experienced a renaissance in the period 1997/8-2006/7, with changes in regulation, products, and supporting

infrastructure Infrastructure is the set of facilities and systems that serve a country, city, or other area, and encompasses the services and facilities necessary for its economy, households and firms to function. Infrastructure is composed of public and priv ...

. Financial businesses started taking advantage of technology and networking, and CAMS entered what became platform-based services. In 2000 HDFC Group invested in CAMS. In early 2014 India's Stock Exchange (NSE), took a position in the company. CAMS started off with of 20 staff and started to process transfer agency operations during the late eighties. CAMS handled IPOs including IPCA Laboratories, Wockhardt Ltd, NCD issues of RPPL, RPEL, and Crossland Research Labs Ltd. CAMS processed the first-ever allotment of

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

Escorts, launched in 1996 by Ford India Pvt Ltd. With the advent of closed-end Mutual Funds, CAMS was involved in the processing of the Indian Bank Mutual Fund and later started to handle the operations of Alliance Capital Mutual Fund. This was CAMS' first open-end mutual fund. CAMS handled the oldest Indian Mutual Funds, such as JM Mutual Fund, ITC Threadneedle, Zurich India Mutual Fund, Sun & FC Mutual Fund, Dundee Mutual Fund, and Taurus Mutual Fund.

Edge360

Edge360 is a distributor portal maintained by CAMS that enables financial and non-financial transactions for Independent Financial Advisors, their employees, and Registered Investment Advisors. Most financial transactions can be completed using the portal. Some non-financial transactions are supported, such as changing contact details of the investor, changing of bank mandate, and registration. Distributors can also download statements, and a variety of WBR reports to run their daily business. The portal allows mutual fund distributors to run campaigns and initiate KYC for their investors digitally.

Operations

As of June 2020, CAMS employed 6000+ people and offered varied services to the Mutual Funds, Insurance, and Banking industries through its network of 270+ locations across India. CSCs normally provide services to mutual funds, insurers, private equity, KRA, and NPS processes. Customers can enquire about their investments, obtain statements, seek portfolio valuations, buy, sell, and switch mutual fund units, notify changes in their account details, and register and submit KRA applications.

Subsidiaries

CAMS Repository Services Ltd (CAMSRep) – is licensed by IRDA to provide insurance repository services. CAMS Financial Information Services Pvt Ltd (CAMSfinserv). CAMSfinserv conducts account aggregation services in India. CAMS Investor Services Pvt Ltd ("CAMS KRA") is a

SEBI The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is the regulatory body for securities and commodity market in India under the ownership of Ministry of Finance within the Government of India. It was established on 12 April 1988 as an executive ...

registered KYC Registration Agency (KRA) providing KYC registration services and maintains KYC investor records, on behalf of registered capital market intermediaries, eliminating the need to repeat KYC. Sterling Software Pvt Ltd is a subsidiary software provider of CAMS for Mutual Fund industries. Sterling serves the requirements of Mutual Funds, Asset Management Companies, Fund Distributors and intermediaries. Its products rely on

Oracle Database Oracle Database (commonly referred to as Oracle DBMS, Oracle Autonomous Database, or simply as Oracle) is a multi-model database management system produced and marketed by Oracle Corporation. It is a database commonly used for running online t ...

s with

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washing ...

.NET Platform and Internet front ends.

Memberships, associations, accreditations

CAMS is the founding member of the Registrars Association of India (RAIN) which was founded in 1991. RAIN is a representative body of Registrars and Share Transfer Agents in India. CAMS is a member of The National Association of Software and Services Companies (USA). CAMS is an ISO 9001 – 2008, ISO 27001 compliant organization complies with SOC 1 & 2 (UTC) standards Service Organization Controls.

References

{{Financial services in India 1988 establishments in Tamil Nadu Financial services companies based in Chennai Financial services companies established in 1988 Financial services companies of India Indian companies established in 1988 Warburg Pincus companies Companies listed on the National Stock Exchange of India Companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange