DTCC Collaborating with Delta Data to Expand Technology Capabilities of its Mutual Fund Profile Service

Editor’s note: As DTCC continues to expand its data warehouse capabilities to more financial sectors, we are sharing the following article from Wealth Management Services. It highlights another of DTCC’s successful partnerships with solution providers to support automation, standardization and centralization for the financial marketplace.

by Karen Gregory

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has reached agreement with Delta Data Software, Inc., to deliver ongoing enhancements to NSCC’s Mutual Fund Profile Service (Profile). This service is a multi-dimensional, central data source for comprehensive fund prospectus information and rules governing funds’ operations. The first step will be the introduction in early 2010 of a new Web portal that will enhance a fund company’s ability to enter data by providing front-end edits and access to help tools and a standard data dictionary.

“The availability of reliable, timely information continues to be a high priority for fund distributors,” said Ann Bergin, Managing Director and General Manager, DTCC Wealth Management Services. “Profile gives affordable access to data on more than 19,000 individual funds, and our collaboration with Delta Data will help ensure that the service continues to meet the evolving needs of our participants.”

Partnership Began with Pilot Program Last Year

DTCC began working with Delta Data in 2008, offering its FUNDViewsTM data validation service as a free pilot to fund companies entering fund security information into Profile. The Delta Data service allowed funds to check and validate their data by providing various reports that highlighted possible data discrepancies.

Building on the success of this validation tool – some 140 fund groups have now provided more than 120 distribution firms with over four million data points – DTCC made a decision to take the partnership to a higher level. In addition to the new portal, Delta Data will provide technical support for the database and implement ongoing enhancements based on DTCC’s business requirements. These enhancements will be developed in collaboration with the fund industry and the Investment Company Institute’s (ICI) Profile Steering Committee. The announcement has been broadly welcomed by the mutual fund industry. Laura Stanley, Vice President, Invesco Aim Investment Services, Inc., and chair of the ICI Profile Steering Committee, said, “We’re delighted that DTCC and Delta Data have come together to further support the need for funds to provide accurate fund data and improve operational processing efficiencies. We see this as good for both the industry and for fund shareholders.”

“We are pleased to play a role in the future modifications to Profile that will continue to enhance its usability for the industry,” said Don Beck, Chief Executive Officer, Delta Data. “We applaud DTCC’s commitment to this initiative, the work of the Committee, and strong participation by the industry. We look forward to continuing the process of making Profile the industry standard repository it was designed to be, and being part of DTCC’s rich tradition of delivering efficiencies to the industry.”

More on Profile

The Profile database is a repository for information that broker/dealers and other third-party distribution firms need to make informed investment decisions for their customers and to process transactions. It offers an efficient, automated alternative to finding information in dense prospectuses, other legal documents, or in complex “spec packs” that many firms send to their fund partners to complete. This information includes blue-sky data, contingent deferred sales charges, breakpoint discount schedules and linkage rules, short-term redemption fees, and more. Data distribution inefficiencies are eliminated through a streamlined process of entering, maintaining and retrieving this information. The service is provided by National Securities Clearing Corporation, a subsidiary of DTCC.

About Delta Data

For more than 23 years, Delta Data has delivered value through relationships, talent and technology. Keenly focused on solving complex challenges in the financial services industry, Delta Data is uniquely skilled in the delivery and maintenance of solutions that move and keep our clients ahead – driving profitability by solving compliance mandates, mitigating risk and improving processing efficiencies – facilitating better customer service and competitive advantage. For more information, please visit Delta Data’s Web site at www.deltadatasoft.com.