What is the purpose of constituting a Unit Holder Protection Committee (UHPC) as per the circular issued by SEBI to protect unitholders’ interests ?

Solution

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a detailed circular, which will put the onus on mutual fund (MF) trustees to protect unitholders’ interests. These include monitoring fees and expenses, prevention of mis-selling and front running and conflict of interest between various stakeholders. The market regulator has stated that asset management companies (AMCs) shall constitute a unit holder protection committee (UHPC) to oversee the protection of unit holders’ interests, adoption of sound and healthy market practices, and compliance with laws/regulations or other related processes. Further, the UHPC must keep unit holders well informed about and educate them on MF products, the investor charter, and complaint-handling procedures. It shall submit its observations, along with recommendations periodically to the board of the AMC.