An investor register is the authoritative list of the holders of shares, units or partnership interests in an investment fund, showing each holder's name, contact and payment details, the number of units or the commitment held, and the history of transactions. It is the fund counterpart of a company's share register, and an entry in it is normally the legal evidence of ownership.
The register is maintained by the fund's transfer agent or administrator as part of transfer agency, and is updated for each subscription, redemption, transfer and distribution. Holdings bought through platforms and distributors usually appear in the name of a nominee, so the register does not always show the underlying investor. The keeper of the register carries out know your customer checks on those named in it and uses it to pay distributions, issue statements and tax reports, and call investor meetings.