Closed-end management companies

Closed-end management companies are similar to open-end management companies. Both pool investor money and invest it according to the fund’s objectives, aiming for investment returns. The key difference is how open-end and closed-end management companies are capitalized (structured) and how their shares trade.

Commonly called closed-end funds, these pooled investments are first offered to investors in the primary market and then trade in the secondary market. This is how most securities trade - on a negotiable basis - including common stock and debt securities. Unlike mutual funds, closed-end funds are not subject to sales charges (loads). Instead, trades are subject to commissions. Closed-end funds can also be purchased on margin (with borrowed money) and sold short.

When closed-end shares are sold in the primary market, the prospectus rule applies. Every purchaser must receive a prospectus*, which provides detailed information about the issuer and the security being sold. After the primary offering, the issuer’s role shifts to operating the fund. Like mutual funds, the fund manager’s goal is to manage the portfolio to maximize investors’ returns.

*Delivering a prospectus is no longer required once the primary offering is finished and the shares are solely trading in the secondary market.

Like mutual funds, closed-end funds calculate net asset values (NAVs). In both cases, NAV reflects the total value of the assets held in the portfolio. However, for closed-end funds, NAV is not necessarily the price investors pay. Instead, NAV serves as a reference point (a guide) for the fund’s market price.

Because closed-end shares trade in the secondary market, their prices fluctuate based on supply and demand. If buying interest increases, the market price can rise even if the NAV doesn’t change. If many investors sell, the market price can fall even if the NAV doesn’t change.

NAVs for closed-end funds work a lot like Kelley Blue Book values for cars. Suppose you want to sell your car and Kelley Blue Book lists it at $10,000. That “book value” is a useful benchmark, but the market ultimately determines the price you can actually sell it for. Higher demand might let you sell above $10,000; lower demand might force you to accept less. NAV works the same way for a publicly traded fund.

A closed-end fund’s market price can be higher than, lower than, or equal to its NAV. Ultimately, market demand determines the trading price. This differs from open-end funds, where the NAV is the minimum price an investor will pay for mutual fund shares.