The redemption value of an open-end investment company's shares is based on what?

The redemption value of an open-end investment company's shares is based on the net asset value (NAV) computed after the order is received. This process occurs because open-end funds continuously issue and redeem shares based on their NAV, which is calculated by subtracting the fund's liabilities from its total assets and dividing the result by the number of outstanding shares.

When an investor wishes to redeem shares, the fund calculates the NAV at the end of the trading day after all buy and sell orders have been processed, ensuring that the redemption value reflects the accurate value of the fund's holdings. This method provides fairness to all shareholders as it ties the redemption price directly to the current underlying value of the fund’s assets, rather than fluctuating market prices or historical data.

Other options, such as the market price at the close of trading, do not apply to open-end funds, as their shares are not traded on the secondary market. The average historical price of the shares is not relevant for the redemption value, as it does not reflect current conditions. Lastly, the initial public offering price is only relevant at the time of the fund’s launch and does not determine ongoing redemptions.