UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NUMBER: 811-21547

EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER:		Calamos Global Total Return Fund

ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:		2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, Illinois 60563-2787

NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE:		John P. Calamos, Sr., President Calamos Advisors LLC 2020 Calamos Court Naperville, Illinois 60563-2787

REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (630) 245-7200

DATE OF FISCAL YEAR END: October 31, 2011

DATE OF REPORTING PERIOD: November 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011

 

 

 

Include a copy of the report transmitted to stockholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Act (17 CFR 270. 30e-1).

 

 

Our Level Rate Distribution Policy

 

GLOBAL TOTAL RETURN FUND

INVESTMENT TEAM DISCUSSION

 

 

 * Under the fund’s level rate distribution policy, the fund distributes income and short-term capital gains on a monthly
basis and long-term capital gains at the fund’s fiscal year end and calendar year end. For more on the level rate
distribution policy, please see page 28.

		CALAMOS GLOBAL TOTAL RETURN FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT		7

Schedule of Investments April 30, 2011 (Unaudited)

Schedule of Investments April 30, 2011 (Unaudited)

Schedule of Investments April 30, 2011 (Unaudited)

 

NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

 

 

FOREIGN CURRENCY ABBREVIATIONS

 

Note: Value for securities denominated in foreign currencies is shown in U.S. dollars. The principal amount for such securities is shown in the respective foreign currency.

Schedule of Investments April 30, 2011 (Unaudited)

 

INTEREST RATE SWAPS

 

 

CURRENCY EXPOSURE
APRIL 30, 2011 (UNAUDITED)

 

Currency exposure may vary over time.

Statement of Assets and Liabilities  April 30, 2011 (Unaudited)

Statement of Operations  Six Months Ended April 30, 2011 (Unaudited)

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Statement of Cash Flows  Six Months Ended April 30, 2011 (Unaudited)

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Note 1 – Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

Organization. Calamos Global Total Return (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on March 30, 2004 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund commenced operations on October 27, 2005. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income.

 

Fund Valuation. The valuation of the Fund’s securities is in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by and under the ultimate supervision of the board of trustees.

 

Fund securities that are traded on U.S. securities exchanges, except option securities, are valued at the last current reported sales price at the time a Fund determines its net asset value (“NAV”). Securities traded in the over-the-counter market and quoted on The NASDAQ Stock Market are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price, as determined by NASDAQ, or lacking a NASDAQ Official Closing Price, the last current reported sale price on NASDAQ at the time the Fund determines its NAV.

 

When a last sale or closing price is not available, equity securities, other than option securities, that are traded on a U.S. securities exchange and other equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at the mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations in accordance with guidelines adopted by the board of trustees. Each option security traded on a U.S. securities exchange is valued at the mid-point of the consolidated bid/ask quote for the option security, also in accordance with guidelines adopted by the board of trustees. Each over-the-counter option that is not traded through the Options Clearing Corporation is valued based on a quotation provided by the counterparty to such option under the ultimate supervision of the board of trustees.

 

Fixed income securities, certain convertible preferred securities, and non-exchange traded derivatives are normally valued by independent pricing services or by dealers or brokers who make markets in such securities. Valuations of such fixed income securities, certain convertible preferred securities, and non-exchange traded derivatives consider yield or price of equivalent securities of comparable quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics and other market data and do not rely exclusively upon exchange or over-the-counter prices.

 

Trading on European and Far Eastern exchanges and over-the-counter markets is typically completed at various times before the close of business on each day on which the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open. Each security trading on these exchanges or over-the-counter markets may be valued utilizing a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent pricing service approved by the board of trustees. The valuation of each security that meets certain criteria in relation to the valuation model is systematically adjusted to reflect the impact of movement in the U.S. market after the foreign markets close. Securities that do not meet the criteria, or that are principally traded in other foreign markets, are valued as of the last reported sale price at the time the Fund determines its NAV, or when reliable market prices or quotations are not readily available, at the mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations as of the close of the appropriate exchange or other designated time. Trading of foreign securities may not take place on every NYSE business day. In addition, trading may take place in various foreign markets on Saturdays or on other days when the NYSE is not open and on which the Fund’s NAV is not calculated.

 

If the pricing committee determines that the valuation of a security in accordance with the methods described above is not reflective of a fair value for such security, the security is valued at a fair value by the pricing committee, under the ultimate supervision of the board of trustees, following the guidelines and/or procedures adopted by the board of trustees.

 

The Fund also may use fair value pricing, pursuant to guidelines adopted by the board of trustees and under the ultimate supervision of the board of trustees, if trading in the security is halted or if the value of a security it holds is materially affected by events occurring before the Fund’s pricing time but after the close of the primary market or exchange on which the security is listed. Those procedures may utilize valuations furnished by pricing services approved by the board of trustees, which may be based on market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships between securities that are generally recognized by institutional traders, a computerized matrix system, or appraisals derived from information concerning the securities or similar securities received from recognized dealers in those securities.

 

When fair value pricing of securities is employed, the prices of securities used by a Fund to calculate its NAV may differ from market quotations or official closing prices. In light of the judgment involved in fair valuations, there can be no assurance that a fair value assigned to a particular security is accurate.

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Investment Transactions. Investment transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Net realized gains and losses from investment transactions are reported on an identified cost basis. Interest income is recognized using the accrual method and includes accretion of original issue and market discount and amortization of premium. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, except that certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as soon as the information becomes available after the ex-dividend date.

 

Foreign Currency Translation. Values of investments and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using a rate quoted by a major bank or dealer in the particular currency market, as reported by a recognized quotation dissemination service.

 

The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments.

 

Reported net realized foreign currency gains or losses arise from disposition of foreign currency, the difference in the foreign exchange rates between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the ex-date or accrual date and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes (due to the changes in the exchange rate) in the value of foreign currency and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies held at period end.

 

Allocation of Expenses Among Funds. Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged to the Fund; certain other common expenses of Calamos Advisors Trust, Calamos Investment Trust, Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund, Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund, Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund, Calamos Global Total Return Fund and Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund are allocated proportionately among each fund to which the expenses relate in relation to the net assets of each fund or on another reasonable basis.

 

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

 

Income Taxes. No provision has been made for U.S. income taxes because the Fund’s policy is to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and distribute to shareholders substantially all of its taxable income and net realized gains.

 

Dividends and distributions paid to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The amount of dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains is determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. To the extent these “book/tax” differences are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis treatment. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments for foreign currency transactions, contingent payment debt instruments and methods of amortizing and accreting on fixed income securities. The financial statements are not adjusted for temporary differences.

 

The Fund recognized no liability for uncertain tax positions. A reconciliation is not provided as the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized benefits are zero, with no interim additions, reductions or settlements. Tax years 2007 — 2009 remain subject to examination by the U.S. and the State of Illinois tax jurisdictions.

 

Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, the Fund is obligated to indemnify its officers and trustees against certain liabilities incurred by them by reason of having been an officer or trustee of the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications to other parties. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. Currently, the Fund’s management expects the risk of material loss in connection to a potential claim to be remote.

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Note 2 – Investment Adviser and Transactions With Affiliates Or Certain Other Parties

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with Calamos Advisors LLC (“Calamos Advisors”), the Fund pays an annual fee, payable monthly, equal to 1.00% based on the average weekly managed assets. “Managed assets” means a fund’s total assets (including any assets attributable to any leverage that may be outstanding) minus total liabilities (other than debt representing financial leverage).

 

Pursuant to a financial accounting services agreement, during the period the Fund paid Calamos Advisors a fee for financial accounting services payable monthly at the annual rate of 0.0175% on the first $1 billion of combined assets, 0.0150% on the next $1 billion of combined assets and 0.0110% on combined assets above $2 billion (for purposes of this calculation “combined assets” means the sum of the total average daily net assets of Calamos Investment Trust, Calamos Advisors Trust, and the total average weekly managed assets of Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund, Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund, Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund, Calamos Global Total Return Fund and Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund). Financial accounting services include, but are not limited to, the following: managing expenses and expense payment processing; monitoring the calculation of expense accrual amounts; calculating, tracking and reporting tax adjustments on all assets; and monitoring trustee deferred compensation plan accruals and valuations. The Fund pays its pro rata share of the financial accounting services fee payable to Calamos Advisors based on its relative portion of combined assets used in calculating the fee.

 

The Fund reimburses Calamos Advisors for a portion of compensation paid to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer. This compensation is reported as part of “Trustees’ fees and officer compensation” expense on the Statement of Operations.

 

A trustee and certain officers of the Fund are also officers and directors of Calamos Advisors. Such trustee and officers serve without direct compensation from the Fund.

 

The Fund has adopted a deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”). Under the Plan, a trustee who is not an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) and has elected to participate in the Plan (a “participating trustee”) may defer receipt of all or a portion of his compensation from the Fund. The deferred compensation payable to the participating trustee is credited to the trustee’s deferral account as of the business day such compensation would have been paid to the participating trustee. The value of amounts deferred for a participating trustee is determined by reference to the change in value of Class I shares of one or more funds of Calamos Investment Trust designated by the participant. The value of the account increases with contributions to the account or with increases in the value of the measuring shares, and the value of the account decreases with withdrawals from the account or with declines in the value of the measuring shares. Deferred compensation of $60,459 is included in “Other assets” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities at April 30, 2011. The Fund’s obligation to make payments under the Plan is a general obligation of the Fund and is included in “Payable for deferred compensation to trustees” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities at April 30, 2011.

 

Note 3 – Investments

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sale of long-term investments, for the period ended April 30, 2011 were as follows:

 

 

The following information is presented on a federal income tax basis as of April 30, 2011. Differences between the cost basis under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and federal income tax purposes are primarily due to temporary differences.

 

The cost basis of investments for federal income tax purposes at April 30, 2011 was as follows:

 

 

Note 4 – Income Taxes

The Fund intends to make monthly distributions from its income available for distribution, which consists of the Fund’s dividends and interest income after payment of Fund expenses, and net realized gains on stock investments. At least annually, the Fund intends to

Notes to Financial Statements

distribute all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains, if any. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund distinguishes between distributions on a tax basis and a financial reporting basis. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require that only distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits be reported in the financial statements as a return of capital. Permanent differences between book and tax accounting relating to distributions are reclassified to paid-in-capital. For tax purposes, distributions from short-term capital gains are considered to be from ordinary income. Distributions in any year may include a return of capital component.

 

The tax character of distributions for the period ended April 30, 2011 will be determined at the end of each Fund’s current fiscal year. Distributions during the fiscal period ended October 31, 2010 were characterized for federal income tax purposes as follows:

 

 

As of October 31, 2010, the components of accumulated earnings/(loss) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

 

Note 5 – Common Shares

There are unlimited common shares of beneficial interest authorized and 8,075,027 shares outstanding at April 30, 2011. Calamos Advisors owned 11,066 of the outstanding shares at April 30, 2011. Transactions in common shares were as follows:

 

 

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 that the Fund may from time to time purchase its shares of common stock in the open market.

 

The Fund also may offer and sell common shares from time to time at an offering price equal to or in excess of the net asset value per share of the Fund’s common shares at the time such common shares are initially sold. Transactions for the first six months of the fiscal year had net proceeds received in excess of net value of $2,469.

 

Note 6 – Derivative Instruments

Foreign Currency Risk. The Fund engaged in portfolio hedging with respect to changes in currency exchange rates by entering into foreign currency contracts to purchase or sell currencies. A forward foreign currency contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. Risks associated with such contracts include, among other things, movement in the value of the foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar and the ability of the counterparty to perform. The net unrealized gain, if any, represents the credit risk to the Fund on a forward foreign currency contract. The contracts are valued daily at

Notes to Financial Statements

forward foreign exchange rates and an unrealized gain or loss is recorded. The Fund realizes a gain or loss when a position is closed or upon settlement of the contracts. There were no open forward currency contracts at April 30, 2011.

 

Equity Risk. The Fund engages in option transactions and in doing so achieves the similar objectives to what it would achieve through the sale or purchase of individual securities. A call option, upon payment of a premium, gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the seller of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security, index or other instrument at the exercise price. A put option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right to sell, and the seller the obligation to buy, the underlying security, index, or other instrument at the exercise price.

 

To seek to offset some of the risk of a potential decline in value of certain long positions, the Fund may also purchase put options on individual securities, broad-based securities indexes or certain exchange traded funds (“ETFs”). The Fund may also seek to generate income from option premiums by writing (selling) options on a portion of the equity securities (including securities that are convertible into equity securities) in the Fund’s portfolio, on broad-based securities indexes, or certain ETFs.

 

When a Fund purchases an option, it pays a premium and an amount equal to that premium is recorded as an asset. When a Fund writes an option, it receives a premium and an amount equal to that premium is recorded as a liability. The asset or liability is adjusted daily to reflect the current market value of the option. If an option expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a gain or loss to the extent of the premium received or paid. If an option is exercised, the premium received or paid is recorded as an adjustment to the proceeds from the sale or the cost basis of the purchase. The difference between the premium and the amount received or paid on a closing purchase or sale transaction is also treated as a realized gain or loss. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid. Gain or loss on written options and purchased options is presented separately as net realized gain or loss on written options and net realized gain or loss on purchased options, respectively.

 

As of April 30, 2011, the Fund had outstanding purchased options and/or written options as listed on the Schedule of Investments. For the period ended April 30, 2011, the Fund had the following transactions in options written:

 

 

Interest Rate Risk. The Fund engages in interest rate swaps primarily to hedge the interest rate risk on the fund’s borrowings (see Note 7 – Borrowings). An interest rate swap is a contract that involves the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate. If interest rates rise, resulting in a diminution in the value of the Fund’s portfolio, the Fund would receive payments under the swap that would offset, in whole or in part, such diminution in value; if interest rates fall, the Fund would likely lose money on the swap transaction. Unrealized gains are reported as an asset, and unrealized losses are reported as a liability on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The change in value of swaps, including accruals of periodic amounts of interest to be paid or received on swaps, is reported as change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on interest rate swaps in the Statement of Operations. A realized gain or loss is recorded in net realized gain (loss) from interest rate swaps in the Statement of Operations upon payment or receipt of a periodic payment or termination of the swap agreements. Swap agreements are stated at fair value. Notional principal amounts are used to express the extent of involvement in these transactions, but the amounts potentially subject to credit risk are much smaller. In connection with these contracts, securities may be identified as collateral in accordance with the terms of the respective swap contracts in the event of default or bankruptcy of the Fund.

 

Premiums paid to or by a Fund are accrued daily and included in realized gain (loss) when paid on swaps in the accompanying Statement of Operations. The contracts are marked-to-market daily based upon third party vendor valuations and changes in value are recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Gains or losses are realized upon early termination of the contract. Risks may exceed amounts recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. These risks include changes in the returns of the underlying instruments, failure of

Notes to Financial Statements

the counterparties to perform under the contracts’ terms, counterparty’s creditworthiness, and the possible lack of liquidity with respect to the contracts.

 

As of April 30, 2011, the Fund had outstanding interest rate swap agreements as listed on the Schedule of Investments.

 

Below are the types of derivatives in the Fund by gross value as of April 30, 2011:

 

 

Volume of Derivative Activity for the Six Months Ended April 30, 2011*

 

 

 

Note 7 – Borrowings

The Fund, with the approval of its board of trustees, including its independent trustees, has entered into a financing package that includes a Committed Facility Agreement (the “Agreement”) with BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc. (as successor to Bank of America N.A.) (“BNP”) that allows the Fund to borrow up to an initial limit of $59,000,000 and a Lending Agreement, as defined below. Borrowings under the Agreement are secured by assets of the Fund that are held with the Fund’s custodian in a separate account (the “pledged collateral”). Interest is charged at the quarterly LIBOR (London Inter-bank Offered Rate) plus .65% on the amount borrowed and .55% on the undrawn balance. For the period ended April 30, 2011, the average borrowings under the Agreement and the average interest rate were $30,000,000 and 1.18%, respectively. As of April 30, 2011, the amount of such outstanding borrowings is $30,000,000. The interest rate applicable to the borrowings on April 30, 2011 was 0.92%.

 

The Lending Agreement is a separate side-agreement between the Fund and BNP pursuant to which BNP may borrow a portion of the pledged collateral (the “Lent Securities”) in an amount not to exceed the outstanding borrowings owed by the Fund to BNP under the Agreement. The Lending Agreement is intended to permit the Fund to significantly reduce the cost of its borrowings under the Agreement. BNP may re-register the Lent Securities in its own name or in another name other than the Fund, and may pledge, re-pledge, sell, lend or otherwise transfer or use the Lent Securities with all attendant rights of ownership. (It is the Fund’s understanding that BNP will perform due diligence to determine the creditworthiness of any party that borrows Lent Securities from BNP.) The Fund may designate any security within the pledged collateral as ineligible to be a Lent Security, provided there are eligible securities within the pledged collateral in an amount equal to the outstanding borrowing owed by the Fund. During the period in which the Lent Securities are outstanding, BNP must remit payment to the Fund equal to the amount of all dividends, interest or other distributions earned or made by the Lent Securities.

 

Under the terms of the Lending Agreement, the Lent Securities are marked to market daily, and if the value of the Lent Securities exceeds the value of the then-outstanding borrowings owed by the Fund to BNP under the Agreement (the “Current Borrowings”), BNP must, on that day, either (1) return Lent Securities to the Fund’s custodian in an amount sufficient to cause the value of the outstanding Lent Securities to equal the Current Borrowings; or (2) post cash collateral with the Fund’s custodian equal to the difference between the value of the Lent Securities and the value of the Current Borrowings. If BNP fails to perform either of these actions as required, the Fund will recall securities, as discussed below, in an amount sufficient to cause the value of the outstanding Lent Securities to equal the Current Borrowings. The Fund can recall any of the Lent Securities and BNP shall, to the extent commercially possible, return such security or equivalent security to the Fund’s custodian no later than three business days after such request. If the Fund recalls a Lent Security pursuant to the Lending Agreement, and BNP fails to return the Lent Securities or equivalent securities in a timely fashion, BNP shall remain liable to the Fund’s custodian for the ultimate delivery of such Lent Securities, or equivalent securities, and for any buy-in costs that the executing broker for the sales transaction may impose with respect to the failure to deliver. The Fund shall also have the right to

Notes to Financial Statements

apply and set-off an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the then-current fair value of such Lent Securities against the Current Borrowings.

 

Note 8 – Structured Equity-Linked Securities

The Fund may also invest in structured equity-linked securities created by third parties, typically investment banks. Structured equity-linked securities created by such parties may be designed to simulate the characteristics of traditional convertible securities or may be designed to alter or emphasize a particular feature. Traditional convertible securities typically offer stable cash flows with the ability to participate in capital appreciation of the underlying common stock. Because traditional convertible securities are exercisable at the option of the holder, the holder is protected against downside risk. Structured equity-linked securities may alter these characteristics by offering enhanced yields in exchange for reduced capital appreciation or less downside protection, or any combination of these features. Structured equity-linked instruments may include structured notes, equity-linked notes, mandatory convertibles and combinations of securities and instruments, such as a debt instrument combined with a forward contract. Income received from these securities is recorded as dividends on the Statement of Operations.

 

Note 9 – Valuations

Various inputs are used to determine the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are categorized into three broad levels as follows:

 

 

Debt securities (including U.S. government and government agency obligations) are valued based upon evaluated prices received from an independent pricing service or from a dealer or broker who makes markets in such securities. Pricing services utilize various observable market data and as such, debt securities are generally categorized as Level 2. The levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity of the Fund’s investments.

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s holdings at fair value:

 

Financial Highlights

 

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period were as follows: