U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

þ		REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

o		Pre-Effective Amendment No.

þ		Post-Effective Amendment No. 2

þ		REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

þ		Amendment No. 13

CALAMOS CONVERTIBLE OPPORTUNITIES AND INCOME FUND

(630) 245-7200

Agent for Service
John P. Calamos, Sr.
President
Calamos Advisors LLC
2020 Calamos Court
Naperville, Illinois 60563

Copies of Communications to:

Eric S. Purple
Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP
1615 L Street, N.W., 1200
Washington, DC 20036

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: From time to time after the effective date of the Registration Statement.

If any of the securities being registered on this form are offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box. þ

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

     þ when declared effective pursuant to section 8(c)

If appropriate, check the following box:

     o This [post-effective] amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed [post-effective amendment] [registration statement].

     o This form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and the Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is                     .

     The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such dates as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 5, 2009

Base Prospectus

 

$200,000,000

 

Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund

Common Shares

Preferred Shares

Debt Securities

 

Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund (the “Fund,” “we” or “our”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company which commenced investment operations in June 2002. Our investment objective is to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income.

 

We may offer, on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis, up to $200,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of our common shares (no par value per share), preferred shares (no par value per share) or debt securities, which we refer to in this prospectus collectively as our securities, in one or more offerings. We may offer our common shares, preferred shares and debt securities separately or together, in amounts, at prices and on terms set forth in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement carefully before you decide to invest in any of our securities.

 

We may offer our securities directly to one or more purchasers, through agents that we or they designate from time to time, or to or through underwriters or dealers. The prospectus supplement relating to the particular offering will identify any agents or underwriters involved in the sale of our securities, and will set forth any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between us and such agents or underwriters or among the underwriters or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. For more information about the manner in which we may offer our securities, see “Plan of Distribution.” Our securities may not be sold through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery or deemed delivery of a prospectus supplement and a prospectus.

 

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CHI.” As of January 7, 2009, the last reported sale price for our common shares was $9.20.

 

Investing in our securities involves certain risks. You could lose some or all of your investment. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page    of this prospectus. Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value and this may increase the risk of loss of purchasers of our securities. You should consider carefully these risks together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before making a decision to purchase our securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Prospectus dated          , 2009

 

This prospectus, together with any prospectus supplement, sets forth concisely the information that you should know before investing. You should read the prospectus and prospectus supplement, which contain important information, before deciding whether to invest in our securities. You should retain the prospectus and prospectus supplement for future reference. A statement of additional information, dated          , 2009, as supplemented from time to time, containing additional information, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this prospectus. You may request a free copy of the statement of additional information, the table of contents of which is on page    of this prospectus, request a free copy of our annual and semi-annual reports, request other information or make shareholder inquiries, by calling toll-free 1-800-582-6959 or by writing to the Fund at 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, Illinois 60563. The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports also are available on our website at www.calamos.com, which also provides a link to the Commission’s website, as described below, where the Fund’s statement of additional information can be obtained. Information included on our website does not form part of this prospectus. You can review and copy documents we have filed at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call 1-202-551-8090 for information. The Commission charges a fee for copies. You can get the same information free from the Commission’s website (http://www.sec.gov). You may also e-mail requests for these documents to publicinfo@sec.gov or make a request in writing to the Commission’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

 

Our securities do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution and is not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement in making your investment decisions. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different or inconsistent information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information appearing in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the dates on their covers. Our business, financial condition and prospects may have changed since such dates. We will advise investors of any material changes to the extent required by applicable law.

CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the statement of additional information contain “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “may,” “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “anticipate,” and similar terms and the negative of such terms. Such forward-looking statements may be contained in this prospectus as well as in any accompanying prospectus supplement. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Several factors that could materially affect our actual results are the performance of the portfolio of securities we hold, the price at which our shares will trade in the public markets and other factors discussed in our periodic filings with the Commission.

 

Although we believe that the expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in our forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus. All forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement are made as of the date of this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement, as the case may be. Except for our ongoing obligations under the federal securities laws, we do not intend, and we undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the statement of additional information are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).

 

Currently known risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to, the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus. We urge you to review carefully that section for a more detailed discussion of the risks of an investment in our securities.

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

	•	increased price sensitivity to changing interest rates and to a deteriorating economic environment;
	•	greater risk of loss due to default or declining credit quality;
	•	adverse company specific events are more likely to render the issuer unable to make interest and/or principal payments; and
	•	if a negative perception of the high yield market develops, the price and liquidity of high yield securities may be depressed. This negative perception could last for a significant period of time.

	•	if interest rates go up, the value of debt securities in the Fund’s portfolio generally will decline;
	•	during periods of declining interest rates, the issuer of a security may exercise its option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is known as call or prepayment risk. Debt securities frequently have call features that allow the issuer to repurchase the security prior to its stated maturity. An issuer may redeem an obligation if the issuer can refinance the debt at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer;
	•	during periods of rising interest rates, the average life of certain types of securities may be extended because of slower than expected principal payments. This may lock in a below market interest rate, increase the security’s duration (the estimated period until the security is paid in full) and reduce the value of the security. This is known as extension risk; and
	•	market interest rates currently are near historically low levels. See “Risk Factors — Fund Risks — Interest Rate Risk.”

	•	less information about non-U.S. issuers or markets may be available due to less rigorous disclosure or accounting standards or regulatory practices;
	•	many non-U.S. markets are smaller, less liquid and more volatile. In a changing market, Calamos may not be able to sell the Fund’s portfolio securities at times, in amounts and at prices it considers reasonable;
	•	an adverse effect of currency exchange rates or controls on the value of the Fund’s investments;
	•	the economies of non-U.S. countries may grow at slower rates than expected or may experience a downturn or recession;
	•	economic, political and social developments may adversely affect the securities markets, including expropriation and nationalization;
	•	the difficulty in obtaining or enforcing a court judgment in non-U.S. countries;
	•	restrictions on foreign investments in non-U.S. jurisdictions;
	•	difficulties in effecting the repatriation of capital invested in non-U.S. countries; and

	•	withholding and other non-U.S. taxes may decrease the Fund’s return. See “Risk Factors — Fund Risks — Foreign Securities Risk.”

	•	the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the Fund’s common shares;
	•	fluctuations in the dividend rates on any preferred shares or in interest rates on borrowings and short-term debt;
	•	increased operating costs, which are effectively borne by common shareholders, may reduce the Fund’s total return; and
	•	the potential for a decline in the value of an investment acquired with borrowed funds, while the Fund’s obligations under such borrowing or preferred shares remain fixed.

 

The following table and example contain information about the costs and expenses that common shareholders will bear directly or indirectly. In accordance with Commission requirements, the table below shows our expenses, including leverage costs, as a percentage of our average net assets as of October 31, 2008, and not as a percentage of gross assets or managed assets. By showing expenses as a percentage of average net assets, expenses are not expressed as a percentage of all of the assets we invest. The table and example are based on our capital structure as of October 31, 2008, including expenses incurred in connection with borrowings under a renewable commercial paper conduit facility. See “Prospectus Summary — Recent Developments.” The table and example reflect interest expense and related expenses associated with such borrowings, the aggregate principal amount of which was $149 million as of October 31, 2008. The proceeds of such borrowings were utilized entirely to redeem an equal aggregate liquidation amount of Auction Market Preferred Shares in June 2008. As of October 31, 2008, the Fund had outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares with $104 million in aggregate liquidation preference and outstanding senior debt under the renewable commercial paper conduit facility with an aggregate principal amount of $149 million. Together such leverage represented, as of October 31, 2008, approximately 38% of the Fund’s managed assets.

 

Shareholder Transaction Expense

 

 

 

Example:

 

The following example illustrates the expenses that common shareholders would pay on a $1,000 investment in common shares, assuming (1) net annual expenses of 3.69% of net assets attributable to common shares in year 1 and increasing to 3.80% in year 2, 3.90% in year 3, and 3.94% in years 4 through 10; (2) a 5% annual return; and (3) all distributions are reinvested at net asset value:

 

 

The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, our actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The purpose of the table and the example above is to help investors understand the fees and expenses that they, as common shareholders, would bear directly or indirectly. For additional information with respect to our expenses, see “Management of the Fund.”

 

The information in the following table shows selected data for a common share outstanding throughout each period listed below. Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the information for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2008, October 31, 2007, October 31, 2006, October 31, 2005, October 31, 2004 and October 31, 2003. The report of Deloitte & Touche LLP is contained in our 2008 Annual Report and included in the statement of additional information, both of which are available from us. Information for the period ended October 31, 2002 was audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “CHI.” Our common shares commenced trading on the NYSE in June 2002.

 

Our common shares have traded both at a premium and a discount to NAV. We cannot predict whether our shares will trade in the future at a premium or discount to NAV. The provisions of the 1940 Act generally require that the public offering price of common shares (less any underwriting commissions and discounts) must equal or exceed the NAV per share of a company’s common stock (calculated within 48 hours of pricing). Our issuance of common shares may have an adverse effect on prices in the secondary market for our common shares by increasing the number of common shares available, which may put downward pressure on the market price for our common shares. Shares of common stock of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from NAV. See “Risk Factors — Additional Risks to Common Shareholders — Market Discount Risk.”

 

The following table sets forth for each of the periods indicated the high and low closing market prices for our common shares on the NYSE, the NAV per share and the premium or discount to NAV per share at which

our common shares were trading. NAV is determined on the last business day of each month. See “Determination of Net Asset Value” for information as to the determination of our NAV.

 

 

 

Source: Bloomberg Financial and Fund Accounting Records.

 

 

The last reported sale price, NAV per common share and percentage premium to NAV per common share on December 31, 2008 were $8.29, $8.13 and 1.97%, respectively. As of December 31, 2008, we had 50,355,536 common shares outstanding and net assets of approximately $409,545,899.

 

Subject to the remainder of this section, and unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, we currently intend to invest the net proceeds of any sales of our securities pursuant to this prospectus in accordance with our investment objective and policies as described under “Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies” within approximately three months of receipt of such proceeds. Such investments may be delayed if suitable investments are unavailable at the time or for other reasons. Pending such investment, we anticipate that we will invest the proceeds in securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities or in high quality, short-term or long-term debt obligations. We may also use proceeds from the sale of our securities to (i) retire all or a portion of any short-term debt we incur in pursuit of our investment objective and policies, (ii) redeem any outstanding senior securities, including, to the extent any are outstanding, our Auction Market Preferred Shares, and (iii) for working capital purposes, including the

payment of interest and operating expenses, although there is currently no intent to issue securities primarily for this purpose. A delay in the anticipated use of proceeds could lower returns, reduce our distribution to common shareholders and reduce the amount of cash available to make dividend and interest payments on preferred shares and debt securities, respectively.

 

Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company which commenced investment operations in June 2002. The Fund was organized under the laws of the State of Delaware on April 17, 2002, and has registered under the 1940 Act. On June 28, 2002, the Fund issued an aggregate of 40,000,000 common shares, no par value, in an initial public offering and commenced its operations. On July 12, 2002 and August 13, 2002, the Fund issued an additional 3,000,0000 and 225,000 common shares, respectively, in connection with exercises by the underwriters of their over-allotment option. The net proceeds of the initial public offering and subsequent exercises of the over-allotment option were approximately $619,298,400 after the payment of offering expenses. As of December 31, 2008, the Fund had issued an additional 1,713,746 common shares in connection with a continuous, at-the-market offering that commenced in June 2008. The net proceeds of that offering through December 31, 2008 were approximately $17,452,516 after the payment of offering expenses. On September 12, 2002 and November 12, 2003, the Fund issued Auction Market Preferred Shares, liquidation preference $25,000 per share ($204,000,000 and $180,000,000 in the aggregate, respectively). In June 2008, the Fund redeemed $280 million aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares with the proceeds of a renewable commercial paper conduit facility that has a maturity of 364 days. As of December 31, 2008, the Fund had outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares with $104 million in aggregate liquidation preference and outstanding senior debt under the renewable commercial paper conduit facility with an aggregate principal amount of $89 million. Together such leverage represented, as of December 31, 2008, approximately 32% of the Fund’s managed assets. The Fund’s common shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “CHI.” The Fund’s principal office is located at 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, Illinois 60563, and its telephone number is 1-800-582-6959.

 

The following table provides information about our outstanding securities as of December 31, 2008:

 

 

The following sets forth information about the Fund’s outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares as of the dates indicated below:

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund’s investment objective is to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income. The Fund’s investment objective may be changed by the Board of Trustees without a shareholder vote, although the Fund will give shareholders at least 60 days’ notice of any change to the Fund’s investment objective. The Fund makes no assurance that it will realize its objective. An investment in the Fund may be speculative in that it involves a high degree of risk and should not constitute a complete investment program. See “Risk Factors.”

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its managed assets in a diversified portfolio of convertible securities and non-convertible income securities. This is a non-fundamental policy and may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Fund provided that shareholders are provided with at least 60 days’ prior written notice of any change as required by the rules under the 1940 Act. The portion of the Fund’s assets invested in convertible securities and non-convertible income securities will vary from time to time consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, changes in equity prices and changes in interest rates and other economic and market factors, although, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 35% of its managed assets in convertible securities. The Fund invests in securities with a broad range of maturities. The average term to maturity of the Fund’s securities typically will range from five to ten years.

 

Convertible Securities.  The Fund is not limited in the percentage of its assets invested in convertible securities, and investment in convertible securities forms an important part of the Fund’s investment strategies. A convertible security is a debt security or preferred stock that is exchangeable for an equity security (typically of the same issuer) at a predetermined price. Depending upon the relationship of the conversion price to the market value of the underlying security, a convertible security may trade more like an equity security than a debt instrument.

Calamos typically applies a four-step approach when buying and selling convertible securities for the Fund, which includes:

 

1. Evaluating the default risk of the convertible security using traditional credit analysis;

 

2. Analyzing the convertible’s underlying common stock to determine its capital appreciation potential;

 

3. Assessing the risk/return potential of the convertible security; and

 

4. Evaluating the convertible security’s impact on the overall composition of the Fund and its diversification strategy.

 

In analyzing the appreciation potential of the underlying common stock and the default risk of the convertible security, Calamos generally considers the issuer’s:

 

 

Synthetic Convertible Securities.  The Fund may invest in “synthetic” convertible securities. A synthetic convertible security is a financial instrument that is designed to simulate the characteristics of another instrument (i.e., a convertible security) through the combined features of a collection of other securities or assets. Calamos may create a synthetic convertible security by combining separate securities that possess the two principal characteristics of a true convertible security, i.e., a fixed-income security (“fixed-income component”, which may be a convertible or non- convertible security) and the right to acquire an equity security (“convertible component”). The fixed-income component is achieved by investing in non-convertible, fixed-income securities such as bonds, preferred stocks and money market instruments. The convertible component is achieved by investing in warrants or options to buy common stock at a certain exercise price, or options on a stock index. The Fund may also purchase synthetic convertible securities created by other parties, typically investment banks, including convertible structured notes. Convertible structured notes are fixed income debentures linked to equity. Convertible structured notes have the attributes of a convertible security, however, the investment bank that issued the convertible note assumes the credit risk associated with the investment, rather than the issuer of the underlying common stock into which the note is convertible. Different companies may issue the fixed-income and convertible components, which may be purchased separately and at different times.

 

The Fund may also invest in synthetic convertible securities created by third parties, typically investment banks. Synthetic convertible 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. Synthetic convertible 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. Synthetic convertible 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.

 

Some examples of these securities include:

 

Preferred equity redeemable cumulative stock (“PERCS”) are shares that automatically convert into one ordinary share upon maturity. They are usually issued at the prevailing share price, convertible into one ordinary share, with an enhanced dividend yield. PERCS pay a higher dividend than common shares, but the equity upside is capped. Above a certain share price, the conversion ratio will fall as the stock

rises, capping the upside at that level. Below this level, the conversion ratio remains one-for-one, giving the same downside exposure as the ordinary shares, excluding the income difference.

 

Dividend enhanced convertible stock (“DECS”) are either preference shares or subordinated bonds. These, like PERCS, mandatorily convert into ordinary shares at maturity, if not already converted. DECS give no significant downside protection and are very equity sensitive with minimal direct bond characteristics and interest rate exposure. As with PERCS, some of the upside performance is given away and in return, the investor receives an enhanced yield over the ordinary shares. Unlike PERCS, however, the investor’s upside is not capped. Instead, the investor trades a zone of flat exposure to the share price for the enhanced income.

 

Preferred Redeemable Increased Dividend Equity Security (“PRIDES”) are synthetic securities consisting of a forward contract to purchase the issuer’s underlying security and an interest bearing deposit. Interest payments are made at regular intervals, and conversion into the underlying security is mandatory at maturity. Similar to convertible securities, PRIDES allow investors to earn stable cash flows while still participating in the capital gains of an underlying stock. This is possible because these products are valued along the same lines as the underlying security.

 

Non-Convertible Income Securities.  The Fund will also invest in non-convertible income securities. The Fund’s investments in non-convertible income securities may have fixed or variable principal payments and all types of interest rate and dividend payment and reset terms, including fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent, deferred, payment in kind and auction rate features.

 

High Yield Securities.  A substantial portion of the Fund’s assets may be invested in below investment grade (high yield, high risk) securities for either current income or capital appreciation or both. The high yield securities in which the Fund invests are rated Ba or lower by Moody’s or BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s or are unrated but determined by Calamos to be of comparable quality. The Fund may, but currently does not intend to, purchase distressed securities that are in default or the issuers of which are in bankruptcy. Non-convertible debt securities rated below investment grade are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” and are considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Below investment grade non-convertible debt securities involve greater risk of loss, are subject to greater price volatility and are less liquid, especially during periods of economic uncertainty or change, than higher rated debt securities.

 

Foreign Securities.  Although the Fund primarily invests in securities of U.S. issuers, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in securities of foreign issuers in developed and emerging markets, including debt and equity securities of corporate issuers and debt securities of government issuers. A foreign issuer is a foreign government or a company organized under the laws of a foreign country.

 

Options Writing.  The Fund may seek to generate income from option premiums by writing (selling) options. The Fund may write (sell) call options (i) on a portion of the equity securities (including securities that are convertible into equity securities) in the Fund’s portfolio and (ii) on broad-based securities indexes (such as the S&P 500 or MSCI EAFE) or certain ETFs (exchange traded funds) that trade like common stocks but seek to replicate such market indexes.

 

In addition, 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 (such as the S&P 500 or MSCI EAFE), or certain ETFs that trade like common stocks but seek to replicate such market indexes.

 

Rule 144A Securities.  The Fund may invest without limit in Rule 144A Securities, such as convertible and debt securities, that are typically purchased in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act pursuant to Rule 144A under that act. Rule 144A Securities may only be sold to qualified institutional buyers, such as the Fund. Any resale of these securities must generally be effected through a sale that is registered under the 1933 Act or otherwise exempted or excepted from such registration requirements. Under the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, Calamos will determine whether Rule 144A Securities are illiquid. Typically, the Fund purchases Rule 144A Securities only if Calamos has determined them to be

liquid. If any Rule 144A Security held by the Fund should become illiquid, the value of the security may be reduced and a sale of the security may be more difficult.

 

Preferred Shares.  The Fund may invest in preferred stock. The preferred stock in which the Fund typically will invest will be convertible securities. Preferred shares are equity securities, but they have many characteristics of fixed income securities, such as a fixed dividend payment rate and/or a liquidity preference over the issuer’s common shares. However, because preferred stocks are equity securities, they may be more susceptible to risks traditionally associated with equity investments than the Fund’s fixed income securities.

 

REITs.  The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). REITs primarily invest in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management and other expenses paid by REITs in which it invests in addition to the expenses paid by the Fund. Debt securities issued by REITs are, for the most part, general and unsecured obligations and are subject to risks associated with REITs.

 

U.S. Government Securities.  U.S. government securities in which the Fund invests include debt obligations of varying maturities issued by the U.S. Treasury or issued or guaranteed by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government, including the Federal Housing Administration, Federal Financing Bank, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), General Services Administration, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Maritime Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority, District of Columbia Armory Board, Student Loan Marketing Association, Resolution Fund Corporation and various institutions that previously were or currently are part of the Farm Credit System (which has been undergoing reorganization since 1987). Some U.S. government securities, such as U.S. Treasury bills, Treasury notes and Treasury bonds, which differ only in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance, are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. Others are supported by: (i) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, such as securities of the Federal Home Loan Banks; (ii) the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s obligations, such as securities of the FNMA; or (iii) only the credit of the issuer. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support in the future to U.S. government agencies, authorities or instrumentalities that are not supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. Securities guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities include: (i) securities for which the payment of principal and interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by the U.S. government or any of its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities; and (ii) participations in loans made to non-U.S. governments or other entities that are so guaranteed. The secondary market for certain of these participations is limited and, therefore, may be regarded as illiquid.

 

Zero Coupon Securities.  The securities in which the Fund invests may include zero coupon securities, which are debt obligations that are issued or purchased at a significant discount from face value. The discount approximates the total amount of interest the security will accrue and compound over the period until maturity or the particular interest payment date at a rate of interest reflecting the market rate of the security at the time of issuance. Zero coupon securities do not require the periodic payment of interest. These investments benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash to meet debt service, but generally require a higher rate of return to attract investors who are willing to defer receipt of cash. These investments may experience greater volatility in market value than U.S. government securities that make regular payments of interest. The Fund accrues income on these investments for tax and accounting purposes, which is distributable to shareholders and which, because no cash is received at the time of accrual, may require the liquidation of other portfolio securities to satisfy the Fund’s distribution obligations, in which case the Fund will forgo the purchase of

additional income producing assets with these funds. Zero coupon U.S. government securities include STRIPS and CUBES, which are issued by the U.S. Treasury as component parts of U.S. Treasury bonds and represent scheduled interest and principal payments on the bonds.

 

Equity Securities.  Consistent with its objective, the Fund may invest in equity securities, including common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights and depository receipts. Equity securities, such as common stock, generally represent an ownership interest in a company. Although equity securities have historically generated higher average returns than fixed income securities, equity securities have also experienced significantly more volatility in those returns. An adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of a particular equity security held by the Fund. Also, the price of equity securities, particularly common stocks, are sensitive to general movements in the stock market. A drop in the stock market may depress the price of equity securities held by the Fund.

 

Other Investment Companies.  The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies to the extent that such investments are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and are policies and permissible under the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may not acquire the securities of other domestic or non-U.S. investment companies if, as a result, (1) more than 10% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in securities of other investment companies, (2) such purchase would result in more than 3% of the total outstanding voting securities of any one investment company being held by the Fund, or (3) more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in any one investment company. These limitations do not apply to the purchase of shares of money market funds or of any investment company in connection with a merger, consolidation, reorganization or acquisition of substantially all the assets of another investment company.

 

The Fund, as a holder of the securities of other investment companies, will bear its pro rata portion of the other investment companies’ expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses are in addition to the direct expenses of the Fund’s own operations.

 

Defensive and Temporary Investments.  Under unusual market or economic conditions or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its managed assets in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its instrumentalities or agencies, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and other bank obligations, commercial paper rated in the highest category by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or other fixed income securities deemed by Calamos to be consistent with a defensive posture, or may hold cash. The yield on such securities may be lower than the yield on lower rated fixed income securities. During such periods, the Fund may not be able to achieve its investment objective.

 

Repurchase Agreements.  The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with broker-dealers, member banks of the Federal Reserve System and other financial institutions. Repurchase agreements are arrangements under which the Fund purchases securities and the seller agrees to repurchase the securities within a specific time and at a specific price. The repurchase price is generally higher than the Fund’s purchase price, with the difference being income to the Fund. The counterparty’s obligations under the repurchase agreement are collateralized with U.S. Treasury and/or agency obligations with a market value of not less than 100% of the obligations, valued daily. Collateral is held by the Fund’s custodian in a segregated, safekeeping account for the benefit of the Fund. Repurchase agreements afford the Fund an opportunity to earn income on temporarily available cash at low risk. In the event of commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the security before repurchase of the security under a repurchase agreement, the Fund may encounter delay and incur costs before being able to sell the security. Such a delay may involve loss of interest or a decline in price of the security. If the court characterizes the transaction as a loan and the Fund has not perfected a security interest in the security, the Fund may be required to return the security to the seller’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, the Fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and interest involved in the transaction.

 

Lending of Portfolio Securities.  The Fund may lend portfolio securities to registered broker-dealers or other institutional investors deemed by Calamos to be of good standing under agreements which require that the loans be secured continuously by collateral in cash, cash equivalents or U.S. Treasury bills maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The Fund continues to

receive the equivalent of the interest or dividends paid by the issuer on the securities loaned as well as the benefit of an increase and the detriment of any decrease in the market value of the securities loaned and would also receive compensation based on investment of the collateral. The Fund would not, however, have the right to vote any securities having voting rights during the existence of the loan, but could call the loan in anticipation of an important vote to be taken among holders of the securities or of the giving or withholding of consent on a material matter affecting the investment.

 

As with other extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. At no time would the value of the securities loaned exceed 331/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets.

 

Portfolio Turnover.  It is the policy of the Fund not to engage in trading for short-term profits although portfolio turnover rate is not considered a limiting factor in the execution of investment decisions for the Fund.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

Conflicts of interest may arise from the fact that Calamos and its affiliates carry on substantial investment activities for other clients, in which we have no interest, some of which may have similar investment strategies as us. Calamos or its affiliates may have financial incentives to favor certain of such accounts over us. Any of their proprietary accounts and other customer accounts may compete with us for specific trades. Calamos or its affiliates may give advice and recommend securities to, or buy or sell securities for, us which advice or securities may differ from advice given to, or securities recommended or bought or sold for, other accounts and customers, even though their investment objectives may be the same as, or similar to, our objectives. When two or more clients advised by Calamos or its affiliates seek to purchase or sell the same publicly traded securities, the securities actually purchased or sold will be allocated among the clients on a good faith equitable basis by Calamos in its discretion and in accordance with the client’s various investment objectives and Calamos’ procedures. In some cases, this system may adversely affect the price or size of the position we may obtain or sell. In other cases, our ability to participate in volume transactions may produce better execution for us.

 

Calamos will evaluate a variety of factors in determining whether a particular investment opportunity or strategy is appropriate and feasible for the relevant account at a particular time, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) the nature of the investment opportunity taken in the context of the other investments at the time; (2) the liquidity of the investment relative to the needs of the particular entity or account; (3) the availability of the opportunity (i.e., size of obtainable position); (4) the transaction costs involved; and (5) the investment or regulatory limitations applicable to the particular entity or account. Because these considerations may differ when applied to us and relevant accounts under management in the context of any particular investment opportunity, our investment activities, on the one hand, and other managed accounts, on the other hand, may differ considerably from time to time. In addition, our fees and expenses will differ from those of the other managed accounts. Accordingly, investors should be aware that our future performance and future performance of other accounts of Calamos may vary.

 

Situations may occur when we could be disadvantaged because of the investment activities conducted by Calamos and its affiliates for its other funds or accounts. Such situations may be based on, among other things, the following: (1) legal or internal restrictions on the combined size of positions that may be taken for us or the other accounts, thereby limiting the size of our position; (2) the difficulty of liquidating an investment for us or the other accounts where the market cannot absorb the sale of the combined position; or (3) limits on co-investing in negotiated transactions under the 1940 Act, as discussed further below.

 

Calamos and its principals, officers, employees, and affiliates may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts and may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with respect to investments made on our behalf. As a result of differing trading and investment strategies or constraints, positions may be taken by principals, officers, employees, and affiliates of Calamos that are the same as, different from, or made at a different time than positions taken for us.

 

The Fund may issue preferred shares or debt securities or borrow to increase its assets available for investment. On September 12, 2002 and November 12, 2003, the Fund issued Auction Market Preferred Shares with an aggregate liquidation preference of $204 million and $180 million, respectively. In June 2008, the Fund redeemed $280 million aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares with the proceeds of a renewable commercial paper conduit facility that has a maturity of 364 days. As of December 31, 2008, the Fund had outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares with $104 million in aggregate liquidation preference and outstanding senior debt under the renewable commercial paper conduit facility with an aggregate principal amount of $89 million. Together such leverage represented, as of December 31, 2008, approximately 32% of the Fund’s managed assets. As a non-fundamental policy, the aggregate liquidation of preferred shares and the aggregate principal amount of debt securities or borrowings may not exceed 38% of the Fund’s total assets. However, the Board of Trustees reserves the right to issue preferred shares or debt securities or borrow to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or under any order issued by the Commission pursuant to the Fund’s recently filed exemptive application relating to asset coverage relief on debt, as described below. The Fund generally will not issue preferred shares or debt securities or borrow unless Calamos expects that the Fund will achieve a greater return on such leverage than the additional costs the Fund incurs as a result of such leverage. The Fund also may borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including the payment of dividends and the settlement of securities transactions, which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of the Fund’s holdings. When the Fund leverages its assets, the fees paid to Calamos for investment management services will be higher than if the Fund did not leverage because Calamos’ fees are calculated based on the Fund’s managed assets, which include the proceeds of the issuance of preferred shares or debt securities or any outstanding borrowings. Consequently, the Fund and Calamos may have differing interests in determining whether to leverage the Fund’s assets. The Fund’s Board of Trustees monitors any such potential conflicts of interest on an ongoing basis.

 

The Fund’s use of leverage is premised upon the expectation that the Fund’s leverage costs will be lower than the return the Fund achieves on its investments with the leverage proceeds. Such difference in return may result from the Fund’s higher credit rating or the short-term nature of its borrowing compared to the long-term nature of its investments. Because Calamos seeks to invest the Fund’s managed assets (including the assets obtained from leverage) in the higher yielding portfolio investments or portfolio investments with the potential for capital appreciation, the holders of common shares will be the beneficiaries of any incremental return. Should the differential between the underlying assets and cost of leverage narrow, the incremental return “pick up” will be reduced. Furthermore, if long-term interest rates rise without a corresponding increase in the yield on the Fund’s portfolio investments or the Fund otherwise incurs losses on its investments, the Fund’s net asset value attributable to its common shares will reflect the decline in the value of portfolio holdings resulting therefrom.

 

Leverage creates risks which may adversely affect the return for the holders of common shares, including:

 

 

Leverage is a speculative technique that could adversely affect the returns to common shareholders. Leverage can cause the Fund to lose money and can magnify the effect of any losses. To the extent the income or capital appreciation derived from securities purchased with funds received from leverage exceeds the cost of leverage, the Fund’s return will be greater than if leverage had not been used. Conversely, if the income or

capital appreciation from the securities purchased with such funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leverage or if the Fund incurs capital losses, the return of the Fund will be less than if leverage had not been used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to common shareholders as dividends and other distributions will be reduced or potentially eliminated (or, in the case of distributions, will consist of return of capital).

 

Calamos may determine to maintain the Fund’s leveraged position if it expects that the long-term benefits to the Fund’s common shareholders of maintaining the leveraged position will outweigh the current reduced return. Capital raised through the issuance of preferred shares or debt securities or borrowing will be subject to dividend payments or interest costs that may or may not exceed the income and appreciation on the assets purchased. The issuance of additional classes of preferred shares involves offering expenses and other costs and may limit the Fund’s freedom to pay dividends on common shares or to engage in other activities. The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with borrowings or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate. The Fund will pay (and common shareholders will bear) any costs and expenses relating to any borrowings and to the issuance and ongoing maintenance of preferred shares or debt securities (for example, the higher management fee resulting from the use of any such leverage, and interest and/or dividend expense and ongoing maintenance). Net asset value will be reduced immediately following any additional offering of preferred shares or debt securities by the costs of that offering paid by the Fund.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue preferred shares unless immediately after such issuance the Fund has an asset coverage of at least 200% of the liquidation value of the aggregate amount of outstanding preferred shares (i.e., such liquidation value may not exceed 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets). Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may only issue one class of senior securities representing equity. So long as preferred shares are outstanding (including our Auction Market Preferred Shares), additional senior equity securities must rank on a parity with the preferred shares. In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its common shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the net asset value of the Fund’s portfolio (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution) is at least 200% of such liquidation value. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to incur indebtedness unless immediately after such borrowing the Fund has an asset coverage of at least 300% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of indebtedness (i.e., such indebtedness may not exceed 331/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets). Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may only issue one class of senior securities representing indebtedness. Additionally, under the 1940 Act, the Fund may not declare any dividend or other distribution upon any class of its shares, or purchase any such shares, unless the aggregate indebtedness of the Fund has, at the time of the declaration of any such dividend or distribution or at the time of any such purchase, an asset coverage of at least 300% after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution, or purchase price, as the case may be. The Fund may declare dividends on preferred shares as long as there is asset coverage of 200% after deducting the amount of the dividend.

 

On January 14, 2009, the Fund filed an amended and restated exemptive application with the SEC seeking an order under the 1940 Act. The requested order would: (A) permit the Fund, with board approval, to issue or incur debt subject to asset coverage of 200% that would be used to refinance the Fund’s auction rate preferred shares issued prior to February 1, 2008 that are outstanding at the time of the order; and (B) permit the Fund to declare dividends or any other distributions on, or purchase, capital stock during the term of the order, subject to maintaining 200% asset coverage. The requested order would provide the Fund with this relief until October 31, 2010. If the Fund is unable to refinance those borrowings with an alternative form of equity-based senior security before that date, the Fund would be forced to reduce its leverage until its borrowings have an asset coverage of no less than 300%.

 

The SEC published a notice of the amended and restated application for exemptive relief on January 14, 2009, and stated that an order granting the application will be issued unless the SEC orders a hearing on the application. The SEC has set a deadline of February 9, 2009 for interested persons to request such a hearing. If no hearing is requested, the Fund expects the order to be issued shortly after that date. If a hearing is requested, however, the requested relief may be delayed or denied. There can be no assurance that the Fund will receive the requested relief. See “Leverage.”

 

The Fund is subject to certain restrictions on investments imposed by guidelines of Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”), which have issued ratings for the Auction Market Preferred Shares and may do so for any debt securities or preferred shares issued by the Fund in the future. These guidelines impose asset coverage and portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act. Certain types of borrowings may result in the Fund being subject to covenants in credit agreements, including those relating to asset coverage, borrowing base and portfolio composition requirements and additional covenants that may affect the Fund’s ability to pay dividends and distributions on common shares in certain instances. The Fund also may be required to pledge its assets to the lenders in connection with certain types of borrowings. Calamos does not anticipate that these covenants or restrictions will adversely affect its ability to manage the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. Due to these covenants or restrictions, the Fund may be forced to liquidate investments at times and at prices that are not favorable to the Fund, or the Fund may be forced to forgo investments that Calamos otherwise views as favorable.

 

The extent to which the Fund employs leverage will depend on many factors, the most important of which are investment outlook, market conditions and interest rates. Successful use of a leveraging strategy depends on Calamos’ ability to predict correctly interest rates and market movements. There is no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period in which it is employed.

 

Effects of Leverage

 

On September 12, 2002 and November 12, 2003, the Fund issued Auction Market Preferred Shares with an aggregate liquidation preference of $204 million and $180 million, respectively. The aggregate liquidation preference of the Auction Market Preferred Shares represented approximately 35% of the Fund’s managed assets as of May 31, 2008. Asset coverage with respect to the Auction Market Preferred Shares was approximately 283% as of that date. The dividend rate payable by the Fund on the Auction Market Preferred Shares varies based on auctions normally held every 7 days. As of May 31, 2008, a dividend rate of 3.35%, 3.32%, 3.05%, 3.31%, 3.22%, 3.08% and 3.20% per year was in effect for Series M, TU, W, TH, W28, TH7 and F7, respectively. Subsequent to that date, in June 2008, the Fund borrowed under a renewable commercial paper conduit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $280 million and consequently redeemed $280 million aggregate liquidation preference of outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares. As of December 31, 2008, borrowings under that facility in an aggregate principal amount of $89 million remained outstanding. Asset coverage as of December 31, 2008 was approximately 312%.

 

To cover the annual dividend payments on the Auction Market Preferred Shares and the interest payments on borrowings under the renewable commercial paper conduit facility, the Fund’s portfolio would need to experience an annual return of 1.62%.

 

The following table illustrates the hypothetical effect on the return to a holder of the Fund’s common shares of the leverage obtained by (1) borrowing under the renewable commercial paper conduit facility and (2) paying dividends on the remaining $104 million of Auction Market Preferred Shares outstanding. The purpose of this table is to assist you in understanding the effects of leverage. As the table shows, leverage generally increases the return to shareholders when portfolio return is positive and greater than the cost of leverage and decreases the return when the portfolio return is negative or less than the cost of leverage. The figures appearing in the table are hypothetical and actual returns may be greater or less than those appearing in the table.

 

 

 

 

 

For further information about leveraging, see “Risk Factors — Additional Risks to Common Shareholders — Leverage.”

 

In order to reduce the interest rate risk inherent in the Fund’s underlying investments and capital structure, the Fund, if market conditions are deemed favorable, may enter into interest rate swap or cap transactions to attempt to protect itself from increasing dividend or interest expenses on its leverage and to hedge portfolio securities from interest rate changes. Interest rate swaps involve the Fund’s agreement with the swap counterparty to pay a fixed rate payment in exchange for the counterparty agreeing to pay the Fund a payment at a variable rate that is expected to approximate the rate of any variable rate payment obligation on the Fund’s leverage. The payment obligations would be based on the notional amount of the swap.

 

The Fund may use an interest rate cap, which would require it to pay a premium to the counterparty and would entitle it, to the extent that a specified variable rate index exceeds a predetermined fixed rate, to receive from the counterparty payment of the difference based on the notional amount of such cap. The Fund would use interest rate swaps or caps only with the intent to reduce or eliminate the risk that an increase in short-term interest rates could have on common share net earnings as a result of leverage.

 

The Fund will usually enter into swaps or caps on a net basis; that is, the two payment streams will be netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The Fund intends to segregate with its custodian cash or liquid securities having a value at least equal to the Fund’s net payment obligations under any swap transaction, marked-to-market daily.

 

The use of interest rate swaps and caps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the Fund’s use of interest rate swaps or caps could enhance or harm the overall performance of the Fund’s common shares. To the extent that there is a decline in interest rates for maturities equal to the remaining maturity on the Fund’s fixed rate payment obligation under the interest rate swap or equal to the remaining term of the interest rate cap, the value of the swap or cap (which initially has a value of zero) could decline, and could result in a decline in the net asset value of the common shares. If, on the other hand, such rates were to increase, the value of the swap or cap could increase, and thereby increase the net asset value of the common shares. As interest rate swaps or caps approach their maturity, their positive or negative value due to interest rate changes will approach zero.

 

In addition, if the short-term interest rates effectively received by the Fund during the term of an interest rate swap are lower than the Fund’s fixed rate of payment on the swap, the swap will increase the Fund’s operating expenses and reduce common share net earnings. For example, if the Fund were to (A) issue preferred shares representing 33% of the Fund’s total assets and (B) enter into one or more interest rate swaps in a notional amount equal to 75% of its outstanding preferred shares under which the Fund would receive a short-term swap rate of 5.12% and pay a fixed swap rate of 5.35% over the term of the swap, the swap would effectively increase Fund expenses and reduce Fund common share net earnings by approximately 0.09% as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares and approximately 0.06% as a percentage of managed assets. If, on the other hand, the short-term interest rates effectively received by the Fund are higher than the Fund’s fixed rate of payment on the interest rate swap, the swap would enhance common share net earnings. In either case, the swap would have the effect of reducing fluctuations in the Fund’s cost of leverage due to changes in short-term interest rates during the term of the swap. The example above is purely for illustrative purposes and is not predictive of the actual percentage of the Fund’s leverage that will be hedged by a swap, the actual fixed rates that the Fund will pay under the swap (which will depend on market interest rates for the applicable maturities at the time the Fund enters into swaps) or the actual short-term rates that the Fund will receive on any swaps (which fluctuate frequently during the term of the swap, and may change significantly from initial levels), or the actual impact such swaps will have on the Fund’s expenses and common share net earnings.

 

Buying interest rate caps could enhance the performance of the Fund’s common shares by providing a maximum leverage expense. Buying interest rate caps could also increase the operating expenses of the Fund and decrease the net earnings of the common shares in the event that the premium paid by the Fund to the counterparty exceeds the additional amount the Fund would have been required to pay on its preferred shares

due to increases in short-term interest rates during the term of the cap had it not entered into the cap agreement. The Fund has no current intention of selling an interest rate swap or cap. The Fund will monitor any interest rate swaps or caps with a view to ensuring that it remains in compliance with the federal income tax requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company.

 

Interest rate swaps and caps do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to interest rate swaps and caps is limited to the net amount of interest payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund would not be able to use the anticipated net receipts under the swap or cap to offset the dividend or interest payments on the Fund’s leverage. Depending on whether the Fund would be entitled to receive net payments from the counterparty on the swap or cap, which in turn would depend on the general state of short-term interest rates at that point in time, such a default could negatively impact the performance of the common shares.

 

The Fund will not enter into an interest rate swap or cap transaction with any counterparty that Calamos believes does not have the financial resources to honor its obligation under the interest rate swap or cap transaction. Further, Calamos will continually monitor the financial stability of a counterparty to an interest rate swap or cap transaction in an effort to proactively protect the Fund’s investments.

 

In addition, at the time the interest rate swap or cap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund will not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement will not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction. If this occurs, it could have a negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s common shares.

 

The Fund may choose or be required to redeem some or all preferred shares or prepay any borrowings. This redemption or prepayment would likely result in the Fund seeking to terminate early all or a portion of any swap or cap transaction. Such early termination of a swap could result in a termination payment by or to the Fund. An early termination of a cap could result in a termination payment to the Fund.

 

Investing in any of our securities involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment or even that you may lose part or all of your investment. Therefore, before investing in any of our securities you should consider carefully the following risks, as well as any risk factors included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Fund Risks

 

General.  The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company designed primarily as a long-term investment and not as a trading tool. The Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of convertible securities and non-convertible income securities. An investment in the Fund’s common shares may be speculative and it involves a high degree of risk. The Fund should not constitute a complete investment program. Due to the uncertainty in all investments, there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

 

Convertible Securities Risk  The Fund is not limited in the percentage of its assets invested in convertible securities, and investment in convertible securities form an important part of the Fund’s investment strategies. The value of a convertible security is influenced by both the yield of non-convertible securities of comparable issuers and by the value of the underlying common stock. The value of a convertible security viewed without regard to its conversion feature (i.e., strictly on the basis of its yield) is sometimes referred to as its “investment value.” A convertible security’s investment value tends to decline as prevailing interest rate levels increase. Conversely, a convertible security’s investment value increases as prevailing interest rate levels decline.

 

However, a convertible security’s market value will also be influenced by its “conversion price,” which is the market value of the underlying common stock that would be obtained if the convertible security were converted. A convertible security’s conversion price tends to increase as the price of the underlying common stock increases, and decrease as the price of the underlying common stock decreases. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines such that the conversion price is substantially below the investment value of the convertible security, the price of the convertible security tends to be influenced more by the yield of the convertible security. Thus, the convertible security may not decline in price to the same extent as the underlying common stock. If the market price of the underlying common stock increases to a point where the conversion value approximates or exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security tends to be influenced more by the market price of the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would be paid before the company’s common stockholders. Consequently, an issuer’s convertible securities generally entail less risk than its common stock.

 

Synthetic Convertible Securities Risk.  The value of a synthetic convertible security may respond differently to market fluctuations than a convertible security because a synthetic convertible is composed of two or more separate securities, each with its own market value. In addition, if the value of the underlying common stock or the level of the index involved in the convertible component falls below the exercise price of the warrant or option, the warrant or option may lose all value.

 

High Yield Securities Risk.  Investment in high yield securities involves substantial risk of loss. Below investment grade non-convertible debt securities or comparable unrated securities are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” and are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s ability to pay interest and principal and are susceptible to default or decline in market value due to adverse economic and business developments. The market values for high yield securities tend to be very volatile, and these securities are less liquid than investment grade debt securities. For these reasons, your investment in the Fund is subject to the following specific risks:

 

 

 

Debt securities rated below investment grade are speculative with respect to the capacity of the issuer to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of such securities. A rating of C from Moody’s means that the issue so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing. Standard & Poor’s assigns a rating of C to issues that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or similar action taken, but payments on the obligation are being continued (a C rating is also assigned to a preferred stock issue in arrears on dividends or sinking fund payments, but that is currently paying). See the statement of additional information for a description of Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s ratings.

 

Adverse changes in economic conditions are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of a high yield issuer to make principal payments and interest payments than an investment grade issuer. The principal amount of high yield securities outstanding has proliferated in the past decade as an increasing number of issuers have used high yield securities for corporate financing. An economic downturn could severely affect the ability of highly leveraged issuers to service their debt obligations or to repay their obligations upon maturity. Similarly, down-turns in profitability in specific industries could adversely affect the ability of high yield issuers in those industries to meet their obligations. The market values of lower quality debt securities tend to reflect individual developments of the issuer to a greater extent than do higher quality securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Factors having an adverse impact on the market value of lower quality securities may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s net asset value and the market value of its common shares. In addition, the Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. In certain circumstances, the Fund may be required to foreclose on an issuer’s assets and take possession of its property or operations. In such circumstances, the Fund would incur additional costs in disposing of such assets and potential liabilities from operating any business acquired.

 

The secondary market for high yield securities may not be as liquid as the secondary market for more highly rated securities, a factor which may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to dispose of a particular security when necessary to meet its liquidity needs. There are fewer dealers in the market for high yield securities than for investment grade obligations. The prices quoted by different dealers may vary significantly and the spread between the bid and asked price is generally much larger than for higher quality instruments. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for high yield securities could contract further, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer, and these instruments may become illiquid. As a result, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely traded. Prices realized upon the sale of such lower rated or unrated securities, under these circumstances, may be less than the prices used in calculating the Fund’s net asset value.

 

Because investors generally perceive that there are greater risks associated with lower quality debt securities of the type in which the Fund may invest a portion of its assets, the yields and prices of such securities may tend to fluctuate more than those for higher rated securities. In the lower quality segments of the debt securities market, changes in perceptions of issuers’ creditworthiness tend to occur more frequently and in a more pronounced manner than do changes in higher quality segments of the debt securities market, resulting in greater yield and price volatility.

 

If the Fund invests in high yield securities that are rated C or below, the Fund will incur significant risk in addition to the risks associated with investments in high yield securities and corporate loans. Distressed securities frequently do not produce income while they are outstanding. The Fund may purchase distressed securities that are in default or the issuers of which are in bankruptcy. The Fund may be required to bear certain extraordinary expenses in order to protect and recover its investment.

Interest Rate Risk.  Fixed income securities, including high yield securities, are subject to certain common risks, including:

 

 

 

 

 

Default Risk.  Default risk refers to the risk that a company that issues a debt security will be unable to fulfill its obligations to repay principal and interest. The lower a debt security is rated, the greater its default risk.

 

Liquidity Risk.  Illiquid securities may be difficult to dispose of at a fair price at the times when the Fund believes it is desirable to do so. Investment of the Fund’s assets in illiquid securities may restrict the Fund’s ability to take advantage of market opportunities. The market price of illiquid securities generally is more volatile than that of more liquid securities, which may adversely affect the price that the Fund pays for or recovers upon the sale of illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are also more difficult to value and Calamos’ judgment may play a greater role in the valuation process. The risks associated with illiquid securities may be particularly acute in situations in which the Fund’s operations require cash and could result in the Fund borrowing to meet its short-term needs or incurring losses on the sale of illiquid securities.

 

Foreign Securities Risk.  Investments in non-U.S. issuers may involve unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. These risks are more pronounced to the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its non-U.S. investments in one region or in the securities of emerging market issuers. These risks may include:

 

 

There may be less publicly available information about non-U.S. markets and issuers than is available with respect to U.S. securities and issuers. Non-U.S. companies generally are not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. The trading markets for most non-U.S. securities are generally less liquid and subject to greater price volatility than the markets for comparable securities in the United States. The markets for securities in certain emerging markets are in the earliest stages of their development. Even the markets for relatively widely traded securities in certain non-U.S. markets, including emerging market countries, may not be able to absorb, without price disruptions, a significant increase in trading volume or trades of a size customarily undertaken by institutional investors in the United States. Additionally, market making and arbitrage activities are generally less extensive in such markets, which may contribute to increased volatility and reduced liquidity.

 

Economies and social and political conditions in individual countries may differ unfavorably from those in the United States. Non-U.S. economies may have less favorable rates of growth of gross domestic product, rates of inflation, currency valuation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments positions. Many countries have experienced substantial, and in some cases extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, very negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging countries. Unanticipated political or social developments may also affect the values of the Fund’s investments and the availability to the Fund of additional investments in such countries.

 

Risks Associated with Options.  There are several risks associated with transactions in options. For example, there are significant differences between the securities markets and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation among these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. The ability of the Fund to utilize options successfully will depend on Calamos’ ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured.

 

The Fund may sell options on individual securities and securities indices. All calls sold by the Fund must be “covered.” Even though the Fund will receive the option premium to help protect it against loss, a call option sold by the Fund exposes the Fund during the term of the option to possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the market price of the underlying security or instrument and may require the Fund to hold a security or instrument that it might otherwise have sold. The Fund may purchase and sell put options on individual securities and securities indices. In selling put options, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying security at a disadvantageous price above the market price.

 

REIT Risk.  Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. An equity REIT may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT. A mortgage REIT may be affected by changes in interest rates and the ability of the issuers of its portfolio mortgages to repay their obligations. REITs are dependent upon the skills of their managers and are not diversified. REITs are generally dependent upon maintaining cash flows to repay borrowings and to make distributions to shareholders and are subject to the risk of default by lessees or borrowers. REITs whose underlying assets are concentrated in properties used by a particular industry, such as health care, are also subject to risks associated with such industry.

 

REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks. When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. If the REIT invests in adjustable rate mortgage loans the interest rates on which are reset periodically, yields on a REIT’s investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates. This causes the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations.

 

REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. Historically, REITs have

been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index.

 

Management Risk.  Calamos’s judgment about the attractiveness, relative value or potential appreciation of a particular sector, security or investment strategy may prove to be incorrect.

 

Tax Risk.  The Fund may invest in certain securities, such as certain convertible securities, for which the federal income tax treatment may not be clear or may be subject to re-characterization by the Internal Revenue Service. It could be more difficult for the Fund to comply with the federal income tax requirements applicable to regulated investment companies if the tax characterization of the Fund’s investments or the tax treatment of the income from such investments were successfully challenged by the Internal Revenue Service. See “Certain Federal Income Tax Matters.”

 

Antitakeover Provisions.  The Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-laws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to change the composition of its Board of Trustees. Such provisions could limit the ability of shareholders to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund. These provisions include staggered terms of office for the Trustees, advance notice requirements for shareholder proposals, and super-majority voting requirements for certain transactions with affiliates, converting the Fund to an open-end investment company or a merger, asset sale or similar transaction. Holders of preferred shares, including any outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares, have voting rights in addition to and separate from the voting rights of common shareholders with respect to certain of these matters. See “Description of Shares — Preferred Shares” and “Certain Provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws.” The holders of preferred shares, on the one hand, and the holders of the common shares, on the other, may have interests that conflict in these situations.

 

Market Disruption Risk.  Certain events have a disruptive effect on the securities markets, such as terrorist attacks, war and other geopolitical events, earthquakes, storms and other disasters. The Fund cannot predict the effects of similar events in the future on the U.S. economy or any foreign economy.

 

The markets for credit instruments have experienced periods of extreme illiquidity and volatility since the latter half of 2007. General market uncertainty and consequent repricing risk have led to market imbalances of sellers and buyers, which in turn have resulted in significant valuation uncertainties in a variety of debt securities. These conditions resulted, and in many cases continue to result in, greater volatility, less liquidity, widening credit spreads and a lack of price transparency, with many debt securities remaining illiquid and of uncertain value. These market conditions may make valuation of some of the Fund’s securities uncertain and/or result in sudden and significant valuation increases or declines in its holdings. In addition, illiquidity and volatility in the credit markets may directly and adversely affect the setting of dividend rates on the common shares.

 

Additional Risks to Common Shareholders

 

Generally, an investment in common shares is subject to the following risks:

 

Leverage Risk.  The Fund has issued preferred shares (Auction Market Preferred Shares) and may issue additional preferred shares or borrow money or issue debt securities as permitted by the 1940 Act. The Fund’s use of leverage creates risk. As a non-fundamental policy, such preferred shares, borrowing or debt securities may not exceed 38% of the Fund’s total assets. However, the Board of Trustees reserves the right to issue preferred shares or borrow to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or under any order issued by the Commission pursuant to the Fund’s recently filed exemptive application relating to asset coverage relief on debt. See “Prospectus Summary — Recent Developments” and “Leverage.”

 

Leverage creates risks which may adversely affect the return for the holders of common shares, including:

 

 

 

The Fund’s use of leverage is premised upon the expectation that the Fund’s preferred share dividends or borrowing cost will be lower than the return the Fund achieves on its investments with the proceeds of the issuance of preferred shares or debt securities or borrowing. Such difference in return may result from the Fund’s higher credit rating or the short-term nature of its borrowing compared to the long-term nature of its investments. Because Calamos seeks to invest the Fund’s managed assets (including the assets obtained from leverage) in the higher yielding portfolio investments or portfolio investments with the potential for capital appreciation, the holders of common shares will be the beneficiaries of the incremental return. Should the differential between the underlying assets and cost of leverage narrow, the incremental return “pick up” will be reduced. Furthermore, if long-term interest rates rise without a corresponding increase in the yield on the Fund’s portfolio investments or the Fund otherwise incurs losses on its investments, the Fund’s net asset value attributable to its common shares will reflect the decline in the value of portfolio holdings resulting therefrom.

 

Leverage is a speculative technique that could adversely affect the returns to common shareholders. Leverage can cause the Fund to lose money and can magnify the effect of any losses. To the extent the income or capital appreciation derived from securities purchased with funds received from leverage exceeds the cost of leverage, the Fund’s return will be greater than if leverage had not been used. Conversely, if the income or capital appreciation from the securities purchased with such funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leverage or if the Fund incurs capital losses, the return of the Fund will be less than if leverage had not been used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to common shareholders as dividends and other distributions will be reduced or potentially eliminated.

 

The Fund will pay, and common shareholders will effectively bear, any costs and expenses relating to any borrowings and to the issuance and ongoing maintenance of preferred shares or debt securities. Such costs and expenses include the higher management fee resulting from the use of any such leverage, offering and/or issuance costs, and interest and/or dividend expense and ongoing maintenance.

 

Certain types of borrowings may result in the Fund being subject to covenants in credit agreements, including those relating to asset coverage, borrowing base and portfolio composition requirements and additional covenants that may affect the Fund’s ability to pay dividends and distributions on common shares in certain instances. The Fund may also be required to pledge its assets to the lenders in connection with certain types of borrowings. The Fund is subject to certain restrictions on investments imposed by guidelines of Moody’s and Fitch, which have issued ratings for the Auction Market Preferred Shares and may do so for short-term debt instruments issued by the Fund. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act.

 

If the Fund’s ability to make dividends and distributions on its common shares is limited, such limitation could, under certain circumstances, impair the ability of the Fund to maintain its qualification for taxation as a regulated investment company, which would have adverse tax consequences for common shareholders. To the extent that the Fund is required, in connection with maintaining 1940 Act asset coverage requirements or otherwise, or elects to redeem any preferred shares or debt securities or prepay any borrowings, the Fund may need to liquidate investments to fund such redemptions or prepayments. Liquidation at times of adverse economic conditions may result in capital loss and reduce returns to common shareholders.

 

Because Calamos’ investment management fee is a percentage of the Fund’s managed assets, Calamos’ fee will be higher if the Fund is leveraged and Calamos will have an incentive to be more aggressive and leverage the Fund. Consequently, the Fund and Calamos may have differing interests in determining whether to leverage the Fund’s assets. Any additional use of leverage by the Fund would require approval by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. In considering whether to approve the use of additional leverage, the Board would be

presented with all relevant information necessary to make a determination whether or not additional leverage would be in the best interests of the Fund, including information regarding any potential conflicts of interest.

 

Reduction of Leverage Risk.  We have previously taken, and may in the future take, action to reduce the amount of leverage employed by the Fund. See “Prospectus Summary — Recent Developments.” In addition, subject to then current market conditions and portfolio management assessment, we may use the proceeds of any offering under this prospectus and related prospectus supplement to redeem preferred shares, including the Auction Market Preferred Shares, to the extent that any such securities are outstanding. Reduction of the leverage employed by the Fund, including by redemption of preferred shares, will in turn reduce the amount of assets available for investment in portfolio securities. This reduction in leverage may negatively impact our financial performance, including our ability to sustain current levels of distributions on common shares.

 

Interest Rate Transactions Risk.  The Fund may enter into an interest rate swap or cap transaction to attempt to protect itself from increasing dividend or interest expenses on its leverage resulting from increasing short-term interest rates and to hedge its portfolio securities. A decline in interest rates may result in a decline in the value of the swap or cap, which may result in a decline in the net asset value of the Fund.

 

Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the Fund’s use of interest rate swap or cap transactions could enhance or harm the overall performance of the common shares. To the extent there is a decline in interest rates, the value of the interest rate swap or cap could decline, and could result in a decline in the net asset value of the common shares. In addition, if the counterparty to an interest rate swap or cap defaults, the Fund would not be able to use the anticipated net receipts under the swap or cap to offset the dividend or interest payments on the Fund’s leverage.

 

Depending on whether the Fund would be entitled to receive net payments from the counterparty on the swap or cap, which in turn would depend on the general state of short-term interest rates at that point in time, such a default could negatively impact the performance of the common shares. In addition, at the time an interest rate swap or cap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund would not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement would not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction. If either of these events occurs, it could have a negative impact on the performance of the common shares.

 

If the Fund fails to maintain a required 200% asset coverage of the liquidation value of the outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares or if the Fund loses its rating on its Auction Market Preferred Shares or fails to maintain other covenants with respect to the Auction Market Preferred Shares, the Fund may be required to redeem some or all of the Auction Market Preferred Shares. Similarly, the Fund could be required to prepay the principal amount of any debt securities or other borrowings. Such redemption or prepayment would likely result in the Fund seeking to terminate early all or a portion of any swap or cap transaction. Early termination of a swap could result in a termination payment by or to the Fund. Early termination of a cap could result in a termination payment to the Fund. The Fund intends to segregate with its custodian cash or liquid securities having a value at least equal to the Fund’s net payment obligations under any swap transaction, marked-to-market daily.

 

Market Impact Risk.  The sale of our common shares (or the perception that such sales may occur) may have an adverse effect on prices in the secondary market for our common shares. An increase in the number of common shares available may put downward pressure on the market price for our common shares. These sales also might make it more difficult for us to sell additional equity securities in the future at a time and price we deem appropriate.

 

Dilution Risk.  The voting power of current shareholders will be diluted to the extent that current shareholders do not purchase shares in any future common share offerings or do not purchase sufficient shares to maintain their percentage interest. In addition, if we are unable to invest the proceeds of such offering as intended, our per share distribution may decrease and we may not participate in market advances to the same extent as if such proceeds were fully invested as planned.

 

Market Discount Risk.  The Fund’s common shares have traded both at a premium and at a discount in relation to net asset value. Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from net

asset value, but in some cases trade above net asset value. The risk of the common shares trading at a discount is a risk separate from the risk of a decline in the Fund’s net asset value as a result of investment activities. The Fund’s net asset value may be reduced immediately following this offering by the offering costs for common shares, which will be borne entirely by all common shareholders.

 

Whether shareholders will realize a gain or loss upon the sale of the Fund’s common shares depends upon whether the market value of the shares at the time of sale is above or below the price the shareholder paid, taking into account transaction costs for the shares, and is not directly dependent upon the Fund’s net asset value. Because the market value of the Fund’s common shares will be determined by factors such as the relative demand for and supply of the shares in the market, general market conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot predict whether its common shares will trade at, below or above net asset value, or below or above the public offering price for the common shares.

 

Additional Risks to Senior Security Holders

 

Generally, an investment in preferred shares or debt securities (collectively, “senior securities”) is subject to the following risks:

 

Interest Rate Risk.  Rising market interest rates could impact negatively the value of our investment portfolio, reducing the amount of assets serving as asset coverage for the senior securities.

 

Senior Leverage Risk.  Preferred shares will be junior in liquidation and with respect to distribution rights to debt securities and any other borrowings. Senior securities representing indebtedness may constitute a substantial lien and burden on preferred shares by reason of their prior claim against our income and against our net assets in liquidation. We may not be permitted to declare dividends or other distributions with respect to any series of preferred shares unless at such time we meet applicable asset coverage requirements and the payment of principal or interest is not in default with respect to any borrowings. See “Prospectus Summary — Recent Developments.”

 

Ratings and Asset Coverage Risk.  To the extent that senior securities are rated, a rating does not eliminate or necessarily mitigate the risks of investing in our senior securities, and a rating may not fully or accurately reflect all of the credit and market risks associated with a security. A rating agency could downgrade the rating of our shares of preferred stock or debt securities, which may make such securities less liquid in the secondary market, though probably with higher resulting interest rates. If a rating agency downgrades the rating assigned to a senior security, we may alter our portfolio or redeem the senior security. We may voluntarily redeem a senior security under certain circumstances.

 

Inflation Risk.  Inflation is the reduction in the purchasing power of money resulting from an increase in the price of goods and services. Inflation risk is the risk that the inflation adjusted or “real” value of an investment in preferred stock or debt securities or the income from that investment will be worth less in the future. As inflation occurs, the real value of the preferred stock or debt securities and the dividend payable to holders of preferred stock or interest payable to holders of debt securities declines.

 

Decline in Net Asset Value Risk.  A material decline in our NAV may impair our ability to maintain required levels of asset coverage for our Auction Market Preferred Shares or any other preferred securities or debt securities we may issue in the future.

 

Trustees and Officers

 

The Fund’s Board of Trustees provides broad supervision over the affairs of the Fund. The officers of the Fund are responsible for the Fund’s operations. Currently, there are seven Trustees of the Fund, one of whom is an “interested person” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) and six of whom are not “interested persons.” The names and business addresses of the trustees and officers of the Fund and their principal

occupations and other affiliations during the past five years are set forth under “Management of the Fund” in the statement of additional information.

 

Investment Adviser

 

The Fund’s investments are managed by Calamos, 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, Illinois. On December 31, 2008, Calamos managed approximately $24.0 billion in assets of individuals and institutions. Calamos is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings and indirect subsidiary of Calamos Asset Management, Inc., a publicly traded holding company whose shares are listed on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol “CLMS.”

 

Investment Management Agreement

 

Subject to the overall authority of the Board of Trustees, Calamos regularly provides the Fund with investment research, advice and supervision and furnishes continuously an investment program for the Fund. In addition, Calamos furnishes for use of the Fund such office space and facilities as the Fund may require for its reasonable needs, supervises the Fund’s business and affairs and provides the following other services on behalf of the Fund and not provided by persons not a party to the investment management agreement: (a) preparing or assisting in the preparation of reports to and meeting materials for the Trustees; (b) supervising, negotiating contractual arrangements with, to the extent appropriate, and monitoring the performance of, accounting agents, custodians, depositories, transfer agents and pricing agents, accountants, attorneys, printers, underwriters, brokers and dealers, insurers and other persons in any capacity deemed to be necessary or desirable to Fund operations; (c) assisting in the preparation and making of filings with the Commission and other regulatory and self-regulatory organizations, including, but not limited to, preliminary and definitive proxy materials, registration statements on Form N-2 and amendments thereto, and reports on Form N-SAR and Form N-CSR; (d) overseeing the tabulation of proxies by the Fund’s transfer agent; (e) assisting in the preparation and filing of the Fund’s federal, state and local tax returns; (f) assisting in the preparation and filing of the Fund’s federal excise tax return pursuant to Section 4982 of the Code; (g) providing assistance with investor and public relations matters; (h) monitoring the valuation of portfolio securities and the calculation of net asset value; (i) monitoring the registration of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund under applicable federal and state securities laws; (j) maintaining or causing to be maintained for the Fund all books, records and reports and any other information required under the 1940 Act, to the extent that such books, records and reports and other information are not maintained by the Fund’s custodian or other agents of the Fund; (k) assisting in establishing the accounting policies of the Fund; (l) assisting in the resolution of accounting issues that may arise with respect to the Fund’s operations and consulting with the Fund’s independent accountants, legal counsel and the Fund’s other agents as necessary in connection therewith; (m) reviewing the Fund’s bills; (n) assisting the Fund in determining the amount of dividends and distributions available to be paid by the Fund to its shareholders, preparing and arranging for the printing of dividend notices to shareholders, and providing the transfer and dividend paying agent, the custodian, and the accounting agent with such information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of dividends and distributions; and (o) otherwise assisting the Fund as it may reasonably request in the conduct of the Fund’s business, subject to the direction and control of the Trustees.

 

Under the investment management agreement, the Fund pays to Calamos a fee based on the average weekly managed assets that is computed weekly and paid on a monthly basis. The fee paid by the Fund is at the annual rate of 0.80% of average weekly managed assets. “Total assets” means the managed assets of the Fund (including any assets attributable to any leverage that may be outstanding) minus the sum of accrued liabilities (other than debt representing financial leverage). Because the fees paid to Calamos are determined on the basis of the Fund’s managed assets, the amount of management fees paid to Calamos when the Fund uses leverage will be higher than if the Fund did not use leverage. Therefore, Calamos has a financial incentive to use leverage, which creates a conflict of interest between Calamos and the Fund’s common shareholders.

 

Under the terms of its investment management agreement, except for the services and facilities provided by Calamos as set forth therein, the Fund shall assume and pay all expenses for all other Fund operations and activities and shall reimburse Calamos for any such expenses incurred by Calamos. The expenses borne by the

Fund shall include, without limitation: (a) organization expenses of the Fund (including out-of-pocket expenses, but not including Calamos’ overhead or employee costs); (b) fees payable to Calamos; (c) legal expenses; (d) auditing and accounting expenses; (e) maintenance of books and records that are required to be maintained by the Fund’s custodian or other agents of the Fund; (f) telephone, telex, facsimile, postage and other communications expenses; (g) taxes and governmental fees; (h) fees, dues and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with membership in investment company trade organizations and the expense of attendance at professional meetings of such organizations; (i) fees and expenses of accounting agents, custodians, subcustodians, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents and registrars; (j) payment for portfolio pricing or valuation services to pricing agents, accountants, bankers and other specialists, if any; (k) expenses of preparing share certificates; (l) expenses in connection with the issuance, offering, distribution, sale, redemption or repurchase of securities issued by the Fund; (m) expenses relating to investor and public relations provided by parties other than Calamos; (n) expenses and fees of registering or qualifying shares of beneficial interest of the Fund for sale; (o) interest charges, bond premiums and other insurance expenses; (p) freight, insurance and other charges in connection with the shipment of the Fund’s portfolio securities; (q) the compensation and all expenses (specifically including travel expenses relating to Fund business) of Trustees, officers and employees of the Fund who are not affiliated persons of Calamos; (r) brokerage commissions or other costs of acquiring or disposing of any portfolio securities of the Fund; (s) expenses of printing and distributing reports, notices and dividends to shareholders; (t) expenses of preparing and setting in type, printing and mailing prospectuses and statements of additional information of the Fund and supplements thereto; (u) costs of stationery; (v) any litigation expenses; (w) indemnification of Trustees and officers of the Fund; (x) costs of shareholders’ and other meetings; (y) interest on borrowed money, if any; and (z) the fees and other expenses of listing the Fund’s shares on the NYSE or any other national stock exchange.

 

Calamos has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee at the annual rate, and for the time periods, set forth below:

 

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Calamos employs a team approach to portfolio management, with teams led by the Co-Chief Investment Officers (the “Co-CIOs”) and comprised generally of the Co-CIOs, senior strategy analysts, intermediate analysts and junior analysts. The Co-CIOs and senior strategy analysts are supported by and lead a team of investment professionals whose valuable contributions create a synergy of expertise that can be applied across many different investment strategies.

 

Portfolio holdings are reviewed and trading activity is discussed on a regular basis by team members. Team members generally may make trading decisions guided by each respective Fund’s investment objective and strategy.

 

While day-to-day management of each portfolio is a team effort, the Co-CIOs, along with certain of the senior strategy analysts, have joint primary and supervisory responsibility for the Fund and work with all team members in developing and executing each respective portfolio’s investment program. The Fund’s portfolio investment program includes implementation of distinct strategies. All team leaders are further identified below.

 

John P. Calamos, Sr., Co-CIO of Calamos, generally focuses on the top-down approach of diversification by industry sector and macro-level investment themes. Nick P. Calamos, Co-CIO of Calamos, also focuses on the top-down approach of diversification by industry sector and macro-level investment themes and, in addition, focuses on the bottom-up approach and corresponding research and analysis. John P. Calamos, Jr., John Hillenbrand, Steve Klouda, Jeff Scudieri and Jon Vacko are each senior strategy analysts.

 

John P. Calamos, Sr. is President and Trustee of the Fund and founder, chairman, CEO and Co-CIO of Calamos and its predecessor company. Nick P. Calamos is Vice President of the Fund and Senior Executive Vice President and Co-CIO of Calamos and its predecessor company. John P. Calamos, Jr., Executive Vice President of Calamos, joined the firm in 1985 and has held various senior investment positions since that time. John Hillenbrand joined Calamos in 2002 and has been a senior strategy analyst since August 2002. Steve Klouda joined Calamos in 1994 and has been a senior strategy analyst since July 2002. Jeff Scudieri joined Calamos in 1997 and has been a senior strategy analyst since September 2002. Jon Vacko joined Calamos in 2000 and has been a senior strategy analyst since July 2002.

 

For over 20 years, the Calamos portfolio management team has managed money for their clients in convertible, high yield and global strategies. Furthermore, Calamos has extensive experience investing in foreign markets through its convertible securities and high yield securities strategies. Such experience has included investments in established as well as emerging foreign markets. The Fund’s statement of additional information provides additional information about the team leaders, including other accounts they manage, their ownership in the Calamos Family of Funds and their compensation.

 

Fund Accounting

 

Under the arrangements with State Street to provide fund accounting services, State Street provides certain administrative and accounting services to the Fund and such other funds advised by Calamos that may be part of those arrangements (the Fund and such other funds are collectively referred to as the “Calamos Funds”) as described more fully in the statement of additional information. For the services rendered to the Calamos Funds, State Street receives fees based on the combined managed assets of the Calamos Funds (“Combined Assets”). Each fund of the Calamos Funds pays its pro-rata share of the fees payable to State Street described below based on relative managed assets of each fund. State Street receives a fee at the annual rate of .009% for the first $5.0 billion of Combined Assets, .0075% for the next $5.0 billion of Combined Assets, .005% for the next $5.0 billion of Combined Assets and .0035% for the Combined Assets in excess of $15.0 billion. Because the fees payable to State Street are based on the managed assets of the Calamos Funds, the fees increase as the Calamos Funds increase their leverage.

 

In addition, Calamos provides certain other financial accounting services to the Calamos Funds described more fully in the statement of additional information. For providing those services, Calamos receives a fee 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 (“financial accounting service fee”). Each fund of the Calamos Funds will pay its pro rata share of the financial accounting service fee to Calamos based on the fund’s portion of the Combined Assets.

 

The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company (commonly referred to as a closed-end fund) which commenced investment operations in June 2002. Closed-end funds differ from open-end management investment companies (which are generally referred to as mutual funds) in that closed-end funds generally list their shares for trading on a stock exchange and do not redeem their shares at the request of the shareholder. This means that if you wish to sell your shares of a closed-end fund you must trade them on the market like any other stock at the prevailing market price at that time. In a mutual fund, if the shareholder wishes to sell shares of the fund, the mutual fund will redeem or buy back the shares at “net asset value.” Also, mutual funds generally offer new shares on a continuous basis to new investors, and closed-end funds generally do not. The continuous inflows and outflows of assets in a mutual fund can make it difficult to manage the fund’s investments. By comparison, closed-end funds are generally able to stay more fully invested in securities that are consistent with their investment objectives and also have greater flexibility to make certain types of investments and to use certain investment strategies, such as financial leverage and investments in illiquid securities.

 

Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value. To the extent the common shares do trade at a discount, the Fund’s Board of Trustees may from time to time engage in open-

market repurchases or tender offers for shares after balancing the benefit to shareholders of the increase in the net asset value per share resulting from such purchases against the decrease in the assets of the Fund and potential increase in the expense ratio of expenses to assets of the Fund. The Board of Trustees believes that in addition to the beneficial effects described above, any such purchases or tender offers may result in the temporary narrowing of any discount but will not have any long-term effect on the level of any discount. We cannot guarantee or assure, however, that the Fund’s Board of Trustees will decide to engage in any of these actions. Nor is there any guarantee or assurance that such actions, if undertaken, would result in the shares trading at a price equal or close to net asset value per share. The Board of Trustees might also consider converting the Fund to an open-end mutual fund, which would also require a vote of the shareholders of the Fund. Conversion of the Fund to an open-end mutual fund would require an amendment to the Fund’s Declaration of Trust. Such an amendment would require the favorable vote of the holders of at least 75% of the Fund’s outstanding shares (including any preferred shares) entitled to be voted on the matter, voting as a single class (or a majority of such shares if the amendment were previously approved, adopted or authorized by 75% of the total number of Trustees fixed in accordance with the Bylaws), and, assuming preferred shares are issued, the affirmative vote of a majority of outstanding preferred shares, voting as a separate class.

 

The following is a general summary of certain federal income tax considerations affecting us and our security holders. This discussion does not purport to be complete or to deal with all aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to shareholders in light of their particular circumstances or those who are subject to special rules, such as banks, thrift institutions and certain other financial institutions, REITs, regulated investment companies, insurance companies, brokers and dealers in securities or currencies, certain securities traders, tax-exempt investors, individual retirement accounts, certain tax-deferred accounts, and foreign investors. Tax matters are very complicated, and the tax consequences of an investment in and holding of our securities will depend on the particular facts of each investor’s situation. Investors are advised to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the application to their own circumstances of the general federal income taxation rules described below and with respect to other federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences to them before making an investment in our securities. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes that investors are U.S. persons and hold our securities as capital assets. More detailed information regarding the federal income tax consequences of investing in our securities is in the statement of additional information.

 

Federal Income Taxation of the Fund

 

The Fund has elected to be treated, and intends to qualify each year, as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), so that it will not pay U.S. federal income tax on income and capital gains timely distributed to shareholders. If the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company and distributes to its shareholders at least 90% of the sum of (i) its “investment company taxable income” as that term is defined in the Code (which includes, among other things, dividends, taxable interest, the excess of any net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses and certain net foreign exchange gains, less certain deductible expenses) without regard to the deduction for dividends paid, and (ii) the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest, if any, over certain disallowed deductions, the Fund will be relieved of U.S. federal income tax on any income of the Fund, including long-term capital gains, distributed to shareholders. However, if the Fund retains any investment company taxable income or net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate federal income tax rates (currently at a maximum rate of 35%) on the amount retained. The Fund intends to distribute at least annually all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income, net tax-exempt interest, and net capital gain. Under the Code, the Fund will generally be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax on its undistributed ordinary income and capital gains if it fails to meet certain distribution requirements with respect to each calendar year. The Fund intends to make distributions in a timely manner in amounts necessary to avoid the excise tax and accordingly does not expect to be subject to this tax.

If, for any taxable year, the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it would be treated in the same manner as a regular corporation subject to U.S. federal income tax and distributions to its shareholders would not be deducted by the Fund in computing its taxable income. In such event, the Fund’s distributions, to the extent derived from the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, would generally constitute ordinary dividends, which would generally be eligible for the dividends received deduction available to corporate shareholders, and non-corporate shareholders would generally be able to treat such distributions as “qualified dividend income” eligible for reduced rates of U.S. federal income taxation in taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010.

 

Certain of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to special and complex federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (ii) convert tax-advantaged, long-term capital gains and qualified dividend income into higher taxed short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (iii) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely affect the timing as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, and (vi) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions. The Fund will monitor its transactions and may make certain tax elections where applicable in order to mitigate the effect of these provisions, if possible.

 

Dividends, interest and some capital gains received by the Fund on foreign securities may be subject to foreign tax withholdings or other foreign taxes. If it meets certain requirements, the Fund may make an election under the Code to pass through such taxes to shareholders of the Fund. If such an election is not made, any foreign taxes paid or accrued by the Fund will represent an expense of the Fund. If an election is made, shareholders will generally be able to claim a credit or deduction on their federal income tax return for, and will be required to treat as part of the amounts distributed to them, their pro rata portion of the income taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries (which taxes relate primarily to investment income). If the Fund makes such an election, it will provide relevant information to its shareholders.

 

Federal Income Taxation of Common and Preferred Shares

 

Federal Income Tax Treatment of Common Share Distributions.  Unless a shareholder is ineligible to participate or elects otherwise, all distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of common stock of the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). For taxpayers subject to U.S. federal income tax, all dividends will generally be taxable regardless of whether a shareholder takes them in cash or they are reinvested pursuant to the Plan in additional shares of the Fund. Distributions of the Fund’s investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) will generally be taxable at ordinary federal income tax rates to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. However, a portion of such distributions derived from certain corporate dividends, if any, may qualify for either the dividends received deduction available to corporate shareholders under Section 243 of the Code or the reduced rates of U.S. federal income taxation for “qualified dividend income” currently available to noncorporate shareholders under Section 1(h)(11) of the Code, provided certain holding period and other requirements are met at both the Fund and shareholder levels. The provisions of the Code applicable to “qualified dividend income” are currently effective for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010. Distributions of net capital gain, if any, are generally taxable as long-term capital gains for U.S. federal income tax purposes without regard to the length of time a shareholder has held shares of the Fund. A distribution of an amount in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, if any, will be treated by a shareholder as a tax-free return of capital, which is applied against and reduces the shareholder’s basis in his, her or its shares. To the extent that the amount of any such distribution exceeds the shareholder’s basis in his, her or its shares, the excess will be treated by the shareholder as gain from the sale or exchange of shares. The U.S. federal income tax status of all dividends and distributions will be designated by the Fund and reported to the shareholders annually.

 

If the Fund retains any net capital gain, the Fund may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to shareholders who, if subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income as long-term capital gain their proportionate share of such

undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate share of the federal income tax paid by the Fund on the undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If such an event occurs, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, generally be increased by the difference between the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in the shareholder’s gross income and the federal income tax deemed paid by the shareholders.

 

If a shareholder’s distributions are automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan and the plan agent invests the distribution in shares acquired on behalf of the shareholder in open-market purchases, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the shareholder will be treated as having received a taxable distribution in the amount of the cash dividend that the shareholder would have received if the shareholder had elected to receive cash. If a shareholder’s distributions are automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan and the plan agent invests the distribution in newly issued shares of the Fund, the shareholder will be treated as receiving a taxable distribution equal to the fair market value of the stock the shareholder receives.

 

Dividends declared by the Fund in October, November or December with a record date in such month that are paid during the following January will be treated for federal income tax purposes as paid by the Fund and received by the shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which they were declared.

 

Federal Income Tax Treatment of Preferred Share Distributions.  Under present law, we are of the opinion that our preferred shares will constitute equity, and thus distributions with respect to preferred shares (other than distributions in redemption of preferred shares subject to Section 302(b) of the Code) will generally constitute dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income tax purposes. Except in the case of distributions of net capital gain, such dividends generally will be taxable to holders at ordinary federal income tax rates but may qualify for the dividends received deduction available to corporate shareholders under Section 243 of the Code or the reduced rates of U.S. federal income taxation under Section 1(h)(11) of the Code that apply to qualified dividend income received by noncorporate shareholders. Distributions designated by the Fund as net capital gain distributions will be taxable as long-term capital gain regardless of the length of time a shareholder has held shares of the Fund. Please see the discussion above on qualified dividend income, dividends received deductions and net capital gain.

 

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) currently requires that a regulated investment company that has two or more classes of stock allocate to each such class proportionate amounts of each type of its income (such as ordinary income and capital gains). Accordingly, the Fund intends to designate distributions made with respect to preferred shares as ordinary income, capital gain distributions, dividends qualifying for the dividends received deduction, if any, and qualified dividend income, if any, in proportion to the preferred shares’ share of total dividends paid during the year. See “Certain Federal Income Tax Matters” in the statement of additional information.

 

Earnings and profits are generally treated, for federal income tax purposes, as first being used to pay distributions on the preferred shares, and then to the extent remaining, if any, to pay distributions on the common shares. Distributions in excess of the Fund’s earnings and profits, if any, will first reduce a shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in his or her preferred shares and, after the adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to a shareholder who holds such shares as a capital asset.

 

Dividends declared by the Fund in October, November or December with a record date in such month that are paid during the following January will be treated for federal income tax purposes as paid by the Fund and received by the shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which they were declared.

 

Sale of Shares.  Sales and other dispositions of the Fund’s shares generally are taxable events for shareholders that are subject to U.S. federal income tax. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors with reference to their individual circumstances to determine whether any particular transaction in the Fund’s shares is properly treated as a sale or exchange for federal income tax purposes, as the following discussion assumes, and the tax treatment of any gains or losses recognized in such transactions. Gain or loss will generally be equal to the difference between the amount of cash and the fair market value of other property

received and the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares sold or exchanged. Such gain or loss will generally be characterized as capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term depending on the shareholder’s holding period in the shares disposed. However, any loss realized by a shareholder upon the sale or other disposition of shares with a federal income tax holding period of six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions of long-term capital gain with respect to such shares. The ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

 

Gain or loss will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares disposed of were held for more than one year and will be short-term capital gain or loss if the shares disposed of were held for one year or less. Net long-term capital gain recognized by a noncorporate U.S. shareholder generally will be subject to federal income tax at a lower rate (currently a maximum rate of 15%, although this rate will increase to 20% for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010) than net short-term capital gain or ordinary income (currently a maximum rate of 35%). For corporate shareholders, capital gain is generally taxed for federal income tax purposes at the same rate as ordinary income, that is, currently at a maximum rate of 35%. In addition, losses on sales or other dispositions of shares may be disallowed under the “wash sale” rules in the event that substantially identical stock or securities are acquired (including those made pursuant to reinvestment of dividends) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after a sale or other disposition of shares. In such a case, the disallowed portion of any loss generally would be included in the U.S. federal tax basis of the shares acquired.

 

Backup Withholding.  The Fund is required in certain circumstances to withhold federal income tax (“backup withholding”) at a current rate of 28% on reportable payments including dividends, capital gain distributions, and proceeds of sales or other dispositions of the Fund’s shares paid to certain holders of the Fund’s shares who do not furnish the Fund with their correct social security number or other taxpayer identification number and certain other certifications, or who are otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from payments made to a shareholder may be refunded or credited against such shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Federal Income Taxation of Debt Securities

 

Federal Income Tax Treatment of Holders of Debt Securities.  Under present law, we are of the opinion that the debt securities will constitute indebtedness of the Fund for federal income tax purposes, which the discussion below assumes. We intend to treat all payments made with respect to the debt securities consistent with this characterization.

 

Taxation of Interest.  Payments or accruals of interest on debt securities generally will be taxable to holders as ordinary interest income at the time such interest is received (actually or constructively) or accrued, in accordance with their regular method of accounting for federal income tax purposes.

 

Purchase, Sale and Redemption of Debt Securities.  Initially, the tax basis in debt securities acquired generally will be equal to the cost to acquire such debt securities. This basis will increase by the amounts, if any, that a holder includes in income under the rules governing market discount, and will decrease by the amount of any amortized premium on such debt securities, as discussed below. When a holder sells or exchanges any of their debt securities, or if any debt securities are redeemed, the holder of the debt securities generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the transaction (less any accrued and unpaid interest, which will be subject to federal income tax as interest in the manner described above) and the tax basis in the debt securities relinquished.

 

Except as discussed below with respect to market discount, the gain or loss recognized on the sale, exchange or redemption of any debt securities generally will be capital gain or loss. Such gain or loss will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the disposed debt securities were held for more than one year and will be short-term capital gain or loss if the disposed debt securities were held for one year or less. Net long-term capital gain recognized by a noncorporate U.S. holder generally will be subject to federal income tax at a lower rate (currently a maximum rate of 15%, although this rate will increase to 20% for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010) than net short-term capital gain or ordinary income (currently a maximum

rate of 35%). For corporate holders, capital gain is generally taxed for federal income tax purposes at the same rate as ordinary income, that is, currently at a maximum rate of 35%. A holder’s ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

 

Amortizable Premium.  If a holder purchases debt securities at a cost greater than their stated principal amount, plus accrued interest, the holder will be considered to have purchased the debt securities at a premium, and generally may elect to amortize this premium as an offset to interest income, using a constant yield method, over the remaining term of the debt securities. If the holder makes the election to amortize the premium, it generally will apply to all debt instruments held at the beginning of the first taxable year to which the election applies, as well as any debt instruments subsequently acquired. In addition, the holder may not revoke the election without the consent of the IRS. If the holder elects to amortize the premium, the holder will be required to reduce its tax basis in the debt securities by the amount of the premium amortized during its holding period. If the holder does not elect to amortize premium, the amount of premium will be included in its tax basis in the debt securities. Therefore, if the holder does not elect to amortize the premium and holds the debt securities to maturity, the holder generally will be required to treat the premium as a capital loss when the debt securities are redeemed.

 

Market Discount.  If the holder purchases debt securities at a price that reflects a “market discount,” any principal payments on, or any gain realized on the disposition of the debt securities generally will be treated as ordinary interest income to the extent of the market discount that accrued on the debt securities during the time the holder held such debt securities. “Market discount” is defined under the Code as, in general, the excess of the stated redemption price at maturity over the purchase price of the debt security, except that if the market discount is less than 0.25% of the stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity, the market discount is considered to be zero. In addition, the holder may be required to defer the deduction of all or a portion of any interest paid on any indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry the debt securities that were acquired at a market discount. In general, market discount will be treated as accruing ratably over the term of the debt securities, or, at the holder’s election, under a constant yield method.

 

The holder may elect to include market discount in gross income currently as it accrues (on either a ratable or constant yield basis), in lieu of treating a portion of any gain realized on a sale of the debt securities as ordinary income. If the holder elects to include market discount on a current basis, the interest deduction deferral rule described above will not apply and the holder will increase its basis in the debt security by the amount of market discount it includes in gross income. If the holder does make such an election, it will apply to all market discount debt instruments that the holder acquires on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election applies. This election may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding.  In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of principal, interest, and premium, if any, paid on debt securities and to the proceeds of the sale of debt securities paid to U.S. holders other than certain exempt recipients (such as certain corporations). Information reporting generally will apply to payments of interest on the debt securities to non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to such payments. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest payments and any withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. Holder resides under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. In addition, for non-U.S. Holders, information reporting will apply to the proceeds of the sale of debt securities within the United States or conducted through United States-related financial intermediaries unless the certification requirements described below have been complied with and the statement described below in “Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders” has been received (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the holder is a United States person) or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption.

 

We may be required to withhold, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a portion of all payments (including redemption proceeds) payable to holders of debt securities who fail to provide us with their correct taxpayer identification number, who fail to make required certifications or who have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding (or if we have been so notified). Certain corporate and other

shareholders specified in the Code and the regulations thereunder are exempt from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS. A holder who is a non-U.S. Holder may have to comply with certification procedures to establish its non-U.S. status in order to avoid backup withholding tax requirements. The certification procedures required to claim the exemption from withholding tax on interest income described below will satisfy these requirements.

 

Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders.  If a holder is a non-resident alien individual or a foreign corporation (a “non-U.S. Holder”), the payment of interest on the debt securities generally will be considered “portfolio interest” and thus generally will be exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax. This exemption will apply provided that (1) interest paid on the debt securities is not effectively connected with the holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States, (2) the holder is not a bank whose receipt of interest on the debt securities is described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (3) the holder does not actually or constructively own 10 percent or more of the combined voting power of all classes of the Fund’s stock entitled to vote, (4) the holder is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related, directly or indirectly, to the Fund through stock ownership, and (5) the holder satisfies the certification requirements described below.

 

To satisfy the certification requirements, either (1) the holder of any debt securities must certify, under penalties of perjury, that such holder is a non-U.S. person and must provide such owner’s name, address and taxpayer identification number, if any, on IRS Form W-8BEN, or (2) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customer securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business and holds the debt securities on behalf of the holder thereof must certify, under penalties of perjury, that it has received a valid and properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN from the beneficial holder and comply with certain other requirements. Special certification rules apply for debt securities held by a foreign partnership and other intermediaries.

 

Interest on debt securities received by a non-U.S. Holder that is not excluded from U.S. federal withholding tax under the portfolio interest exemption as described above generally will be subject to withholding at a 30% rate, except where (1) the interest is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, in which case the interest will generally be subject to U.S. income tax on a net basis as applicable to U.S. holders generally or (2) a non-U.S. Holder can claim the benefits of an applicable income tax treaty to reduce or eliminate such withholding tax. To claim the benefit of an income tax treaty or to claim an exemption from withholding because the interest is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, a non-U.S. Holder must timely provide the appropriate, properly executed IRS forms. These forms may be required to be periodically updated. Also, a non-U.S. Holder who is claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty may be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and to provide certain documentary evidence issued by foreign governmental authorities to prove residence in the foreign country.

 

Any capital gain that a non-U.S. Holder realizes on a sale, exchange or other disposition of debt securities generally will be exempt from United States federal income tax, including withholding tax. This exemption will not apply to a holder whose gain is effectively connected with their conduct of a trade or business in the U.S. or who is an individual holder and is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and either its gain is attributable to an office or other fixed place of business that it maintains in the U.S. or it has a tax home in the United States.

 

Net asset value per share is determined no less frequently than the close of regular session trading on the NYSE (usually 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on the last business day in each week, or such other time as the Fund may determine. Net asset value is calculated by dividing the value of all of the securities and other assets of the Fund, less its liabilities (including accrued expenses and indebtedness) and the aggregate liquidation value of any outstanding preferred shares, by the total number of common shares outstanding. Currently, the net asset values of shares of publicly traded closed-end investment companies investing in debt securities are published in Barron’s, the Monday edition of The Wall Street Journal and the Monday and Saturday editions of The New York Times.

The values of the securities in the Fund are based on market prices from the primary market in which they are traded. As a general rule, equity securities listed on a U.S. securities exchange are valued at the last current reported sale price as of the time of valuation. Securities quoted on the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (“NOCP”), as determined by Nasdaq, or lacking an NOCP, at the last current reported sale price as of the time of valuation. Bonds and other fixed-income securities that are traded over the counter and on an exchange will be valued according to the broadest and most representative market, and it is expected this will ordinarily be the over-the-counter market. The foreign securities held by the Fund are traded on exchanges throughout the world. Trading on these foreign securities exchanges is completed at various times throughout the day and often does not coincide with the close of trading on the NYSE. The value of foreign securities is generally determined at the close of trading of the exchange on which the securities are traded or at the close of trading on the NYSE, whichever is earlier.

 

If market prices are not readily available or the Fund’s valuation methods do not produce a value reflective of the fair value of the security, securities and other assets are priced at a fair value determined in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees, which may include a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent service provider.

 

The Fund also may use fair value pricing if the value of a security it holds has been affected by events occurring before the Fund’s pricing time, but after the close of the primary markets or exchanges on which the security is traded. When fair value pricing is employed, the prices of portfolio securities used to calculate the Fund’s net asset value may differ from market quotations or official closing prices for the same securities. This means that the Fund may value those securities higher or lower than another fund that uses market quotations or official closing prices.

 

The fair value pricing procedures recognize that volatility in the U.S. markets may cause prices of foreign securities determined at the close of the foreign market or exchange on which the securities are traded to no longer be reliable when the Fund’s net asset value is determined. As a result, at least some of the Fund’s foreign securities may be valued at their fair value in accordance with the fair value pricing procedures on any day the Fund calculates its net asset value.

 

Values of foreign securities are translated from local currencies into U.S. dollars using current exchange rates. Trading in securities in foreign markets takes place on some days (including some weekend days and U.S. holidays) when the NYSE is not open, and does not take place on some days when the NYSE is open. So, the value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected on days when the Fund does not calculate its net asset value.

 

Dividends and Distributions on Common Shares

 

The Fund has made regular monthly distributions to its common shareholders in an amount ranging from $0.0950 to $0.1500 per share since August 2002. Additionally, the Fund has made distributions of $0.015, $1.0610, $0.294, $0.2201, and $0.0336 in January 2003, January 2005, January 2006, January 2007, and January 2008, respectively.

 

The Fund currently intends to make monthly distributions to common shareholders at a level rate established by the Board of Trustees. The rate may be modified by the Board of Trustees from time to time. Monthly distributions may include net investment income, net realized short-term capital gain and, if necessary, return of capital. Net realized short-term capital gains distributed to common shareholders will be taxed as ordinary income. Generally, there may be at least one additional distribution per calendar year that may include net realized long-term capital gains. There is no guarantee that the Fund will realize capital gains in any given year. Pursuant to the requirements of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, a notice would accompany each monthly distribution with respect to the estimated source of the distribution made. Distributions are subject to re-characterization for federal income tax purposes after the end of the fiscal year. The

Fund may at times in its discretion pay out less than the entire amount of net investment income earned in any particular period and may at times pay out such accumulated undistributed income in addition to net investment income earned in other periods in order to permit the Fund to maintain its level distribution policy. As a result, the distribution paid by the Fund to holders of common shares for any particular period may be more or less than the amount of net investment income earned by the Fund during such period. In addition, in order to make such distributions, the Fund might have to sell a portion of its investment portfolio at a time when independent investment judgment might not dictate such action.

 

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund is required to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains each year to both reduce its federal income tax liability and to avoid a potential excise tax. Accordingly, the Fund intends to distribute all or substantially all of its net investment income and all net realized capital gains, if any. Therefore, the Fund’s final distribution with respect to each calendar year would include any remaining net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, undistributed during the year.

 

If, for any calendar year, the Fund’s total distributions exceeded net investment income and net realized capital gains (the “Excess”), the Excess, distributed from the Fund’s assets, would generally be treated as dividend income to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Thereafter, such Excess would be treated as a tax-free return of capital up to the amount of the common shareholder’s tax basis in his, her or its common shares, with any amounts exceeding such basis treated as gain from the sale of common shares. See “Certain Federal Income Tax Matters.”

 

In the event the Fund distributed the Excess, such distribution would decrease the Fund’s managed assets and, therefore, have the likely effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. There is a risk that the Fund would not eventually realize capital gains in an amount corresponding to a distribution of the Excess.

 

On November 4, 2008, the Commission granted Calamos, on behalf of itself and certain funds that it manages, an order under the 1940 Act facilitating the implementation of the Managed Dividend Policy. As a result, the Fund may implement a Managed Dividend Policy, although it has not done so as of the date of the prospectus. Notwithstanding receipt of the exemptive relief, currently the Fund does not intend to implement a Managed Dividend Policy until such time as its implementation is in the best interests of the Fund and our shareholders. In addition, it is not contemplated that we will change the terms of our distribution policy in connection with any future implementation of the managed distribution order.

 

Under a Managed Dividend Policy, the Fund would seek to distribute a monthly fixed percentage of net asset value to common shareholders. If, for any distribution, net investment income and net realized capital gains were less than the amount of the distribution, the differences would be distributed from the Fund’s assets. In addition, in order to make such distributions, the Fund might have to sell a portion of its investment portfolio at a time when independent investment judgment might not dictate such action.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to incur indebtedness unless immediately after such incurrence the Fund has an asset coverage of at least 300% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of indebtedness. Additionally, under the 1940 Act, the Fund may not declare any dividend or other distribution upon any class of its capital shares, or purchase any such capital shares, unless the aggregate indebtedness of the Fund has, at the time of the declaration of any such dividend or distribution or at the time of any such purchase, an asset coverage of at least 300% after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution, or purchase price, as the case may be.

 

While any preferred shares are outstanding, the Fund may not declare any dividend or other distribution on its common shares, unless at the time of such declaration, (1) all accumulated preferred dividends have been paid and (2) the net asset value of the Fund’s portfolio (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or other distribution) is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding preferred shares (expected to be equal to the original purchase price per share plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon).

 

In addition to the limitations imposed by the 1940 Act described above, certain lenders may impose additional restrictions on the payment of dividends or distributions on common shares in the event of a default

on the Fund’s borrowings. If the Fund’s ability to make distributions on its common shares is limited, such limitation could, under certain circumstances, impair the ability of the Fund to maintain its qualification for federal income taxation as a regulated investment company, which would have adverse tax consequences for shareholders. See “Leverage” and “Certain Federal Income Tax Matters.”

 

See “— Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan” for information concerning the manner in which dividends and distributions to common shareholders may be automatically reinvested in common shares. Dividends and distributions are taxable to shareholders for federal income tax purposes whether they are reinvested in shares of the Fund or received in cash.

 

The yield on the Fund’s common shares will vary from period to period depending on factors including, but not limited to, market conditions, the timing of the Fund’s investment in portfolio securities, the securities comprising the Fund’s portfolio, changes in interest rates including changes in the relationship between short-term rates and long-term rates, the amount and timing of the use of borrowings and other leverage by the Fund, the effects of leverage on the common shares discussed above under “Leverage,” the timing of the investment of leverage proceeds in portfolio securities, the Fund’s net assets and its operating expenses. Consequently, the Fund cannot guarantee any particular yield on its common shares and the yield for any given period is not an indication or representation of future yields on the Fund’s common shares.

 

Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

Pursuant to the Plan, unless a shareholder is ineligible or elects otherwise, all dividend and capital gains on common shares distributions are automatically reinvested by The Bank of New York, as agent for shareholders in administering the Plan (“Plan Agent”), in additional common shares of the Fund. Shareholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all dividends and distributions payable in cash paid by check mailed directly to the shareholder of record (or, if the shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee) by Plan Agent, as dividend paying agent. Such shareholders may elect not to participate in the Plan and to receive all dividends and distributions in cash by sending written instructions to Plan Agent, as dividend paying agent, at the address set forth below. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by giving notice in writing to the Plan Agent; such termination will be effective with respect to a particular dividend or distribution if notice is received prior to the record date for the applicable distribution.

 

Whenever the Fund declares a dividend or distribution payable either in shares or in cash, non-participants in the Plan will receive cash, and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in shares of common shares. The shares are acquired by the Plan Agent for the participant’s account, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional common shares from the Fund (“newly issued shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding common shares on the open market (“open-market purchases”) on the NYSE or elsewhere. If, on the payment date, the net asset value per share of the common shares is equal to or less than the market price per common share plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition being referred to herein as “market premium”), the Plan Agent will receive newly issued shares from the Fund for each participant’s account. The number of newly issued common shares to be credited to the participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend or distribution by the greater of (i) the net asset value per common share on the payment date, or (ii) 95% of the market price per common share on the payment date.

 

If, on the payment date, the net asset value per common share exceeds the market price plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition being referred to herein as “market discount”), the Plan Agent has until the last business day before the next date on which the shares trade on an “ex-dividend” basis or in no event more than 30 days after the payment date (“last purchase date”) to invest the dividend or distribution amount in shares acquired in open-market purchases. It is contemplated that the Fund will pay monthly income dividends. Therefore, the period during which open-market purchases can be made will exist only from the payment date on the dividend through the date before the next ex-dividend date, which typically will be approximately ten days. The weighted average price (including brokerage commissions) of all common shares purchased by the Plan Agent as Plan Agent will be the price per common share allocable to each participant.

If, before the Plan Agent has completed its open-market purchases, the market price of a common share exceeds the net asset value per share, the average per share purchase price paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the net asset value of the Fund’s shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if the dividend had been paid in newly issued shares on the payment date. Because of the foregoing difficulty with respect to open-market purchases, the Plan provides that if the Plan Agent is unable to invest the full dividend amount in open-market purchases during the purchase period or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period, the Plan Agent will cease making open-market purchases and will invest the uninvested portion of the dividend or distribution amount in newly issued shares at the close of business on the last purchase date.

 

The Plan Agent maintains all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmation of each acquisition made for the participant’s account as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 60 days after the date thereof. Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan Agent in non-certificated form in the Plan Agent’s name or that of its nominee, and each shareholder’s proxy will include those shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan. The Plan Agent will forward all proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for shares held pursuant to the Plan first in accordance with the instructions of the participants then with respect to any proxies not returned by such participant, in the same proportion as the Plan Agent votes the proxies returned by the participants.

 

There will be no brokerage charges with respect to shares issued directly by the Fund as a result of dividends or distributions payable either in shares or in cash. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent’s open-market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of dividends or distributions. If a participant elects to have the Plan Agent sell part or all of his or her common shares and remit the proceeds, such participant will be charged his or her pro rata share of brokerage commissions on the shares sold, plus a $15 transaction fee.

 

The automatic reinvestment of dividends and distributions will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such dividends. See “Certain Federal Income Tax Matters.”

 

Shareholders participating in the Plan may receive benefits not available to shareholders not participating in the Plan. If the market price plus commissions of the Fund’s shares is higher than the net asset value, participants in the Plan will receive shares of the Fund at less than they could otherwise purchase them and will have shares with a cash value greater than the value of any cash distribution they would have received on their shares. If the market price plus commissions is below the net asset value, participants receive distributions of shares with a net asset value greater than the value of any cash distribution they would have received on their shares. However, there may be insufficient shares available in the market to make distributions in shares at prices below the net asset value. Also, since the Fund does not redeem its shares, the price on resale may be more or less than the net asset value. See “Certain Federal Income Tax Matters” for a discussion of federal income tax consequences of the Plan.

 

Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are desirable. Accordingly, the Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan if in the judgment of the Board of Trustees such a change is warranted. The Plan may be terminated by the Plan Agent or the Fund upon notice in writing mailed to each participant at least 60 days prior to the effective date of the termination. Upon any termination, the Plan Agent will cause a certificate or certificates to be issued for the full shares held by each participant under the Plan and cash adjustment for any fraction of a common share at the then current market value of the common shares to be delivered to him or her. If preferred, a participant may request the sale of all of the common shares held by the Plan Agent in his or her Plan account in order to terminate participation in the Plan. If such participant elects in advance of such termination to have the Plan Agent sell part or all of his shares, the Plan Agent is authorized to deduct from the proceeds a $15.00 fee plus the brokerage commissions incurred for the transaction. If a participant has terminated his or her participation in the Plan but continues to have common shares registered in his or her name, he or she may re-enroll in the Plan at any time by notifying the Plan Agent in writing at the address above. The terms and conditions of the Plan may be amended by the Plan Agent or the Fund at any time but, except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or the

rules or policies of the Commission or any other regulatory authority, only by mailing to each participant appropriate written notice at least 30 days prior to the effective date thereof. The amendment shall be deemed to be accepted by each participant unless, prior to the effective date thereof, the Plan Agent receives notice of the termination of the participant’s account under the Plan. Any such amendment may include an appointment by the Plan Agent of a successor Plan Agent, subject to the prior written approval of the successor Plan Agent by the Fund. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants.

 

All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent at Dividend Reinvestment Department, P.O. Box 1958, Newark, New Jersey 07101-9774.

 

The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares, without par value. The Fund is also authorized to issue preferred shares. The Board of Trustees is authorized to classify and reclassify any unissued shares into one or more additional classes or series of shares. As of December 31, 2008, the Fund had 50,355,536 common shares outstanding and 4,160 Auction Market Preferred Shares outstanding. The Board of Trustees may establish such series or class from time to time by setting or changing in any one or more respects the designations, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of such shares and pursuant to such classification or reclassification to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of any existing class or series. The Board of Trustees, without shareholder approval, is authorized to amend the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Bylaws to reflect the terms of any such class or series. The Fund is also authorized to issue other securities, including debt securities.

 

In June 2008, 11,200 of the 15,360 outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares (representing $280 million of the then-outstanding liquidation preference of $384 million) of the Fund were replaced with borrowings under the Credit Agreement with conduit lenders and a bank that allows the Fund to borrow up to an initial limit of $336.6 million, subject to certain restrictions. The Credit Agreement has an initial maturity of May 13, 2009. The Fund may request that the lenders extend the availability of the Credit Agreement for up to two years, in one-year increments. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are secured by assets of the Fund. Interest is charged at a rate above the conduits’ commercial paper issuance rate and is payable monthly. Under the current terms of the Credit Agreement, the Fund also pays a program fee on its outstanding borrowings to administer the facility and a liquidity fee on the total borrowing limit. Program and liquidity fees for the year ended October 31, 2008 totaled $1,234,231. For the year ended October 31, 2008, the average borrowings under the Credit Agreement and the average interest rate were $236,222,368 and 2.92%, respectively. As of October 31, 2008, the amount of such outstanding borrowings was $149 million. The interest rate applicable to the borrowings on December 31, 2008 was 2.40%.

 

Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, we will have to comply with certain prudential limitations on investment concentration, and give the lender a perfected security interest in our securities holdings, with exceptions made for certain permitted liens. At present, we do not believe that these prudential limitations on investment concentration will affect our investment activities in any material way.

 

The borrowings under the Credit Agreement are senior secured obligations of the Fund and rank equal in right of payment with all other existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness of the Fund. The borrowings are secured by a security interest in collateral, which includes substantially all of the assets of the Fund. However, the Fund retains the right to invest and dispose of its assets constituting collateral in the ordinary course of business in accordance with our investment policies. It is only upon the occurrence and continuation of specified events of default that the collateral agent would be able to exercise the remedies of a secured party, including the forced sale of the collateral.

 

While unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness will rank equally with the borrowings under the Credit Agreement in right of payment, the lender under the Credit Agreement, together with the holders of other outstanding secured indebtedness, may, to the exclusion of unsecured creditors, seek recourse against the

collateral as security for the borrowings and such other secured indebtedness until amounts owed under the facility and the other secured indebtedness are satisfied in full. All borrowings under the Credit Agreement rank senior to the Fund’s common and preferred shares as to the payment of interest and distribution of assets upon liquidation.

 

A declaration of a dividend or other distribution on or purchase or redemption of any common or preferred shares of capital stock of the Fund is prohibited (i) at any time that an event of default under the credit agreement pursuant to which the borrowings under the renewable commercial paper conduit facility were made has occurred and is continuing, or (ii) if after giving effect to such declaration, purchase or redemption, the Fund would not meet the 1940 Act asset coverage requirements or any temporary requirements imposed under an order issued by the Commission.

 

Common Shares

 

Common shares, when issued and outstanding, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Shareholders are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets of the Fund available for distribution to common shareholders upon liquidation of the Fund. Common shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share held.

 

So long as any shares of the Fund’s preferred shares are outstanding, holders of common shares will not be entitled to receive any net income of or other distributions from the Fund unless all accumulated dividends on preferred shares have been paid, and unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to preferred shares would be at least 200% after giving effect to such distributions. See “Leverage.”

 

The Fund will send unaudited reports at least semiannually and audited annual financial statements to all of its shareholders.

 

Other offerings of common shares, if made, will require approval of the Board of Trustees and will be subject to the requirement of the 1940 Act that common shares may not be sold at a price below the then-current net asset value, exclusive of underwriting discounts and commissions, except in limited circumstances including in connection with an offering to existing shareholders.

 

Preferred Shares

 

On September 12, 2002 and November 12, 2003, the Fund issued Auction Market Preferred Shares with an aggregate liquidation preference of $204 million and $180 million, respectively. In June 2008, the Fund redeemed $280 million aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares with the proceeds of a renewable commercial paper conduit facility that has a maturity of 364 days. As a non-fundamental policy, the Fund may not issue preferred shares or borrow money and issue debt securities with an aggregate liquidation preference and aggregate principal amount exceeding 38% of the Fund’s total assets. However, in addition to the Auction Market Preferred Shares that are currently outstanding, the Board of Trustees reserves the right to issue other preferred shares to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, which currently limits the aggregate liquidation preference of all outstanding preferred shares to 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets less the Fund’s liabilities and indebtedness. The Auction Market Preferred Shares pay dividends at dividend rates based on auctions held every 7 or 28 days, or, in the event of a failed auction, at the maximum rate as prescribed by the terms of the Auction Market Preferred Shares. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may only issue one class of preferred shares. So long as any preferred shares are outstanding, additional issuances of preferred shares may not have preference or priority over the outstanding preferred shares. It is expected that any additional issuance of preferred shares would be additional shares of an existing series of preferred shares or shares of a different series of preferred shares.

 

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Fund, the holders of preferred shares will be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating distribution, which is expected to equal the original purchase price per preferred share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, whether or not declared, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common shares. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, the holders of preferred shares will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets by the Fund.

 

The 1940 Act requires that the holders of any preferred shares, voting separately as a single class, have the right to elect at least two Trustees at all times. The remaining Trustees will be elected by holders of common shares and preferred shares, voting together as a single class. In addition, subject to the prior rights, if any, of the holders of any other class of senior securities outstanding, the holders of any preferred shares have the right to elect a majority of the Trustees at any time two years’ accumulated dividends on any preferred shares are unpaid. The 1940 Act also requires that, in addition to any approval by shareholders that might otherwise be required, the approval of the holders of a majority of any outstanding preferred shares, voting separately as a class, would be required to (1) adopt any plan of reorganization that would adversely affect the preferred shares, and (2) take any action requiring a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act, including, among other things, changes in the Fund’s subclassification as a closed-end investment company or changes in its fundamental investment restrictions. See “Certain Provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws.” As a result of these voting rights, the Fund’s ability to take any such actions may be impeded to the extent that there are any preferred shares outstanding. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus and except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of preferred shares have equal voting rights with holders of common shares (one vote per share, unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act) and will vote together with holders of common shares as a single class.

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares, voting as a separate class, will be required to amend, alter or repeal any of the preferences, rights or powers of holders of preferred shares so as to affect materially and adversely such preferences, rights or powers, or to increase or decrease the authorized number of preferred shares. The class vote of holders of preferred shares described above will in each case be in addition to any other vote required to authorize the action in question.

 

The terms of the outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares provide that (i) they are redeemable by the Fund in whole or in part at the original purchase price per share plus accrued dividends per share, (ii) the Fund may tender for or purchase Auction Market Preferred Shares and (iii) the Fund may subsequently resell any shares so tendered for or purchased. Any redemption or purchase of any preferred shares by the Fund will reduce the leverage applicable to the common shares, while any resale of shares by the Fund will increase that leverage.

 

Debt Securities

 

General.  Under Delaware law and our Agreement and Declaration of Trust, we may borrow money, without prior approval of holders of common and preferred shares. We may issue debt securities, or other evidence of indebtedness (including bank borrowings or commercial paper) and may secure any such notes or borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security our assets to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or rating agency guidelines. Any borrowings will rank senior to preferred shares and the common shares.

 

Under the 1940 Act, we may only issue one class of senior securities representing indebtedness, which in the aggregate, may represent no more than 331/3% of our total assets. A prospectus supplement and indenture (a summary of the expected terms of which is attached as Appendix A to the statement of additional information) relating to any debt securities will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms are expected to include the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest.  Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, debt securities will bear interest as generally determined by the Board of Trustees, as more fully described in the related prospectus supplement. Interest on debt securities shall be payable when due as described in the related prospectus supplement. If we do not pay interest when due, it will trigger an event of default and we will be restricted from declaring dividends and making other distributions with respect to our common shares and preferred shares.

 

Limitations.  Under the requirements of the 1940 Act, immediately after issuing any senior securities representing indebtedness, we must have an asset coverage of at least 300%. Asset coverage means the ratio which the value of our total assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, bears to the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness. Other types of borrowings also may result in our being subject to similar covenants in credit agreements.

 

Events of Default and Acceleration of Maturity of Debt Securities; Remedies.  Unless stated otherwise in the related prospectus supplement, any one of the following events are expected to constitute an “event of default” for that series under the indenture:

 

 

Upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default, the holders of a majority in principal amount of a series of outstanding debt securities or the trustee may declare the principal amount of that series of debt securities immediately due and payable upon written notice to us. A default that relates only to one series of debt securities does not affect any other series and the holders of such other series of debt securities are not entitled to receive notice of such a default under the indenture. Upon an event of default relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws, acceleration of maturity occurs automatically with respect to all series. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to a series of debt securities has been made, and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by written notice to us and the trustee, may rescind and annul the declaration of acceleration and its consequences if all events of default with respect to that series of debt securities, other than the non-payment of the principal of that series of debt securities which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived and other conditions have been met.

 

Liquidation Rights.  In the event of (a) any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding in connection therewith, relative to us or to our creditors, as such, or to our assets, or (b) any liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Fund, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or (c) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities of ours, then (after any payments with respect to any secured creditor of ours outstanding at such time) and in any such event the holders of debt securities shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on

or in respect of all debt securities (including any interest accruing thereon after the commencement of any such case or proceeding), or provision shall be made for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of the debt securities, before the holders of any common or preferred stock of the Fund are entitled to receive any payment on account of any redemption proceeds, liquidation preference or dividends from such shares. The holders of debt securities shall be entitled to receive, for application to the payment thereof, any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, including any such payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of ours being subordinated to the payment of the debt securities, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the debt securities in any such case, proceeding, dissolution, liquidation or other winding up event.

 

Unsecured creditors of ours may include, without limitation, service providers including Calamos, custodian, administrator, broker-dealers and the trustee, pursuant to the terms of various contracts with us. Secured creditors of ours may include without limitation parties entering into any interest rate swap, floor or cap transactions, or other similar transactions with us that create liens, pledges, charges, security interests, security agreements or other encumbrances on our assets.

 

A consolidation, reorganization or merger of the Fund with or into any other company, or a sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of our assets in consideration for the issuance of equity securities of another company shall not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Fund.

 

Voting Rights.  Debt securities have no voting rights, except to the extent required by law or as otherwise provided in the Indenture relating to the acceleration of maturity upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default. In connection with any other borrowings (if any), the 1940 Act does in certain circumstances grant to the lenders certain voting rights in the event of default in the payment of interest on or repayment of principal.

 

Market.  Our debt securities are not likely to be listed on an exchange or automated quotation system. The details on how to buy and sell such securities, along with the other terms of the securities, will be described in a prospectus supplement. We cannot assure you that any market will exist for our debt securities or if a market does exist, whether it will provide holders with liquidity.

 

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form.  Unless otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued in book-entry form and will be represented by one or more notes in registered global form. The global notes will be deposited with the trustee as custodian for The Depositary Trust Company (“DTC”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. DTC will maintain the notes in designated denominations through its book-entry facilities.

 

Under the expected terms of the indenture, we and the trustee may treat the persons in whose names any notes, including the global notes, are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. Therefore, so long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of the global notes, DTC or such nominee will be considered the sole holder of outstanding notes under the indenture. We or the trustee may give effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by DTC or its nominee.

 

A global note may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the global note may be transferred or exchanged for definitive securities in accordance with the rules and procedures of DTC. In addition, a global note may be exchangeable for notes in definitive form if:

 

 

In each instance, upon surrender by DTC or its nominee of the global note, notes in definitive form will be issued to each person that DTC or its nominee identifies as being the beneficial owner of the related notes.

 

Under the expected terms of the indenture, the holder of any global note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any person, including its participants and persons who may hold interests through DTC participants, to take any action which a holder is entitled to take under the indenture.

 

The Rating Agencies, which assign ratings to our senior securities, impose asset coverage requirements, which may limit our ability to engage in certain types of transactions and may limit our ability to take certain actions without confirming that such action will not impair the ratings. The outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares are currently rated “Aaa” and “AAA” by Moody’s and Fitch, respectively. Moody’s and Fitch, and any other agency that may rate our debt securities or preferred shares in the future, are collectively referred to as the “Rating Agencies.”

 

We may, but are not required to, adopt any modification to the guidelines that may hereafter be established by any Rating Agency. Failure to adopt any modifications, however, may result in a change in the ratings described above or a withdrawal of ratings altogether. In addition, any Rating Agency may, at any time, change or withdraw any rating. The Board may, without shareholder approval, modify, alter or repeal certain of the definitions and related provisions which have been adopted pursuant to each Rating Agency’s guidelines (“Rating Agency Guidelines”) only in the event we receive written confirmation from the Rating Agency or Agencies that any amendment, alteration or repeal would not impair the ratings then assigned to the senior securities.

 

We are required to satisfy two separate asset maintenance requirements with respect to outstanding debt securities and with respect to preferred shares: (1) we must maintain assets in our portfolio that have a value, discounted in accordance with guidelines set forth by each Rating Agency, at least equal to 115% of the aggregate principal amount/liquidation preference of the debt securities/preferred stock, respectively, plus specified liabilities, payment obligations and other amounts (the “Basic Maintenance Amount”); and (2) we must satisfy the 1940 Act asset coverage requirements.

 

Basic Maintenance Amounts.  We must maintain, as of each valuation date on which senior securities are outstanding, eligible assets having an aggregate discounted value at least equal to 115% of the applicable basic maintenance amount (“Basic Maintenance Amount”), which is calculated separately for debt securities and preferred shares for each Rating Agency that is then rating the senior securities and so requires. If we fail to maintain eligible assets having an aggregated discounted value at least equal to 115% of the applicable Basic Maintenance Amount as of any valuation date and such failure is not cured, we will be required in certain circumstances to redeem certain of the senior securities.

 

The applicable Basic Maintenance Amount is defined in the Rating Agency’s Guidelines. Each Rating Agency may amend the definition of the applicable Basic Maintenance Amount from time to time.

 

The market value of our portfolio securities (used in calculating the discounted value of eligible assets) is calculated using readily available market quotations when appropriate, and in any event, consistent with our valuation procedures. For the purpose of calculating the applicable Basic Maintenance Amount, portfolio securities are valued in the same manner as we calculate our NAV. See “Determination of Net Asset Value.”

 

Each Rating Agency’s discount factors, the criteria used to determine whether the assets held in our portfolio are eligible assets, and the guidelines for determining the discounted value of our portfolio holdings for purposes of determining compliance with the applicable Basic Maintenance Amount are based on Rating Agency Guidelines established in connection with rating the senior securities. The discount factor relating to any asset, the applicable basic maintenance amount requirement, the assets eligible for inclusion in the calculation of the discounted value of our portfolio and certain definitions and methods of calculation relating thereto may be changed from time to time by the applicable Rating Agency, without our approval, or the approval of our Board of Trustees or shareholders.

A Rating Agency’s Guidelines will apply to the senior securities only so long as that Rating Agency is rating such securities. We will pay certain fees to Moody’s, Fitch and any other Rating Agency that may provide a rating for the senior securities. The ratings assigned to the senior securities are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold the senior securities. Such ratings may be subject to revision or withdrawal by the assigning Rating Agency at any time.

 

1940 Act Asset Coverage.  We are also required to maintain, with respect to senior securities, as of the last business day on any month in which any senior securities are outstanding, asset coverage of at least 300% for debt securities and 200% for preferred stock (or such other percentage as may in the future be specified in or under the 1940 Act or in any order granted by the Commission as the minimum asset coverage for senior securities representing shares of a closed-end investment company as a condition of declaring dividends on its common stock). If we fail to maintain the applicable 1940 Act asset coverage as of the last business day of any month and such failure is not cured as of the last business day of the following month (the “Asset Coverage Cure Date”), we will be required to redeem certain senior securities.

 

Notices.  Under the current Rating Agency Guidelines, in certain circumstances, we are required to deliver to any Rating Agency which is then rating the senior securities (1) a certificate with respect to the calculation of the applicable Basic Maintenance Amount; (2) a certificate with respect to the calculation of the applicable 1940 Act asset coverage and the value of our portfolio holdings; and (3) a letter prepared by our independent accountants regarding the accuracy of such calculations.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Rating Agency Guidelines, as they may be amended from time to time by each Rating Agency will be reflected in a written document and may be amended by each Rating Agency without the vote, consent or approval of the Fund, the Board of Trustees or any shareholder of the Fund.

 

A copy of the current Rating Agency Guidelines will be provided to any holder of senior securities promptly upon request made by such holder to the Fund by writing the Fund at 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, Illinois 60563.

 

The Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust includes provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to change the composition of its Board of Trustees and could have the effect of depriving shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund. These provisions, however, have the advantage of potentially requiring persons seeking control of the Fund to negotiate with our management regarding the price to be paid and facilitating the continuity of the Fund’s investment objective and policies. The Board of Trustees of the Fund has considered these provisions and concluded that they are in the best interests of the Fund.

 

The Board of Trustees is divided into three classes. The terms of the Trustees of the different classes are staggered. A Trustee may be removed from office with or without cause by a vote of at least a majority of the then Trustees if such removal is approved by the holders of at least 75% of the shares entitled to vote with respect to the election of such Trustee and present in person or by proxy at a meeting of shareholders called for such purpose.

 

In addition, the Agreement and Declaration of Trust requires the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the matter for the Trust to merge or consolidate with any other corporation, association, trust or other organization or to sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets; unless such action has been approved by the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the Trustees then in office, in which case, the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the matter is required.

In addition, conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company would require an amendment to the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust. Such an amendment would require the favorable vote of a majority of the then Trustees followed by a favorable vote of the holders of at least 75% of the shares entitled to vote on the matter, voting as separate classes or series (or a majority of such shares if the amendment was previously approved by 75% of the Trustees). Such a vote also would satisfy a separate requirement in the 1940 Act that the change be approved by the shareholders.

 

Under the 1940 Act, shareholders of an open-end investment company may require the company to redeem their shares of common stock at any time (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value, less such redemption charge, if any, as might be in effect at the time of a redemption. If the Fund is converted to an open-end investment company, it could be required to liquidate portfolio securities to meet requests for redemption, and the common shares would no longer be listed on the NYSE. Conversion to an open-end investment company would also require changes in certain of the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions. In addition, the Fund would be required to redeem all of its outstanding preferred shares prior to conversion to an open-end investment company.

 

In addition, the Agreement and Declaration of Trust requires the affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the then Trustees followed by the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 75% of the shares of each affected class or series of the Fund outstanding, voting separately as a class or series, to approve certain transactions with a Principal Shareholder, unless the transaction has been approved by at least 75% of the Trustees, in which case a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote shall be required. For purposes of these provisions, a Principal Shareholder refers to any person who, whether directly or indirectly and whether alone or together with its affiliates and associates, beneficially owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares of any class or series of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund. The 5% holder transactions subject to these special approval requirements are:

 

 

The Fund may be terminated by the affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the Trustees then in office by written notice to the shareholders.

 

The Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws provide that the Board of Trustees has the power, to the exclusion of shareholders, to make, alter or repeal any of the By-Laws, except for any By-Law that requires a vote of the shareholders to be amended, adopted or repealed by the terms of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, By-Laws or applicable law. Neither this provision of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, nor any of the foregoing provisions thereof requiring the affirmative vote of 75% of outstanding shares of the Fund, can be amended or repealed except by the vote of such required number of shares.

 

With respect to proposals by shareholders submitted outside the process of Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Fund’s By-Laws generally require that advance notice be given to the Fund in the event a shareholder desires to nominate a person for election to the Board of Trustees or to transact any other business at an annual meeting of shareholders. With respect to an annual meeting following the first annual meeting of shareholders, notice of any such nomination or business must be delivered to the principal executive offices of the Fund not less than 90 calendar days nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the anniversary date of the mailing of the notice for the prior year’s annual meeting (subject to certain exceptions). Any notice by a shareholder must be accompanied by certain information as provided in the By-Laws, including information regarding the shares held by the shareholder and information regarding the candidate’s background and qualifications to serve as trustee.

 

We may sell our common shares, preferred shares and debt securities, and certain of our shareholders may sell our common shares, on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis, in one or more offerings under this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement. The aggregate amount of securities that may be offered by us is limited to $200 million. We may offer our common shares, preferred shares and debt securities: (1) directly to one or more purchasers; (2) through agents; (3) through underwriters; or (4) through dealers. Each prospectus supplement relating to an offering of securities will state the terms of the offering, including as applicable:

 

 

Direct Sales

 

We may sell our common shares, preferred shares and debt securities, or certain of our shareholders may sell our common shares, directly to, and solicit offers from, institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the 1933 Act for any resales of the securities. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We, or any selling shareholder, may use electronic media, including the Internet, to sell offered securities directly. The terms of any of those sales will be described in a prospectus supplement.

 

By Agents

 

We may offer our common shares, preferred shares and debt securities through agents that we or they designate. Any agent involved in the offer and sale will be named and any commissions payable by us will be described in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the agents will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of their appointment.

 

By Underwriters

 

We may offer and sell securities from time to time to one or more underwriters who would purchase the securities as principal for resale to the public, either on a firm commitment or best efforts basis. If we sell securities to underwriters, we will execute an underwriting agreement with them at the time of the sale and will name them in the prospectus supplement. In connection with these sales, the underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters also may receive commissions from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agent. Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement, the underwriters will not be obligated to purchase the securities unless the conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement are satisfied, and if the underwriters purchase any of the securities, they will be required to purchase all of the offered securities. The underwriters may sell the offered securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters as well as from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

If a prospectus supplement so indicates, we may grant the underwriters an option to purchase additional shares of common stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions, within 45 days from the date of the prospectus supplement, to cover any overallotments.

By Dealers

 

We may offer and sell securities from time to time to one or more dealers who would purchase the securities as principal. The dealers then may resell the offered securities to the public at fixed or varying prices to be determined by those dealers at the time of resale. The names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.

 

General Information

 

Agents, underwriters, or dealers participating in an offering of securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commission received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the offered securities for whom they act as agent may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the 1933 Act.

 

We may offer to sell securities either at a fixed price or at prices that may vary, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices.

 

Ordinarily, each series of offered securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market.

 

To facilitate an offering of common stock in an underwritten transaction and in accordance with industry practice, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the common stock or any other security. Those transactions may include overallotment, entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions, and reclaiming selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer.

 

 

Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.

 

Any underwriters to whom the offered securities are sold for offering and sale may make a market in the offered securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making at any time without notice. The offered securities may or may not be listed on a securities exchange. We cannot assure you that there will be a liquid trading market for the offered securities.

 

Under agreements entered into with us, underwriters and agents may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act, or to contribution for payments the underwriters or agents may be required to make.

 

The underwriters, agents, and their affiliates may engage in financial or other business transactions with us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

 

The maximum commission or discount to be received by any member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or independent broker-dealer will not be greater than eight percent of the initial gross proceeds from the sale of any security being sold.

 

The aggregate offering price specified on the cover of this prospectus relates to the offering of the securities not yet issued as of the date of this prospectus.

To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the underwriters may from time to time act as a broker or dealer and receive fees in connection with the execution of our portfolio transactions after the underwriters have ceased to be underwriters and, subject to certain restrictions, each may act as a broker while it is an underwriter.

 

A prospectus and accompanying prospectus supplement in electronic form may be made available on the websites maintained by underwriters. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of securities for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Such allocations of securities for internet distributions will be made on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, securities may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell securities to online brokerage account holders.

 

The Fund’s securities and cash are held under a custodian agreement with The Bank of New York, One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286. The transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and registrar for the Fund’s shares is also The Bank of New York.

 

Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP, Chicago, Illinois (“Bell Boyd”), is counsel to the Fund.          will pass on the legality of the securities to be offered hereby. If certain legal matters in connection with an offering of securities are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters of such offering, such matters will be passed upon by counsel to be identified in a prospectus supplement. Bell Boyd and counsel to the underwriters may rely on the opinion of          for certain matters of Delaware law.

 

EXPERTS

 

The financial highlights appearing herein and the financial statements and financial highlights appearing in the accompanying statement of additional information have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing in our 2008 annual report to shareholders and in the accompanying statement of additional information. Such financial statements and financial highlights are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and the 1940 Act and are required to file reports, including annual and semi-annual reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. Our most recent shareholder report filed with the Commission is for the period ended October 31, 2008. These documents are available on the Commission’s EDGAR system and can be inspected and copied for a fee at the Commission’s public reference room, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Additional information about the operation of the public reference room facilities may be obtained by calling the Commission at (202) 551-5850.

 

This prospectus does not contain all of the information in our registration statement, including amendments, exhibits, and schedules. Statements in this prospectus about the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by this reference.

 

Additional information about us can be found in our registration statement (including amendments, exhibits, and schedules) on Form N-2 filed with the Commission. The Commission maintains a web site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains our registration statement, other documents incorporated by reference, and other information we have filed electronically with the Commission, including proxy statements and reports filed under the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 5, 2009

 

Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus dated          , 2009)

 

Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund

Up to 5,000,000 Common Shares

 

Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund (the “Fund,” “we,” or “our”) has entered into a sales agreement (the “sales agreement”) with JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC (“JonesTrading”) relating to the common shares of beneficial interest (“common shares”) offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the sales agreement, we may offer and sell up to 5,000,000 of our common shares, no par value per share, from time to time through JonesTrading as our agent for the offer and sale of the common shares. As of December 31, 2008, the Fund had offered and sold 1,713,746 common shares pursuant to the sales agreement. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the Fund may not sell any common shares at a price below the current net asset value of such common shares, exclusive of any distributing commission or discount. The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company which commenced investment operations in June 2002. Our investment objective is to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income.

 

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CHI.” As of January 7, 2009, the last reported sale price for our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange was $9.20 per share.

 

Sales of our common shares, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), including sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

 

JonesTrading will be entitled to compensation of 100 to 250 basis points of the gross sales price per share for any common shares sold under the sales agreement, with the exact amount of such compensation to be mutually agreed upon by the Fund and JonesTrading from time to time. In connection with the sale of the common shares on our behalf, JonesTrading may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the compensation of JonesTrading may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts.

 

Investing in our securities involves certain risks. You could lose some or all of your investment. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page    of this prospectus supplement and page    of the accompanying prospectus. You should consider carefully these risks together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before making a decision to purchase our securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prospectus Supplement dated          , 2009

 

This prospectus supplement, together with the accompanying prospectus, sets forth concisely the information that you should know before investing. You should read the prospectus and prospectus supplement, which contain important information, before deciding whether to invest in our securities. You should retain the prospectus and prospectus supplement for future reference. A statement of additional information, dated          , 2009, as supplemented from time to time, containing additional information, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the statement of additional information are part of a “shelf” registration statement that we filed with the Commission. This prospectus supplement describes the specific details regarding this offering, including the method of distribution. If information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying prospectus or the statement of additional information, you should rely on this prospectus supplement. You may request a free copy of the statement of additional information, the table of contents of which is on page    of the accompanying prospectus, request a free copy of our annual and semi-annual reports, request other information or make shareholder inquiries, by calling toll-free 1-800-582-6959 or by writing to the Fund at 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, Illinois 60563. The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports also are available on our website at www.calamos.com, which also provides a link to the Commission’s website, as described below, where the Fund’s statement of additional information can be obtained. Information included on our website does not form part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. You can review and copy documents we have filed at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call 1-202-551-8090 for information. The Commission charges a fee for copies. You can get the same information free from the Commission’s website (http://www.sec.gov). You may also e-mail requests for these documents to publicinfo@sec.gov or make a request in writing to the Commission’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

 

Our securities do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in making your investment decisions. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different or inconsistent information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information appearing in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of the dates on their covers. Our business, financial condition and prospects may have changed since such dates. We will advise investors of any material changes to the extent required by applicable law.

CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the statement of additional information contain “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “may,” “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “anticipate,” and similar terms and the negative of such terms. Such forward-looking statements may be contained in this prospectus supplement as well as in the accompanying prospectus. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Several factors that could materially affect our actual results are the performance of the portfolio of securities we hold, the price at which our shares will trade in the public markets and other factors discussed in our periodic filings with the Commission.

 

Although we believe that the expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in our forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed in the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying prospectus. All forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus are made as of the date of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, as the case may be. Except for our ongoing obligations under the federal securities laws, we do not intend, and we undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the statement of additional information are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by section 27A of the 1933 Act.

 

Currently known risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to, the factors described in the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying prospectus. We urge you to review carefully those sections for a more detailed discussion of the risks of an investment in our securities.

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

 

We may offer and sell up to 5,000,000 of our common shares, no par value per share, from time to time through JonesTrading as our agent for the offer and sale of the common shares under our prospectus dated March 11, 2008 and prospectus supplement dated June 13, 2008, as amended by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. There is no guaranty that there will be any sales of our common shares pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The table below assumes that we will sell 4,079,767 common shares, at a price of $9.20 per share (the last reported sale price per share of our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange on January 7, 2009). Actual sales, if any, of our common shares, and the actual application of the proceeds thereof, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be different than as set forth in the table below. In addition, the price per share of any such sale may be greater or less than $9.20, depending on the market price of our common shares at the time of any such sale. To the extent that the market price per share of our common shares on any given day is less than the net asset value per share on such day, we will instruct JonesTrading not to make any sales on such day.

 

The following table sets forth our capitalization at October 31, 2008:

 

 

 

 

The following table and example contain information about the costs and expenses that common shareholders will bear directly or indirectly. In accordance with SEC requirements, the table below shows our expenses, including leverage costs, as a percentage of our average net assets as of October 31, 2008, and not as a percentage of gross assets or managed assets. By showing expenses as a percentage of average net assets, expenses are not expressed as a percentage of all of the assets we invest. The table and example are based on our capital structure as of October 31, 2008, including expenses incurred in connection with borrowings under a renewable commercial paper conduit facility. See “Prospectus Summary — Recent Developments” on page  of the accompanying prospectus. The table and example reflect interest expense and related expenses associated with such borrowings, the aggregate principal amount of which was $149 million as of October 31, 2008. The proceeds of such borrowings were utilized entirely to redeem an equal aggregate liquidation amount of Auction Market Preferred Shares in June 2008. As of October 31, 2008, the Fund had outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares with $104 million in aggregate liquidation preference and outstanding senior debt under the renewable commercial paper conduit facility with an aggregate principal amount of $149 million. Together such leverage represented, as of October 31, 2008, approximately 38% of the Fund’s managed assets.

 

Shareholder Transaction Expense

 

 

 

Example:

 

The following example illustrates the expenses that common shareholders would pay on a $1,000 investment in common shares, assuming (1) net annual expenses of 3.69% of net assets attributable to common shares in year 1 and increasing to 3.80% in year 2, 3.90% in year 3, and 3.94% in years 4 through 10; (2) a 5% annual return; and (3) all distributions are reinvested at net asset value:

 

 

The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, our actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The purpose of the table and the example above is to help investors understand the fees and expenses that they, as common shareholders, would bear directly or indirectly. For additional information with respect to our expenses, see “Management of the Fund” on page  of the accompanying prospectus.

 

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “CHI.” Our common shares commenced trading on the NYSE in June 2002.

 

Our common shares have traded both at a premium and a discount to net asset value or NAV. We cannot predict whether our shares will trade in the future at a premium or discount to NAV. The provisions of the 1940 Act generally require that the public offering price of common shares (less any underwriting commissions and discounts) must equal or exceed the NAV per share of a company’s common stock (calculated within 48 hours of pricing). Our issuance of common shares may have an adverse effect on prices in the secondary market for our common shares by increasing the number of common shares available, which may put downward pressure on the market price for our common shares. Shares of common stock of closed-

end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from NAV. See “Risk Factors — Additional Risks to Common Shareholders — Market Discount Risk” on page  of the accompanying prospectus.

 

The following table sets forth for each of the periods indicated the high and low closing market prices for our common shares on the NYSE, the NAV per share and the premium or discount to NAV per share at which our common shares were trading. NAV is determined on the last business day of each month. See “Net Asset Value” on page    of the accompanying prospectus for information as to the determination of our NAV.

 

 

 

Source: Bloomberg Financial and Fund Accounting Records.

 

 

The last reported sale price, NAV per common share and percentage premium to NAV per common share on January 7, 2009 were $9.20, $8.71 and 5.63%, respectively. As of January 7 ,2009, we had 50,818,771 common shares outstanding and net assets of approximately $442,384,128.

 

The following table provides information about our outstanding securities as of December 31, 2008:

 

 

 

Sales of our common shares, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” as defined in Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, including sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange. There is no guaranty that there will be any sales of our common shares pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Actual sales, if any, of our common shares under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be less than as set forth in this paragraph. In addition, the price per share of any such sale may be greater or less than the price set forth in this paragraph, depending on the market price of our common shares at the time of any such sale. As a result, the actual net proceeds we receive may be more or less than the amount of net proceeds estimated in this prospectus supplement. Assuming the sale of all of our common shares offered under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, at the last reported sale price of $[       ] per share for our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange as of [            ], we estimate that the net proceeds of this offering will be approximately $[       ] after deducting the estimated underwriting discount and our estimated offering expenses. We currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our common shares in this offering primarily to invest in accordance with our investment objective and policies within approximately three months of receipt of such proceeds. We may also use proceeds from the sale of our securities to (i) retire all or a portion of any short-term debt we incur in pursuit of our investment objective and policies, (ii) redeem any outstanding senior securities, including, to the extent any are outstanding, our Auction Market Preferred Shares, and (iii) for working capital purposes, including the payment of interest and operating expenses, although there is currently no intent to issue securities primarily for this purpose. In June 2008, the Fund redeemed $280 million aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding Auction Market Preferred Shares with the proceeds of a renewable commercial paper conduit facility that has a maturity of 364 days. Pending such use of proceeds, we anticipate that we will invest the proceeds in securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities or in high quality, short-term or long-term debt obligations.

 

Under the sales agreement among the Fund, Calamos and JonesTrading, upon written instructions from the Fund, JonesTrading will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its sales and trading practices, to solicit offers to purchase the common shares under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the sales agreement. JonesTrading’s solicitation will continue until we instruct JonesTrading to suspend the solicitations and offers. We will instruct JonesTrading as to the amount of common shares to be sold by JonesTrading. We may instruct JonesTrading not to sell common shares if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by the Fund in any instruction. We or JonesTrading may suspend the offering of common shares upon proper notice and subject to other conditions.

 

JonesTrading will provide written confirmation to the Fund not later than the opening of the trading day on the New York Stock Exchange following the trading day on which common shares are sold under the sales agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of shares sold on the preceding day, the net proceeds to us and the compensation payable by the Fund to JonesTrading in connection with the sales.

 

We will pay JonesTrading commissions for its services in acting as agent in the sale of common shares. JonesTrading will be entitled to compensation of 100 to 250 basis points of the gross sales price per share of any common shares sold under the sales agreement, with the exact amount of such compensation to be mutually agreed upon by the Fund and JonesTrading from time to time. There is no guaranty that there will be any sales of our common shares pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Actual sales, if any, of our common shares under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be less than as set forth in this paragraph. In addition, the price per share of any such sale may be greater or less than the price set forth in this paragraph, depending on the market price of our common shares at the time of any such sale. Assuming [       ] of our common shares offered hereby are sold at a market price of $[     ] per share (the last reported sale price for our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange on [            ]), we estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation payable to JonesTrading under the terms of the sales agreement, would be approximately $50,000.

 

Settlement for sales of common shares will occur on the third trading day following the date on which such sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by the Fund and JonesTrading in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to the Fund. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

In connection with the sale of the common shares on our behalf, JonesTrading may, and will with respect to sales effected in an “at the market offering”, be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the 1933 Act, and the compensation of JonesTrading may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to JonesTrading against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act. We have also agreed to reimburse JonesTrading for other specified expenses.

 

The offering of our common shares pursuant to the sales agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (1) the sale of all common shares subject the sales agreement or (2) termination of the sales agreement. The sales agreement may be terminated by us in our sole discretion at any time by giving notice to JonesTrading. In addition, JonesTrading may terminate the sales agreement under the circumstances specified in the sales agreement and in its sole discretion at any time following a period of 12 months from the date of the sales agreement by giving notice to us.

 

The principal business address of JonesTrading is 780 Third Avenue, 3^rd Floor, New York, New York 10017.

 

Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP (“Bell Boyd”), Chicago, Illinois, which is serving as counsel to the Fund in connection with the offering, will pass on the legality of the issuance of the common shares offered hereby. Kirkland & Ellis LLP (“Kirkland”) is serving as counsel to Calamos. Bell Boyd may rely on the opinion of

Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, Wilmington, Delaware, with respect to certain matters of Delaware law.

 

The financial statements and financial highlights in the accompanying statement of additional information have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing herein and elsewhere in the Registration Statement. Such financial statements and financial highlights are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the 1940 Act and are required to file reports, including annual and semi-annual reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. Our most recent shareholder report filed with the Commission is for the period ended October 31, 2008 and our most recent quarterly schedule of portfolio holdings is for the period ended October 31, 2008. These documents are available on the Commission’s EDGAR system and can be inspected and copied for a fee at the Commission’s public reference room, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Additional information about the operation of the public reference room facilities may be obtained by calling the Commission at (202) 551-5850.

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not contain all of the information in our registration statement, including amendments, exhibits, and schedules. Statements in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus about the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by this reference.

 

Additional information about us can be found in our registration statement (including amendments, exhibits, and schedules) on Form N-2 filed with the Commission. The Commission maintains a web site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains our registration statement, other documents incorporated by reference, and other information we have filed electronically with the Commission, including proxy statements and reports filed under the Exchange Act.

 

5,000,000 Common Shares

 

Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

 

          , 2009

 

 

Until          , 2009 (25 days after the date of this prospectus supplement), all dealers that buy, sell or trade the common shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED __, 2009

[LOGO]

FORM OF PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated      , 2009)

$

CALAMOS CONVERTIBLE OPPORTUNITIES AND INCOME FUND

Preferred Shares
                    Shares, Series ___
Liquidation Preference $  per share

     Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund (the “Fund,” “we”, “us” or “our”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. Our investment objective is to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income.

     We are offering an additional series (“Series ___”) of our series ___preferred shares (referred to as “Preferred Shares” or “Series ___Preferred Shares”) in this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement is not complete and should be read in conjunction with our prospectus dated , 20___(the “prospectus”), which accompanies this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement does not include all information that you should consider before purchasing any Preferred Shares. You should read this prospectus supplement and our prospectus prior to purchasing any Preferred Shares.

     The Series ___Preferred Shares offered in this prospectus supplement, together with the previously issued and currently outstanding Preferred Shares, are collectively referred to as “Preferred Shares.” Individual series of Preferred Shares are referred to as a “series.” Except as otherwise described in this prospectus supplement, the terms of this series and all other series are the same.

     The Preferred Shares have a liquidation preference of $                     per share, plus any accumulated, unpaid dividends. The Preferred Shares also have priority over the Fund’s common shares as to distribution of assets as described in this prospectus supplement.

     (continued on next page)

     

     Investing in Preferred Shares involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page ___ of the prospectus and beginning on page ___of this prospectus supplement.

     Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

		Per Share				Total
Public offering price		$				$
Sales load		$				$
Proceeds to us (before expenses)(1)		$				$

     The underwriters expect to deliver the Series ___Preferred Shares in book-entry form, through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, to broker-dealers on or about , 20___.

[UNDERWRITER(S)]

                    , 20___

     This prospectus supplement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Additional copies of this prospectus supplement, the prospectus, the statement of additional information dated                      , as supplemented from time to time, or the Fund’s annual or semi-annual reports are available by calling (800) 582-6959 or by writing to the Fund, or you may obtain copies (and other information regarding us) from the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov). The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports are also available on the Fund’s website at www.calamos.com, which provides a link to the SEC’s website where the Fund’s statement of additional information may be obtained. You also may e-mail requests for these documents to the SEC at publicinfo@sec.gov or make a request in writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549.

     This prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering, also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus. The prospectus gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering.

     If the description of this offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in this prospectus supplement; provided that if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date, the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

     The Preferred Shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

		Page
Prospectus Supplement Summary			S-2
Use of Proceeds			S-3
Capitalization			S-3
Asset Coverage Requirements			S-3
Description of Preferred Shares			S-4
Underwriting			S-6
Where You Can Find More Information			S-6
Legal Matters			S-6
[Unaudited] Financial Statements as of                     , 20			F-1

Prospectus

Prospectus Summary			1
Summary of Fund Expenses			12
Financial Highlights			14
Market And Net Asset Value Information			15
Use of Proceeds			16
The Fund			16
Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies			17
Leverage			23
Interest Rate Transactions			26
Risk Factors			28
Management of the Fund			35
Closed-End Fund Structure			38
Certain Federal Income Tax Matters			39
Net Asset Value			44
Dividends and Distributions on Common Shares; Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan			45
Description of Securities			49
Rating Agency Guidelines			54
Certain Provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust And By-Laws			55
Plan of Distribution			57
Custodian, Transfer Agent, Dividend Disbursing Agent and Registrar			59
Legal Matters			59
Experts			59
Available Information			59
Table of Contents of the Statement of Additional Information			61

     You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with different or inconsistent information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these Series                     Preferred Shares in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus supplement, and that our business, financial condition and prospects may have changed since this date. We will amend or supplement this prospectus supplement to reflect material changes to the information contained in this prospectus supplement to the extent required by applicable law.

CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the statement of additional information contain “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “may,” “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “anticipate,” and similar terms and the negative of such terms. Such forward-looking statements may be contained in this prospectus supplement, as well as in the accompanying prospectus. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Several factors that could materially affect our actual results are the performance of the portfolio of securities we hold, the conditions in the U.S. and international financial, petroleum and other markets, the price at which our shares will trade in the public markets and other factors discussed in our periodic filings with the SEC.

     Although we believe that the expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in our forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus accompanying this prospectus supplement. All forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus are made as of the date of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, as the case may be. Except for our ongoing obligations under the federal securities laws, we do not intend, and we undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     Currently known risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to, the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus accompanying this prospectus supplement. We urge you to review carefully that section for a more detailed discussion of the risks of an investment in the Preferred Shares.

USE OF PROCEEDS

     The Fund estimates the net proceeds of the offering of Preferred Shares, after payment of sales load and offering expenses, will be approximately $                     . Subject to the remainder of this section, we will invest the net proceeds of any sales of securities in accordance with our investment objective and policies. Such investments may be delayed if suitable investments are unavailable at the time or for other reasons. Pending such investment, we anticipate that we will invest the proceeds in securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities or in high quality, short-term or long-term debt obligations. We may also use proceeds from the sale of our securities to (i) retire all or a portion of any short-term debt we incur in pursuit of our investment objective and policies, (ii) redeem any outstanding senior securities, including, to the extent any are outstanding, our Auction Market Preferred Shares, and (iii) for working capital purposes, including the payment of interest and operating expenses, although there is currently no intent to issue securities primarily for this purpose. A delay in the anticipated use of proceeds could lower returns, reduce our distribution to common shareholders and reduce the amount of cash available to make dividend and interest payments on preferred shares and debt securities, respectively. See “Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies” in the accompanying prospectus.

CAPITALIZATION

     The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Fund as of                     , 20___, and as adjusted, to give effect to the issuance of all the Preferred Shares offered hereby (including estimated offering expenses and sales load of $___). The sales load and offering expenses of the Preferred Shares will be effectively borne by common shareholders.

						As Adjusted
		Actual				Preferred Shares
Loan
Shareholders Equity
Preferred Shares, no par value per share, $25,000 stated value per share, at liquidation value; unlimited shares authorized (no shares issued; and           shares issued, respectively)*
Common shares, no par value per share, unlimited shares authorized, ____ shares outstanding*
Undistributed net investment income
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments
Net Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
Net Assets

ASSET COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS

     The Fund may be subject to certain restrictions on investments imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for the preferred shares or debt instruments issued by the Fund. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act. Certain types of borrowings may result in the Fund being subject to covenants in credit agreements, including those relating to asset coverage, borrowing base and portfolio composition requirements and additional covenants. The Fund may also be required to pledge its assets to the lenders in connection with certain types of borrowing. Calamos does not anticipate that these covenants or restrictions will adversely affect its ability to manage the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. Due to these covenants or restrictions, the Fund may be forced to liquidate investments at times and at prices that are not favorable to the Fund, or the Fund may be forced to forgo investments that Calamos otherwise views as favorable.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES

     The following is a brief description of the terms of the Preferred Shares. For the complete terms of the Preferred Shares, please refer to the detailed description of the Preferred Shares in the Statement of Preferences of Preferred Shares (the “Statement”) attached as Appendix ___to the statement of additional information. Where appropriate, terms used in “Description of Preferred Shares” below will have the same meanings as those terms in the Statement.

General

     The Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of preferred shares, no par value per share, in one or more classes or series with rights as determined by the Board of Trustees without the approval of common shareholders. The Statement currently authorizes the issuance of ___Preferred Shares, Series ___. All Preferred Shares will have a liquidation preference of $                     per share, plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared).

     The Preferred Shares of each series will rank on parity with any other series of Preferred Shares and any other series of preferred shares of the Fund as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. Each Preferred Share carries one vote on matters on which Preferred Shares can be voted. The Preferred Shares, when issued by the Fund and paid for pursuant to the terms of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable and will have no preemptive, exchange or conversion rights. Any Preferred Shares repurchased or redeemed by the Fund will be classified as authorized and unissued Preferred Shares. The Board of Trustees may by resolution classify or reclassify any authorized and unissued Preferred Shares from time to time by setting or changing the preferences, rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of such shares. The Preferred Shares will not be subject to any sinking fund, but will be subject to mandatory redemption under certain circumstances described below.

Dividends and Dividend Periods

     The following is a general description of dividends and dividend periods for the Preferred Shares.

     Dividend Periods. The dividend period for the Preferred Shares is                      and the dividend rate is ___% per annum.

     Dividend Payment Dates. Dividends on the Preferred Shares will be payable, when, as and if declared by the Board of Trustees, out of legally available funds in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Statement and applicable law.

     Dividends on Preferred Shares will accumulate from the date of their original issue, which is                     , 20___.

     Restrictions on Dividend, Redemption and Other Payments. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may not (i) declare any dividend with respect to the Preferred Shares if, at the time of such declaration (and after giving effect thereto), asset coverage with respect to the Fund’s senior securities representing indebtedness (as defined in the 1940 Act) would be less than 200% (or such other percentage as may in the future be specified in or under the 1940 Act as the minimum asset coverage for senior securities representing indebtedness of a closed-end investment company as a condition of declaring dividends on its preferred shares) or (ii) declare any other distribution on the Preferred Shares or purchase or redeem Preferred Shares if at the time of the declaration (and after giving effect thereto), asset coverage with respect to the Fund’s senior securities representing indebtedness would be less than 300% (or such other percentage as may in the future be specified in or under the 1940 Act as the minimum asset coverage for senior securities representing indebtedness of a closed-end investment company as a condition of declaring distributions, purchases or redemptions of its shares of beneficial interest). “Senior securities representing indebtedness” generally means any bond, debenture, note or similar obligation or instrument constituting a security (other than shares of beneficial interest) and evidencing indebtedness and could include the Fund’s obligations under any Borrowings. The term “senior security” also does not include any promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness in any case where such a loan is for temporary purposes only and in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund at the time when the loan is made. A loan is presumed under the 1940 Act to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within 60 days and is not extended or renewed; otherwise it is presumed not

to be for temporary purposes. For purposes of determining whether the 200% and 300% asset coverage requirements described above apply in connection with dividends or distributions on or purchases or redemptions of Preferred Shares, such asset coverages may be calculated on the basis of values calculated as of a time within 48 hours (not including Sundays or holidays) next preceding the time of the applicable determination.

     In addition, a declaration of a dividend or other distribution on, or purchase or redemption of, Preferred Shares may be prohibited (i) at any time when an event of default under any borrowings has occurred and is continuing; or (ii) if, after giving effect to such declaration, the Fund would not have eligible portfolio holdings with an aggregated discounted value at least equal to any asset coverage requirements associated with such borrowings; or (iii) the Fund has not redeemed the full amount of borrowings, if any, required to be redeemed by any provision for mandatory redemption.

Voting Rights

     The Fund’s common shares and Preferred Shares have equal voting rights of one vote per share and vote together as a single class. In elections of trustees, the holders of Preferred Shares, as a separate class, vote to elect two trustees. The Board of Trustees will determine to which class or classes the trustees elected by the holders of Preferred Shares will be assigned. The holders of the Preferred Shares shall only be entitled to elect the trustees so designated when their term shall have expired. Such trustees appointed by the holders of Preferred Shares will be allocated as evenly as possible among the classes of trustees.

     So long as any of the Preferred Shares are outstanding, the Fund will not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares, take certain other actions as described in the Indenture.

     The common shares and the Preferred Shares also will vote separately to the extent otherwise required under Delaware law or the 1940 Act as in effect from time to time. The class votes of holders of Preferred Shares described above will in each case be in addition to any separate vote of the requisite percentage of common shares and Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class, necessary to authorize the action in question.

     For the purpose of any right of the holders of Preferred Shares to vote on any matter, whether the right is created by the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, by statute or otherwise, a holder of a Preferred Share is not entitled to vote and the Preferred Shares will not be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of voting or determining the number of Preferred Shares required to constitute a quorum, if prior to or concurrently with a determination of the Preferred Shares entitled to vote or of Preferred Shares deemed outstanding for quorum purposes, as the case may be, a notice of redemption was given in respect of those Preferred Shares and sufficient deposit securities for the redemption of those Preferred Shares were deposited.

Redemption

     Mandatory Redemption. Under certain circumstances, the Preferred Shares will be subject to mandatory redemption by the Fund out of funds legally available therefor in accordance with the Statement and applicable law.

     Optional Redemption. Under certain circumstances, to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and Delaware law, the Fund may have the option to redeem, in whole or in part, Preferred Shares.

Liquidation

     Subject to the rights of holders of any series or class or classes of shares ranking on a parity with Preferred Shares with respect to the distribution of assets upon liquidation of the Fund, upon a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of Preferred Shares then outstanding will be entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Fund available for distribution to its shareholders, after claims of creditors but before any payment or distribution is made on the common shares or any other shares of beneficial interest of the Fund ranking junior to the Preferred Shares, an amount equal to the liquidation preference with respect to such shares ($                     per share), plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends thereon. After the payment to the holders of Preferred Shares of the full preferential amounts provided for

as described herein, the holders of Preferred Shares as such will have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Fund.

     If, upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, whether voluntary or involuntary, the assets of the Fund available for distribution among the holders of all outstanding Preferred Shares, including each series, shall be insufficient to permit the payment in full to such holders of the amounts to which they are entitled, then such available assets shall be distributed among the holders of all outstanding Preferred Shares, including each series, ratably in any such distribution of assets according to the respective amounts which would be payable on all such shares if all amounts thereon were paid in full. Unless and until payment in full has been made to the holders of all outstanding Preferred Shares, including each series, of the liquidation distributions to which they are entitled, no dividends or distributions will be made to holders of common shares or any shares of beneficial interest of the Fund ranking junior to the Preferred Shares as to liquidation.

UNDERWRITING

     [To be provided at the time of an offering.]

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     The Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the 1940 Act and is required to file reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents can be inspected and copied for a fee at the SEC’s public reference room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Reports, proxy statements, and other information about the Fund can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

     This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not contain all of the information in the Fund’s registration statement, including amendments, exhibits, and schedules. Statements in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus about the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by this reference.

     Additional information about the Fund and Preferred Shares can be found in the Fund’s registration statement (including amendments, exhibits, and schedules) on Form N-2 filed with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains the Fund’s registration statement, other documents incorporated by reference, and other information the Fund has filed electronically with the SEC, including proxy statements and reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

LEGAL MATTERS

      Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP, Chicago, Illinois (“Bell Boyd”), is counsel to the Fund.                                          will pass on the legality of the securities to be offered hereby. If certain legal matters in connection with an offering of securities are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters of such offering, such matters will be passed upon by counsel to be identified in a prospectus supplement. Bell Boyd and counsel to the underwriters may rely on the opinion of                                          for certain matters of Delaware law.

[UNAUDITED] FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF                                         , 20__ 

 

$                    

Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund

Preferred Shares

___Shares, Series ___  

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

___, 20___  

[Underwriters]

 

The information in this prospectus supplement, which relates to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until we deliver a final prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement and the attached prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell these securities or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED     , 2009

FORM OF PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated      , 2009)

$