Note 1 – Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
Organization. Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on March 12, 2003 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund commenced operations on May 28, 2003.
The Fund’s investment strategy is to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its managed assets in a diversified portfolio of convertibles and below investment grade (high yield) non-convertible debt securities and under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 20% of its managed assets in convertible securities and at least 20% of its managed assets in below investment grade (high yield/high risk) non-convertible debt 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. “Managed assets” means the Fund’s total assets (including any assets attributable to any leverage that may be outstanding) minus total liabilities (other than debt representing financial leverage).
Significant Accounting Policies. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), and the Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. Under U.S. GAAP, management is required to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements and actual results may differ from those estimates. Subsequent events, if any, through the date that the financial statements were issued, have been evaluated in the preparation of the financial statements. The following summarizes the significant accounting policies of the Fund:
In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2017-08, Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities (“ASU 2017-08”). ASU 2017-08 shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. The Fund adopted ASU2017-08 as of January 1, 2020, with no material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.
In October 2020, FASB issued ASU No. 2020-08, Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables—Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (“ASU 2020-08”). ASU 2020-08 was issued to clarify how to amortize premiums for debt securities where there are bonds with multiple call dates. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Management has evaluated the impact of this guidance within the Fund’s financial statements and has determined the adoption of ASU 2020-08 will have no impact on the Fund’s financial statements.
Fund Valuation. The valuation of the Fund’s investments is in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by and under the ultimate supervision of the board of trustees.
Fund securities that are traded on U.S. securities exchanges, except option securities, are valued at the official closing price, which is the last current reported sales price on its principal exchange at the time each Fund determines its net asset value (“NAV”). Securities traded in the over-the-counter market and quoted on The NASDAQ Stock Market are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price, as determined by NASDAQ, or lacking a NASDAQ Official Closing Price, the last current reported sale price on NASDAQ at the time the Fund determines its NAV. When a last sale or closing price is not available, equity securities, other than option securities, that are traded on a U.S. securities exchange and other equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at the mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations on its principal exchange in accordance with guidelines adopted by the board of trustees. Each option security traded on a U.S. securities exchange is valued at the mid-point of the consolidated bid/ask quote for the option security, also in accordance with guidelines adopted by the board of trustees. Each over-the-counter option that is not traded through the Options Clearing Corporation is valued either by an independent pricing agent approved by the board of trustees or based on a quotation provided by the counterparty to such option under the ultimate supervision of the board of trustees.
Fixed income securities, bank loans, certain convertible preferred securities, and non-exchange traded derivatives are normally valued by independent pricing services or by dealers or brokers who make markets in such securities. Valuations of such fixed income securities, bank loans, certain convertible preferred securities, and non-exchange traded derivatives consider yield or price of equivalent securities of comparable quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics and other market data and do not rely exclusively upon exchange or over-the-counter prices.
Trading on European and Far Eastern exchanges and over-the-counter markets is typically completed at various times before the close of business on each day on which the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open. Each security trading on these exchanges or in over-