Note 1 – Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
Organization. Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust (the "Fund") was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on September 21, 2017 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 November 29, 2019.
The Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least of 80% of its managed assets in a globally diversified portfolio comprised of equity securities which are defined to include common stock, preferred stock, convertible securities and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") ( the "Equity Sleeve"), as well as long and short equity positions managed pursuant to a long/short equity strategy (the "Long/Short Component"). The Long/Short Component will comprise at least 50% of the Fund's managed assets with a focus on absolute returns in a risk-managed format. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its managed assets opportunistically in globally diversified income-producing securities, including high-yield and investment grade corporate securities, leveraged loans, distressed debt securities, securitized products, U.S. Treasuries and sovereign debt issued by foreign governments (the "Fixed Income Sleeve"). Under current market conditions, it is anticipated that the Fund will invest initially 80% of its managed assets in the Equity Sleeve, consisting of equities, of which 60% will be invested in the Long/Short Component, and 20% of its managed assets in the Fixed Income Sleeve. "Managed assets" means the Fund's total assets (including any assets attributable to any financial leverage that may be outstanding) minus the sum of liabilities (other than debt representing financial leverage).
Significant Accounting Policies. The schedule of investments have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). The Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following summarizes the significant accounting policies of the Fund:
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-the-counter markets may be valued utilizing a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent pricing service approved by the board of trustees. The valuation of each security that meets certain criteria in relation to the valuation model is systematically adjusted to reflect the impact of movement in the U.S. market after the foreign markets close. Securities that do not meet the criteria, or that are principally traded in other foreign markets, are valued as of the last reported sale price at the time the Fund determines its NAV, or when reliable market prices or quotations are not readily available, at the mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations as of the close of the appropriate exchange or other designated time. Trading of foreign securities may not take place on every NYSE business day. In addition, trading may take place in various foreign markets on Saturdays or on other days when the NYSE is not open and on which the Fund's NAV is not calculated.
If the pricing committee determines that the valuation of a security in accordance with the methods described above is not reflective of a fair value for such security, the security is valued at a fair value by the pricing committee, under the ultimate supervision of the board of trustees, following the guidelines and/or procedures adopted by the board of trustees.
The Fund also may use fair value pricing, pursuant to guidelines adopted by the board of trustees and under the ultimate supervision of the board of trustees, if trading in the security is halted or if the value of a security it holds is materially affected by events occurring before the Fund's pricing time but after the close of the primary market or exchange on which the security is listed. Those procedures may utilize valuations furnished by pricing services approved by the board of trustees, which may be based on market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships between securities that are generally recognized by institutional traders, a computerized matrix system, or appraisals derived from information concerning the securities or similar securities received from recognized dealers in those securities.
When fair value pricing of securities is employed, the prices of securities used by a Fund to calculate its NAV may differ from market quotations or official closing prices. There can be no assurance that the Fund could purchase or sell a portfolio security at the price used to calculate the Fund's net asset value ("NAV").
Foreign Currency Translation. Values of investments and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using a rate quoted by a major bank or dealer in the particular currency market, as reported by a recognized quotation dissemination service.
Option Transactions. For hedging and investment purposes, the Fund may purchase or write (sell) put and call options. One of the risks associated with purchasing an option is that the Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Fund bears the risk of loss of premium and change in value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. The Fund as writer of an option bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option.
Note 2 – Investments
The cost basis of investments (excluding Investments of Collateral for Securities on Loan) for federal income tax purposes at January 31, 2020 was as follows*:
Cost basis of investments | $355,072,470 |
Gross unrealized appreciation | 4,628,676 |
Gross unrealized depreciation | (7,190,118) |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | $(2,561,442) |
*Because tax adjustments are calculated annually, the above table does not reflect tax adjustments. For the previous fiscal year's federal income tax information, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements section in the Fund's most recent semi-annual or annual report.
Note 3 – Short Sales
Securities sold short represent obligations to deliver the securities at a future date. The Fund may sell a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the value of that security before the delivery date. When a Fund sells a security short, it must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the broker-dealer through which it made the short sale. Dividends paid on securities sold short are disclosed as an expense on the Statement of Operations. A gain, limited to the price at which a Fund sold the security short, or a loss, unlimited in size, will be realized upon the termination of a short sale.
To secure its obligation to deliver to the broker-dealer the securities sold short, the Fund must segregate an amount of cash or liquid securities with its custodian equal to any excess of the current market value of the securities sold short over any cash or liquid securities deposited as collateral with the broker in connection with the short sale (not including the proceeds of the short sale). As a result of that requirement, the Fund will not gain any leverage merely by selling short, except to the extent that it earns interest or other income or gains on the segregated cash or liquid securities while also being subject to the possibility of gain or loss from the securities sold short.
