NAPERVILLE, Ill. Aug. 14, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- In the fund universe tracked by Morningstar, Inc. -- 6551 funds -- the CALAMOS Growth Fund, was ranked number one for the five-year period ended June 30, 2001.
-- The CALAMOS Growth Fund had the following average annual returns as of 6/30/01 (Class A shares, before 4.75% sales charge): 5 year: 30.57%; 10 year: 22.28%; and 1 year: -13.73%.
"The secret to the fund's success is our ability to identify companies in the fastest growing sectors of the economy while managing risk," remarks John. P. Calamos, president and CIO of CALAMOS ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC. "We also look for companies that haven't quite been discovered within the marketplace as reflected by stock price."
Morningstar has also ranked the CALAMOS Growth Fund number one among all growth funds for both the five and 10-year periods ended June 30, 2001 with an average annual return of 30.57% and 22.28% respectively (Class A shares, before sales charges).**
CALAMOS does not use a buy and hold method. John Calamos said his team, led by his son John Calamos, Jr. and his nephew Nick Calamos, is looking for new opportunities every day and quickly sells under-performing securities.
"Good stock selection has been important in the past and it will be critical going forward," stated John P. Calamos.
About John P. Calamos
John P. Calamos is the son of Greek immigrants and grew up working in the family grocery store located on the west side of Chicago. He took an interest in the stock market in his teenage years and convinced his parents to give him $5,000 to invest. By the time they retired, that investment had become a large portion of their retirement money.
Mr. Calamos served in Vietnam as a combat pilot and credits that experience with teaching him the importance of remaining calm under pressure and controlling as many variables as possible. "Investing is like flying airplanes: both can be very risky. You have to think ahead, even the unforeseen. Both activities require intense study and preparation."
About CALAMOS ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.
CALAMOS ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC. is an independent asset management firm specializing in convertible bond research and management. Headquartered in Naperville, CALAMOS provides professional money management services to clients that include major corporations, public and private institutions, pension funds, insurance companies and individuals. The firm has experience in convertible bonds since 1977 and currently manages approximately $7.6 billion in assets. The firm also is investment advisor to a family of seven mutual funds.
Call CALAMOS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., the Funds' distributor, at 800.582.6959 for a CALAMOS Family of Funds prospectus, which contains more complete information. Investors should read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments by the CALAMOS Growth Fund in smaller companies present greater risks than investments in larger companies. -- Source: Morningstar, Inc. Rankings are for Class A shares. As of 6/30/01, Morningstar ranked the CALAMOS Growth Fund 13 out of 2,075 for 10 years, 1 out of 6,551 for 5 years and 7,781 out of 12,006 for 1 year relative to the Morningstar whole universe of funds. Rankings do not reflect the effect of sales charges. The funds were ranked exclusively against U.S.-domiciled funds.
-- Morningstar compared all funds with a prospectus objective of growth. CALAMOS Growth Fund ranked #1 for five and 10 years out of 913 and 287 funds, respectively, and 976 out of 2481 for one-year ended June 30, 2001. Rankings are for Class A shares at net asset value and do not reflect applicable 4.75% sales charges. Average annual total return - measures net investment income and capital gain or loss from portfolio investments as an annualized average, assuming reinvestment of income and capital gain distribution.