SC 13G 1 EQHCalamos.txt UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. _ )* CALAMOS STRATEGIC TOTAL RETURN FUND (Name of Issuer) Series D Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares (Title of Class of Securities) 128125*52 (CUSIP Number) August 31, 2021 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [X] Rule 13d-1(b) [ ] Rule 13d-1(c) [ ] Rule 13d-1(d) * The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act, but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes.) CUSIP No. 128125*52 1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Equitable Holdings, Inc. 90-0226248 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ] (b) [ ] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 5. SOLE VOTING POWER 1,600,000 6. SHARED VOTING POWER 0 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,600,000 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,600,000 10. CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [X] 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 64.5% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON HC Item 1. (a) Name of Issuer Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices 2020 CALAMOS COURT, NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS 60653 Item 2. (a) Name of Person Filing Equitable Holdings, Inc. (b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104 All media outlets, please contact Isil Muderrisoglu (212-314-2476) with any questions. (c) Citizenship Delaware (d) Title of Class of Securities Series D Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares (e) CUSIP Number 128125*52 Item 3. If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a: (a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o). (b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (c) [] Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (d) [ ] Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8). (e) [ ] An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b) (1)(ii)(F); (g) [X] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b) (1)(ii)(G); (h) [ ] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3); (j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). Item 4. Ownership. Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. (a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 1,600,000 shares* (b) Percent of Class: 64.5% (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote 1,600,000 (ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote 0 (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 1,600,000 (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 0 Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of Class. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following: [ ] Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. Not Applicable Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company. Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (1,480,000 shares) & Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America (120,000 shares) Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. Not Applicable. This schedule is not being filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(1) (ii)(J) or Rule 13d-1(d). Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Not Applicable Item 10. Certification. By signing below, I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Equitable Holdings, Inc. By: /s/ Anthony Bruccoleri Date: October 19, 2021 Name: Anthony Bruccoleri Title: Lead Director, Equitable Life Insurance Company

SEC Form SC 13G filed by Equitable Holdings, Inc.