Gabelli Convertible Securities, 1998 Distribution Breakdown
8.00% Cumulative Preferred Stock

To All Shareholders:

Set forth below is the allocation of net investment income, short- and long-term capital gains for the 1998 distributions of the 8.00% Cumulative Preferred Stock of The Gabelli Convertible Securities Fund, Inc.

If there are any questions, please contact Peter Latartara or Marc Diagonale at (914) 921-5070.


$ PER SHARE
  1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr TOTAL
Record Date 03/18/98 06/19/98 09/21/98 12/18/98  
Payment Date 03/26/98 06/26/98 09/28/98 12/28/98  
SOURCE
Net Investment Income (a) $0.2101 $0.2101 $0.2101 $0.2101 $0.8405
Short-Term Capital Gains (a) $0.1312 $0.1312 $0.1312 $0.1312 $0.5246
Long-Term Capital Gains (b) $0.1587 $0.1587 $0.1587 $0.1587 $0.6349
TOTAL $0.5000 $0.5000 $0.5000 $0.5000 $2.0000
 
PERCENTAGES
SOURCE
1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr TOTAL
Net Investment Income (a) 42.02% 42.02% 42.02% 42.02% 42.02%
Short-Term Capital Gains (a) 26.23% 26.23% 26.23% 26.23% 26.23%
Long-Term Capital Gains (b) 31.75% 31.75% 31.75% 31.75% 31.75%
TOTAL 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

100% of the long-term capital gains paid by the Gabelli Equity Trust in 1998 was classified as "20% Rate Gains" subject to a maximum tax rate of 20% (or 10% depending on an individual's tax bracket). Capital gain distributions are reported in box 2a of Form 1099-DIV.

U.S. GOVERNMENT INCOME:

The percentage of long-term capital gains paid by the Gabelli Convertible Securities Fund in 1998 that was derived from U.S. Government Securities was 39.89%. The percentage of U.S. Government Securities held as of December 31, 1998 was 33.91%.(c)


    (a)Distributions from net investment income and short-term capital gains are taxable as ordinary income and will appear on your Form 1099-DIV under Ordinary Income Distributions.
    (b)Taxable as long-term capital gains reportable in column (f), line 13 on Form 1040, Schedule D. Since there were no retained capital gains in 1998, Form 2439 will not be necessary.
    (c)Certain states require that 50% of the Fund's portfolio be invested in U.S. Government Securities at the end of each calendar quarter to allow "pass-through" treatment of income derived from U.S. Government Securities. The Fund did not meet this strict requirement in 1998.

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