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AS FILED ELECTRONICALLY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON

DECEMBER 22, 2015

SECURITIES ACT FILE NO. 333-[            ]

 

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-14

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

  THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933    x
  Pre-Effective Amendment No.        ¨
  Post-Effective Amendment No.        ¨

 

 

COLUMBIA FUNDS SERIES TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (800) 345-6611

Christopher O. Petersen, Esq.

c/o Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC

225 Franklin Street,

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

With a copy to:

Brian D. McCabe, Esq.

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower

800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199

 

 

TITLE OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED:

Class A, Class B, Class C, Class I, Class R, Class R4, Class R5 and Class Z shares of the Columbia Overseas Value Fund series of the Registrant.

Class A, Class B, Class C, Class I, Class R, Class R4, and Class Z shares of the Columbia Select International Equity Fund series of the Registrant.

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering : As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

No filing fee is required because an indefinite number of shares have previously been registered pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

It is proposed that this filing will become effective on January 21, 2016 pursuant to Rule 488 under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

 

 


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Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

Columbia International Value Fund

Columbia International Opportunities Fund

COMBINED PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS

[•], 2016

This is a brief overview of the reorganization proposed for your fund. We encourage you to read the full text of the enclosed combined proxy statement/prospectus.

Q: Why are you sending me this information?

Funds are required to obtain shareholder approval for certain kinds of changes, like the reorganizations proposed in the enclosed combined proxy statement/prospectus. As a shareholder of one or more of the above-listed Funds, you are being asked to vote on a reorganization involving your fund.

Q: What is a fund reorganization?

A fund reorganization involves one fund transferring all of its assets and liabilities to another fund in exchange for shares of such fund. Once completed, shareholders of the selling fund will hold shares of the buying fund.

Q: Is my vote important?

Absolutely! While the board of trustees (the “Board”) of each fund listed above has reviewed its proposed reorganization and recommends that you approve it, these proposals generally cannot go forward without the approval of shareholders of the Selling Funds (defined below). A fund will continue to contact shareholders asking them to vote until it is sure that a quorum will be reached, and may continue to contact shareholders thereafter.

Q: What are the proposals?

Shareholders are being asked to vote on the reorganization (a “Reorganization”) of one or more funds (each a “Selling Fund” and together, the “Selling Funds”) into other corresponding funds (each a “Buying Fund” and together, the “Buying Funds”), as noted in the table below:

 

Selling Fund

  

Buying Fund

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund    Columbia Contrarian Core Fund
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund
Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund    Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund
Columbia International Value Fund    Columbia Overseas Value Fund
Columbia International Opportunities Fund    Columbia Select International Equity Fund

If the Reorganization of your Selling Fund is approved by shareholders and the other closing conditions are met, your shares of the Selling Fund will, in effect, be converted into shares of the corresponding Buying Fund with the same aggregate net asset value as the aggregate net asset value of your Selling Fund shares at the time of the Reorganization. (The Selling Funds and the Buying Funds are referred to individually or collectively as a “Fund” or the “Funds.”) While the aggregate net asset value of your shares will not change as a result of the Reorganization, the number of shares you hold may differ based on each Fund’s net asset value.

We encourage you to read the full text of the enclosed combined proxy statement/prospectus to obtain a more detailed understanding of the issues relating to each proposed Reorganization.


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Q: Why are the Reorganizations being proposed?

Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, the Funds’ investment manager (“Columbia Threadneedle”), proposed the Reorganizations to each Board in order to streamline the product offerings of the funds managed by Columbia Threadneedle (the “Columbia Funds”), so that management, distribution and other resources can be focused more effectively on a smaller group of funds. The Reorganization of each Selling Fund into the corresponding Buying Fund will enable shareholders of each Selling Fund to invest in a larger, potentially more efficient portfolio while continuing to pursue a similar or, in some cases, the same investment strategy. As noted below, it is expected that following the proposed Reorganization, the expenses borne by Selling Fund shareholders would generally be the same or lower than the expenses they currently bear.

Q: Will there be any changes to the options or services associated with my account as a result of the Reorganizations?

Account-level features and options such as dividend distributions, dividend diversification, automatic investment plans, systematic withdrawals and dollar cost averaging will automatically carry over from accounts in each Selling Fund to accounts in the corresponding Buying Fund.

Q: Are there costs or tax consequences of the Reorganizations?

You will not pay any sales charges in connection with the Reorganizations. Reorganization costs may be allocated to each Fund, but will be limited to an amount that is not more than the anticipated reduction in expenses borne by the Fund’s shareholders during the first year following the Reorganization. Each Reorganization is expected to be tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, it is expected that Selling Fund shareholders will not and the Selling Fund generally will not recognize gain or loss as a direct result of a Reorganization, as described in more detail in the section of the combined proxy statement/prospectus entitled “Tax Status of the Reorganizations.” A portion of the portfolio assets of a Selling Fund may be sold in connection with its Reorganization. Any such sales will cause such Selling Fund to incur transaction costs and may result in a taxable distribution of gains to shareholders. Additionally, because each Reorganization will end the tax year of the applicable Selling Fund, it will accelerate distributions to shareholders from the Selling Fund for its short tax year ending on the date of the Reorganization. Those tax year-end distributions will be taxable, and will include any distributable, but not previously distributed, capital gains resulting from portfolio turnover prior to consummation of the Reorganization.

Q: Will there be any changes to my fees and expenses as a result of the Reorganizations?

It is expected that, following the proposed Reorganizations, the expenses borne by Selling Fund shareholders would generally be the same as or lower than the expenses they currently bear, as described in detail in the combined proxy statement/prospectus under “Reorganization Proposals – Summary – Fees and Expenses.”

Q: If approved, when will the Reorganizations happen?

The Reorganizations will take place following shareholder approval of each Reorganization, and are expected to close in the second quarter of 2016.

Q: How does my Board recommend that I vote?

After careful consideration, your Board recommends that you vote FOR the Reorganization of your Selling Fund.


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Q: How can I vote?

You can vote in one of four ways:

 

    By telephone (call the toll free number listed on your proxy card)

 

    By internet (log on to the internet site listed on your proxy card)

 

    By mail (using the enclosed postage prepaid envelope)

 

    In person at the shareholder meeting scheduled to occur at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA (32nd Floor, Room 3200) on April 15, 2016

The deadline for voting by telephone or internet is 11:59 P.M. E.T. on April 14, 2016. We encourage you to vote as soon as possible to avoid the cost of additional solicitation efforts. Please refer to the enclosed proxy card for instructions for voting by telephone, internet or mail.

Q: Will I be notified of the results of the vote?

The final voting results for each proposal also will be included in each Selling Fund’s next report to shareholders following the special shareholder meeting.

Q: Whom should I call if I have questions?

If you have questions about any of the proposals described in the combined proxy statement/prospectus or about voting procedures, please call the Selling Funds’ proxy solicitor, Computershare Fund Services, toll free at 800-708-7953. Shareholders of Selling Funds for which a Reorganization is effected within 60 days following the completion of its fiscal year or half year may call 800-345-6611 to request a copy of the Selling Fund’s final report to shareholders for that period.


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NOTICE OF A JOINT SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Columbia Funds Series Trust

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V

Columbia International Value Fund

Columbia International Opportunities Fund

Columbia Funds Series Trust I

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund

Columbia Funds Series Trust II

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

To be held April 15, 2016

A Joint Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of each of the funds listed above (each a “Selling Fund”) will be held at 10:00 a.m. ET on April 15, 2016, at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA (32nd Floor, Room 3200). At the Meeting, shareholders will consider, with respect to their Selling Fund:

To approve the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Agreement”) by and among Columbia Funds Series Trust, on behalf of its Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V, Columbia International Value Fund and Columbia International Opportunities Fund series, Columbia Funds Series Trust I, on behalf of its Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund series, Columbia Funds Series Trust II, on behalf of its Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV and Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund series, certain other registered investment companies and Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, pursuant to which each Selling Fund, as indicated below, will transfer that portion of its assets attributable to each class of its shares (in aggregate, all of its assets) to the corresponding buying fund, as indicated below (each a “Buying Fund”), in exchange for shares of a corresponding class of the Buying Fund and the assumption by the Buying Fund of all of the liabilities of the corresponding Selling Fund. Shares of each class of the Buying Fund will be distributed proportionately to shareholders of the relevant class of the Selling Fund.

Shareholders of each Selling Fund will vote separately on the proposal, as shown below.

 

Selling Fund

  

Buying Fund

  

Proposal #

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund

   Columbia Contrarian Core Fund    1

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II

   Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund    2

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III

   Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund    2

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV

   Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund    2

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V

   Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund    2

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

   Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund    3

Columbia International Value Fund

   Columbia Overseas Value Fund    4

Columbia International Opportunities Fund

   Columbia Select International Equity Fund    5

Please carefully read the enclosed combined proxy statement/prospectus, as it discusses these proposals in more detail. If you were a shareholder of a Selling Fund as of the close of business on January 22, 2016, you may vote at the Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting. You are welcome to attend the Meeting in person. If you cannot attend in person, please vote by mail, telephone or internet. Just follow the instructions on the enclosed proxy card. If you have questions, please call the Selling Funds’ proxy solicitor toll free at 800-708-7953. It is important that you vote. The board of trustees of each Selling Fund recommends that you vote FOR its Reorganization.

By order of the boards of trustees

 

LOGO

Ryan C. Larrenaga, Secretary

[[•], 2016]


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Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

Columbia International Value Fund

Columbia International Opportunities Fund

COMBINED PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS

Dated [[•], 2016]

This document is a proxy statement for each Selling Fund (as defined below) and a prospectus for each Buying Fund (as defined below). The address and telephone number of each Selling Fund and each Buying Fund is c/o Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., P.O. Box 8081, Boston, MA 02266-8081, and 800-345-6611. This combined proxy statement/prospectus and the enclosed proxy card were first mailed to shareholders of each Selling Fund beginning on or about February 5, 2016. This combined proxy statement/prospectus contains information you should know before voting on the following proposals with respect to your Selling Fund, as indicated below. You should read this document carefully and retain it for future reference.

 

Proposal

   To be voted on by
shareholders of:
1.    To approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Columbia Funds Series Trust I, on behalf of its Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund series (a “Selling Fund”), Columbia Funds Series Trust I, on behalf of its Columbia Contrarian Core Fund series (a “Buying Fund”), certain other registered investment companies and Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (“Columbia Threadneedle”), the investment manager of each Selling Fund and Buying Fund. Under the agreement, the Selling Fund will transfer that portion of its assets attributable to each class of its shares (in aggregate, all of its assets) to the Buying Fund in exchange for shares of the corresponding class of the Buying Fund (as indicated below) and the assumption by the Buying Fund of all of the liabilities of the Selling Fund. Shares of each class of the Buying Fund will be distributed proportionately to shareholders of the relevant class of the Selling Fund.    Columbia Value and
Restructuring Fund

 

Selling Fund

        Buying Fund
Class A    g    Class A
Class C    g    Class C
Class I    g    Class I
Class R    g    Class R
Class R4    g    Class R4
Class R5    g    Class R5
Class W    g    Class W
Class Y    g    Class Y
Class Z    g    Class Z


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Proposal

   To be voted on by
shareholders of:
2.    To approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Columbia Funds Series Trust, on behalf of its Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V series, and Columbia Funds Series Trust II, on behalf of its Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV series (each a “Selling Fund”), Columbia Funds Series Trust I, on behalf of its Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund series (a “Buying Fund”), certain other registered investment companies and Columbia Threadneedle. Under the agreement, each Selling Fund will transfer that portion of its assets attributable to each class of its shares (in aggregate, all of its assets) to the Buying Fund in exchange for shares of the corresponding class of the Buying Fund (as indicated below) and the assumption by the Buying Fund of all of the liabilities of each Selling Fund. Shares of each class of the Buying Fund will be distributed proportionately to shareholders of the relevant class of each of the Selling Funds, to the extent applicable.    Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund II,
Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund III,
Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund IV and
Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund V

 

Selling Funds

        Buying Fund
Class A    g    Class A
Class B    g    Class B
Class C    g    Class C
Class I    g    Class I
Class R    g    Class R
Class R4    g    Class R4
Class R5    g    Class R5
Class W    g    Class W
Class Z    g    Class Z

 

3.    To approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Columbia Funds Series Trust II, on behalf of its Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund series (a “Selling Fund”), Columbia Funds Series Trust II, on behalf of its Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund series (a “Buying Fund”), certain other registered investment companies and Columbia Threadneedle. Under the agreement, the Selling Fund will transfer that portion of its assets attributable to each class of its shares (in aggregate, all of its assets) to the Buying Fund in exchange for shares of the corresponding class of the Buying Fund (as indicated below) and the assumption by the Buying Fund of all of the liabilities of the Selling Fund. Shares of each class of the Buying Fund will be distributed proportionately to shareholders of the relevant class of the Selling Fund.    Columbia Multi-
Advisor Small Cap
Value Fund

 

Selling Fund

        Buying Fund
Class A    g    Class A
Class B    g    Class B
Class C    g    Class C
Class I    g    Class I
Class K    g    Class K
Class R    g    Class R
Class R4    g    Class R4
Class R5    g    Class R5
Class Y    g    Class Y
Class Z    g    Class Z


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Proposal

   To be voted on by
shareholders of:
4.    To approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Columbia Funds Series Trust, on behalf of its Columbia International Value Fund series (a “Selling Fund”), Columbia Funds Series Trust, on behalf of its Columbia Overseas Value Fund series (a “Buying Fund”), certain other registered investment companies and Columbia Threadneedle. Under the agreement, the Selling Fund will transfer that portion of its assets attributable to each class of its shares (in aggregate, all of its assets) to the Buying Fund in exchange for shares of the corresponding class of the Buying Fund (as indicated below) and the assumption by the Buying Fund of all of the liabilities of the Selling Fund. Shares of each class of the Buying Fund will be distributed proportionately to shareholders of the relevant class of the Selling Fund.    Columbia International
Value Fund

 

Selling Fund

        Buying Fund
Class A    g    Class A
Class B    g    Class B
Class C    g    Class C
Class I    g    Class I
Class R    g    Class R
Class R4    g    Class R4
Class R5    g    Class R5
Class Z    g    Class Z

 

5.    To approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Columbia Funds Series Trust, on behalf of its Columbia International Opportunities Fund series (a “Selling Fund”), Columbia Funds Series Trust, on behalf of its Columbia Select International Equity Fund series (a “Buying Fund”), certain other registered investment companies and Columbia Threadneedle. Under the agreement, the Selling Fund will transfer that portion of its assets attributable to each class of its shares (in aggregate, all of its assets) to the Buying Fund in exchange for shares of the corresponding class of the Buying Fund (as indicated below) and the assumption by the Buying Fund of all of the liabilities of the Selling Fund. Shares of each class of the Buying Fund will be distributed proportionately to shareholders of the relevant class of the Selling Fund.    Columbia International
Opportunities Fund

 

Selling Funds

        Buying Fund
Class A    g    Class A
Class B    g    Class B
Class C    g    Class C
Class I    g    Class I
Class R    g    Class R
Class R4    g    Class R4
Class Z    g    Class Z

The proposals will be considered by shareholders who owned shares of the Selling Funds on January 22, 2016 at a joint special meeting of shareholders (the “Meeting”) that will be held at 10:00 a.m. ET on April 15, 2016, at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA in Room 3200 on the 32nd floor. Each of the Selling Funds and the Buying Funds (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) is a registered open-end management investment company (or a series thereof).


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Although the board of trustees (the “Board”) of each Selling Fund* recommends that shareholders approve the reorganization of each Selling Fund into the corresponding Buying Fund (each a “Reorganization”), the Reorganization of each Selling Fund is not conditioned upon the Reorganization of any other Selling Fund. Accordingly, if shareholders of one Selling Fund approve its Reorganization, but shareholders of a second Selling Fund do not approve the second Selling Fund’s Reorganization, it is expected that the Reorganization of the first Selling Fund will take place as described in this combined proxy statement/prospectus. If shareholders of any Selling Fund fail to approve its Reorganization, the Board of such Selling Fund will consider what other actions, if any, may be appropriate.

How Each Reorganization Will Work

 

    Each Selling Fund will transfer all of its assets to the corresponding Buying Fund in exchange for shares of such Buying Fund (“Reorganization Shares”) and the assumption by the corresponding Buying Fund of all of the Selling Fund’s liabilities.

 

    Each Buying Fund will issue Reorganization Shares with an aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate value of the assets that it receives from the corresponding Selling Fund, less the liabilities it assumes from the corresponding Selling Fund. Reorganization Shares of each class of each Buying Fund will be distributed to the shareholders of the corresponding class of such corresponding Selling Fund in proportion to their holdings of such class of such Selling Fund. For example, holders of Class A shares of a Selling Fund will receive Class A shares of the corresponding Buying Fund with the same aggregate net asset value as the aggregate net asset value of their Selling Fund Class A shares at the time of the Reorganization. While the aggregate net asset value of your shares will not change as a result of the Reorganization, the number of shares you hold may differ based on each Fund’s net asset value.

 

    Reorganization costs will be allocated to each Selling Fund only to the extent they are expected to be offset by the anticipated reduction in expenses borne by the Selling Fund’s shareholders during the first year following the Reorganization.

 

    Each Reorganization is expected to be tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, it is expected that Selling Fund shareholders will not and the Selling Fund generally will not recognize gain or loss as a direct result of a Reorganization, as described in more detail in the section entitled “Tax Status of the Reorganizations.”

 

    A portion of the portfolio assets of a Selling Fund may be sold in connection with its Reorganization. Any such sales will cause such Selling Fund to incur transaction costs and may result in a taxable distribution of gains to shareholders.

 

    As part of the Reorganization of your Selling Fund, systematic transactions (such as bank authorizations and systematic payouts) currently set up for your Selling Fund account may be transferred to your new Buying Fund account. Please contact your financial intermediary for additional details.

 

    No shareholders of any Selling Fund will pay any sales charge in connection with acquiring Reorganization Shares.

 

    After a Reorganization is completed, Selling Fund shareholders will be shareholders of the corresponding Buying Fund, and the Selling Fund will be dissolved.

Where to Get More Information

The following documents have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and are incorporated into this combined proxy statement/prospectus by reference:

 

    the Statement of Additional Information of the Buying Funds relating to the Reorganizations (the “Merger SAI”), dated [•, 2016];

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund (SEC file no. 811-04367)

 

    the prospectus of Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund, dated [January 1, 2016], as supplemented to date;

 

    the Statement of Additional Information of Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund, dated [January 1, 2016], as supplemented to date;

 

    the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and the audited financial statements included in the Annual Report to Shareholders of Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund for the year ended August 31, 2015;

 

 

* References to the board of a Selling Fund refer to the Board of the trust of which the Selling Fund is a series.


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Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (SEC file no. 811-09645) (known as Columbia Marsico 21st Century Fund prior to November 20, 2015)

 

    the prospectus of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, dated July 1, 2015, as supplemented to date;

 

    the Statement of Additional Information of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, dated [January 1, 2016], as supplemented to date;

 

    the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and the audited financial statements included in the Annual Report to Shareholders of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II for the year ended February 28, 2015, and the unaudited financial statements included in the Semiannual Report to Shareholders of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II for the period ended August 31, 2015;

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (SEC file no. 811-09645) (known as Columbia Marsico Focused Equities Fund prior to November 20, 2015)

 

    the prospectus of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, dated July 1, 2015, as supplemented to date;

 

    the Statement of Additional Information of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, dated [January 1, 2016], as supplemented to date;

 

    the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and the audited financial statements included in the Annual Report to Shareholders of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III for the year ended February 28, 2015, and the unaudited financial statements included in the Semiannual Report to Shareholders of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III for the period ended August 31, 2015;

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (SEC file no. 811-21852) (known as Columbia Marsico Flexible Capital Fund prior to November 20, 2015)

 

    the prospectus of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, dated [January 1, 2016], as supplemented to date;

 

    the Statement of Additional Information of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, dated [January 1, 2016], as supplemented to date;

 

    the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and the audited financial statements included in the Annual Report to Shareholders of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV for the year ended August 31, 2015;

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (SEC file no. 811-09645) (known as Columbia Marsico Growth Fund prior to November 20, 2015)

 

    the prospectus of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V, dated July 1, 2015, as supplemented to date;

 

    the Statement of Additional Information of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V, dated [January 1, 2016], as supplemented to date;

 

    the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and the audited financial statements included in the Annual Report to Shareholders of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V for the year ended February 28, 2015, and the unaudited financial statements included in the Semiannual Report to Shareholders of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V for the period ended August 31, 2015;

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund (SEC file no. 811-21852)

 

    the prospectus of Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund, dated October 1, 2015, as supplemented to date;

 

    the Statement of Additional Information of Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund, dated [January 1, 2016], as supplemented to date;

 

    the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and the audited financial statements included in the Annual Report to Shareholders of Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund for the year ended May 31, 2015, [and the unaudited financial statements included in the Semiannual Report to Shareholders of Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund for the period ended November 30, 2015];

Columbia International Value Fund (SEC file no. 811-09645)

 

    the prospectus of Columbia International Value Fund, dated July 1, 2015, as supplemented to date;

 

    the Statement of Additional Information of Columbia International Value Fund, dated [January 1, 2016], as supplemented to date;

 

    the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and the audited financial statements included in the Annual Report to Shareholders of Columbia International Value Fund for the year ended February 28, 2015, and the unaudited financial statements included in the Semiannual Report to Shareholders of Columbia International Value Fund for the period ended August 31, 2015;


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Columbia International Opportunities Fund (SEC file no. 811-09645)

 

    the prospectus of Columbia International Opportunities Fund, dated July 1, 2015, as supplemented to date;

 

    the Statement of Additional Information of Columbia International Opportunities Fund, dated [January 1, 2016], as supplemented to date;

 

    the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and the audited financial statements included in the Annual Report to Shareholders of Columbia International Opportunities Fund for the year ended February 28, 2015, and the unaudited financial statements included in the Semiannual Report to Shareholders of Columbia International Opportunities Fund for the period ended August 31, 2015.

For a free copy of any of the documents listed above and/or to ask questions about this combined proxy statement/prospectus, please call your Selling Fund’s proxy solicitor toll free at 800-708-7953.

Each of the Funds is subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and files reports, proxy materials and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy materials and other information can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Room maintained by the SEC. Copies may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing to the Public Reference Branch of the SEC Office of Consumer Affairs and Information Services, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-0102. In addition, copies of these documents may be viewed online or downloaded from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Please note that investments in the Funds are not bank deposits, are not federally insured, are not guaranteed by any bank or government agency and may lose value. There is no assurance that any Fund will achieve its investment objectives.

As with all mutual funds, the SEC has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed on the adequacy of this combined proxy statement/prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Section A — Reorganization Proposals

     1   

Summary

     1   

How Each Reorganization Will Work

     1   

Tax Consequences

     1   

Fees and Expenses

     2   

Proposal 1 Fees and Expenses. Reorganization of Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund into Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

     2   

Proposal 2 Fees and Expenses. Reorganization of each of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

     5   

Proposal 3 Fees and Expenses. Reorganization of Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund into Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

     11   

Proposal 4 Fees and Expenses. Reorganization of Columbia International Value Fund into Columbia Overseas Value Fund

     15   

Proposal 5 Fees and Expenses. Reorganization of Columbia International Opportunities Fund into Columbia Select International Equity Fund

     18   

Proposal 1. Comparison of Objectives, Strategies and Risks. Reorganization of Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund into Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

     21   

Comparison of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund

     21   

Comparison of Investment Objectives

     21   

Comparison of Principal Investment Strategies

     21   

Comparison of Fundamental Investment Policies

     23   

Comparison of Additional Non-Fundamental Investment Policies

     23   

Comparison of Principal Risks

     24   

Comparison of Performance

     24   

Proposal 2. Comparison of Objectives, Strategies and Risks. Reorganization of each of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

     29   

Comparison of each Selling Fund and the Buying Fund

     29   

Comparison of Investment Objectives

     29   

Comparison of Principal Investment Strategies

     29   

Comparison of Fundamental Investment Policies

     30   

Comparison of Additional Non-Fundamental Investment Policies

     35   

Comparison of Principal Risks

     36   

Comparison of Performance

     38   

Proposal 3. Comparison of Objectives, Strategies and Risks. Reorganization of Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund into Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

     46   

Comparison of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund

     46   

Comparison of Investment Objectives

     46   

Comparison of Principal Investment Strategies

     46   

Comparison of Fundamental Investment Policies

     48   

Comparison of Additional Non-Fundamental Investment Policies

     50   

Comparison of Principal Risks

     50   

Comparison of Performance

     51   

Proposal 4. Comparison of Objectives, Strategies and Risks. Reorganization of Columbia International Value Fund into Columbia Overseas Value Fund

     56   

Comparison of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund

     56   

Comparison of Investment Objectives

     56   

Comparison of Principal Investment Strategies

     56   


Table of Contents
     Page  

Comparison of Fundamental Investment Policies

     57   

Comparison of Additional Non-Fundamental Investment Policies

     59   

Comparison of Principal Risks

     59   

Comparison of Performance

     61   

Proposal 5. Comparison of Objectives, Strategies and Risks. Reorganization of Columbia International Opportunities Fund into Columbia Select International Equity Fund

     64   

Comparison of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund

     64   

Comparison of Investment Objectives

     64   

Comparison of Principal Investment Strategies

     64   

Comparison of Fundamental Investment Policies

     65   

Comparison of Additional Non-Fundamental Investment Policies

     65   

Comparison of Principal Risks

     65   

Comparison of Performance

     68   

Additional Information About Each Reorganization

     72   

Terms of Each Reorganization

     72   

Conditions to Closing Each Reorganization

     72   

Termination of the Agreement

     72   

Tax Status of the Reorganizations

     72   

Reasons for the Proposed Reorganizations and Board Deliberations

     76   

Board Recommendation and Required Vote

     80   

Section B — Proxy Voting and Shareholder Meeting Information

     81   

Section C — Capitalization, Ownership of Fund Shares and Financial Highlights

     84   

Capitalization of Selling Funds and Buying Funds

     84   

Ownership of Selling Fund and Buying Fund Shares

     89   

Financial Highlights of the Buying Funds

     93   

Exhibit A — Costs of the Reorganizations

     A-1   

Exhibit B — Additional Information Applicable to the Buying Funds

     B-1   

Exhibit C — Comparison of Organizational Documents

     C-1   


Table of Contents

SECTION A — REORGANIZATION PROPOSALS

The following information describes each proposed Reorganization.

SUMMARY

This combined proxy statement/prospectus is being used by each Selling Fund to solicit proxies to vote at a joint special meeting of shareholders. Shareholders of each Selling Fund will consider a proposal to approve the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Agreement”) providing for the Reorganization of their Selling Fund into the corresponding Buying Fund.

The following is a summary. More complete information appears later in this combined proxy statement/prospectus. You should carefully read the entire combined proxy statement/prospectus and the exhibits because they contain details that are not included in this summary.

How Each Reorganization Will Work

 

  Each Selling Fund will transfer all of its assets to the corresponding Buying Fund in exchange for Reorganization Shares and the assumption by the corresponding Buying Fund of all of the Selling Fund’s liabilities.

 

  Each Buying Fund will issue Reorganization Shares with an aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate value of the assets that it receives from the corresponding Selling Fund, less the liabilities it assumes from the corresponding Selling Fund. Reorganization Shares of each class of each Buying Fund will be distributed to the shareholders of the corresponding class of such corresponding Selling Fund in proportion to their holdings of such class of such Selling Fund. For example, holders of Class A shares of a Selling Fund will receive Class A shares of the corresponding Buying Fund with the same aggregate net asset value as the aggregate net asset value of their Selling Fund Class A shares at the time of the Reorganization. While the aggregate net asset value of your shares will not change as a result of the Reorganization, the number of shares you hold may differ based on each Fund’s net asset value.

 

  Reorganization costs will be allocated to each Selling Fund only to the extent they are expected to be offset by the anticipated reduction in expenses borne by the Selling Fund’s shareholders during the first year following the Reorganization.

 

  Each Reorganization is expected to be tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, it is expected that Selling Fund shareholders will not and the Selling Fund generally will not recognize gain or loss as a direct result of a Reorganization, as described in more detail in the section entitled “Tax Status of the Reorganizations.”

 

  A portion of the portfolio assets of a Selling Fund may be sold in connection with its Reorganization. Any such sales will cause such Selling Fund to incur transaction costs and may result in a taxable distribution of gains to shareholders.

 

  As part of the Reorganization of your Selling Fund, systematic transactions (such as bank authorizations and systematic payouts) currently set up for your Selling Fund account may be transferred to your new Buying Fund account. Please contact your financial intermediary for additional details.

 

  No shareholders of any Selling Fund will pay any sales charge in connection with acquiring Reorganization Shares.

 

  After a Reorganization is completed, Selling Fund shareholders will be shareholders of the corresponding Buying Fund, and the Selling Fund will be dissolved.

Tax Consequences

Each Reorganization is expected to be tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes and will not take place unless the Selling Fund and the corresponding Buying Fund receive a satisfactory opinion of tax counsel substantially to the effect that the Reorganization will be tax-free, as described in more detail in the section entitled “Tax Status of the Reorganizations.” Accordingly, subject to the limited exceptions described in that section, no gain or loss is expected to be recognized by any Selling Fund or its shareholders as a direct result of its Reorganization. A portion of the portfolio assets of a Selling Fund may be sold in connection with its Reorganization. The actual tax effect of such sales will depend on the difference between the price at which such portfolio assets are sold and the tax basis of the Selling Fund in such assets. Any capital gains recognized in any such sales on a net basis, after reduction by any available capital losses, will be distributed to shareholders as capital gain dividends (to the extent of net realized long-term capital gains over net realized short-term capital losses) and/or ordinary dividends (to the extent of net realized short-term capital gains over net realized long-term capital losses) during or with respect to the year of sale, and such distributions will be taxable to shareholders. Additionally, because each Reorganization will end the tax year of the applicable Selling Fund, it

 

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will accelerate distributions to shareholders from the Selling Fund for its short tax year ending on the date of the Reorganization. Those tax year-end distributions will be taxable, and will include any distributable, but not previously distributed, capital gains resulting from portfolio turnover prior to consummation of the Reorganization. At any time prior to a Reorganization, a shareholder may redeem shares of a Selling Fund. Any such redemption would likely result in the recognition of gain or loss by the shareholder for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If a shareholder holds Selling Fund shares in a non-taxable account, distributions and redemption proceeds with respect to those shares will not be taxable to the shareholder if those amounts remain in the non-taxable account.

The Selling Fund shareholders’ aggregate tax basis in the Reorganization Shares is expected to carry over from the shareholders’ Selling Fund shares, and the Selling Fund shareholders’ holding period in the Reorganization Shares is expected to include the shareholders’ holding period in the Selling Fund shares.

For more information about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reorganizations, see the section entitled “Tax Status of the Reorganizations.”

Fees and Expenses

The following tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of a Fund.

Annual fund operating expense ratios are based on expenses incurred during each Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, adjusted to reflect current and expected fees, as more fully described below, and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the Fund’s average net assets during the period. Pro forma expense ratios are based on the average net assets of each Buying Fund and the corresponding Selling Fund for the twelve months ended July 31, 2015 for Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund, August 31, 2015 for Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund, Columbia Contrarian Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V, Columbia International Value Fund, Columbia Overseas Value Fund, Columbia International Opportunities Fund and Columbia Select International Equity Fund, and November 30, 2015 for Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund and Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund. As of the date of this combined proxy statement/prospectus, each Fund’s net assets may be lower or higher than the Fund’s average net assets over such period (or on such date). In general, a Fund’s annual operating expense ratios will increase as the Fund’s assets decrease and will decrease as the Fund’s assets increase. Accordingly, each Fund’s annual operating expense ratios, if adjusted based on net assets as of the date of this combined proxy statement/prospectus, could be higher or lower than those shown in the tables below. The commitment by Columbia Threadneedle to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses for a Buying Fund, if applicable and as noted below, may limit the effect that any decrease in the applicable Buying Fund’s net assets will have on its annual net operating expense ratios in the current fiscal year.

The Selling Funds have contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangements. For more information, see the Selling Funds’ prospectuses or shareholder reports.

The fees and expenses below exclude one-time costs of the Reorganizations. The costs of each Reorganization expected to be borne by each Fund are set forth in Exhibit A. Reorganization costs will be allocated to each Selling Fund only to the extent they are expected to be offset by the anticipated reduction in expenses borne by the Selling Fund’s shareholders during the first year following the Reorganization.

Proposal 1 Fees and Expenses. Reorganization of Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund into Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

Current and Pro Forma Fees and Expenses

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

Columbia Value and

Restructuring Fund

(Current)

(Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class C     Class I      Class R      Class R4      Class R5      Class W      Class Y      Class Z  

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     5.75     None        None         None         None         None         None         None         None   

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a percentage of net asset value at the time of your purchase or redemption, whichever is lower)

     1.00 % (1)       1.00 % (2)       None         None         None         None         None         None         None   

 

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Columbia Contrarian

Core Fund

(Current and Pro Forma)

(Buying Fund)

  Class A     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class W     Class Y     Class Z  

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

    5.75     None        None        None        None        None        None        None        None   

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a percentage of net asset value at the time of your purchase or redemption, whichever is lower)

    1.00 % (1)       1.00 % (2)       None        None        None        None        None        None        None   

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):

 

Columbia Value and

Restructuring Fund

(Current) (Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class W     Class Y     Class Z  

Management fees (3)

     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.25     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (3)(4)

     0.22     0.22     0.03     0.22     0.22     0.08     0.22     0.03     0.22
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses (5)

     1.17     1.92     0.73     1.42     0.92     0.78     1.17     0.73     0.92

 

Columbia Contrarian Core

Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class W     Class Y     Class Z  

Management fees (6)

     0.64     0.64     0.64     0.64     0.64     0.64     0.64     0.64     0.64

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.25     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (4)(6)

     0.20     0.20     0.02     0.20     0.20     0.07     0.20     0.02     0.20
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

     1.09     1.84     0.66     1.34     0.84     0.71     1.09     0.66     0.84

Columbia Contrarian Core

Fund (Pro Forma)

(Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class W     Class Y     Class Z  

Management fees (7)

     0.62     0.62     0.62     0.62     0.62     0.62     0.62     0.62     0.62

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.25     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (4)(7)

     0.20     0.20     0.02     0.20     0.20     0.07     0.20     0.02     0.20
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

     1.07     1.82     0.64     1.32     0.82     0.69     1.07     0.64     0.82

 

 

(1)   This charge is imposed on certain investments of between $1 million and $50 million redeemed within 18 months after purchase, as follows: 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months after purchase, and 0.50% if redeemed more than 12, but less than 18, months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(2)   This charge applies to redemptions within 12 months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(3)   Management fees have been restated to reflect current fees paid by the Fund. Effective July 1, 2015, management fees for this Fund reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under one agreement providing for a single management fee that is lower than the aggregate of the previous advisory and administrative services fee. As a result, other expenses do not include administrative services fees. Prior to July 1, 2015, advisory fees and administrative fees payable pursuant to separate agreements under the prior arrangement amounted to 0.69% and 0.06% of average daily net assets of the Fund, respectively.
(4)   With the exception of Class I and Class Y shares, other expenses have been restated to reflect current transfer agency fees paid by the Fund.
(5)   Columbia Threadneedle and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until December 31, 2016, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund’s net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 1.15% for Class A, 1.90% for Class C, 0.75% for Class I, 1.40% for Class R, 0.90% for Class R4, 0.80% for Class R5, 1.15% for Class W, 0.75% for Class Y and 0.90% for Class Z.

 

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(6)   Management fees reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under one agreement providing for a single management fee. As a result, other expenses do not include administrative services fees. Advisory fees and administrative services fees paid pursuant to separate prior agreements amounted to 0.59% and 0.05% of average daily net assets of the Fund, respectively.
(7)   Management fees reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under one agreement providing for a single management fee. As a result, other expenses do not include administrative services fees.

Expense examples: These examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in each Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. These examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the applicable Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods, both under the current arrangements and, for the Buying Fund, assuming completion of the proposed Reorganization. These examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each year and that each Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on those assumptions your costs would be:

 

     1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years  

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 687       $ 925       $ 1,182       $ 1,914   

Class C

   $ 295       $ 603       $ 1,037       $ 2,243   

Class I

   $ 75       $ 233       $ 406       $ 906   

Class R

   $ 145       $ 449       $ 776       $ 1,702   

Class R4

   $ 94       $ 293       $ 509       $ 1,131   

Class R5

   $ 80       $ 249       $ 433       $ 966   

Class W

   $ 119       $ 372       $ 644       $ 1,420   

Class Y

   $ 75       $ 233       $ 406       $ 906   

Class Z

   $ 94       $ 293       $ 509       $ 1,131   

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 680       $ 902       $ 1,141       $ 1,827   

Class C

   $ 287       $ 579       $ 996       $ 2,159   

Class I

   $ 67       $ 211       $ 368       $ 822   

Class R

   $ 136       $ 425       $ 734       $ 1,613   

Class R4

   $ 86       $ 268       $ 466       $ 1,037   

Class R5

   $ 73       $ 227       $ 395       $ 883   

Class W

   $ 111       $ 347       $ 601       $ 1,329   

Class Y

   $ 67       $ 211       $ 368       $ 822   

Class Z

   $ 86       $ 268       $ 466       $ 1,037   

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Pro Forma) (Buying Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 678       $ 896       $ 1,131       $ 1,806   

Class C

   $ 285       $ 573       $ 985       $ 2,137   

Class I

   $ 65       $ 205       $ 357       $ 798   

Class R

   $ 134       $ 418       $ 723       $ 1,590   

Class R4

   $ 84       $ 262       $ 455       $ 1,014   

Class R5

   $ 70       $ 221       $ 384       $ 859   

Class W

   $ 109       $ 340       $ 590       $ 1,306   

Class Y

   $ 65       $ 205       $ 357       $ 798   

Class Z

   $ 84       $ 262       $ 455       $ 1,014   

If you owned or will own any class of shares other than Class C shares, you would pay the same costs shown in the tables above if you did not redeem your shares at the end of the periods indicated. If you owned or will own Class C shares, you would pay the following costs if you did not redeem your shares at the end of the periods indicated, which may be different than the costs shown in the tables above.

 

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     1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years  

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class C

   $ 195       $ 603       $ 1,037       $ 2,243   

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

     

Class C

   $ 187       $ 579       $ 996       $ 2,159   

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Pro Forma) (Buying Fund)

     

Class C

   $ 185       $ 573       $ 985       $ 2,137   

Portfolio Turnover. Each Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. Those costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the example expenses, affect a Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, each Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was the following percentage of the average value of the Fund’s portfolio:

 

Fund

   Percentage of the
Average Value of
the Fund’s Portfolio

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund (Selling Fund)

   58%

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Buying Fund)

   60%

Proposal 2 Fees and Expenses. Reorganization of each of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

Current and Pro Forma Fees and Expenses

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth

Fund II

(Current) (Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class R      Class R4      Class R5      Class Z  

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     5.75     None        None        None         None         None         None   

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a percentage of net asset value at the time of your purchase or redemption, whichever is lower)

     1.00 % (1)       5.00 % (2)       1.00 % (3)       None         None         None         None   

Columbia Large Cap Growth

Fund III (Current) (Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I      Class R4      Class R5      Class Z  

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     5.75     None        None        None         None         None         None   

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a percentage of net asset value at the time of your purchase or redemption, whichever is lower)

     1.00 % (1)       5.00 % (2)       1.00 % (3)       None         None         None         None   

 

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Columbia Large Cap Growth

Fund IV (Current)

(Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class C     Class I      Class R      Class R4      Class R5      Class Z  

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     5.75     None        None         None         None         None         None   

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a percentage of net asset value at the time of your purchase or redemption, whichever is lower)

     1.00 % (1)       1.00 % (3)       None         None         None         None         None   

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth

Fund V (Current)

(Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I      Class R      Class R4      Class R5      Class W      Class Z  

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     5.75     None        None        None         None         None         None         None         None   

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a percentage of net asset value at the time of your purchase or redemption, whichever is lower)

     1.00 % (1)       5.00 % (2)       1.00 % (3)       None         None         None         None         None         None   

Columbia Large Cap Growth

Fund (Current and Pro Forma)

(Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I      Class R      Class R4      Class R5      Class W      Class Z  

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     5.75     None        None        None         None         None         None         None         None   

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a percentage of net asset value at the time of your purchase or redemption, whichever is lower)

     1.00 % (1)       5.00 % (2)       1.00 % (3)       None         None         None         None         None         None   

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (Current) (Selling Fund)    Class A     Class B     Class C     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class Z  

Management fees (4)

     0.74     0.74     0.74     0.74     0.74     0.74     0.74

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (4)(5)

     0.22     0.22     0.22     0.22     0.22     0.08     0.22
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

     1.21     1.96     1.96     1.46     0.96     0.82     0.96

 

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Columbia Large Cap Growth

Fund III (Current) (Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class R4     Class R5     Class Z  

Management fees (4)

     0.74     0.74     0.74     0.74     0.74     0.74     0.74

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (4)(5)

     0.24     0.24     0.24     0.03     0.24     0.08     0.24
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses (6)

     1.23     1.98     1.98     0.77     0.98     0.82     0.98

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth

Fund IV (Current) (Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class Z  

Management fees (4)

     0.77     0.77     0.77     0.77     0.77     0.77     0.77

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (4)(5)

     0.26     0.26     0.10     0.26     0.26     0.15     0.26
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

     1.28     2.03     0.87     1.53     1.03     0.92     1.03

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth

Fund V (Current) (Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class W     Class Z  

Management fees (4)

     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70     0.70

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.25     0.00

Other expenses (4)(5)

     0.22     0.22     0.22     0.02     0.22     0.22     0.07     0.22     0.22
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

     1.17     1.92     1.92     0.72     1.42     0.92     0.77     1.17     0.92

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth

Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class W     Class Z  

Management fees (4)

     0.66     0.66     0.66     0.66     0.66     0.66     0.66     0.66     0.66

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.25     0.00

Other expenses (4)(5)

     0.20     0.20     0.20     0.03     0.20     0.20     0.08     0.20     0.20
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

     1.11     1.86     1.86     0.69     1.36     0.86     0.74     1.11     0.86

The number of Reorganizations that occur will affect the total annual Fund operating expenses of the Buying Fund on a pro forma combined basis after the Reorganizations. The tables below present the pro forma combined total annual Fund operating expenses of the Buying Fund assuming (1) that only one of the Reorganizations is consummated and (2) that all of the Reorganizations are consummated. Specifically, the first table shows the pro forma combined total annual Fund operating expenses of the Buying Fund assuming the combination of Reorganizations that results in the highest possible total annual Fund operating expenses, the Reorganization of only Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, and the second table shows the pro forma combined total annual Fund operating expenses of the Buying Fund assuming the combination of Reorganizations that results in the lowest possible total annual Fund operating expenses, the Reorganization of all of the Selling Funds.

 

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Columbia Large Cap

Growth Fund

(Pro Forma — Highest)

(Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class W     Class Z  

Management fees (7)

     0.66     0.66     0.66     0.66     0.66     0.66     0.66     0.66     0.66

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.25     0.00

Other expenses (5)(7)

     0.20     0.20     0.20     0.03     0.20     0.20     0.08     0.20     0.20

Total annual Fund operating expenses

     1.11     1.86     1.86     0.69     1.36     0.86     0.74     1.11     0.86

 

Columbia Large Cap

Growth Fund

(Pro Forma — Lowest/All Reorganizations)

(Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class W     Class Z  

Management fees (7)

     0.63     0.63     0.63     0.63     0.63     0.63     0.63     0.63     0.63

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.25     0.00

Other expenses (5)(7)

     0.20     0.20     0.20     0.01     0.20     0.20     0.06     0.20     0.20

Total annual Fund operating expenses

     1.08     1.83     1.83     0.64     1.33     0.83     0.69     1.08     0.83

 

 

(1)   This charge is imposed on certain investments of between $1 million and $50 million redeemed within 18 months after purchase, as follows: 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months after purchase, and 0.50% if redeemed more than 12, but less than 18, months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(2)   This charge decreases over time.
(3)   This charge applies to redemptions within 12 months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(4)   Management fees reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under one agreement providing for a single management fee. As a result, other expenses do not include administrative services fees. Advisory fees and administrative services fees payable pursuant to separate prior agreements amounted to 0.68% and 0.06%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, 0.71% and 0.06%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, 0.65% and 0.05%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V and 0.61% and 0.05%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund.
(5)   With the exception of Class I shares, other expenses have been restated to reflect current transfer agency fees paid by the Fund.
(6)   Columbia Threadneedle and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until June 30, 2016, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund’s net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 1.22% for Class A, 1.97% for Class B, 1.97% for Class C, 0.81% for Class I, 0.97% for Class R4, 0.86% for Class R5 and 0.97% for Class Z.
(7)   Management fees reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under one agreement providing for a single management fee. As a result, other expenses do not include administrative services fees.

 

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Expense examples: These examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in each Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. These examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the applicable Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods, both under the current arrangements and, for the Buying Fund, assuming completion of the proposed Reorganizations. These examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each year and that each Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on those assumptions, your costs would be:

 

     1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years  

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 691       $ 937       $ 1,202       $ 1,957   

Class B

   $ 699       $ 915       $ 1,257       $ 2,091   

Class C

   $ 299       $ 615       $ 1,057       $ 2,285   

Class R

   $ 149       $ 462       $ 797       $ 1,746   

Class R4

   $ 98       $ 306       $ 531       $ 1,178   

Class R5

   $ 84       $ 262       $ 455       $ 1,014   

Class Z

   $ 98       $ 306       $ 531       $ 1,178   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 693       $ 943       $ 1,212       $ 1,978   

Class B

   $ 701       $ 921       $ 1,268       $ 2,113   

Class C

   $ 301       $ 621       $ 1,068       $ 2,306   

Class I

   $ 79       $ 246       $ 428       $ 954   

Class R4

   $ 100       $ 312       $ 542       $ 1,201   

Class R5

   $ 84       $ 262       $ 455       $ 1,014   

Class Z

   $ 100       $ 312       $ 542       $ 1,201   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 698       $ 958       $ 1,237       $ 2,031   

Class C

   $ 306       $ 637       $ 1,093       $ 2,358   

Class I

   $ 89       $ 278       $ 482       $ 1,073   

Class R

   $ 156       $ 483       $ 834       $ 1,824   

Class R4

   $ 105       $ 328       $ 569       $ 1,259   

Class R5

   $ 94       $ 293       $ 509       $ 1,131   

Class Z

   $ 105       $ 328       $ 569       $ 1,259   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 687       $ 925       $ 1,182       $ 1,914   

Class B

   $ 695       $ 903       $ 1,237       $ 2,243   

Class C

   $ 295       $ 603       $ 1,037       $ 2,048   

Class I

   $ 74       $ 230       $ 401       $ 894   

Class R

   $ 145       $ 449       $ 776       $ 1,702   

Class R4

   $ 94       $ 293       $ 509       $ 1,131   

Class R5

   $ 79       $ 246       $ 428       $ 954   

Class W

   $ 119       $ 372       $ 644       $ 1,420   

Class Z

   $ 94       $ 293       $ 509       $ 1,131   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 682       $ 908       $ 1,151       $ 1,849   

Class B

   $ 689       $ 885       $ 1,206       $ 1,984   

Class C

   $ 289       $ 585       $ 1,006       $ 2,180   

Class I

   $ 70       $ 221       $ 384       $ 859   

Class R

   $ 138       $ 431       $ 745       $ 1,635   

Class R4

   $ 88       $ 274       $ 477       $ 1,061   

Class R5

   $ 76       $ 237       $ 411       $ 918   

Class W

   $ 113       $ 353       $ 612       $ 1,352   

Class Z

   $ 88       $ 274       $ 477       $ 1,061   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Pro Forma — Highest) (Buying Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 682       $ 908       $ 1,151       $ 1,849   

Class B

   $ 689       $ 885       $ 1,206       $ 1,984   

Class C

   $ 289       $ 585       $ 1,006       $ 2,180   

Class I

   $ 70       $ 221       $ 384       $ 859   

Class R

   $ 138       $ 431       $ 745       $ 1,635   

Class R4

   $ 88       $ 274       $ 477       $ 1,061   

Class R5

   $ 76       $ 237       $ 411       $ 918   

Class W

   $ 113       $ 353       $ 612       $ 1,352   

Class Z

   $ 88       $ 274       $ 477       $ 1,061   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Pro Forma — Lowest/All Reorganizations) (Buying Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 679       $ 899       $ 1,136       $ 1,816   

Class B

   $ 686       $ 876       $ 1,190       $ 1,951   

Class C

   $ 286       $ 576       $ 990       $ 2,148   

Class I

   $ 65       $ 205       $ 357       $ 798   

Class R

   $ 135       $ 421       $ 729       $ 1,601   

Class R4

   $ 85       $ 265       $ 460       $ 1,025   

Class R5

   $ 70       $ 221       $ 384       $ 859   

Class W

   $ 110       $ 343       $ 595       $ 1,317   

Class Z

   $ 85       $ 265       $ 460       $ 1,025   

 

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If you owned or will own any class of shares other than Class B or Class C shares you would pay the same costs shown in the tables above if you did not redeem your shares at the end of the periods indicated. If you owned or will own Class B or Class C shares, you would pay the following costs if you did not redeem your shares at the end of the periods indicated, which may be different than the costs shown in the tables above.

 

     1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years  

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 199       $ 615       $ 1,057       $ 2,091   

Class C

   $ 199       $ 615       $ 1,057       $ 2,285   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 201       $ 621       $ 1,068       $ 2,113   

Class C

   $ 201       $ 621       $ 1,068       $ 2,306   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class C

   $ 206       $ 637       $ 1,093       $ 2,358   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 195       $ 603       $ 1,037       $ 2,048   

Class C

   $ 195       $ 603       $ 1,037       $ 2,243   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 189       $ 585       $ 1,006       $ 1,984   

Class C

   $ 189       $ 585       $ 1,006       $ 2,180   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Pro Forma – Highest) (Buying Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 189       $ 585       $ 1,006       $ 1,984   

Class C

   $ 189       $ 585       $ 1,006       $ 2,180   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Pro Forma – Lowest/All Reorganizations) (Buying Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 186       $ 576       $ 990       $ 1,951   

Class C

   $ 186       $ 576       $ 990       $ 2,148   

Portfolio Turnover . Each Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. Those costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect a Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, each Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was the following percentage of the average value of the Fund’s portfolio:

 

Fund

   Percentage of the
Average Value of
the Fund’s Portfolio
 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (Selling Fund)

     81

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (Selling Fund)

     53

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (Selling Fund)

     79

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (Selling Fund)

     69

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Buying Fund)

     59

 

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Proposal 3 Fees and Expenses. Reorganization of Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund into Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

Current and Pro Forma Fees and Expenses

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

Columbia Multi-Advisor

Small Cap Value Fund

(Current) (Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I      Class K      Class R      Class R4      Class R5      Class Y      Class Z  

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     5.75     None        None        None         None         None         None         None         None         None   

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a percentage of net asset value at the time of your purchase or redemption, whichever is lower)

     1.00 % (1)       5.00 % (2)       1.00 % (3)       None         None         None         None         None         None         None   

 

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Columbia Select Smaller-Cap

Value Fund (Current and Pro

Forma) (Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I      Class K      Class R      Class R4      Class R5      Class Y      Class Z  

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     5.75     None        None        None         None         None         None         None         None         None   

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a percentage of net asset value at the time of your purchase or redemption, whichever is lower)

     1.00 % (1)       5.00 % (2)       1.00 % (3)       None         None         None         None         None         None         None   

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):

 

Columbia Multi-Advisor

Small Cap Value Fund (Current)

(Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class K     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class Y     Class Z  

Management fees (4)

     1.04     1.04     1.04     1.04     1.04     1.04     1.04     1.04     1.04     1.04

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (4)(5)

     0.27     0.27     0.27     0.08     0.38     0.27     0.27     0.13     0.08     0.27
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses (6)

     1.56     2.31     2.31     1.12     1.42     1.81     1.31     1.17     1.12     1.31

Columbia Select Smaller-

Cap Value Fund (Current)

(Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class K     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class Y     Class Z  

Management fees (4)

     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (4)(5)

     0.24     0.24     0.24     0.06     0.36     0.24     0.24     0.11     0.06     0.24
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

     1.36     2.11     2.11     0.93     1.23     1.61     1.11     0.98     0.93     1.11

 

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Columbia Select Smaller-

Cap Value Fund (Pro Forma)

(Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class K     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class Y     Class Z  

Management fees (7)

     0.85     0.85     0.85     0.85     0.85     0.85     0.85     0.85     0.85     0.85

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (5)(7)

     0.23     0.23     0.23     0.04     0.34     0.23     0.23     0.09     0.04     0.23
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

     1.33     2.08     2.08     0.89     1.19     1.58     1.08     0.94     0.89     1.08

 

 

(1)   This charge is imposed on certain investments of between $1 million and $50 million redeemed within 18 months after purchase, as follows: 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months after purchase, and 0.50% if redeemed more than 12, but less than 18, months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(2)   This charge decreases over time.
(3)   This charge applies to redemptions within 12 months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(4)   Management fees reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under one agreement providing for a single management fee. As a result, other expenses do not include administrative services fees. Advisory fees and administrative services fees paid pursuant to separate prior agreements amounted to 0.96% and 0.08%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund and 0.79% and 0.08%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund.
(5)   With the exception of Class I and Class Y shares, other expenses have been restated to reflect current transfer agency fees paid by the Fund. For Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund, Class Y shares are based on estimated amounts for the Fund’s current fiscal year.
(6)   Columbia Threadneedle and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until September 30, 2016, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund’s net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 1.37% for Class A, 2.12% for Class B, 2.12% for Class C, 0.98% for Class I, 1.28% for Class K, 1.62% for Class R, 1.12% for Class R4, 1.03% for Class R5, 0.98% for Class Y and 1.12% for Class Z.
(7)   Management fees reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under one agreement providing for a single management fee. As a result, other expenses do not include administrative services fees.

Expense examples: These examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in each Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. These examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the applicable Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods, both under the current arrangements and, for the Buying Fund, assuming completion of the proposed Reorganization. These examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each year and that each Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on those assumptions your costs would be:

 

     1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years  

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 725       $ 1,039       $ 1,376       $ 2,325   

Class B

   $ 734       $ 1,021       $ 1,435       $ 2,458   

Class C

   $ 334       $ 721       $ 1,235       $ 2,646   

Class I

   $ 114       $ 356       $ 617       $ 1,363   

Class K

   $ 145       $ 449       $ 776       $ 1,702   

Class R

   $ 184       $ 569       $ 980       $ 2,127   

Class R4

   $ 133       $ 415       $ 718       $ 1,579   

Class R5

   $ 119       $ 372       $ 644       $ 1,420   

Class Y

   $ 114       $ 356       $ 617       $ 1,363   

Class Z

   $ 133       $ 415       $ 718       $ 1,579   

 

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Table of Contents
     1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years  

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 706       $ 981       $ 1,277       $ 2,116   

Class B

   $ 714       $ 961       $ 1,334       $ 2,250   

Class C

   $ 314       $ 661       $ 1,134       $ 2,441   

Class I

   $ 95       $ 296       $ 515       $ 1,143   

Class K

   $ 125       $ 390       $ 676       $ 1,489   

Class R

   $ 164       $ 508       $ 876       $ 1,911   

Class R4

   $ 113       $ 353       $ 612       $ 1,352   

Class R5

   $ 100       $ 312       $ 542       $ 1,201   

Class Y

   $ 95       $ 296       $ 515       $ 1,143   

Class Z

   $ 113       $ 353       $ 612       $ 1,352   

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Pro Forma) (Buying Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 703       $ 972       $ 1,262       $ 2,084   

Class B

   $ 711       $ 952       $ 1,319       $ 2,219   

Class C

   $ 311       $ 652       $ 1,119       $ 2,410   

Class I

   $ 91       $ 284       $ 493       $ 1,096   

Class K

   $ 121       $ 378       $ 654       $ 1,443   

Class R

   $ 161       $ 499       $ 860       $ 1,878   

Class R4

   $ 110       $ 343       $ 595       $ 1,317   

Class R5

   $ 96       $ 300       $ 520       $ 1,155   

Class Y

   $ 91       $ 284       $ 493       $ 1,096   

Class Z

   $ 110       $ 343       $ 595       $ 1,317   

If you owned or will own any class of shares other than Class B or Class C you would pay the same costs shown in the tables above if you did not redeem your shares at the end of the periods indicated. If you owned or will own Class B or Class C shares, you would pay the following costs if you did not redeem your shares at the end of the periods indicated, which may be different than the costs shown in the tables above.

 

     1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years  

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 234       $ 721       $ 1,235       $ 2,458   

Class C

   $ 234       $ 721       $ 1,235       $ 2,646   

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 214       $ 661       $ 1,134       $ 2,250   

Class C

   $ 214       $ 661       $ 1,134       $ 2,441   

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Pro Forma) (Buying Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 211       $ 652       $ 1,119       $ 2,219   

Class C

   $ 211       $ 652       $ 1,119       $ 2,410   

Portfolio Turnover. Each Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. Those costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the example expenses, affect a Fund’s performance. During the year ended May 31, 2015, each Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was the following percentage of the average value of the Fund’s portfolio:

 

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Table of Contents
Fund    Percentage of the
Average Value of
the Fund’s Portfolio

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund (Selling Fund)

   65%

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Buying Fund)

   26%

Proposal 4 Fees and Expenses. Reorganization of Columbia International Value Fund into Columbia Overseas Value Fund

Current and Pro Forma Fees and Expenses

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

Columbia International

Value Fund (Current)

(Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I      Class R      Class R4      Class R5      Class Z  

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     5.75     None        None        None         None         None         None         None   

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a percentage of net asset value at the time of your purchase or redemption, whichever is lower)

     1.00 % (1)       5.00 % (2)       1.00 % (3)       None         None         None         None         None   

Columbia Overseas Value

Fund (Current and Pro Forma)

(Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I      Class R      Class R4      Class R5      Class Z  

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     5.75     None        None        None         None         None         None         None   

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a percentage of net asset value at the time of your purchase or redemption, whichever is lower)

     1.00 % (1)       5.00 % (2)       1.00 % (3)       None         None         None         None         None   

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):

 

Columbia International

Value Fund (Current)

(Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class Z  

Management fees (4)

     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (4)(5)

     0.34     0.34     0.34     0.14     0.34     0.34     0.19     0.34

Acquired fund fees and expenses

     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses (6)

     1.47     2.22     2.22     1.02     1.72     1.22     1.07     1.22

 

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Table of Contents

Columbia Overseas Value

Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class Z  

Management fees (4)

     0.86     0.86     0.86     0.86     0.86     0.86     0.86     0.86

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (4)(5)

     0.26     0.26     0.26     0.06     0.26     0.26     0.11     0.26

Acquired fund fees and expenses

     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses (6)

     1.38     2.13     2.13     0.93     1.63     1.13     0.98     1.13

Columbia Overseas Value

Fund (Pro Forma) (Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class R5     Class Z  

Management fees (7)

     0.85     0.85     0.85     0.85     0.85     0.85     0.85     0.85

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (5)(7)

     0.26     0.26     0.26     0.06     0.26     0.26     0.11     0.26

Acquired fund fees and expenses

     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses (6)

     1.37     2.12     2.12     0.92     1.62     1.12     0.97     1.12

 

(1)   This charge is imposed on certain investments of between $1 million and $50 million redeemed within 18 months after purchase, as follows: 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months after purchase, and 0.50% if redeemed more than 12, but less than 18, months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(2)   This charge decreases over time.
(3)   This charge applies to redemptions within 12 months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(4)   Management fees reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under one agreement providing for a single management fee. As a result, other expenses do not include administrative services fees. Advisory fees and administrative services fees payable pursuant to separate prior agreements amounted to 0.79% and 0.08%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Columbia International Value Fund and 0.78% and 0.08%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Columbia Overseas Value Fund.
(5)   With the exception of Class I shares, other expenses have been restated to reflect current transfer agency fees paid by the Fund. For Columbia Overseas Value Fund, other expenses for Class R, Class R4 and Class R5 shares are based on estimated amounts for the Fund’s current fiscal year.
(6)   “Total annual Fund operating expenses” include acquired fund fees and expenses (expenses the Fund incurs indirectly through its investments in other investment companies) and may be higher than “Total Net Expenses” shown in the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus because “Total Net Expenses” do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
(7)   Management fees reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under one agreement providing for a single management fee. As a result, other expenses do not include administrative services fees.

Expense examples: These examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in each Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. These examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the applicable Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods, both under the current arrangements and, for the Buying Fund, assuming completion of the proposed Reorganization. These examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each year and that each Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on those assumptions your costs would be:

 

     1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years  

Columbia International Value Fund (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 716       $ 1,013       $ 1,332       $ 2,231   

Class B

   $ 725       $ 994       $ 1,390       $ 2,365   

Class C

   $ 325       $ 694       $ 1,190       $ 2,554   

Class I

   $ 104       $ 325       $ 563       $ 1,248   

Class R

   $ 175       $ 542       $ 933       $ 2,030   

Class R4

   $ 124       $ 387       $ 670       $ 1,477   

Class R5

   $ 109       $ 340       $ 590       $ 1,306   

Class Z

   $ 124       $ 387       $ 670       $ 1,477   

 

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     1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years  

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 707       $ 987       $ 1,287       $ 2,137   

Class B

   $ 716       $ 967       $ 1,344       $ 2,271   

Class C

   $ 316       $ 667       $ 1,144       $ 2,462   

Class I

   $ 95       $ 296       $ 515       $ 1,143   

Class R

   $ 166       $ 514       $ 887       $ 1,933   

Class R4

   $ 115       $ 359       $ 622       $ 1,375   

Class R5

   $ 100       $ 312       $ 542       $ 1,201   

Class Z

   $ 115       $ 359       $ 622       $ 1,375   

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Pro Forma) (Buying Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 706       $ 984       $ 1,282       $ 2,127   

Class B

   $ 715       $ 964       $ 1,339       $ 2,261   

Class C

   $ 315       $ 664       $ 1,139       $ 2,452   

Class I

   $ 94       $ 293       $ 509       $ 1,131   

Class R

   $ 165       $ 511       $ 881       $ 1,922   

Class R4

   $ 114       $ 356       $ 617       $ 1,363   

Class R5

   $ 99       $ 309       $ 536       $ 1,190   

Class Z

   $ 114       $ 356       $ 617       $ 1,363   

If you owned or will own any class of shares other than Class B or Class C you would pay the same costs shown in the tables above if you did not redeem your shares at the end of the periods indicated. If you owned or will own Class B or Class C shares, you would pay the following costs if you did not redeem your shares at the end of the periods indicated, which may be different than the costs shown in the tables above.

 

     1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years  

Columbia International Value Fund (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 225       $ 694       $ 1,190       $ 2,365   

Class C

   $ 225       $ 694       $ 1,190       $ 2,554   

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 216       $ 667       $ 1,144       $ 2,271   

Class C

   $ 216       $ 667       $ 1,144       $ 2,462   

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Pro Forma) (Buying Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 215       $ 664       $ 1,139       $ 2,261   

Class C

   $ 215       $ 664       $ 1,139       $ 2,452   

 

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Portfolio Turnover . Each Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. Those costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the example expenses, affect a Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, each Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was the following percentage of the average value of the Fund’s portfolio:

 

Fund

   Percentage of the
Average Value of
the Fund’s Portfolio
 

Columbia International Value Fund (Current) (Selling Fund)

     80

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

     74

Proposal 5 Fees and Expenses. Reorganization of Columbia International Opportunities Fund into Columbia Select International Equity Fund

Current and Pro Forma Fees and Expenses

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

Columbia International

Opportunities Fund (Current)

(Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I      Class R      Class R4      Class Z  

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     5.75     None        None        None         None         None         None   

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a percentage of net asset value at the time of your purchase or redemption, whichever is lower)

     1.00 % (1)       5.00 % (2)       1.00 % (3)       None         None         None         None   

 

Columbia Select International

Equity Fund (Current and

Pro Forma) (Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I      Class R      Class R4      Class Z  

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     5.75     None        None        None         None         None         None   

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a percentage of net asset value at the time of your purchase or redemption, whichever is lower)

     1.00 % (1)       5.00 % (2)       1.00 % (3)       None         None         None         None   

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):

 

Columbia International

Opportunities Fund (Current)

(Selling Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class Z  

Management fees (4)

     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87     0.87

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (4)(5)

     0.34     0.34     0.34     0.18     0.34     0.34     0.34
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses (6)

     1.46     2.21     2.21     1.05     1.71     1.21     1.21

 

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Columbia Select International

Equity Fund (Current)

(Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class Z  

Management fees (4)

     0.86     0.86     0.86     0.86     0.86     0.86     0.86

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (4)(5)

     0.37     0.37     0.37     0.09     0.37     0.37     0.37

Total annual Fund operating expenses (6)

     1.48     2.23     2.23     0.95     1.73     1.23     1.23

 

Columbia Select International

Equity Fund (Pro Forma)

(Buying Fund)

   Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Class R     Class R4     Class Z  

Management fees (7)

     0.86     0.86     0.86     0.86     0.86     0.86     0.86

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

     0.25     1.00     1.00     0.00     0.50     0.00     0.00

Other expenses (5)(7)

     0.34     0.34     0.34     0.08     0.34     0.34     0.34
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses (6)

     1.45     2.20     2.20     0.94     1.70     1.20     1.20

Less: Fee waivers and/or reimbursements (8)

     (0.03 )%      (0.03 )%      (0.03 )%      0.00     (0.03 )%      (0.03 )%      (0.03 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses after the fee waivers and/or reimbursements

     1.42     2.17     2.17     0.94     1.67     1.17     1.17

 

(1)   This charge is imposed on certain investments of between $1 million and $50 million redeemed within 18 months after purchase, as follows: 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months after purchase, and 0.50% if redeemed more than 12, but less than 18, months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(2)   This charge decreases over time.
(3)   This charge applies to redemptions within 12 months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(4)   Management fees reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under one agreement providing for a single management fee. As a result, other expenses do not include administrative services fees. Advisory fees and administrative services fees payable pursuant to separate prior agreements amounted to 0.79% and 0.08%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Columbia International Opportunities Fund and to 0.78% and 0.08%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Columbia Select International Equity Fund.
(5)   With the exception of Class I shares, other expenses have been restated to reflect current transfer agency fees paid by the Fund.
(6)   Columbia Threadneedle and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until June 30, 2016, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of each Fund’s Board of Trustees. Under these agreements, net operating expenses for Columbia International Opportunities Fund, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 1.42% for Class A, 2.17% for Class B, 2.17% for Class C, 1.02% for Class I, 1.67% for Class R, 1.17% for Class R4 and 1.17% for Class Z, and net operating expenses for Columbia Select International Equity Fund, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 1.42% for Class A, 2.17% for Class B, 2.17% for Class C, 0.98% for Class I, 1.67% for Class R, 1.17% for Class R4 and 1.17% for Class Z.
(7)   Management fees reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under one agreement providing for a single management fee. As a result, other expenses do not include administrative services fees.
(8)   Columbia Threadneedle and certain of its affiliates have further contractually agreed, assuming approval by shareholders of the Reorganization, effective upon the closing of the reorganization to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as any reorganization costs, transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until June 30, 2017, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund’s net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 1.42% for Class A, 2.17% for Class B, 2.17% for Class C, 0.98% for Class I, 1.67% for Class R, 1.17% for Class R4 and 1.17% for Class Z.

Expense examples: These examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in each Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. These examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the applicable Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods, both under the current arrangements and, for the Buying Fund, assuming completion of the proposed Reorganization. These examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each year and that each Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. These examples include any contractual fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangement only for the period indicated in the Fund’s Annual Fund Operating Expenses table. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on those assumptions your costs would be:

 

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Table of Contents
     1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years  

Columbia International Opportunities Fund (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 715       $ 1,010       $ 1,327       $ 2,221   

Class B

   $ 724       $ 991       $ 1,385       $ 2,355   

Class C

   $ 324       $ 691       $ 1,185       $ 2,544   

Class I

   $ 107       $ 334       $ 579       $ 1,283   

Class R

   $ 174       $ 539       $ 928       $ 2,019   

Class R4

   $ 123       $ 384       $ 665       $ 1,466   

Class Z

   $ 123       $ 384       $ 665       $ 1,466   

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 717       $ 1,016       $ 1,336       $ 2,242   

Class B

   $ 726       $ 997       $ 1,395       $ 2,376   

Class C

   $ 326       $ 697       $ 1,195       $ 2,565   

Class I

   $ 97       $ 303       $ 525       $ 1,166   

Class R

   $ 176       $ 545       $ 939       $ 2,041   

Class R4

   $ 125       $ 390       $ 676       $ 1,489   

Class Z

   $ 125       $ 390       $ 676       $ 1,489   

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Pro Forma) (Buying Fund)

           

Class A

   $ 711       $ 1,004       $ 1,319       $ 2,208   

Class B

   $ 720       $ 985       $ 1,377       $ 2,342   

Class C

   $ 320       $ 685       $ 1,177       $ 2,532   

Class I

   $ 96       $ 300       $ 520       $ 1,155   

Class R

   $ 170       $ 533       $ 920       $ 2,006   

Class R4

   $ 119       $ 378       $ 657       $ 1,452   

Class Z

   $ 119       $ 378       $ 657       $ 1,452   

If you owned or will own any class of shares other than Class B or Class C you would pay the same costs shown in the tables above if you did not redeem your shares at the end of the periods indicated. If you owned or will own Class B or Class C shares, you would pay the following costs if you did not redeem your shares at the end of the periods indicated, which may be different than the costs shown in the tables above.

 

     1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years  

Columbia International Opportunities Fund (Current) (Selling Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 224       $ 691       $ 1,185       $ 2,355   

Class C

   $ 224       $ 691       $ 1,185       $ 2,544   

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 226       $ 697       $ 1,195       $ 2,376   

Class C

   $ 226       $ 697       $ 1,195       $ 2,565   

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Pro Forma) (Buying Fund)

           

Class B

   $ 220       $ 685       $ 1,177       $ 2,342   

Class C

   $ 220       $ 685       $ 1,177       $ 2,532   

Portfolio Turnover. Each Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. Those costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the example expenses, affect a Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, each Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was the following percentage of the average value of the Fund’s portfolio:

 

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Table of Contents

Fund

   Percentage of the
Average Value of
the Fund’s Portfolio

Columbia International Opportunities Fund (Current) (Selling Fund)

   165%

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

   96%

Proposal 1. Comparison of Objectives, Strategies and Risks. Reorganization of Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund into Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

Comparison of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund

The Selling Fund and the Buying Fund:

 

  Have Columbia Threadneedle as investment manager.

 

  Have similar investment objectives and principal investment strategies.

 

  Have the same lead portfolio manager.

 

  Have the same policies for buying and selling shares and the same exchange rights. Please see Exhibit B for a description of these policies for the Buying Fund.

 

  Are structured as series of an open-end management investment company. Each Fund is organized as a series of a Massachusetts business trust.

Comparison of Investment Objectives

The investment objectives of the Funds are as follows:

Selling Fund: Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Buying Fund: Columbia Contrarian Core Fund seeks total return, consisting of long-term capital appreciation and current income.

While both Funds seek long-term capital appreciation, the Buying Fund expressly includes current income in its goal of total return.

Because any investment involves risk, there can be no assurance that any Fund’s objective will be achieved. Each Fund’s investment objective may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.

Comparison of Principal Investment Strategies

The Funds have similar principal investment strategies. Each Fund invests primarily in common stocks that have large market capitalizations. Each Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies that have large market capitalizations (generally over $2 billion) that the Fund’s investment manager believes are undervalued and have the potential for long-term growth and current income (for the Buying Fund) or long-term capital appreciation (for the Selling Fund). Although each Fund invests primarily in companies that have larger market capitalizations, the Selling Fund may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size. As of December 1, 2015, the Buying Fund and the Selling Fund had invested 96.35% and 97.46% of their net assets, respectively, in securities that have large market capitalizations. Each Fund may also invest in foreign securities, either directly or indirectly through depositary receipts, although the Buying Fund limits such investments to 20% of its net assets. As of December 1, 2015, the Buying Fund and the Selling Fund had invested 11.63% and 11.83% of their net assets, respectively, in foreign securities. The Selling Fund may also invest in common stocks of companies that the Fund’s investment manager believes may benefit from various types of restructuring efforts or industry consolidation, or that are involved in initial public offerings, tender offers, mergers and other corporate restructurings, management changes, or other special situations. The Buying Fund has no similar principal investment strategy, though it may invest in such companies.

 

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Table of Contents

Additional information regarding the principal investment strategies of each Fund is set forth below:

 

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund

(Selling Fund)

  

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

(Buying Fund)

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks of companies that are believed to be undervalued and have the potential for long-term appreciation. The Fund also invests in common stocks of companies that the Fund’s investment manager believes may benefit from various types of restructuring efforts or industry consolidation. The Fund primarily invests in companies that have larger market capitalizations (generally over $2 billion) but may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size.    Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks. In addition, under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies that have large market capitalizations (generally over $2 billion) that the Fund’s investment manager believes are undervalued and have the potential for long-term growth and current income.
Although the Fund invests primarily in securities of U.S. companies, it may invest in foreign securities directly or indirectly through depositary receipts.   

The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its net assets in foreign securities. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts.

 

The Fund may invest in special situations such as companies involved in initial public offerings, tender offers, mergers and other corporate restructurings, and in companies involved in management changes or companies developing new technologies.    No similar principal investment strategy.

 

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Table of Contents

Buying Fund Investment Style

A description of the investment style of the Buying Fund is set forth below.

Columbia Threadneedle combines fundamental and quantitative analysis with risk management in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Buying Fund’s portfolio. Columbia Threadneedle considers, among other factors:

 

  various measures of valuation, including price-to-cash flow, price-to-earnings, price-to-sales, price-to-book value and discounted cash flow. Columbia Threadneedle believes that companies with lower valuations are generally more likely to provide opportunities for capital appreciation;

 

  potential indicators of stock price appreciation, such as anticipated earnings growth, company restructuring, changes in management, business model changes, new product opportunities, or anticipated improvements in macroeconomic factors;

 

  the financial condition and management of a company, including its competitive position, the quality of its balance sheet and earnings, its future prospects, and the potential for growth and stock price appreciation; and/or

 

  overall economic and market conditions.

Columbia Threadneedle may sell a security when the security’s price reaches a target set by Columbia Threadneedle; if Columbia Threadneedle believes that there is deterioration in the issuer’s financial circumstances or fundamental prospects, or that other investments are more attractive; or for other reasons.

Comparison of Fundamental Investment Policies

The Funds have the same fundamental investment policies and therefore the management of the combined Fund in accordance with the fundamental investment policies of the Buying Fund following the Reorganization will not result in any material differences between the way the Funds have been managed and the way the combined Fund will be managed. A “fundamental” investment policy is one that may not be changed without a shareholder vote.

Comparison of Additional Non-Fundamental Investment Policies

If the Reorganization occurs, the combined Fund will be subject to the non-fundamental investment policies (policies that may be changed without a shareholder vote) of the Buying Fund. Columbia Threadneedle does not believe that the differences between the non-fundamental policies of the Funds result in any material differences between the way the Funds have been managed and the way the combined Fund will be managed.

The Funds’ non-fundamental investment policies are set forth below:

 

Policy

  

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund

(Selling Fund)

  

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

(Buying Fund)

Illiquid Securities    No more than 15% of the net assets of the Fund will be held in securities and other instruments that are illiquid. “Illiquid Securities” are defined in accordance with the SEC staff’s current guidance and interpretations which provide that an illiquid security is a security which may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the security.
Securities of Other Investment Companies   

The Fund may not purchase securities of other investment companies except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief. If shares of the Fund are purchased by another Fund in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act, for so long as shares of the Fund are held by such other fund, the Fund will not purchase securities of a registered open-end investment company or registered unit investment trust in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.

 

Foreign Securities    No stated policy.    The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in foreign securities.
Short Selling    The Fund may not sell securities short.    The Fund may not sell securities short, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

Differences between the Selling Fund’s principal investment strategies and non-fundamental investment policies and holdings and those of the Buying Fund may expose the Selling Fund’s shareholders to new or increased risks. A comparison of the principal risks of investing in the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund is provided under “Comparison of Principal Risks” below.

 

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Comparison of Principal Risks

Although the Funds describe them somewhat differently, the principal risks associated with investments in the Buying Fund and the Selling Fund are generally similar because the Funds have similar investment objectives, principal investment strategies and investment policies. The actual risks of investing in each Fund depend on the securities held in each Fund’s portfolio and on market conditions, both of which change over time. The Buying Fund is subject to the principal risks described below. The Selling Fund is also subject to each of the principal risks identified below and, in addition, is subject to special situations risk – the risk of investing in companies that are involved in a major corporate event, such as a business consolidation or restructuring – as a principal risk. The Buying Fund may be subject to special situations risk to some extent, but does not consider it to be a principal risk.

 

  Active Management Risk – Due to its active management, the Buying Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Buying Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.

 

  Depositary Receipts Risk – Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company reflecting ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve risks similar to the risks associated with investments in foreign securities, including those of the particular country, which may be related to the particular political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country and fluctuations in its currency, as well as market risk tied to the underlying foreign company. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights afforded typical company stockholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering and may experience difficulty in receiving company stockholder communications.

 

  Foreign Securities Risk – Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Buying Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Buying Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Buying Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

 

  Growth Securities Risk – Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.

 

  Issuer Risk – An issuer in which the Buying Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Buying Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.

 

  Market Risk – Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Buying Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Buying Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions, debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.

 

  Value Securities Risk – Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager’s perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.

Comparison of Performance

The following bar charts and tables provide some illustration of the risks of investing in the Funds by showing, respectively:

 

  how each Fund’s performance has varied for each full calendar year shown in the bar chart; and

 

  how each Fund’s average annual total returns compare to certain measures of market performance shown in the table.

Both the bar charts and the tables assume that all distributions have been reinvested. The performance of different classes varies because of differences in sales charges and other fees and expenses. How a Fund has performed in the past (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. The performance shown reflects any fee waiver or expense reimbursement arrangements in effect for the periods reported. In the absence of such fee waiver or expense reimbursement arrangements, the performance shown would have been lower.

 

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Bar Charts. Class Z share information is shown in the bar charts.

Tables. The tables below show total returns (after applicable sales charges as shown in the Shareholder Fees section of this combined proxy statement/prospectus) from hypothetical investments in the indicated classes of shares of each Fund. The returns shown are compared to broad measures of market performance shown for the same periods.

The inception date of the Selling Fund’s Class Z shares is December 31, 1992. The returns shown for the remaining share classes in the table below begin before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class Z shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses and sales charges (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.

The inception date of the Buying Fund’s Class Z shares is December 14, 1992. The returns shown for the remaining share classes in the table below begin before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class A shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses and sales charges (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.

After-Tax Returns

The after-tax returns shown in the Average Annual Total Returns table below are calculated using the highest historical individual U.S. federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state, local or foreign taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your personal tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown in the table do not apply to shares held in tax-advantaged accounts such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns are shown only for Class Z shares and will vary for other share classes.

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund (Selling Fund)

CLASS Z SHARE PERFORMANCE

(based on calendar years)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was +25.59% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -30.37% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

These returns do not reflect deductions of sales charges, if any, paid by investors and would be lower if they did. The performance of other share classes may vary from that shown because of differences in expenses.

The Fund’s Class Z shares year-to-date return at September 30, 2015 was -4.80%.

 

LOGO

 

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Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Buying Fund)

CLASS Z SHARE PERFORMANCE

(based on calendar years)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was +20.69% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -23.17% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

These returns do not reflect deductions of sales charges, if any, paid by investors and would be lower if they did. The performance of other share classes may vary from that shown because of differences in expenses.

The Fund’s Class Z shares year-to-date return at September 30, 2015 was -4.43%.

 

LOGO

 

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Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)

 

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund (Current) (Selling Fund)    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class Z

         

Return before taxes

     12/31/1992         12.87     13.29     7.29

Return after taxes on distributions

        8.07     10.57     5.88

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

        10.52     10.29     5.74

Class A

         

Return before taxes

     09/28/2007         6.08     11.68     6.40

Class C

         

Return before taxes

     09/28/2007         10.79     12.17     6.24

Class I

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         13.09     13.43     7.35

Class R

         

Return before taxes

     12/31/2004         12.27     12.73     6.77

Class R4

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         12.84     13.29     7.29

Class R5

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         13.01     13.36     7.32

Class W

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         12.64     13.04     7.04

Class Y

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         13.04     13.38     7.33

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

        13.69     15.45     7.67

Russell 1000 Value Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

        13.45     15.42     7.30

Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)

 

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Buying Fund)    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class Z

         

Return before taxes

     12/14/1992         12.92     15.93     10.30

Return after taxes on distributions

        11.04     15.02     9.40

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

        8.78     12.80     8.40

Class A

         

Return before taxes

     11/01/1998         6.18     14.28     9.38

Class B

         

Return before taxes

     11/01/1998         6.80     14.53     9.20

Class C

         

Return before taxes

     12/09/2002         10.78     14.77     9.21

 

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Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Buying Fund)    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class I

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         13.12     16.11     10.39

Class K

     03/07/2011         12.84     15.79     10.16

Return before taxes

         

Class R

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         12.37     15.37     9.77

Class R4

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         12.92     15.94     10.31

Class R5

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         13.08     16.01     10.34

Class T

         

Return before taxes

     02/12/1993         6.09     14.21     9.33

Class W

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         12.60     15.64     10.03

Class Y

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         13.14     16.04     10.35

Russell 1000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

        13.24     15.64     7.96

 

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Proposal 2. Comparison of Objectives, Strategies and Risks. Reorganization of each of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

Prior to November 20, 2015, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V were known as Columbia Marsico 21 st Century Fund, Columbia Marsico Focused Equities Fund, Columbia Marsico Flexible Capital Fund and Columbia Marsico Growth Fund, respectively, and a subadviser was responsible for each Fund’s day-to-day management.

Comparison of each Selling Fund and the Buying Fund

All of the Selling Funds and the Buying Fund:

 

  Have Columbia Threadneedle as investment manager.

 

  Have similar investment objectives and principal investment strategies.

 

  Share the same portfolio management team.

 

  Have the same policies for buying and selling shares and the same exchange rights. Please see Exhibit B for a description of these policies for the Buying Fund.

 

  Are structured as series of an open-end management investment company. Each of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V is organized as a series of a Delaware statutory trust. Each of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund is organized as a series of a Massachusetts business trust. Please see Exhibit C to this combined proxy statement/prospectus for more information regarding the differences between the rights of shareholders of the Selling Funds and shareholders of the Buying Fund.

Comparison of Investment Objectives

The investment objectives of the Funds are as follows:

Selling Fund: Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II seeks long-term growth of capital.

Selling Fund: Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III seeks long-term growth of capital.

Selling Fund: Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.

Selling Fund: Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V seeks long-term growth of capital.

Buying Fund: Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Each Fund seeks generally the same investment objective.

Because any investment involves risk, there can be no assurance that a Fund’s investment objective will be achieved. Except for Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, each Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Only shareholders can change Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV’s investment objective.

Comparison of Principal Investment Strategies

The Funds have similar principal investment strategies. Each Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of large-capitalization companies, primarily common stocks and securities that can be converted into common stocks. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $908 million and $688.4 billion as of October 31, 2015). Each Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies that Columbia Threadneedle believes have the potential for long-term, above-average earnings growth. As of December 1, 2015, each of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V and the Buying Fund had invested 87.66%, 87.39%, 88.37%, 94.73% and 80.70% of their total assets, respectively, in equity securities.

Each Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in foreign securities, and may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts. As of December 1, 2015, each of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V and the Buying Fund had invested 12.98%, 9.26%, 11.23%, 9.28% and 12.56% of their total assets, respectively, in foreign securities.

 

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Although Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund, it is currently operating as a diversified fund. Each of the other Funds is a diversified Fund. After the Reorganization, the combined Fund will be a diversified Fund.

Each Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary, health care, and information technology and technology-related sectors.

Buying Fund Investment Style

A description of the investment style of the Buying Fund is set forth below.

Columbia Threadneedle combines fundamental and quantitative analysis with risk management in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Fund’s portfolio. Columbia Threadneedle considers, among other factors:

 

  overall economic and market conditions.

 

  the financial condition and management of a company, including its competitive position, the quality of its balance sheet and earnings, its future prospects, and the potential for growth and stock price appreciation.

Columbia Threadneedle may sell a security when the security’s price reaches a target set by Columbia Threadneedle; if Columbia Threadneedle believes that there has been deterioration in the issuer’s financial circumstances or fundamental prospects, or that other investments are more attractive; or for other reasons.

Comparison of Fundamental Investment Policies

If the Reorganizations occur, the combined Fund will be subject to the fundamental investment policies of the Buying Fund. Columbia Threadneedle does not believe that the differences between the fundamental investment policies of the Selling Funds and the Buying Fund result in any material difference between the way the Funds have been managed and the way the combined Fund will be managed. A “fundamental” investment policy is one that may not be changed without a shareholder vote.

The Funds’ fundamental investment policies are set forth below:

 

Policy

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund II

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund III

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund V

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund IV

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund

(Buying Fund)

Borrowing/ Issuing Senior Securities  

The Fund may not borrow money except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.

 

The Fund may not issue senior securities except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.

 

The Fund will not borrow money, except for temporary purposes (not for leveraging or investment) in an amount not exceeding 33 1 / 3 % of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings) immediately after the borrowings.

 

The Fund will not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

 

The Fund may not borrow money except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

 

The Fund may not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

 

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Policy

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund II

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund III

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund V

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund IV

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund

(Buying Fund)

Commodities   The Fund may not purchase or sell commodities, except that the Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment objective, invest in securities of companies that purchase or sell commodities or which invest in such programs, and purchase and sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, and options on futures contracts. This limitation does not apply to foreign currency transactions, including, without limitation, forward currency contracts.   The Fund will not buy or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the Fund from buying or selling options, futures contracts and foreign currency (and, in the case of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, swaps) or from entering into forward currency contracts or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by, or whose value is derived from, physical commodities.  

The Fund may not purchase or sell commodities, except that each Fund may to the extent consistent with its investment objective: (i) invest in securities of companies that purchase or sell commodities or which invest in such programs, (ii) purchase and sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, and options on futures contracts and (iii) enter into swap contracts and other financial transactions relating to commodities.(a) This limitation does not apply to foreign currency transactions including without limitation forward currency contracts.

 

Diversification   The Fund may not purchase securities (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the securities of such issuer or it would own more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer, except that: (i) up to 25% of its total assets may be invested without regard to these limitations; and (ii) a Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of one or   No stated policy.   The Fund may not purchase securities (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the securities of such issuer or it would own more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer, except that: (i) up to 25% of its total assets may be invested without regard to these limitations; and (ii) a Fund’s assets may be invested in the   The Fund will not purchase securities (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the securities of such issuer or it would own more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer, except that: (a) up to 25% of its total assets may be invested without regard to these limitations; and (b) a Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of one or   The Fund may not purchase securities (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the securities of such issuer or it would own more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer, except that: (i) up to 25% of its total assets may be invested without regard to these limitations and (ii) a Fund’s assets may be invested in the

 

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Policy

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund II

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund III

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund V

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund IV

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund

(Buying Fund)

  more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.     securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.   more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, or any applicable exemptive relief.   securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, or any applicable exemptive relief.

 

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Policy

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund II

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund III

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund V

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund IV

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund

(Buying Fund)

Industry Concentration   The Fund may not purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the value of its total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that: a) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, any state or territory of the United States, or any of their agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; and b) notwithstanding this limitation or any other fundamental investment limitation, assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.   The Fund will not concentrate in any one industry (other than U.S. Government securities, provided that this limitation shall exclude securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities). According to the present interpretation by the SEC, this means that up to 25% of the Fund’s total assets, based on current market value at time of purchase, can be invested in any one industry.   The Fund may not purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the value of its total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that: (i) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, any state or territory of the United States or any of their agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions(a); and (ii) notwithstanding this limitation or any other fundamental investment limitation, assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies or subsidiaries to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

 

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Policy

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund II

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund III

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund V

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund IV

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund

(Buying Fund)

Lending   The Fund may not make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.   The Fund will not lend securities or participate in an interfund lending program if the total of all such loans would exceed 33 1 / 3 % of the Fund’s total assets except this fundamental investment policy shall not prohibit the Fund from purchasing money market securities, loans, loan participation or other debt securities, or from entering into repurchase agreements.   The Fund may not make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
Real Estate   The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, except the Fund may purchase securities of issuers which deal or invest in real estate and may purchase securities which are secured by real estate or interests in real estate.   The Fund will not buy or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business, real estate investment trusts (REITs) or entities similar to REITs formed under the laws of non-U.S. companies. For purposes of this policy, real estate includes real estate limited partnerships.   The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, except each Fund may: (i) purchase securities of issuers which deal or invest in real estate, (ii) purchase securities which are secured by real estate or interests in real estate and (iii) hold and dispose of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the exercise of its rights as a holder of securities which are secured by real estate or interests therein.

 

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Policy

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund II

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund III

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund V

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund IV

(Selling Fund)

 

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund

(Buying Fund)

Underwriting   The Fund may not underwrite any issue of securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act except when it might technically be deemed to be an underwriter either: (i) in connection with the disposition of a portfolio security; or (ii) in connection with the purchase of securities directly from the issuer thereof in accordance with its investment objective. This restriction shall not limit the Fund’s ability to invest in securities issued by other registered management investment companies.   The Fund will not act as an underwriter (sell securities for others). However, under the securities laws, the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter when it purchases securities directly from the issuer and later resells them.   The Fund may not underwrite any issue of securities issued by other persons within the meaning of the 1933 Act except when it might be deemed to be an underwriter either: (i) in connection with the disposition of a portfolio security; or (ii) in connection with the purchase of securities directly from the issuer thereof in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective. This restriction shall not limit the Fund’s ability to invest in securities issued by other registered investment companies.

Comparison of Additional Non-Fundamental Investment Policies

If the Reorganizations occur, the combined Fund will be subject to the non-fundamental investment policies (policies that may be changed without a shareholder vote) of the Buying Fund. Columbia Threadneedle does not believe that the differences between the non-fundamental investment policies of the Funds result in any material differences between the way the Funds have been managed and the way the combined Fund will be managed.

 

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Policy

  

Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund II

(Selling Fund)

  

Columbia Large
Cap Growth
Fund III

(Selling Fund)

   Columbia Large
Cap Growth
Fund V

(Selling Fund)
  

Columbia Large
Cap Growth
Fund IV

(Selling Fund)

  

Columbia Large
Cap Growth Fund

(Buying Fund)

Diversification    The Fund’s diversification policy is fundamental. (See above.)    The Fund may not purchase securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government Obligations and securities of other investment companies) if, immediately after such purchase, more than 25% of the value of the Funds total assets would be invested in the securities of one issuer, and with respect to 50% of the Fund’s total assets, more than 5% of its assets would be invested in the securities of one issuer.    The Fund’s diversification policy is fundamental. (See above.)
Illiquid Securities   

No more than 15% of the net assets of the Fund will be held in securities and other instruments that are illiquid. “Illiquid Securities” are defined in accordance with the SEC staff’s current guidance and interpretations which provide that an illiquid security is a security which may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the security.

 

Securities of Other Investment Companies    The Fund may not purchase securities of other investment companies except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
Short Selling    The Fund may not sell securities short, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.    The Fund is not prohibited from engaging in short sales, however, the Fund will seek Board approval prior to utilizing short sales as an active part of its investment strategy.    The Fund may not sell securities short, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

Differences between the Selling Fund’s principal investment strategies, fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies and holdings and those of the Buying Fund may expose the Selling Fund’s shareholders to new or increased risks. A comparison of the principal risks of investing in the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund is provided under “Comparison of Principal Risks” below.

Comparison of Principal Risks

The principal risks associated with investments in the Buying Fund and the Selling Funds are similar because the Funds have similar investment objectives, principal investment strategies and investment policies. The actual risks of investing in each Fund depend on the securities held in each Fund’s portfolio and on market conditions, both of which change over time. The Buying Fund and each Selling Fund are subject to the principal risks described below.

 

  Active Management Risk – Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives.

 

  Convertible Securities Risk – Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt instruments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk. The Fund may also be forced to convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Fund’s return.

 

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  Depositary Receipts Risks – Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company reflecting ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve risks similar to the risks associated with investments in foreign securities, including those associated with the particular country, which may be related to the particular political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country and fluctuations in its currency, as well as market risk tied to the underlying foreign company. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights, may not have the same rights afforded typical company stockholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering and may experience difficulty in receiving company stockholder communications.

 

  Foreign Securities Risk – Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. In addition, foreign governments may impose withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income, capital gains or proceeds from the disposition of foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. The performance of the Fund may also be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly to the extent the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

 

  Growth Securities Risk – Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.

 

  Issuer Risk – An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.

 

  Market Risk – Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions, debt instruments may have comparable or greater price volatility.

 

  Sector Risk – At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the consumer discretionary sector, health care sector, and information technology and technology-related sectors. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. Generally, the more broadly the Fund invests, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.

The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.

The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the health care sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the health care sector are subject to certain risks, including restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, government approval of medical products and services, competitive pricing pressures, and the rising cost of medical products and services (especially for companies dependent upon a relatively limited number of products or services). Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including, government regulation, obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so), product liability and other similar litigation as well as product obsolescence.

The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so)

 

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and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.

 

    Non-Diversified Fund Risk – Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III is non-diversified, which generally means that it may invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund. This increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a diversified fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, the Fund’s value will likely be more volatile than the value of a more diversified fund.

Comparison of Performance

The following bar charts and tables provide some illustration of the risks of investing in the Funds by showing, respectively:

 

  how each Fund’s performance has varied for each full calendar year shown in the bar chart; and

 

  how each Fund’s average annual total returns compare to certain measures of market performance shown in the table.

Both the bar charts and the tables assume that all distributions have been reinvested. The performance of different classes varies because of differences in sales charges and other fees and expenses. How a Fund has performed in the past (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. The performance shown reflects any fee waiver or expense reimbursement arrangements in effect for the periods reported. In the absence of such fee waiver or expense reimbursement arrangements, the performance shown would have been lower.

Bar Charts . Class A share information is shown in the bar charts; the sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in the bar charts.

Tables . The tables below show total returns (after applicable sales charges as shown in the Shareholder Fees section of this combined proxy statement/prospectus) from hypothetical investments in the indicated classes of shares of each Fund. The returns shown are compared to broad measures of market performance shown for the same periods.

The inception date of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II’s Class A shares is April 10, 2000, the inception date of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV’s Class A shares is September 28, 2010 and the inception date of each of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V’s Class A shares is December 31, 1997. The returns shown for one or more of the remaining share classes in the table below begin before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class A shares (without applicable sales charges and adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses and sales charges (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.

The inception date of the Buying Fund’s Class A shares is November 1, 1998. The returns shown for one or more of the remaining share classes in the table below begin before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class Z shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses and sales charges (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.

After-Tax Returns

The after-tax returns shown in the Average Annual Total Returns table below are calculated using the highest historical individual U.S. federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state, local or foreign taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your personal tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown in the table do not apply to shares held in tax-advantaged accounts such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and will vary for other share classes. For certain funds, returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares are higher than before-tax returns for certain periods shown because they reflect the tax benefit of capital losses realized on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

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Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (Selling Fund)

CLASS A SHARE PERFORMANCE

(based on calendar years)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was +19.84% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -25.12% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

These returns do not reflect deductions of sales charges, if any, paid by investors and would be lower if they did. The performance of other share classes may vary from that shown because of differences in expenses.

Effective November 20, 2015, the Fund compares its performance to that of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the New Index). Prior to this date, the Fund compared its performance to that of the Russell 3000 Index (the Former Index). Columbia Threadneedle believes that the New Index provides a more appropriate basis for comparing the Fund’s performance in light of the changes made to the Fund’s name and principal investment strategies effective November 20, 2015. The Fund’s performance shown below reflects returns achieved by a subadviser responsible for the Fund’s day-to-day management prior to November 20, 2015 following a different investment strategy.

The Fund’s Class A shares year-to-date return at September 30, 2015 was -5.35%.

 

LOGO

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (Selling Fund)

CLASS A SHARE PERFORMANCE

(based on calendar years)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was +16.15% (quarter ended March 31, 2012) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -21.11% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

These returns do not reflect deductions of sales charges, if any, paid by investors and would be lower if they did. The performance of other share classes may vary from that shown because of differences in expenses.

Effective November 20, 2015, the Fund compares its performance to that of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the New Index). Prior to this date, the Fund compared its performance to that of the S&P 500 Index (the Former Index). Columbia Threadneedle believes that the New Index provides a more appropriate basis for comparing the Fund’s performance in light of the changes made to the Fund’s name and principal investment strategies effective November 20, 2015. The Fund’s performance shown below reflects returns achieved by a subadviser responsible for the Fund’s day-to-day management prior to November 20, 2015 following a different investment strategy.

 

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The Fund’s Class A shares year-to-date return at September 30, 2015 was -5.28%.

 

LOGO

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (Selling Fund)

CLASS A SHARE PERFORMANCE

(based on calendar years)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was +16.39% (quarter ended March 31, 2012) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -14.03% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

These returns do not reflect deductions of sales charges, if any, paid by investors and would be lower if they did. The performance of other share classes may vary from that shown because of differences in expenses.

Effective November 20, 2015, the Fund compares its performance to that of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the New Index). Prior to this date, the Fund compared its performance to that of the S&P 500 Index (the Former Index). Columbia Threadneedle believes that the New Index provides a more appropriate basis for comparing the Fund’s performance in light of the changes made to the Fund’s name and principal investment strategies effective November 20, 2015. The Fund’s performance shown below reflects returns achieved by a subadviser responsible for the Fund’s day-to-day management prior to November 20, 2015 following a different investment strategy.

The Fund’s Class A year-to-date return at September 30, 2015 was -4.66%.

 

LOGO

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (Selling Fund)

CLASS A SHARE PERFORMANCE

(based on calendar years)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was +15.92% (quarter ended September 31, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -22.85% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

These returns do not reflect deductions of sales charges, if any, paid by investors and would be lower if they did. The performance of other share classes may vary from that shown because of differences in expenses.

 

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Effective November 20, 2015, the Fund compares its performance to that of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the New Index). Prior to this date, the Fund compared its performance to that of the S&P 500 Index (the Former Index). Columbia Threadneedle believes that the New Index provides a more appropriate basis for comparing the Fund’s performance in light of the changes made to the Fund’s name and principal investment strategies effective November 20, 2015. The Fund’s performance shown below reflects returns achieved by a subadviser responsible for the Fund’s day-to-day management prior to November 20, 2015 following a different investment strategy.

The Fund’s Class A year-to-date return at September 30, 2015 was -5.31%.

 

LOGO

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Buying Fund)

CLASS A SHARE PERFORMANCE

(based on calendar years)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was +17.22% (quarter ended March 31, 2012) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -23.67% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

These returns do not reflect deductions of sales charges, if any, paid by investors and would be lower if they did. The performance of other share classes may vary from that shown because of differences in expenses.

The Fund’s Class A shares year-to-date return at September 30, 2015 was -0.27%.

 

LOGO

 

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Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (Selling Fund):    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class A

         

Return before taxes

     04/10/2000         2.54     10.78     6.09

Return after taxes on distributions

        2.54     10.78     5.98

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

        1.44     8.58     4.89

Class B

         

Return before taxes

     04/10/2000         2.88     10.99     5.92

Class C

         

Return before taxes

     04/10/2000         6.95     11.25     5.92

Class R

         

Return before taxes

     01/23/2006         8.48     11.81     6.45

Class R4

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         9.01     12.23     6.78

Class R5

         

Return before taxes

     01/08/2014         9.17     12.19     6.76

Class Z

         

Return before taxes

     04/10/2000         9.01     12.37     6.98

Russell 1000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

        13.05     15.81     8.49

Russell 3000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

        12.56     15.63     7.94

Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (Selling Fund):    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class A

         

Return before taxes

     12/31/1997         5.25     13.32     7.01

Return after taxes on distributions

        1.40     10.22     5.52

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

        5.52     10.38     5.54

Class B

         

Return before taxes

     12/31/1997         6.14     13.60     6.85

Class C

         

Return before taxes

     12/31/1997         9.92     13.81     6.84

Class I

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         12.31     15.21     7.90

Class R4

     11/08/2012         11.95     14.80     7.71

Return before taxes

         

Class R5

     12/11/2013         12.14     14.78     7.70

Return before taxes

         

Class Z

         

Return before taxes

     12/31/1997         11.93     14.97     7.92

Russell 1000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

        13.05     15.81     8.49

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

        13.69     15.45     7.67

 

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Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (Selling Fund):    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     Life of
Fund
 

Class A

       

Return before taxes

     09/28/2010         -0.04     14.98

Return after taxes on distributions

        -2.58     12.88

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

        1.79     11.41

Class C

       

Return before taxes

     09/28/2010         4.33     15.70

Class I

       

Return before taxes

     09/28/2010         6.37     16.92

Class R

       

Return before taxes

     09/28/2010         5.80     16.25

Class R4

       

Return before taxes

     06/25/2014         6.22     16.63

Class R5

       

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         6.45     16.81

Class Z

       

Return before taxes

     09/28/2010         6.32     16.89

Russell 1000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

        13.05     17.51

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes)

        13.69     17.18

Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (Selling Fund):    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class A

         

Return before taxes

     12/31/1997         2.78     12.91     5.88

Return after taxes on distributions

        -0.16     11.04     4.99

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

        3.98     10.04     4.58

Class B

         

Return before taxes

     12/31/1997         3.53     13.16     5.71

Class C

         

Return before taxes

     12/31/1997         7.29     13.41     5.71

Class I

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         9.51     14.71     6.72

 

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Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (Selling Fund):    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class R

         

Return before taxes

     01/23/2006         8.79     13.97     6.22

Class R4

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         9.30     14.37     6.56

Class R5

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         9.50     14.44     6.59

Class W

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         9.08     14.27     6.51

Class Z

         

Return before taxes

     12/31/1997         9.29     14.54     6.77

Russell 1000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

        13.05     15.81     8.49

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes)

        13.69     15.45     7.67

Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Buying Fund):    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class A

         

Return before taxes

     11/01/1998         7.35     13.79     7.26

Return after taxes on distributions

        4.58     12.91     6.66

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

        6.42     11.05     5.86

Class B

         

Return before taxes

     11/01/1998         8.05     14.04     7.09

Class C

         

Return before taxes

     11/18/2002         12.06     14.28     7.08

Class E

         

Return before taxes

     09/22/2006         8.65     13.97     7.29

Class F

         

Return before taxes

     09/22/2006         8.09     14.04     7.09

Class I

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         14.39     15.62     8.26

Class K

         

Return before taxes

     03/07/2011         14.04     15.31     8.05

Class R

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         13.61     14.85     7.59

Class R4

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         14.24     15.44     8.17

Class R5

         

Return before taxes

     03/07/2011         14.31     15.57     8.23

 

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Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Buying Fund):    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class T

         

Return before taxes

     12/14/1990         7.29     13.73     7.21

Class W

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         13.97     15.18     7.94

Class Y

         

Return before taxes

     07/15/2009         14.43     15.65     8.28

Class Z

         

Return before taxes

     12/14/1990         14.20     15.43     8.16

Russell 1000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

        13.05     15.81     8.49

 

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Proposal 3. Comparison of Objectives, Strategies and Risks. Reorganization of Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund into Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

Comparison of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund

Both the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund:

 

    Have Columbia Threadneedle as investment manager. The Selling Fund’s portfolio is managed by four subadvisers, each of which acts independently of the others and uses its own methodology for selecting investments. The four subadvisers of the Selling Fund are Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC, Donald Smith & Co., Inc., Metropolitan West Capital Management, LLC, and Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC. The Buying Fund does not have a subadviser.

 

    Have the same investment objective and similar principal investment strategies.

 

    Have the same policies for buying and selling shares and the same exchange rights. Please see Exhibit B for a description of these policies for the Buying Fund.

 

    Are structured as series of an open-end management investment company. Each Fund is organized as a series of a Massachusetts business trust.

Comparison of Investment Objectives

The investment objectives of the Funds are as follows:

Selling Fund: Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation.

Buying Fund: Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation.

Each Fund seeks the same investment objective.

Because any investment involves risk, there can be no assurance that a Fund’s investment objective will be achieved. The investment objective of each Fund may be changed only with shareholder approval.

Comparison of Principal Investment Strategies

The Funds have similar principal investment strategies. Each Fund normally invests at least 80% of its assets in small capitalization companies. The Buying Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of small capitalization issuers that have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 2000 Value Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $44 million and $4.6 billion as of October 31, 2015). The Selling Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in small cap companies that have a market capitalization, at the time of investment, of up to $2.5 billion or that fall within the range of the Index. As of December 1, 2015, the Buying Fund and the Selling Fund had invested 77.85% and 83.14% of their net assets, respectively, in equity securities of companies with market capitalization within the range of the Index.

Each Fund may also invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. As of December 1, 2015, the Buying Fund and the Selling Fund had invested 3.39% and 13.48% of their net assets, respectively, in foreign investments. Each Fund may invest in any type of securities, including common stocks and depositary receipts, and may buy and hold stock in a company that is not included in the Index. The Buying Fund may hold a small number of securities and anticipates holding between 40 and 50 securities in its portfolio; however, the Buying Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range. The Selling Fund has no similar principal investment strategy. Currently, the Selling Fund holds more than 200 securities. The Buying Fund is managed directly by Columbia Threadneedle. Multiple subadvisers provide the day-to-day management of portions of the Selling Fund’s portfolio, and are subject to oversight by Columbia Threadneedle. The Selling Fund has no subadviser(s) and is managed directly by Columbia Threadneedle.

 

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Additional information regarding the principal investment strategies of each Fund is set forth below:

 

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

(Selling Fund)

  

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

(Buying Fund)

Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in small cap companies. For these purposes, small cap companies are those that have a market capitalization, at the time of investment, of up to $2.5 billion or that fall within the range of the Russell 2000 Value Index (the Index). The Fund may buy and hold stock in a company that is not included in the Index. The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $44 million to $4.6 billion as of October 31, 2015.    Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of smaller capitalization issuers. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 2000 Value Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $44 million and $4.6 billion as of October 31, 2015). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund’s Board of Trustees may change the parameters by which smaller market capitalization is defined if it concludes such a change is appropriate.

The Fund may invest in any type of securities, including common stocks and depositary receipts.

 

   No similar principal investment strategy.
The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments.    The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.   

The Fund invests substantially in securities of U.S. issuers. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.

 

Subject to oversight by the investment manager, multiple subadvisers provide the day-to-day management of a portion of the Fund’s portfolio. Each of the subadvisers employs an active investment strategy that focuses on small cap companies in an attempt to take advantage of what are believed to be undervalued securities.    The Fund also invests substantially in “value” companies. The Fund considers “value” companies to be those companies believed by the investment manager to be undervalued, either historically, by the market, or as compared with issuers in the same or similar industry or sector.
No similar principal investment strategy.   

The Fund may hold a small number of securities, consistent with its value investment approach. Generally, the Fund anticipates holding between 40 and 50 securities in its portfolio; however, the Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range.

 

No similar principal investment strategy.    The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities.

 

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Buying Fund Investment Style

A description of the investment style of the Buying Fund is set forth below.

In pursuit of the Buying Fund’s objective, the portfolio managers use a bottom-up stock selection approach, which means that they concentrate on individual company fundamentals, rather than on a particular industry, although at times factors that make a particular company attractive may also make other companies within the same industry attractive, and the portfolio managers may invest in these issuers as well.

Columbia Threadneedle considers a variety of factors in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Fund’s portfolio. Such factors may include, among others, the following:

 

    a low price-to-earnings and/or low price-to-book ratio;

 

    positive change in senior management;

 

    positive corporate restructuring;

 

    temporary setback in price due to factors that no longer exist or are ending;

 

    a positive shift in the company’s business cycle; and/or

 

    a catalyst for increase in the rate of the company’s earnings growth.

Columbia Threadneedle generally sells a stock if it believes the stock has become fully valued, its fundamentals have deteriorated, or ongoing evaluation reveals that there are more attractive investment opportunities available. Columbia Threadneedle monitors the Fund’s holdings, remaining sensitive to overvaluation and deteriorating fundamentals.

Comparison of Fundamental Investment Policies

If the Reorganization occurs, the combined Fund will be subject to the fundamental investment policies of the Buying Fund. Columbia Threadneedle does not believe that the differences between the fundamental investment policies of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund result in any material difference between the way the Funds have been managed and the way the combined Fund will be managed. A “fundamental” investment policy is one that may not be changed without a shareholder vote.

The Funds’ fundamental investment policies are set forth below:

 

Policy

  

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

(Selling Fund)

  

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

(Buying Fund)

Borrowing/ Issuing Senior Securities    The Fund will not borrow money, except for temporary purposes (not for leveraging or investment) in an amount not exceeding 33 1 / 3 % of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings) immediately after the borrowings.    The Fund will not issue senior securities or borrow money, except as permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule thereunder, any SEC or SEC staff interpretations thereof or any exemptions therefrom which may be granted by the SEC.
   The Fund will not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.   

 

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Policy

  

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

(Selling Fund)

  

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

(Buying Fund)

Commodities   

The Fund will not buy or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the Fund from buying or selling options, futures contracts and foreign currency or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by, or whose value is derived from, physical commodities.

 

   The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except to the extent permissible under applicable law and interpretations, as they may be amended from time to time.
Diversification    No stated policy.    The Fund will not make any investment inconsistent with its classification as a diversified company under the 1940 Act.
Industry Concentration    The Fund will not concentrate in any one industry. According to the present interpretation by the SEC, this means that up to 25% of the Fund’s total assets, based on current market value at time of purchase, can be invested in any one industry.    The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets, at market value, in the securities of issuers in any particular industry, provided that this limitation shall exclude securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.

 

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Policy

  

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

(Selling Fund)

  

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

(Buying Fund)

Lending    The Fund will not lend securities or participate in an interfund lending program if the total of all such loans would exceed 33 1 / 3 % of the Fund’s total assets except this fundamental investment policy shall not prohibit the Fund from purchasing money market securities, loans, loan participation or other debt securities, or from entering into repurchase agreements.    The Fund will not make loans, except as permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule thereunder, any SEC or SEC staff interpretations thereof or any exemptions therefrom which may be granted by the SEC.
Real Estate   

The Fund will not buy or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business or real estate investment trusts. For purposes of this policy, real estate includes real estate limited partnerships.

 

   The Fund will not purchase or hold any real estate, except that a Fund may invest in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by persons (other than real estate investment trusts) which deal in real estate or interests therein.
Underwriting    The Fund will not act as an underwriter (sell securities for others). However, under the securities laws, the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter when it purchases securities directly from the issuer and later resells them.    The Fund will not underwrite the securities of other issuers, except insofar as the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the 1933 Act in disposing of a portfolio security or in connection with investments in other investment companies.

Comparison of Additional Non-Fundamental Investment Policies

There are no material differences between the non-fundamental investment policies of the Funds and therefore the management of the combined Fund in accordance with the non-fundamental investment policies of the Buying Fund following the Reorganization will not result in any material differences between the way the Funds have been managed and the way the combined Fund will be managed.

Differences between the Selling Fund’s principal investment strategies and fundamental investment policies and holdings and those of the Buying Fund may expose the Selling Fund’s shareholders to new or increased risks. A comparison of the principal risks of investing in the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund is provided under “Comparison of Principal Risks” below.

Comparison of Principal Risks

Although the Funds describe them somewhat differently, the principal risks associated with investments in the Buying Fund and the Selling Fund are generally similar because the Funds have the same investment objectives and similar principal investment strategies and investment policies. The actual risks of investing in each Fund depend on the securities held in each Fund’s portfolio and on market conditions, both of which change over time. The Buying Fund is subject to the principal risks described below. The Selling Fund is also subject to certain of the principal risks identified below and, in addition, is subject to depositary receipts risk – the risk of investing in depositary receipts, which are receipts issued by a bank or trust company reflecting ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies – and multi-adviser risk – the risk of using multiple advisory firms to each manage a portion of the Selling Fund’s net assets on a daily basis. The Buying Fund is not subject to multi-adviser risk. The Buying Fund is not subject to depositary receipts risk as a principal risk, but may be subject to such risk to the extent it invests in depositary receipts.

 

    Active Management Risk – Due to its active management, the Buying Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Selling Fund is also subject to this principal risk.

 

    Focused Portfolio Risk – Because the Buying Fund may invest in a limited number of companies, the Buying Fund as a whole is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decline in price. The Selling Fund is not subject to focused portfolio risk as a principal risk, but may be subject to such risk to the extent it invests in a limited number of companies.

 

    Foreign Securities Risk – Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Buying Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. In addition, foreign governments may impose withholding or other taxes on the Buying Fund’s income, capital gains or proceeds from the disposition of foreign securities, which could reduce the Buying Fund’s return on such securities. The performance of the Buying Fund may also be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly to the extent the Buying Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Selling Fund is also subject to this principal risk.

 

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    Frequent Trading Risk – The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Buying Fund’s portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading of investments increases the possibility that the Buying Fund, as relevant, will realize taxable capital gains (including short-term capital gains, which are generally taxable to shareholders at higher rates than long-term capital gains for U.S. federal income tax purposes), which could reduce the Buying Fund’s after-tax return. Frequent trading can also mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Buying Fund’s return. The trading costs and tax effects associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Buying Fund’s performance. The Selling Fund is not subject to frequent trading risk as a principal risk, but may be subject to such risk to the extent its portfolio managers actively and frequently trade investments in the Selling Fund’s portfolio.

 

    Issuer Risk – An issuer in which the Buying Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Buying Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors. The Selling Fund is also subject to this principal risk.

 

    Market Risk – Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Buying Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Buying Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions, debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. The Selling Fund is also subject to this principal risk.

 

    Sector Risk – At times, the Buying Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the consumer discretionary sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Buying Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. Generally, the more broadly the Buying Fund invests, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.

The Buying Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes. The Selling Fund is also subject to sector risk, although it is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services and industrials sectors.

 

    Small Company Securities Risk – Investments in small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and securities of small-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies. The Selling Fund is also subject to this principal risk.

 

    Value Securities Risk – Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager’s perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time. The Selling Fund is also subject to this principal risk.

Comparison of Performance

The following bar charts and tables provide some illustration of the risks of investing in the Funds by showing, respectively:

 

    how each Fund’s performance has varied for each full calendar year shown in the bar chart; and

 

    how each Fund’s average annual total returns compare to certain measures of market performance shown in the table.

 

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Both the bar charts and the tables assume that all distributions have been reinvested. The performance of different classes varies because of differences in sales charges and other fees and expenses. How a Fund has performed in the past does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. The performance shown reflects any fee waiver or expense reimbursement arrangements in effect for the periods reported. In the absence of such fee waivers or expense reimbursement arrangements, the performance shown would have been lower.

Bar Charts. Class A share information is shown in the bar charts; the sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in the bar charts.

Tables. The tables below show total returns (after applicable sales charges as shown in the Shareholder Fees section of this combined proxy statement/prospectus) from hypothetical investments in the indicated classes of shares of each Fund. These returns are compared to broad measures of market performance shown for the same periods.

The inception date of the Selling Fund’s Class A shares is June 18, 2001. The returns shown for one or more of the remaining share classes in the table below begin before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class A shares (without applicable sales charges and adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. [Class Y shares of the Selling Fund did not commence operations prior to the periods ended shown in the table below and, therefore, performance is not yet available.] Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses and sales charges (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.

The inception date of the Buying Fund’s Class A shares is April 25, 1997. The returns shown for one or more of the remaining share classes in the table below begin before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class A shares (without applicable sales charges and adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses and sales charges (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.

After-Tax Returns

The after-tax returns shown in the Average Annual Total Returns table below are calculated using the highest historical individual U.S. federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state, local or foreign taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your personal tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown in the table do not apply to shares held in tax-advantaged accounts such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and will vary for other share classes. Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares are higher than before-tax returns for certain periods shown because they reflect the tax benefit of capital losses realized on the redemption of Fund shares.

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund (Selling Fund)

CLASS A SHARE PERFORMANCE

(based on calendar years)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was +26.55% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -25.30% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

These returns do not reflect deductions of sales charges, if any, paid by investors and would be lower if they did. The performance of other share classes may vary from that shown because of differences in expenses.

 

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The Fund’s Class A shares year-to-date return at September 30, 2015 was -10.09%

 

LOGO

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Buying Fund)

CLASS A SHARE PERFORMANCE

(based on calendar years)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was +29.74% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -24.90% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

These returns do not reflect deductions of sales charges, if any, paid by investors and would be lower if they did. The performance of other share classes may vary from that shown because of differences in expenses.

The Fund’s Class A shares year-to-date return at September 30, 2015 was -7.24%

 

LOGO

 

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Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)

 

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund (Selling Fund):    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class A

         

Return before taxes

     06/18/2001         -2.96     12.31     7.15

Return after taxes on distributions

        -5.87     11.04     5.51

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

        0.39     9.75     5.47

Class B

         

Return before taxes

     06/18/2001         -2.24     12.52     7.04

Class C

         

Return before taxes

     06/18/2001         1.46     12.81     7.05

Class I

         

Return before taxes

     03/04/2004         3.49     14.15     8.25

Class K

         

Return before taxes

     06/18/2001         3.19     13.85     8.00

Class R

         

Return before taxes

     12/11/2006         2.78     13.36     7.48

Class R4

         

Return before taxes

     12/11/2006         3.30     13.74     7.84

Class R5

         

Return before taxes

     12/11/2006         3.38     14.12     8.13

Class Z

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         3.29     13.85     7.89

Russell 2000 Value Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

        4.22     14.26     6.89

 

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Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)

 

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Buying Fund):    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class A

         

Return before taxes

     04/25/1997         -0.66     14.31     6.95

Return after taxes on distributions

        -3.20     13.09     5.87

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

        1.56     11.47     5.56

Class B

         

Return before taxes

     04/25/1997         -0.01     14.57     6.77

Class C

         

Return before taxes

     05/27/1999         3.69     14.79     6.79

Class I

         

Return before taxes

     08/03/2009         5.85     16.23     7.86

Class K

         

Return before taxes

     08/03/2009         5.54     15.87     7.69

Class R

         

Return before taxes

     04/30/2003         5.11     15.37     7.30

Class R4

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         5.66     15.81     7.64

Class R5

         

Return before taxes

     11/30/2001         5.82     16.15     8.13

Class Y

         

Return before taxes

     10/01/2014         5.38     15.67     7.58

Class Z

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         5.64     15.94     7.70

Russell 2000 Value Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)

        4.22     14.26     6.89

 

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Proposal 4. Comparison of Objectives, Strategies and Risks. Reorganization of Columbia International Value Fund into Columbia Overseas Value Fund.

Comparison of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund

Both the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund:

 

    Have Columbia Threadneedle as investment manager.

 

    Have the same investment objective and the same principal investment strategies.

 

    Share the same portfolio management team.

 

    Have the same policies for buying and selling shares and the same exchange rights. Please see Exhibit B for a description of these policies for the Buying Fund.

 

    Are structured as series of an open-end management investment company. Each Fund is organized as a series of a Delaware statutory trust.

Comparison of Investment Objectives

The investment objectives of the Funds are as follows:

Selling Fund: Columbia International Value Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Buying Fund: Columbia Overseas Value Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Each Fund seeks the same investment objective.

Because any investment involves risk, there can be no assurance that a Fund’s investment objective will be achieved. The investment objective of each Fund may be changed without shareholder approval.

Comparison of Principal Investment Strategies

The Funds have identical principal investment strategies. Each Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of foreign companies that have market capitalizations of more than $1 billion at the time of purchase. Each Fund typically invests in foreign companies in at least three countries, other than the United States, at any one time and may invest in emerging markets. Each Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through closed-end investment companies and depositary receipts. As of December 1, 2015, the Buying Fund and the Selling Fund had invested 93.09% and 95.43% of their net assets, respectively, in foreign securities. Each Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector. Each Fund may also invest in currency forwards, futures and options. Each Fund has the following limits on its investments, which are applied at the time an investment is made. Each Fund normally invests no more than 5% of its total assets in a single security; typically invests up to the greater of (i) 20% of its total assets in a single country or industry or (ii) 150% of the weighting of a single country or industry in the MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East (MSCI EAFE) Value Index (limited to less than 25% of its total assets in a single industry, other than U.S. Government obligations); and generally may not invest more than 20% of its total assets in emerging markets.

Buying Fund Investment Style

A description of the investment style of the Buying Fund is set forth below.

Columbia Threadneedle combines fundamental and quantitative analysis with risk management in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Buying Fund’s portfolio. Columbia Threadneedle considers, among other factors:

 

    businesses that are believed to be fundamentally sound and undervalued due to investor indifference, investor misperception of company prospects, or other factors;

 

    various measures of valuation, including price-to-cash flow, price-to-earnings, price-to-sales, and price-to-book value. Columbia Threadneedle believes that companies with lower valuations are generally more likely to provide opportunities for capital appreciation;

 

    a company’s current operating margins relative to its historic range and future potential; and

 

    potential indicators of stock price appreciation, such as anticipated earnings growth, company restructuring, changes in management, business model changes, new product opportunities or anticipated improvements in macroeconomic factors.

 

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Columbia Threadneedle may sell a security when the security’s price reaches a target set by Columbia Threadneedle; if Columbia Threadneedle believes that there is deterioration in the issuer’s financial circumstances or fundamental prospects, or that other investments are more attractive; or for other reasons.

Comparison of Fundamental Investment Policies

If the Reorganization occurs, the combined Fund will be subject to the fundamental investment policies of the Buying Fund. Columbia Threadneedle does not believe that the differences between the fundamental investment policies of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund result in any material differences between the way the Funds have been managed and the way the combined Fund will be managed. A “fundamental” investment policy is one that may not be changed without a shareholder vote.

The Funds’ fundamental investment policies are set forth below:

 

Policy

  

Columbia International Value Fund

(Selling Fund)

  

Columbia Overseas Value Fund

(Buying Fund)

Borrowing/ Issuing Senior Securities   

The Fund may not borrow money except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.

 

The Fund may not issue senior securities except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.

  

The Fund may not borrow money except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

 

The Fund may not issue senior securities except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

Commodities    The Fund may not purchase or sell commodities, except that the Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment objective, invest in securities of companies that purchase or sell commodities or which invest in such programs, and purchase and sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, and options on futures contracts. This limitation does not apply to foreign currency transactions, including, without limitation, forward currency contracts.   

The Fund may not purchase or sell commodities, except that the Fund may to the extent consistent with its investment objective: (i) invest in securities of companies that purchase or sell commodities or which invest in such programs, (ii) purchase and sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, and options on futures contracts and (iii) enter into swap contracts and other financial transactions relating to commodities. This limitation does not apply to foreign currency transactions including without limitation forward currency contracts.

 

Diversification    The Fund may not purchase securities (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the securities of such issuer or it would own more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer, except that: (i) up to 25% of its total assets may be invested without regard to these limitations; and (ii) a Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.    The Fund may not purchase securities (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the securities of such issuer or it would own more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer, except that: (a) up to 25% of its total assets may be invested without regard to these limitations; and (b) the Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, or any applicable exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.

 

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Policy

  

Columbia International Value Fund

(Selling Fund)

  

Columbia Overseas Value Fund

(Buying Fund)

Industry Concentration    The Fund may not purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the value of its total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that: a) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, any state or territory of the United States, or any of their agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; and b) notwithstanding this limitation or any other fundamental investment limitation, assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.   

The Fund will not purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the value of its total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that: (i) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, any state or territory of the United States, or any of their agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; and (ii) notwithstanding this limitation or any other fundamental investment limitation, assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

 

Lending    The Fund may not make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.    The Fund may not make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
Real Estate    The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, except the Fund may purchase securities of issuers which deal or invest in real estate and may purchase securities which are secured by real estate or interests in real estate.   

The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, except the Fund may: (i) purchase securities of issuers which deal or invest in real estate, (ii) purchase securities which are secured by real estate or interests in real estate and (iii) hold and dispose of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the exercise of its rights as a holder of securities which are secured by real estate or interests therein.

 

Underwriting    The Fund may not underwrite any issue of securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act except when it might technically be deemed to be an underwriter either: (i) in connection with the disposition of a portfolio security; or (ii) in connection with the purchase of securities directly from the issuer thereof in accordance with its investment objective. This restriction shall not limit the Fund’s ability to invest in securities issued by other registered management investment companies.    The Fund may not underwrite any issue of securities issued by other persons within the meaning of the 1933 Act except when it might be deemed to be an underwriter either: (i) in connection with the disposition of a portfolio security; or (ii) in connection with the purchase of securities directly from the issuer thereof in accordance with its investment objective. This restriction shall not limit the Fund’s ability to invest in securities issued by other registered investment companies.

 

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Comparison of Additional Non-Fundamental Investment Policies

There are no material differences between the non-fundamental investment policies of the Funds and therefore the management of the combined Fund in accordance with the non-fundamental investment policies of the Buying Fund following the Reorganization will not result in any material differences between the way the Funds have been managed and the way the combined Fund will be managed.

Differences between the Selling Fund’s fundamental investment policies and holdings and those of the Buying Fund may expose the Selling Fund’s shareholders to new or increased risks. A comparison of the principal risks of investing in the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund is provided under “Comparison of Principal Risks” below.

Comparison of Principal Risks

The principal risks associated with investments in the Buying Fund and the Selling Fund are identical because the Funds have the same investment objective and principal investment strategies and similar investment policies. The actual risks of investing in each Fund depend on the securities held in each Fund’s portfolio and on market conditions, both of which change over time. The Buying Fund and the Selling Fund are subject to each of the principal risks described below.

 

    Active Management Risk – Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives.

 

    Depositary Receipts Risk – Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company reflecting ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve risks similar to the risks associated with investments in foreign securities, including those associated with the particular country, which may be related to the particular political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country and fluctuations in its currency, as well as market risk tied to the underlying foreign company. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights, may not have the same rights afforded typical company stockholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering and may experience difficulty in receiving company stockholder communications.

 

    Derivatives Risk – Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility for the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.

 

    Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk – These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These instruments may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations, subjecting the Fund to foreign currency risk. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful and the Fund may experience significant losses as a result.

 

    Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk – The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses for the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.

 

    Derivatives Risk/Options Risk – The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund’s losses are potentially unlimited. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk and hedging risk.

 

   

Emerging Market Securities Risk – Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, such as China, Russia and certain countries in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments

 

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in social, political, economic or other conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.

 

    Foreign Securities Risk – Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. In addition, foreign governments may impose withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income, capital gains or proceeds from the disposition of foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. The performance of the Fund may also be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly to the extent the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

 

    Investing in Other Funds Risk – The Fund’s investment in other funds (affiliated and/or unaffiliated funds, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs)) subjects the Fund to the investment performance (positive or negative) and risks of the underlying funds in direct proportion to the Fund’s investment therein. In addition, investments in ETFs have unique characteristics, including, but not limited to, the expense structure and additional expenses associated with investing in ETFs. The performance of the underlying funds could be adversely affected if other investors in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of a fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in the underlying funds could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. Columbia Threadneedle may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated underlying funds for investment by the Fund because the fees paid to it by some underlying funds are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds, as well as a potential conflict in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds.

 

    Issuer Risk – An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.

 

    Market Risk – Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions, debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.

 

    Sector Risk – At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. Generally, the more broadly the Fund invests, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.

The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.

 

    Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk – Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small- and mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.

 

   

Value Securities Risk – Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager’s perceived value

 

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assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.

Comparison of Performance

The following bar charts and tables provide some illustration of the risks of investing in the Funds by showing, respectively:

 

    how each Fund’s performance has varied for each full calendar year shown in the bar chart; and

 

    how each Fund’s average annual total returns compare to certain measures of market performance shown in the table.

Both the bar charts and the tables assume that all distributions have been reinvested. The performance of different classes varies because of differences in sales charges and other fees and expenses. How a Fund has performed in the past (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. The performance shown reflects any fee waiver or expense reimbursement arrangements in effect for the periods reported. In the absence of such fee waiver or expense reimbursement arrangements, the performance shown would have been lower.

Bar Charts. Class Z share information is shown in the bar charts.

Tables. The tables below show total returns (after applicable sales charges as shown in the Shareholder Fees section of this combined proxy statement/prospectus) from hypothetical investments in the indicated classes of shares of each Fund. The returns shown are compared to broad measures of market performance shown for the same periods.

The inception date of the Selling Fund’s Class Z shares is December 27, 1995. The returns shown for one or more of the remaining share classes in the table below begin before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class A shares (without applicable sales charges and adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses and sales charges (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.

The inception date of the Buying Fund’s Class Z shares is March 31, 2008. The returns shown for one or more of the remaining share classes in the table below begin before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class Z shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. [Class R, Class R4, Class R5 and Class Y shares of the Buying Fund did not commence operations prior to the periods ended shown in the table below and, therefore, performance is not yet available.] Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses and sales charges (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.

After-Tax Returns

The after-tax returns shown in the Average Annual Total Returns table below are calculated using the highest historical individual U.S. federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state, local or foreign taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your personal tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown in the table do not apply to shares held in tax-advantaged accounts such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns are shown only for Class Z shares and will vary for other share classes. Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares are higher than before-tax returns for certain periods shown because they reflect the tax benefit of capital losses realized on the redemption of Fund shares.

 

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Columbia International Value Fund (Selling Fund)

CLASS Z SHARE PERFORMANCE

(based on calendar years)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was +22.82% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -17.47% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

These returns do not reflect deductions of sales charges, if any, paid by investors and would be lower if they did. The performance of other share classes may vary from that shown because of differences in expenses.

The Fund’s Class Z shares year-to-date return at September 30, 2015 was -1.16%.

 

LOGO

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Buying Fund)

CLASS Z SHARE PERFORMANCE

(based on calendar years)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was +32.29% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -18.87% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

These returns do not reflect deductions of sales charges, if any, paid by investors and would be lower if they did. The performance of other share classes may vary from that shown because of differences in expenses.

The Fund’s Class Z shares year-to-date return at September 30, 2015 was -0.98%.

 

LOGO

 

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Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)

 

Columbia International Value Fund (Selling Fund):    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class Z

         

Return before taxes

     12/27/1995         -6.88     3.60     3.68

Return after taxes on distributions

        -7.55     3.20     2.48

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

        -2.83     3.30     3.59

Class A

         

Return before taxes

     12/27/1995         -12.46     2.12     2.81

Class B

         

Return before taxes

     05/22/1998         -12.28     2.27     2.67

Class C

         

Return before taxes

     06/15/1998         -8.68     2.58     2.65

Class I

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         -6.75     2.94     3.21

Class R

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         -7.36     3.06     3.13

Class R4

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         -6.87     3.47     3.48

Class R5

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         -6.77     3.51     3.50

MSCI EAFE Value Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)

        -5.39     4.42     3.89

Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)

 

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Buying Fund):    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class Z

         

Return before taxes

     03/31/2008         -7.00     4.83     0.15

Return after taxes on distributions

        -7.50     4.57     -0.24

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

        -3.09     4.09     0.34

Class A

         

Return before taxes

     02/28/2013         -12.54     3.15     -1.19

Class B

         

Return before taxes

     02/28/2013         -12.37     3.25     -1.07

Class C

         

Return before taxes

     02/28/2013         -8.77     3.60     -1.07

Class I

         

Return before taxes

     03/31/2011         -6.78     4.94     0.22

Class K

         

Return before taxes

     02/28/2013         -6.95     4.41     -0.31

Class W

         

Return before taxes

     03/31/2011         -7.13     4.65     0.00

MSCI EAFE Value Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)

        -5.39     4.42     0.46

 

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Proposal 5. Comparison of Objectives, Strategies and Risks. Reorganization of Columbia International Opportunities Fund into Columbia Select International Equity Fund.

Comparison of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund

The Selling Fund and the Buying Fund:

 

    Have Columbia Threadneedle as investment manager. Threadneedle International Limited (“Threadneedle International”) has served as subadviser to the Buying Fund since April 2011. Threadneedle International is an affiliate of Columbia Threadneedle, and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., the parent company of Columbia Threadneedle. The Selling Fund does not have a subadviser.

 

    Have the same investment objective and similar principal investment strategies.

 

    Have the same policies for buying and selling shares and the same exchange rights. Please see Exhibit B for a description of these policies for the Buying Fund.

 

    Are structured as series of an open-end management investment company. Each Fund is organized as a series of a Delaware statutory trust.

Comparison of Investment Objectives

The investment objectives of the Funds are as follows:

Selling Fund: Columbia International Opportunities Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.

Buying Fund: Columbia Select International Equity Fund seeks long-term capital growth.

Each Fund seeks the same investment objective.

Because any investment involves risk, there can be no assurance that a Fund’s investment objective will be achieved. The investment objective of each of the Funds may be changed without shareholder approval.

Comparison of Principal Investment Strategies

The Funds have similar principal investment strategies. The Buying Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) and the Selling Fund normally invests at least 65% of its total assets in equity securities (including common stock, preferred stock, and depositary receipts) of companies located in at least three countries other than the United States, including emerging market countries. As of December 3, 2015, the Buying Fund and the Selling Fund had invested 79.91% and 98.48% of their net assets, respectively, in equity securities of companies located in countries other than the United States. Each Fund invests in companies that are believed to have the potential for growth and each Fund typically employs a focused portfolio investing style. Each Fund may invest in equity securities of issuers of any market capitalization, as well as companies involved in initial public offerings, tender offers, mergers, other corporate restructurings and other special situations. From time to time, each Fund may focus its investments in certain countries or geographic areas, including the Asia/Pacific region and Europe, and may emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector. Each Fund may also invest in derivatives.

 

Columbia International Opportunities Fund

(Selling Fund)

  

Columbia Select International Equity Fund

(Buying Fund)

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 65% of its total assets in equity securities (including common stock, preferred stock, and depositary receipts) of companies located in at least three countries other than the United States, including emerging market countries.    Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities (including common stock, preferred stock, and depositary receipts) of established companies located in at least three countries other than the United States, including emerging market countries.

The Fund invests in companies that are believed to have the potential for growth. The Fund typically employs a focused portfolio investing style, which results in fewer holdings than a fund that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a greater number of issuers.

 

The Fund may invest in companies involved in initial public offerings, tender offers, mergers, other corporate restructurings and other special situations. The Fund may invest in equity securities of issuers of any market capitalization.

From time to time, the Fund may focus its investments in certain countries or geographic areas, including the Asia/Pacific region and Europe.

 

The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.

The Fund may invest in derivatives, including futures contracts in an effort to enhance returns, to hedge existing positions, to manage the Fund’s overall risk exposure, to increase market or other exposure, and/or to increase investment flexibility (including using the derivative as a substitute for a position in an underlying security, asset, or other instrument or reference). Derivatives may be used by the Fund to obtain net long and/or net negative (short) exposure to a security, asset, or other instrument or reference.

 

The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities.

 

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Buying Fund Investment Style

A description of the investment style of the Buying Fund is set forth below.

Columbia Threadneedle is responsible for oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Threadneedle International, which chooses investments for the Buying Fund by:

 

    Deploying an integrated approach to equity research that incorporates regional analyses, an international sector strategy, and stock specific perspectives;

 

    Conducting detailed research on companies in a consistent, strategic and macroeconomic framework;

 

    Looking for catalysts of change and identifying the factors driving markets, which will vary over economic and market cycles; and

 

    Implementing rigorous risk control processes that seek to ensure that the risk and return characteristics of the Buying Fund’s portfolio are consistent with established portfolio management parameters.

A number of factors may prompt the portfolio management team to sell securities. A sale may result from a change in the composition of the Buying Fund’s benchmark or a change in sector strategy. A sale may also be prompted by factors specific to a stock, such as valuation or company fundamentals.

Comparison of Fundamental Investment Policies

The Funds have the same fundamental investment policies and therefore the management of the combined Fund in accordance with the fundamental investment policies of the Buying Fund following the Reorganization will not result in any material differences between the way the Selling Fund has been managed and the way the combined Fund will be managed. A “fundamental” investment policy is one that may not be changed without a shareholder vote.

Comparison of Additional Non-Fundamental Investment Policies

There are no material differences between the non-fundamental investment policies of the Funds and therefore the management of the combined Fund in accordance with the non-fundamental investment policies of the Buying Fund following the Reorganization will not result in any material differences between the way the Funds have been managed and the way the combined Fund will be managed.

Differences between the Selling Fund’s principal investment strategies and holdings and those of the Buying Fund may expose the Selling Fund’s shareholders to new or increased risks. A comparison of the principal risks of investing in the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund is provided under “Comparison of Principal Risks” below.

Comparison of Principal Risks

The principal risks associated with investments in the Buying Fund and the Selling Fund are identical because the Funds have similar investment objectives, principal investment strategies and investment policies. The actual risks of investing in each Fund depend on the securities held in each Fund’s portfolio and on market conditions, both of which change over time. The Buying Fund and the Selling Fund are subject to each of the principal risks described below.

 

    Active Management Risk – Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives.

 

    Depositary Receipts Risk – Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company reflecting ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve risks similar to the risks associated with investments in foreign securities, including those associated with the particular country, which may be related to the particular political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country and fluctuations in its currency, as well as market risk tied to the underlying foreign company. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights, may not have the same rights afforded typical company stockholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering and may experience difficulty in receiving company stockholder communications.

 

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    Derivatives Risk – Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility for the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.

 

    Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk – The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses for the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.

 

    Emerging Market Securities Risk – Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, such as China, Russia and certain countries in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political, economic or other conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.

 

    Focused Portfolio Risk – Because the Fund may invest in a limited number of companies, the Fund as a whole is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decline in price.

 

    Foreign Securities Risk – Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. In addition, foreign governments may impose withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income, capital gains or proceeds from the disposition of foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. The performance of the Fund may also be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly to the extent the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

 

    Frequent Trading Risk – The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund’s portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading of investments increases the possibility that the Fund, as relevant, will realize taxable capital gains (including short-term capital gains, which are generally taxable to shareholders at higher rates than long-term capital gains for U.S. federal income tax purposes), which could reduce the Fund’s after-tax return. Frequent trading can also mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund’s return. The trading costs and tax effects associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

 

    Geographic Focus Risk – The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s NAV may be more volatile than the NAV of a more geographically diversified fund.

Many of the countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses for the Fund. Also, securities of some companies in the region can be less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities, potentially making it difficult for the Fund to sell such securities at a desirable time and price.

The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. In addition, the private and public sectors’ debt problems of a single European Union (EU) country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. As a result, the Fund’s NAV may be more volatile than the NAV of a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.

 

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    Growth Securities Risk – Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.

 

    Issuer Risk – An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.

 

    Market Risk – Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions, debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.

 

    Preferred Stock Risk – Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).

 

    Sector Risk – At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. Generally, the more broadly the Fund invests, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.

The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.

 

    Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk – Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small- and mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.

 

    Special Situations Risk – Securities of companies that are involved in an initial public offering or a major corporate event, such as a business consolidation or restructuring, may be exposed to heightened risk because of the high degree of uncertainty that can be associated with such events. Securities issued in initial public offerings often are issued by companies that are in the early stages of development, have a history of little or no revenues and may operate at a loss following the offering. It is possible that there will be no active trading market for the securities after the offering, and that the market price of the securities may be subject to significant and unpredictable fluctuations. Certain “special situation” investments are investments in securities or other instruments that are determined to be illiquid or lacking a readily ascertainable fair value. Certain special situation investments prevent ownership interests therein from being withdrawn until the special situation investment, or a portion thereof, is realized or deemed realized, which may negatively impact Fund performance. Investing in special situations may have a magnified effect on the performance of funds with small amounts of assets.

 

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Comparison of Performance

The following bar charts and tables provide some illustration of the risks of investing in the Funds by showing, respectively:

 

    how each Fund’s performance has varied for each full calendar year shown in the bar chart; and

 

    how each Fund’s average annual total returns compare to certain measures of market performance shown in the table.

Both the bar charts and the tables assume that all distributions have been reinvested. The performance of different classes varies because of differences in sales charges and other fees and expenses. How a Fund has performed in the past (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. The performance shown reflects any fee waiver or expense reimbursement arrangements in effect for the periods reported. In the absence of such fee waiver or expense reimbursement arrangements, the performance shown would have been lower.

Bar Charts. Class A share information is shown in the bar charts; the sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in the bar charts.

Tables. The tables below show total returns (after applicable sales charges as shown in the Shareholder Fees section of this combined proxy statement/prospectus) from hypothetical investments in the indicated classes of shares of each Fund. The returns shown are compared to broad measures of market performance shown for the same periods.

The inception date of the Selling Fund’s Class A shares is August 1, 2000. The returns shown for one or more of the remaining share classes in the table below begin before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class A shares (without applicable sales charges and adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses and sales charges (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.

The inception date of the Buying Fund’s Class A shares is June 3, 1992. The returns shown for one or more of the remaining share classes in the table below begin before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class A shares (without applicable sales charges and adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses and sales charges (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.

 

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After-Tax Returns

The after-tax returns shown in the Average Annual Total Returns table below are calculated using the highest historical individual U.S. federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state, local or foreign taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your personal tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown in the table do not apply to shares held in tax-advantaged accounts such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and will vary for other share classes. Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares are higher than before-tax returns for certain periods shown because they reflect the tax benefit of capital losses realized on the redemption of Fund shares.

Columbia International Opportunities Fund (Selling Fund)

CLASS A SHARE PERFORMANCE

(based on calendar years)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was +26.57% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -27.68% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

These returns do not reflect deductions of sales charges, if any, paid by investors and would be lower if they did. The performance of other share classes may vary from that shown because of differences in expenses.

The Fund’s Class A shares year-to-date return at September 30, 2015 was -6.61%.

 

LOGO

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Buying Fund)

CLASS A SHARE PERFORMANCE

(based on calendar years)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was +25.94% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -24.41% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).

These returns do not reflect deductions of sales charges, if any, paid by investors and would be lower if they did. The performance of other share classes may vary from that shown because of differences in expenses.

The Fund’s Class A shares year-to-date return at September 30, 2015 was -3.84%.

 

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Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)

 

Columbia International Opportunities Fund (Selling Fund):    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class A

         

Return before taxes

     08/01/2000         -10.24     3.97     3.87

Return after taxes on distributions

        -10.15     3.94     3.27

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

        -5.63     3.19     3.19

Class B

         

Return before taxes

     08/01/2000         -10.31     4.08     3.70

Class C

         

Return before taxes

     08/01/2000         -6.53     4.41     3.71

Class I

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         -4.44     5.68     4.72

Class R

         

Return before taxes

     01/23/2006         -5.02     4.95     4.23

Class R4

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         -4.56     5.31     4.54

Class Z

         

Return before taxes

     08/01/2000         -4.65     5.47     4.74

MSCI EAFE Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)

        -4.90     5.33     4.43

Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)

 

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Buying Fund):    Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class A

         

Return before taxes

     06/03/1992         -11.44     2.39     2.42

Return after taxes on distributions

        -11.33     2.32     1.79

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares

        -6.37     2.00     2.09

Class B

         

Return before taxes

     06/07/1993         -11.44     2.47     2.25

Class C

         

Return before taxes

     06/17/1992         -7.71     2.84     2.26

Class I

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         -5.56     4.08     3.38

 

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     Share Class
Inception
Date
     1 year     5 years     10 years  

Class K

         

Return before taxes

     03/07/2011         -5.87     3.79     3.18

Class R

         

Return before taxes

     01/23/2006         -6.34     3.36     2.77

Class R4

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         -5.83     3.88     3.28

Class R5

         

Return before taxes

     11/08/2012         -5.68     3.95     3.32

Class W

         

Return before taxes

     09/27/2010         -6.03     3.63     3.04

Class Y

         

Return before taxes

     03/07/2011         -5.56     4.06     3.37

Class Z

         

Return before taxes

     12/02/1991         -5.86     3.88     3.28

MSCI EAFE Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)

     

 

-4.90

    5.33     4.43

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT EACH REORGANIZATION

Terms of Each Reorganization

The Board of each Fund has approved the Agreement. While shareholders are encouraged to review the Agreement, which has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this combined proxy statement/prospectus is a part, the following is a summary of certain terms of the Agreement:

 

    Each Reorganization is expected to occur before the end of the first half of 2016, subject to approval by Selling Fund shareholders, receipt of any necessary regulatory approvals and satisfaction of any other conditions to closing. However, following such approvals, each Reorganization may happen at any time agreed to by the applicable Selling Fund and the corresponding Buying Fund.

 

    Each Selling Fund will transfer all of its assets to the corresponding Buying Fund and, in exchange, the corresponding Buying Fund will assume all the Selling Fund’s liabilities and will issue Reorganization Shares to the Selling Fund. The value of each Selling Fund’s assets, as well as the number of Reorganization Shares to be issued to the Selling Fund, will be determined in accordance with the Agreement. The Reorganization Shares will have an aggregate net asset value on the business day immediately preceding the closing of the Reorganization equal to the value of the assets received from the Selling Fund, less the liabilities assumed by the corresponding Buying Fund in the transaction. The Reorganization Shares will immediately be distributed to Selling Fund shareholders in proportion to their holdings of shares of the Selling Fund, in liquidation of the Selling Fund. As a result, shareholders of the Selling Fund will become shareholders of the corresponding Buying Fund. No shareholders of any Selling Fund will pay any sales charge in connection with its Reorganization.

 

    The net asset value of each Selling Fund and the corresponding Buying Fund will be computed as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the business day next preceding the closing date of the applicable Reorganization.

Conditions to Closing Each Reorganization

The completion of each Reorganization is subject to certain conditions described in the Agreement, including:

 

    The Selling Fund will have declared and paid one or more dividends that, together with all previous dividends, will distribute all of the Selling Fund’s net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to the shareholders of the Selling Fund for its tax year ending on the closing date of the Reorganization, and for prior tax years to the extent such dividends are eligible to be treated as paid in respect of such prior tax years.

 

    The Selling Fund and the corresponding Buying Fund will have received any approvals, consents or exemptions from the SEC or any other regulatory body necessary to carry out the Reorganization.

 

    A registration statement on Form N-14 relating to the Reorganization will have been filed with the SEC and become effective.

 

    The shareholders of the Selling Fund will have approved the Agreement by the requisite vote.

 

    The Selling Fund and the corresponding Buying Fund will have received an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that, as described in more detail in the section entitled “Tax Status of the Reorganizations,” the shareholders of the Selling Fund will not recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the exchange of their Selling Fund shares for the Reorganization Shares of the corresponding Buying Fund in connection with the Reorganization and the Selling Fund generally will not recognize gain or loss as a direct result of the Reorganization.

Termination of the Agreement

The Agreement and the transactions contemplated by it may be terminated and abandoned with respect to any Reorganization by mutual agreement of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund at any time prior to the closing date thereof, or by either the Selling Fund or the Buying Fund in the event of a material breach of the Agreement by the other Fund or a failure of any condition precedent to the terminating Fund’s obligations under the Agreement. In the event of a termination, Columbia Threadneedle will bear all costs associated with the Reorganization.

Tax Status of the Reorganizations

Each Reorganization is intended to qualify for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a tax-free reorganization under section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a condition to the closing of each Reorganization, the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund will receive an opinion from Ropes & Gray LLP substantially to the effect that, as further described below, on the basis of existing provisions of the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations issued thereunder, current administrative rules, pronouncements and court decisions, generally for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

    The Reorganization will constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the Code, and the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund will each be “a party to a reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code.

 

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    Under Sections 361 and 357 of the Code, the Selling Fund will not recognize gain or loss upon the transfer of all of its assets to the Buying Fund in exchange for Reorganization Shares and the assumption by the Buying Fund of all of the liabilities of the Selling Fund, or upon the distribution of the Reorganization Shares by the Selling Fund to its shareholders in liquidation, except for (A) any gain or loss recognized on (1) “Section 1256 contracts” as defined in Section 1256(b) of the Code or (2) stock in a “passive foreign investment company” as defined in Section 1297(a) of the Code, and (B) any other gain or loss required to be recognized by reason of the Reorganization (1) as a result of the closing of the tax year of the Selling Fund, (2) upon the termination of a position, or (3) upon the transfer of such asset regardless of whether such a transfer would otherwise be a nontaxable transaction under the Code.

 

    Under Section 354 of the Code, the shareholders of the Selling Fund will not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of their Selling Fund shares for Reorganization Shares.

 

    Under Section 358 of the Code, the aggregate tax basis of Reorganization Shares that a Selling Fund shareholder receives in the Reorganization will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the Selling Fund shares exchanged therefor.

 

    Under Section 1223(1) of the Code, a Selling Fund shareholder’s holding period for the Reorganization Shares received in the Reorganization will include the shareholder’s holding period for the Selling Fund shares exchanged therefor, provided the shareholder held such Selling Fund shares as capital assets.

 

    Under Section 1032 of the Code, the Buying Fund will not recognize gain or loss upon the receipt of assets of the Selling Fund in exchange for Reorganization Shares and the assumption by the Buying Fund of all of the liabilities of the Selling Fund.

 

    Under Section 362(b) of the Code, the Buying Fund’s tax basis in the assets of the Selling Fund transferred to the Buying Fund in the Reorganization will be the same as the Selling Fund’s tax basis in such assets immediately prior to the Reorganization, adjusted for any gain or loss required to be recognized as described in the second bullet.

 

    Under Section 1223(2) of the Code, the Buying Fund’s holding periods in the assets received from the Selling Fund in the Reorganization, other than any asset with respect to which gain or loss is required to be recognized as described in the second bullet, will include the periods during which such assets were held or treated for federal income tax purposes as being held by the Selling Fund.

 

    The Buying Fund will succeed to and take into account the items of the Selling Fund described in Section 381(c) of the Code, subject to the conditions and limitations specified in Sections 381, 382, 383 and 384 of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

 

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Each opinion will be based on certain factual certifications made by the officers of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund and will also be based on customary assumptions. Each opinion will note and distinguish certain published precedent. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or a court could disagree with Ropes & Gray LLP’s opinion, which therefore cannot be free from doubt.

Opinions of counsel are not binding upon the IRS or the courts. If a Reorganization were consummated but did not qualify as a tax-free reorganization under the Code, a shareholder of the Selling Fund would recognize a taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes equal to the difference between its tax basis in its Selling Fund shares and the fair market value of the Reorganization Shares it received. Shareholders of a Selling Fund should consult their tax advisers regarding the effect, if any, of the Reorganization in light of their individual circumstances.

A portion of the portfolio assets of each Buying Fund and Selling Fund may be sold at any time before or after the Reorganization in connection with its Reorganization. The actual tax effect of any such sales depends on the difference between the price at which such portfolio assets are sold and the tax basis in such assets of the Fund making the sale. Any capital gains recognized in these sales on a net basis, after reduction by any available capital losses, will be distributed to shareholders as capital gain dividends (to the extent of net realized long-term capital gains over net realized short-term capital losses) and/or ordinary dividends (to the extent of net realized short-term capital gains over net realized long-term capital losses) during or with respect to the year of sale, and such distributions will be taxable to shareholders. Each Reorganization will end the tax year of the applicable Selling Fund, and potentially will accelerate any distributions to shareholders from the Selling Fund for its short tax year ending on the date of the Reorganization. Those tax year-end distributions will be taxable and will include any undistributed capital gains resulting from portfolio turnover prior to the Reorganization.

More generally, prior to the closing of each Reorganization, the Selling Fund will, and the Buying Fund may, declare a distribution to shareholders, which, together with all previous distributions, will have the effect of distributing to shareholders all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), net tax-exempt income, if any, and net realized capital gains, if any, through the closing of the Reorganization, and may include undistributed income or gains from prior years. These distributions will be taxable to shareholders, and such distributions by the Selling Fund will include any distributable, but undistributed, capital gains resulting from portfolio turnover prior to the Reorganization.

A Fund’s ability to carry forward capital losses and to use them to offset future gains may be limited as a result of its Reorganization. First, a Fund’s “pre-acquisition losses” (including capital loss carryforwards, net current-year capital losses, and unrealized losses that exceed certain thresholds) may become unavailable to offset gains of the combined Fund to the extent such pre-acquisition losses exceed an annual limitation amount. Second, one Fund’s pre-acquisition losses cannot be used to offset gains in another Fund that are unrealized (“built in”) at the time of the Reorganization and that exceed certain thresholds (“non-de minimis built-in gains”) for five tax years. Third, the Selling Fund’s loss carryforwards, as limited under the previous two rules, are permitted to offset only that portion of the gains of the Buying Fund for the taxable year of the Reorganization that is equal to the portion of the Buying Fund’s taxable year that follows the date of the Reorganization (prorated according to number of days). Therefore, in certain circumstances, shareholders of a Fund may pay taxes sooner, or pay more taxes, than they would have had the Reorganization not occurred.

In addition, the combined Fund will have tax attributes that reflect a blending of the tax attributes of each Fund at the time of the Reorganization (including as affected by the rules described above). Therefore, the shareholders of the Selling Fund will in each case receive a proportionate share of any unrealized gains in the combined Fund’s assets, as well as any taxable income or gains realized by the Buying Fund but not distributed to its shareholders prior to the Reorganization, when such income or gains are eventually distributed by the Buying Fund. As a result, shareholders of the Selling Fund may receive a greater amount of taxable distributions than they would have had the Reorganization not occurred. In addition, any pre-acquisition losses of the Selling Fund (whether realized or unrealized) remaining after the operation of the limitation rules described above will become available to offset capital gains realized by the combined Fund after the Reorganization and thus may reduce subsequent capital gain distributions to a broader group of shareholders than would have been the case absent such Reorganization, such that the benefit of those losses to Selling Fund shareholders may be further reduced relative to what the benefit would have been had the Reorganization not occurred.

The realized and unrealized gains and losses of each Fund at the time of the Reorganization, and the occurrence of other Reorganizations involving the same Buying Fund, will determine the extent to which the combining Funds’ respective losses, both realized and unrealized, will be available to reduce gains realized by the combined Fund following the Reorganization, and consequently the extent to which the combined Fund may be required to distribute gains to its shareholders earlier or in greater amounts than would have been the case absent the Reorganization. The effect of the rules described above will depend on the relative sizes of, and the losses and gains (both realized and unrealized) in, each Fund at the time of the Reorganization and thus cannot be calculated precisely prior to the Reorganization.

 

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The following paragraphs provide a brief summary of the tax effect of each Reorganization assuming all Reorganizations occurred on September 30, 2015. As noted above, the tax effect of a Reorganization depends on each Fund’s relative tax situation at the time of the Reorganization, which situation will be different than the tax situation on September 30, 2015 and cannot be calculated precisely prior to the Reorganization. Portfolio turnover in a Fund, market fluctuations, redemption activity, the nonoccurrence of one or more other Reorganizations into the same Buying Fund, or changes in the tax laws could cause the actual tax effect of the Reorganization to differ substantially from that described below. For purposes of the following discussion, a Fund’s “net realized losses” consist of its capital loss carryforwards plus year-to-date net realized losses or net of year-to-date net realized gains, in each case as of September 30, 2015.

Proposal 1. Reorganization of Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund into Columbia Contrarian Core Fund.

As of September 30, 2015, the Selling Fund had no net realized losses, negligible year-to-date net realized gains and net unrealized gains equal to about 19% of net assets. The Buying Fund had negligible year-to-date net realized losses and net unrealized gains equal to about 11% of net assets.

If the Reorganization had occurred on September 30, 2015, it would have enabled the Selling Fund to spread its proportionately larger net unrealized gains, if and when realized after the Reorganization, across the larger combined Fund, resulting in a potential tax benefit to Selling Fund shareholders and a potential tax cost to Buying Fund shareholders.

Proposal 2. Reorganizations of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund.

As of September 30, 2015, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II had, net of year-to-date realized gains, net realized losses equal to about 164% of net assets, consisting of carryforward losses set to expire in four years, and net unrealized gains equal to about 9% of net assets. Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III had no net realized losses, year-to-date realized gains equal to about 16% of net assets and net unrealized gains equal to about 12% of net assets. Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV had year-to-date net realized losses equal to about 5% of net assets and net unrealized gains equal to about 8% of net assets. Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V had no net realized losses, year-to-date net realized gains equal to about 22% of net assets and net unrealized gains equal to about 10% of net assets. Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund had year-to-date net realized gains equal to about 1% of net assets, carryforward losses equal to less than 1% of net assets, all of which were set to expire in one to two years, and net unrealized gains equal to about 15% of net assets.

If all four Reorganizations had occurred on September 30, 2015, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II would have been required to share its proportionately larger net realized losses with the larger combined Fund, thereby creating a potential tax cost to its shareholders and potential tax benefits to shareholders of the other four Funds. The loss limitation rules would have limited the combined Fund’s ability to use the net realized losses shared by Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II to offset gains recognized, thereby potentially resulting in turn in earlier and larger taxable distributions and therefore adding to the potential tax cost to Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II shareholders, as well as diminishing the potential tax benefits to shareholders of the other four Funds. Each of the other four Funds would have become subject to its own annual loss limitation, but that limitation would have had no effect on Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III or Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V shareholders, as those three Funds had no pre-Reorganization losses, and little to no effect on Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV shareholders, as that Fund’s only realized losses were from the year to date, and not substantially in excess of the annual loss limitation. Finally, if and when realized after the Reorganizations, the proportionately larger net unrealized gains of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund would have been spread across the larger combined Fund, thereby adding to the potential tax benefit to its shareholders and the potential tax cost to shareholders of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, and reducing or eliminating the potential tax benefit to shareholders of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V.

Proposal 3. Reorganization of Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund into Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund.

As of September 30, 2015, the Selling Fund had no net realized losses, and net realized and unrealized gains each equal to about 3% of net assets. Buying Fund had, net of year-to-date realized gains, net realized losses equal to about 1% of net assets, consisting of carryforward losses set to expire in one to two years, and net unrealized gains equal to about 20% of net assets.

If the Reorganization had occurred on September 30, 2015, it would have enabled the Buying Fund to spread its proportionately larger net unrealized gains, if and when realized after the Reorganization, across the larger combined Fund, resulting in a potential tax cost to Selling Fund shareholders and a potential tax benefit to Buying Fund shareholders.

Proposal 4. Reorganization of Columbia International Value Fund into Columbia Overseas Value Fund.

As of September 30, 2015, the Selling Fund had, net of year-to-date realized gains, net realized losses equal to about 322% of net assets, consisting of carryforward losses about half of which were set to expire in three to four years and the other half of which never expire. The Selling Fund had net unrealized losses equal to about 10% of net assets. Buying Fund had, net of year-to-date realized gains, net realized losses equal to about 2% of net assets, consisting of carryforward losses a portion of which were subject to a prior loss limitation and the majority of which never expire. The Buying Fund had net unrealized losses equal to about 5% of net assets.

 

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If the Reorganization had occurred on September 30, 2015, it would have caused Selling Fund’s carryforward losses otherwise set to expire, to expire one year earlier than they otherwise would have, and the Selling Fund would have become subject to an annual loss limitation, but, given the tax rule requiring nonexpiring losses to be used first, those expiring loss carryforwards would almost surely have expired unused in any event. Thus, as a practical matter the limitation would have limited only the combined Fund’s use of the Selling Fund’s nonexpiring losses. The Reorganization would nonetheless have required the Selling Fund to share its proportionately larger net realized losses with the larger combined Fund, thereby adding to the potential tax cost to Selling Fund shareholders and resulting in a potential tax benefit to Buying Fund shareholders.

Proposal 5. Reorganization of Columbia International Opportunities Fund into Columbia Select International Equity Fund.

As of September 30, 2015, the Selling Fund had, net of year-to-date realized gains, net realized losses equal to about 575% of net assets, consisting of carryforward losses set to expire in two to three years, and net unrealized losses equal to about 13% of net assets. Buying Fund had, net of year-to-date realized gains, net realized losses equal to about 143% of net assets, consisting of carryforward losses all of which were set to expire in one to two years, and net unrealized losses equal to about 2% of net assets.

If the Reorganization had occurred on September 30, 2015, it would have caused Selling Fund’s carryforward losses to expire one year earlier than they otherwise would have, thereby resulting in a potential tax cost to Selling Fund shareholders. The Selling Fund would have technically also become subject to an annual loss limitation; the loss limitation would not have had any practical effect, as Buying Fund had ample carryforward losses to offset any gains. The Reorganization would have had no tax effect on Buying Fund shareholders, as Buying Fund’s carryforward losses would not have been subject to limitation, and would have sufficed to offset any realized gains of the combined Fund.

Reasons for the Proposed Reorganizations and Board Deliberations

Each Reorganization was reviewed by the Board of the Selling Fund involved therein, with the advice and assistance of Fund counsel and independent legal counsel to such Board. Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V, Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund, Columbia International Value Fund and Columbia International Opportunities Fund are overseen by one Board (the “Columbia Funds Board”); Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund is overseen by a second Board (the “Columbia Atlantic Board”). Information on the members of the Columbia Funds Board and the Columbia Atlantic Board and their respective governance structures can be found in Exhibit A to the Statement of Additional Information dated [•]. At regular meetings of the Columbia Funds Board in November 2015 and December 2015 and of the Columbia Atlantic Board or a Committee thereof in November 2015 and December 2015, each Board considered the Reorganization of each Selling Fund overseen by it, as proposed by Columbia Threadneedle. In connection with those Board or Committee meetings, Columbia Threadneedle and its affiliates provided background materials, analyses and other information to each Board regarding, among other things, the topics discussed below, including responses to specific requests by each Board, and responded to questions raised by each Board or Committee at those meetings.

After each Board reviewed, evaluated and discussed the materials, analyses and information provided to it that the Board considered relevant to its deliberations, each Board, including the independent Board members thereof, unanimously approved the Reorganization of each Selling Fund overseen by it. Each Board, including the independent Board members thereof, also unanimously determined that participation by each Selling Fund overseen by it in its Reorganization was in the best interests of the Selling Fund and that the interests of existing shareholders of the Selling Fund would not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization.

The general factors considered by each Board in assessing and approving each applicable Reorganization included, among others, in no order of priority:

 

  1. various potential benefits of the Reorganization to the shareholders of the Selling Fund;

 

  2. the Reorganization as part of Columbia Threadneedle’s overall commitment to streamline and to improve its fund offerings for the benefit of Fund shareholders;

 

  3. the substantial similarities of the investment objectives and principal investment strategies of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund;

 

  4. the operating expenses that shareholders of each class of shares of the Selling Fund are expected to experience as shareholders of the Buying Fund after the Reorganization relative to the operating expenses currently borne by such shareholders, including that, on a net basis, such expenses generally are expected to decline or remain the same as a result of the Reorganization (see “Fees and Expenses”);

 

  5. the current assets of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund, and the anticipated combined pro forma assets of the Buying Fund after the Reorganization and potential for economies of scale;

 

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  6. the portfolio management team expected to be responsible for the combined Fund, and the historical performance of the Selling Fund and the Buying Fund, recognizing that no assurances can be given that the Buying Fund will achieve any particular level of performance after the Reorganization;

 

  7. the likelihood that the Selling Fund would achieve and/or maintain sufficient size to ensure its continued economic viability absent the Reorganization, and the Buying Fund’s relative prospects for attracting additional assets after the Reorganization;

 

  8. the anticipated tax-free nature of the exchange of shares in the Reorganization, and other expected U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reorganization, including potential limitations on the Buying Fund’s use of the Selling Fund’s pre-merger losses for U.S. federal income tax purposes after the Reorganization and the potential diminution of the Buying Fund’s ability to use those losses to offset future gains (see “Tax Status of the Reorganizations”);

 

  9. the potential benefits of the Reorganization to Columbia Threadneedle and its affiliates;

 

  10. that shareholders of the Selling Fund will experience no material change in shareholder services as a result of the Reorganization;

 

  11. any brokerage costs resulting from the Reorganization (e.g., the Selling Fund’s turnover associated with and resulting from the sale of any securities the Buying Fund cannot, or does not wish to, acquire);

 

  12. that the direct costs associated with the Reorganization will be borne by the Selling Fund only to the extent that Columbia Threadneedle anticipates a reduction in expenses to shareholders of the Selling Fund in the first year following the Reorganization; and

 

  13. Columbia Threadneedle’s representation that the Reorganization is not expected to result in the diminution in the level or quality of services that the Selling Fund shareholders currently receive.

In their deliberations, the Boards did not identify any single factor that was paramount or controlling and individual Board members may have attributed different weights to various factors. Each Board also evaluated the information available to it on a Selling Fund-by-Selling Fund basis, and made determinations separately in respect of each Selling Fund it oversees. Certain of the factors considered by each Board are discussed in more detail below.

STREAMLINED PRODUCT LINE. Each Board considered that the Reorganizations are part of a larger effort intended, among other things, to streamline Columbia Threadneedle’s product offerings by reducing the number of funds in the Columbia Fund Complex. Reducing the number of funds in the complex is intended to enhance the funds’ prospects for attracting additional assets by better differentiating the funds for potential shareholders (which may lead to a more concentrated selling effort).

CONTINUITY OF INVESTMENT. Each Board took into account the fact that each applicable Selling Fund and its corresponding Buying Fund have substantially similar investment objectives and principal investment strategies. Specifically, the relevant Board noted the following with respect to each Reorganization:

Proposal 1

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund into Columbia Contrarian Core Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Atlantic Board considered that both Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund and the Buying Fund have similar investment objectives. The Board noted that the Funds have similar principal investment strategies as each Fund normally invests primarily in common stocks that have larger market capitalizations (generally over $2 billion). The Board also noted that the Funds have the same lead portfolio manager.

Proposal 2

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered that the Funds have similar investment objectives. The Board noted that the Funds have similar principal investment strategies as each Fund normally invests primarily in common stocks and securities that can be converted into common stocks. The Board noted that the Funds have the same principal investment strategies. The Board noted that each Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of large-capitalization companies with market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 Growth Index at the time of purchase (between $908 million and $688.4 billion as of October 31, 2015). The Board also noted that, as of November 20, 2015, the Funds share the same portfolio management team.

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered that the Funds have similar investment objectives. The Board noted that the Funds have similar principal investment strategies as each Fund normally invests primarily in common stocks and securities that can be converted into common stocks. The Board also noted that the Funds have similar principal investment strategies. The

 

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Board noted that each Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of large-capitalization companies with market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 Growth Index at the time of purchase (between $908 million and $688.4 billion as of October 31, 2015). The Board also noted that, as of November 20, 2015, the Funds share the same portfolio management team. The Board did note that the Selling Fund portfolio is significantly more concentrated than that of the Buying Fund.

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered that the Funds have similar investment objectives. The Board noted that the Funds have similar principal investment strategies as each Fund normally invests primarily in common stocks and securities that can be converted into common stocks. The Board also noted that the Funds have the same principal investment strategies. The Board noted that each Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of large-capitalization companies with market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 Growth Index at the time of purchase (between $908 million and $688.4 billion as of October 31, 2015). The Board also noted that, as of November 20, 2015, the Funds share the same portfolio management team.

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered that the Funds have similar investment objectives. The Board noted that the Funds have similar principal investment strategies as each Fund normally invests primarily in common stocks and securities that can be converted into common stocks. The Board also noted that the Funds have the same principal investment strategies. The Board noted that each Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of large-capitalization companies with market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 Growth Index at the time of purchase (between $908 million and $688.4 billion as of October 31, 2015). The Board also noted that, as of November 20, 2015, the Funds share the same portfolio management team.

Proposal 3

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund into Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered that the Funds seek the same investment objective. The Board also noted that the Funds have similar principal investment strategies. The Board noted that the Buying Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of smaller capitalization issuers that have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 2000 Value Index at the time of purchase (between $44 million and $4.6 billion as of October 31, 2015). The Board further noted that Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in small cap companies that have a market capitalization, at the time of investment, of up to $2.5 billion or that fall within the range of the Russell 2000 Value Index. The Board did consider though that the Buying Fund is managed directly and exclusively by Columbia Threadneedle, whereas the Selling Fund currently has multiple subadvisers responsible for day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund subject to the oversight of Columbia Threadneedle.

Proposal 4

Columbia International Value Fund into Columbia Overseas Value Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered that the Funds seek the same investment objective and have the same principal investment strategies. Each Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of foreign companies that have market capitalizations of more than $1 billion at the time of purchase. The Board also noted that the Funds share the same portfolio management team.

Proposal 5

Columbia International Opportunities Fund into Columbia Select International Equity Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered that the Funds seek the same investment objective. The Board also considered that the Funds have similar principal investment strategies. The Board noted that the Selling Fund normally invests at least 65% of its total assets in equity securities of companies located in at least three countries other than the United States, including emerging market countries, while the Buying Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of established companies located in at least three countries other than the United States, including emerging market countries. The Board also noted that the Funds share the same portfolio management team.

EXPENSE RATIO. Each Board took into account the fact that the total annual operating expense ratio of each applicable Selling Fund (net of applicable waivers/reimbursements) is generally expected to decrease or remain unchanged following its Reorganization.

 

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INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE. Each Board considered the relative performance record of each Selling Fund overseen by it and of each corresponding Buying Fund, noting, however, that past performance is no guarantee of future results. Specifically, the relevant Board noted the following with respect to each Reorganization:

Proposal 1

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund into Columbia Contrarian Core Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Atlantic Board considered the relative performance of the Funds for periods ending September 30, 2015, during which Columbia Contrarian Core Fund’s performance was better for the one-, five-, and ten-year periods, but Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund’s performance was better for the three-year period.

Proposal 2

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered the relative performance of the Funds for periods ending September 30, 2015, during which Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund’s performance was better for the one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods, but Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund’s performance was better for the three-year period.

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered the relative performance of the Funds for periods ending September 30, 2015, during which Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund’s performance was better for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods. The Board noted, however, that since November 20, 2015, both Funds now have the same portfolio management team, which is managing both Funds in a substantially similar investment style.

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered the relative performance of the Funds for periods ending September 30, 2015, during which Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund’s performance was better for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods. The Board noted that ten-year performance information for Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV was not available. The Board further noted that since November 20, 2015, both Funds now have the same portfolio management team, which is managing both Funds in a substantially similar investment style.

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered the relative performance of the Funds for periods ending September 30, 2015, during which the Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund’s performance was better for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods. The Board noted, however, that since November 20, 2015, both Funds now have the same portfolio management team, which is managing both Funds in a substantially similar investment style.

Proposal 3

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund into Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered the relative performance of the Funds for periods ending September 30, 2015, during which Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund’s performance was better for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods.

Proposal 4

Columbia International Value Fund into Columbia Overseas Value Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered the relative performance of the Funds for periods ending September 30, 2015, during which Columbia Overseas Value Fund’s performance was better for the one- and five-year periods, but Columbia International Value Fund’s performance was better for the three- and ten-year periods. The Board noted that ten-year performance information for Columbia Overseas Value Fund was not available and that since 2013, both Funds have had the same portfolio management team, which is managing both Funds in a substantially similar investment style.

 

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Proposal 5

Columbia International Opportunities Fund into Columbia Select International Equity Fund.

Among other factors, the Columbia Funds Board considered the relative performance of the Funds for periods ending September 30, 2015, during which Columbia International Opportunities Fund’s performance was better for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods.

ECONOMIES OF SCALE. Each Board observed that, in addition to the potential to realize immediate economies associated with consolidating each Selling Fund into a larger combined Fund, such as the elimination of duplicative costs, the combined funds may be able to take advantage of other economies of scale associated with larger funds. For example, a larger fund may benefit from fee breakpoints more quickly, may have an enhanced ability to effect portfolio transactions on favorable terms and may have greater investment flexibility. Each Board also considered the potential benefits and economies of scale to Columbia Threadneedle resulting from the Reorganizations, in the long-term, and whether those benefits were shared with Fund shareholders. Each Board also considered Columbia Threadneedle’s belief that each Buying Fund would be better positioned to experience growth in assets from investor inflows than each Selling Fund overseen by such Board.

Board Recommendation and Required Vote

The Board of each Selling Fund unanimously recommends that shareholders of that Selling Fund approve the proposed Agreement.

For each Selling Fund, the Agreement must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Selling Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. A vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Selling Fund is defined in the 1940 Act as the affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the voting securities of the Selling Fund that are present or represented by proxy at the Meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Selling Fund are present or represented by proxy at the Meeting; or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Selling Fund.

If the Agreement is not approved for a Selling Fund, the applicable Board will consider what further action should be taken with respect to the Selling Fund. The approval of the Reorganization of one Selling Fund is not conditioned upon the approval of the Reorganization of any other Selling Fund.

If shareholders approve the Reorganization of a Selling Fund, it is anticipated that the Reorganization would occur before the end of the first half of 2016.

 

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SECTION B — PROXY VOTING AND SHAREHOLDER MEETING INFORMATION

Voting. Shareholders of record of each Selling Fund on January 22, 2016 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to vote at the Meeting. With respect to each Reorganization, shares of each of Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV and Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund are entitled to one vote for each dollar of net asset value (number of shares owned times net asset value per share), or a proportional fractional vote for each fractional dollar, represented by those shares on the Record Date, and shares of each of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V, Columbia International Value Fund and Columbia International Opportunities Fund are entitled to one vote per share or a proportional fractional vote for each fractional share. All share classes of a Selling Fund will vote together as one class on the Selling Fund’s proposed Reorganization. The total number of shares of each class of each Selling Fund outstanding as of the close of business on the Record Date, and the total number of votes to which shareholders of such class are entitled at the Meeting, are set forth below.

 

     Class A    Class B    Class C    Class I    Class K    Class R    Class R4    Class R5    Class W    Class Y    Class Z    Total

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund

                                   

Shares Outstanding

                                   

Total Votes to which Entitled

                                   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II

                                   

Shares Outstanding

                                   

Total Votes to which Entitled

                                   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III

                                   

Shares Outstanding

                                   

Total Votes to which Entitled

                                   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV

                                   

Shares Outstanding

                                   

Total Votes to which Entitled

                                   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V

                                   

Shares Outstanding

                                   

Total Votes to which Entitled

                                   

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

                                   

Shares Outstanding

                                   

Total Votes to which Entitled

                                   

Columbia International Value Fund

                                   

Shares Outstanding

                                   

Total Votes to which Entitled

                                   

Columbia International Opportunities Fund

                                   

Shares Outstanding

                                   

Total Votes to which Entitled

                                   

Quorum and Methods of Tabulation. A quorum is required for shareholders of a Selling Fund to take action at the Meeting. For Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V, Columbia International Value Fund and Columbia International Opportunities Fund, thirty three and one-third percent (33  1 / 3 %) of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote, present at the Meeting in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum. For Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund, thirty percent (30%) of the votes entitled to be cast at the Meeting, present at the Meeting in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum. For Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV and Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund, ten percent (10%) of the votes entitled to be cast at the Meeting, present at the Meeting in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum.

All shares represented at the Meeting in person or by proxy will be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum. Broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum but not toward the approval of any proposal. (Broker non-votes are shares for which the underlying owner has not voted and the broker holding the shares does not have authority to vote.) Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the effect of votes against the proposal. In certain circumstances in which a Selling Fund has received sufficient votes to approve a Reorganization, the Selling Fund may request that brokers and nominees, in their discretion, withhold submission of broker non-votes in order to avoid the need for solicitation of additional votes in favor of the proposal. A Selling Fund may also request that selected brokers and nominees, in their discretion, submit broker non-votes, if doing so is necessary to obtain a quorum.

If your shares are held in an IRA account, you have the right to vote those shares. If you do not provide voting instructions with respect to your shares, your IRA custodian may or may not, depending upon the terms of your IRA agreement, vote shares for which it has not received your voting instructions. Please consult your IRA agreement and/or financial advisor for more information.

Shareholder Proxies. If you properly authorize your proxy by internet or telephone, or by executing and returning the enclosed proxy card by mail, and your proxy is not subsequently revoked, your vote will be cast at the Meeting and at any postponement or adjournment thereof. If you give instructions, your vote will be cast in accordance with your instructions. If you return your signed proxy card without instructions, your vote will be cast in favor of the Reorganization of your Selling Fund. Your votes will be cast in the discretion of the proxy holders on any other matter that may properly come before the Meeting, including, but not limited to, proposing the adjournment of the Meeting with respect to one or more proposals in the event that sufficient votes in favor of any proposal are not received. Not all proposals affect each Selling Fund, and shareholders of a Selling Fund will be entitled to cast votes and authorize proxies on only those proposals affecting the Selling Fund in which they are shareholders. If you intend to vote in person at the Meeting, please call 800-708-7953 to obtain important information regarding your attendance at the Meeting, including directions.

 

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Proxy Statement Delivery. “Householding” is the term used to describe the practice of delivering one copy of a document to a household of shareholders instead of delivering one copy of a document to each shareholder in the household. Certain shareholders of the Selling Funds who share a common address and who have not opted out of the householding process may receive a single copy of the combined proxy statement/prospectus along with the proxy cards. If you received more than one copy of the combined proxy statement/prospectus, you may elect to household in the future if permitted by your financial intermediary. Contact the financial intermediary through which you purchased your shares to determine whether householding is an option for your account. If you received a single copy of the combined proxy statement/prospectus, you may opt out of householding in the future by contacting your financial intermediary.

An additional copy of this combined proxy statement/prospectus may be obtained by writing or calling the Selling Funds’ proxy solicitor, Computershare Fund Services, at c/o Operation Department, 280 Oser Avenue, Hauppauge, NY 11788, or toll free at 800-708-7953.

Revoking Your Proxy. If you execute, date and submit a proxy card with respect to your Selling Fund, you may revoke your proxy prior to the Meeting by providing written notice to the Funds’ proxy solicitor at Computershare Fund Services, c/o Operation Department, 280 Oser Avenue, Hauppauge, NY 11788, or change your vote by submitting a subsequently executed and dated proxy card, by authorizing your proxy by internet or telephone on a later date or by attending the Meeting and casting your vote in person. If you authorize your proxy by internet or telephone, you may change your vote prior to the Meeting by authorizing a subsequent proxy by internet or telephone or by completing, signing and returning a proxy card dated as of a date that is later than your last internet or telephone proxy authorization or by attending the Meeting and casting your vote in person. Merely attending the Meeting without voting will not revoke your prior proxy.

Simultaneous Meetings. The meeting for each Selling Fund will be held simultaneously with the meeting for each other Selling Fund, as well as certain other Columbia Funds with respect to other proposals, with each proposal being voted on separately by the shareholders of the relevant Selling Fund. If any shareholder objects to the holding of simultaneous meetings, the shareholder may move for an adjournment of his or her Selling Fund’s meeting to a time after the Meeting so that a meeting for that Selling Fund may be held separately. If a shareholder makes this motion, the persons named as proxies will take into consideration the reasons for the objection in deciding whether to vote in favor of the adjournment, and may vote for or against the adjournment in their discretion.

Solicitation of Proxies. The Board of each Selling Fund is asking for your vote and for you to vote as promptly as possible. The expenses of the solicitation will be allocated to each Fund subject to the limitations described in Exhibit A. Proxies will be solicited primarily through the mailing of the proxy statement/prospectus and its enclosures, but proxies also may be solicited through further mailings, telephone calls, personal interviews or e-mail by officers of each Selling Fund or by employees or agents of Columbia Threadneedle and its affiliated companies. In addition, Computershare Fund Services, 280 Oser Avenue, Hauppauge, NY 11788, has been engaged to assist in the solicitation of proxies, at the estimated cost set forth below, plus expenses.

 

Fund

   Estimated Cost  

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund

   $ [ •] 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II

   $ [ •] 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III

   $ [ •] 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV

   $ [ •] 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V

   $ [ •] 

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

   $ [ •] 

Columbia International Value Fund

   $ [ •] 

Columbia International Opportunities Fund

   $ [ •] 

Shareholder Proposals. The Selling Funds do not hold annual meetings of shareholders. Shareholders who wish to make a proposal not involving the nomination of a person for election as a trustee at a Selling Fund’s next special meeting that may be included in the Selling Fund’s proxy materials must notify the relevant Selling Fund a reasonable amount of time before the Selling Fund begins to print and mail its proxy materials. The fact that a Selling Fund receives such a shareholder proposal in a timely manner does not ensure inclusion of the proposal in the proxy materials, because there are other requirements in the proxy rules and the Selling Fund’s bylaws relating to such inclusion.

Dissenters’ Right of Appraisal. Shareholders of each Selling Fund have no appraisal or dissenters’ rights.

 

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Other Business. The Board of each Selling Fund does not know of any matters to be presented at the Meeting other than the Reorganizations. If other business should properly come before the Meeting, the persons named as proxies will vote thereon in their discretion.

Adjournment. If the quorum required for the Meeting has not been met for any Selling Fund, the persons named as proxies may propose adjournment of the Meeting and vote all shares that they are entitled to vote in favor of such adjournment. If the quorum required for the Meeting has been met, but sufficient votes in favor of one or more proposals are not received by the time scheduled for the Meeting, then the persons named as proxies may move for one or more adjournments of the Meeting as to one or more proposals to allow further solicitation of shareholders. The procedures for adjournment of the Meeting for each Selling Fund are as follows:

 

  For Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV and Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund, the Meeting may be adjourned by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present, and the Meeting may be held as adjourned within a reasonable time after the date set for the original Meeting without further notice.

 

  For Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V, Columbia International Value Fund and Columbia International Opportunities Fund, the Meeting may be adjourned, whether or not a quorum is present, by the vote of a majority of the shares represented at the Meeting, either in person or by proxy. If the Meeting is adjourned, notice does not need to be given of the adjourned Meeting date unless a new record date for the adjourned Meeting is set or unless the adjourned Meeting is to take place more than sixty (60) days from the date set for the original Meeting, in which case the Board would be required to set a new record date.

The persons named as proxies will vote in favor of adjournment with respect to a proposal those shares they are entitled to vote in favor of such proposal. They will vote against any such adjournment those shares they are required to vote against such proposal. The costs of any additional solicitation and of any adjourned Meeting will be borne in the same manner as the other expenses associated with the proposals described herein. Any proposal for which sufficient favorable votes have been received may be acted upon and considered final regardless of whether the Meeting is adjourned to permit additional solicitation with respect to any other proposal.

 

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Table of Contents

SECTION C — CAPITALIZATION, OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

This section contains the following information about the Buying Funds and the Selling Funds (all information is shown for the most recently ended fiscal year unless otherwise noted):

 

Table

  

Content

C-1    Current and pro forma capitalization of each Selling Fund and each Buying Fund
C-2    Current and pro forma ownership of shares of each Selling Fund and each Buying Fund
C-3    Financial highlights of each Buying Fund

The Funds’ Investment Manager and Distributor. Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, is the investment manager for each Fund. Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, is the distributor for each Fund.

Capitalization of Selling Funds and Buying Funds

The following table shows the capitalization as of August 31, 2015 for Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund and Columbia Contrarian Core Fund, July 31, 2015 for Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund, November 30, 2015 for Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund and Columbia Select Smaller Cap Value Fund, and August 31, 2015 for Columbia International Value Fund, Columbia Overseas Value Fund, Columbia International Opportunities Fund and Columbia Select International Equity Fund; and, with respect to each corresponding Buying Fund, on a pro forma basis, assuming the proposed Reorganization had taken place as of that date. The pro forma combined net assets are determined by adding the net assets of the Selling Fund(s) and the net assets of the corresponding Buying Fund. The pro forma combined shares outstanding are determined by dividing the net assets of the Selling Fund(s) by the net asset value per share of the corresponding Buying Fund and adding the actual shares outstanding of the corresponding Buying Fund.

Table C-1. Current and Pro Forma Capitalization of each Selling Fund and each Buying Fund

 

Fund    Net assets      Net asset
value per share
     Shares
outstanding*
 

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund (Selling Fund)

        

Class A

   $ 76,611,151       $ 45.18         1,695,749   

Class C

   $ 25,598,869       $ 44.52         574,952   

Class I

   $ 2,319       $ 45.04         51   

Class R

   $ 8,354,897       $ 45.10         185,263   

Class R4

   $ 5,336,622       $ 46.03         115,940   

Class R5

   $ 18,039,275       $ 46.05         391,767   

Class W

   $ 2,325       $ 45.16         51   

Class Y

   $ 1,105,091       $ 45.96         24,047   

Class Z

   $ 1,485,345,729       $ 45.15         32,896,062   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,620,396,278            35,883,882   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

        

Class A

   $ 2,297,175,615       $ 21.27         108,012,045   

Class B

   $ 9,551,323       $ 19.40         492,390   

Class C

   $ 409,798,122       $ 19.43         21,086,724   

Class I

   $ 425,920,745       $ 21.43         19,878,651   

Class K

   $ 115,149       $ 21.40         5,380   

Class R

   $ 50,047,986       $ 21.26         2,353,728   

Class R4

   $ 227,941,150       $ 21.74         10,486,234   

Class R5

   $ 336,042,780       $ 21.73         15,461,189   

Class T

   $ 143,303,896       $ 21.08         6,796,973   

Class W

   $ 118,262,234       $ 21.27         5,560,213   

Class Y

   $ 53,246,409       $ 21.75         2,448,637   

Class Z

   $ 2,119,278,368       $ 21.42         98,945,158   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 6,190,683,777            291,527,322   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
Fund    Net assets      Net asset
value per share
     Shares
outstanding*
 

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Pro Forma Combined)**

        

Class  A

   $ 2,373,764,531       $ 21.27         111,612,901   

Class B

   $ 9,551,318       $ 19.40         492,390   

Class C

   $ 435,389,763       $ 19.43         22,403,856   

Class I

   $ 425,922,822       $ 21.43         19,878,759   

Class K

   $ 115,149       $ 21.40         5,380   

Class R

   $ 58,400,572       $ 21.26         2,746,607   

Class R4

   $ 233,276,185       $ 21.74         10,731,642   

Class R5

   $ 354,076,935       $ 21.73         16,291,117   

Class T

   $ 143,303,815       $ 21.08         6,796,973   

Class W

   $ 118,264,491       $ 21.27         5,560,322   

Class Y

   $ 54,351,168       $ 21.75         2,499,432   

Class Z

   $ 3,604,216,985       $ 21.42         168,270,079   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 7,810,633,734            367,289,458   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (Selling Fund)

        

Class  A

   $ 474,864,119       $ 22.10         21,490,280   

Class B

   $ 19,164,082       $ 19.91         962,470   

Class C

   $ 244,172,442       $ 19.91         12,264,181   

Class R

   $ 19,710,660       $ 21.69         908,682   

Class R4

   $ 1,348,920       $ 23.17         58,209   

Class R5

   $ 363,141       $ 22.84         15,900   

Class Z

   $ 221,012,122       $ 22.79         9,698,168   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 980,635,486            45,397,890   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (Selling Fund)

        

Class  A

   $ 501,872,050       $ 19.90         25,215,230   

Class B

   $ 4,273,772       $ 15.97         267,607   

Class C

   $ 216,321,150       $ 16.09         13,446,663   

Class I

   $ 2,559       $ 21.08         121   

Class R4

   $ 19,424,393       $ 21.33         910,848   

Class R5

   $ 7,379,929       $ 21.42         344,528   

Class Z

   $ 266,207,168       $ 20.88         12,749,682   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,015,481,021            52,934,679   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (Selling Fund)

        

Class  A

   $ 85,176,393       $ 15.19         5,607,183   

Class C

   $ 26,767,764       $ 14.70         1,820,649   

Class I

   $ 2,480       $ 15.26         162   

Class R

   $ 802,810       $ 14.95         53,704   

Class R4

   $ 1,527,636       $ 15.16         100,781   

Class R5

   $ 976,915       $ 15.46         63,210   

Class Z

   $ 67,596,957       $ 15.32         4,412,135   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 182,850,955            12,057,824   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (Current) (Selling Fund)

        

Class  A

   $ 406,496,799       $ 22.67         17,928,334   

Class B

   $ 2,815,108       $ 19.11         147,324   

Class C

   $ 275,781,810       $ 19.15         14,398,688   

Class I

   $ 2,286       $ 23.47         97   

Class R

   $ 23,101,760       $ 22.14         1,043,292   

Class R4

   $ 25,316,877       $ 23.83         1,062,233   

Class R5

   $ 12,161,544       $ 23.85         509,950   

Class W

   $ 2,331       $ 22.69         103   

Class Z

   $ 763,041,297       $ 23.38         32,640,369   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,508,719,812            67,730,390   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
Fund    Net assets      Net asset
value per share
     Shares
outstanding*
 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

        

Class  A

   $ 1,870,451,775       $ 37.69         49,630,575   

Class B

   $ 17,337,835       $ 33.08         524,148   

Class C

   $ 85,723,737       $ 33.11         2,589,047   

Class E

   $ 16,539,470       $ 37.60         439,832   

Class F

   $ 870,995       $ 33.07         26,335   

Class I

   $ 179,141,522       $ 38.81         4,615,738   

Class K

   $ 176,190       $ 38.68         4,555   

Class R

   $ 5,421,229       $ 37.60         144,193   

Class R4

   $ 6,506,293       $ 39.49         164,779   

Class R5

   $ 3,879,453       $ 38.77         100,061   

Class T

   $ 197,025,572       $ 37.41         5,266,830   

Class W

   $ 144,249,901       $ 37.75         3,820,807   

Class Y

   $ 2,750,046       $ 38.83         70,820   

Class Z

   $ 1,049,379,822       $ 38.79         27,051,842   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,579,453,840            94,449,562   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Pro Forma Combined)

        

Class  A

   $ 3,338,735,225       $ 37.69         88,587,450   

Class B

   $ 43,590,068       $ 33.08         1,317,747   

Class C

   $ 848,703,599       $ 33.11         25,632,838   

Class E

   $ 16,539,460       $ 37.60         439,832   

Class F

   $ 870,994       $ 33.07         26,335   

Class I

   $ 179,148,733       $ 38.81         4,615,927   

Class K

   $ 176,190       $ 38.68         4,555   

Class R

   $ 49,033,172       $ 37.60         1,304,085   

Class R4

   $ 54,118,677       $ 39.49         1,370,461   

Class R5

   $ 24,758,442       $ 38.77         638,596   

Class T

   $ 197,025,448       $ 37.41         5,266,830   

Class W

   $ 144,252,141       $ 37.75         3,820,869   

Class Y

   $ 2,750,044       $ 38.83         70,820   

Class Z

   $ 2,367,091,496       $ 38.79         61,022,255   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 7,266,793,689            194,118,600   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund (Selling Fund)

        

Class  A

   $ 260,248,390       $ 6.61         39,345,813   

Class B

   $ 3,086,401       $ 5.72         539,238   

Class C

   $ 9,142,946       $ 5.75         1,590,875   

Class I

   $ 21,882,421       $ 7.08         3,089,116   

Class K

   $ 1,068,586       $ 6.84         156,207   

Class R

   $ 6,087,768       $ 6.51         935,806   

Class R4

   $ 9,091,482       $ 6.75         1,346,564   

Class R5

   $ 20,786,832       $ 6.96         2,984,502   

Class Y

   $ 2,698       $ 6.98         386   

Class Z

   $ 8,368,080       $ 7.02         1,192,684   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 339,765,604            51,181,191   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
Fund    Net assets      Net asset
value per share
     Shares
outstanding*
 

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

        

Class  A

   $ 372,597,194       $ 20.49         18,186,123   

Class B

   $ 2,899,095       $ 16.50         175,650   

Class C

   $ 40,293,919       $ 16.53         2,437,267   

Class I

   $ 19,259,383       $ 22.83         843,475   

Class K

   $ 6,936,206       $ 22.33         310,570   

Class R

   $ 11,106,714       $ 19.61         566,461   

Class R4

   $ 1,581,263       $ 22.82         69,286   

Class R5

   $ 3,738,883       $ 22.73         164,485   

Class Y

   $ 2,518       $ 23.28         108   

Class Z

   $ 21,288,901       $ 22.55         944,208   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 479,704,076            23,697,633   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Pro Forma Combined)**

        

Class  A

   $ 632,716,063       $ 20.49         30,881,174   

Class B

   $ 5,983,971       $ 16.50         362,613   

Class C

   $ 49,432,116       $ 16.53         2,990,110   

Class I

   $ 41,131,001       $ 22.83         1,801,502   

Class K

   $ 8,004,220       $ 22.33         358,401   

Class R

   $ 17,191,435       $ 19.61         876,752   

Class R4

   $ 10,668,303       $ 22.82         467,492   

Class R5

   $ 24,515,560       $ 22.73         1,078,550   

Class Y

   $ 5,215       $ 23.28         224   

Class Z

   $ 29,652,749       $ 22.55         1,315,117   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 819,300,633            40,131,935   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Columbia International Value Fund (Selling Fund)

        

Class  A

   $ 71,559,757       $ 14.00         5,110,152   

Class B

   $ 180,774       $ 13.41         13,480   

Class C

   $ 20,255,487       $ 13.36         1,515,817   

Class I

   $ 2,257       $ 13.59         166   

Class R

   $ 227,472       $ 14.00         16,245   

Class R4

   $ 2,879,675       $ 14.33         200,960   

Class R5

   $ 4,547,121       $ 14.32         317,528   

Class Z

   $ 72,466,648       $ 14.19         5,108,261   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 172,119,191            12,282,609   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

        

Class  A

   $ 183,258,255       $ 8.38         21,855,891   

Class B

   $ 2,961,946       $ 8.34         355,056   

Class C

   $ 4,683,311       $ 8.34         561,387   

Class I

   $ 297,542,974       $ 8.40         35,401,984   

Class K

   $ 144,682       $ 8.39         17,237   

Class R

   $ —         $ —           —     

Class R4

   $ 2,381       $ 8.36         285   

Class R5

   $ 2,382       $ 8.36         285   

Class W

   $ 149,246,934       $ 8.38         17,814,065   

Class Y

   $ 2,382       $ 8.37         285   

Class Z

   $ 569,724       $ 8.40         67,823   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 638,414,971            76,074,298   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

-87-


Table of Contents
Fund    Net assets      Net asset
value per share
     Shares
outstanding*
 

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Pro Forma
Combined)**

        

Class  A

   $ 254,762,690       $ 8.38         30,388,760   

Class B

   $ 3,142,567       $ 8.34         376,715   

Class C

   $ 24,923,397       $ 8.34         2,988,259   

Class I

   $ 297,543,598       $ 8.40         35,402,252   

Class K

   $ 144,681       $ 8.39         17,237   

Class R

   $ 227,299       $ 8.38         27,124   

Class R4

   $ 2,879,870       $ 8.36         344,482   

Class R5

   $ 4,546,052       $ 8.36         543,786   

Class W

   $ 149,246,116       $ 8.38         17,814,065   

Class Y

   $ 2,382       $ 8.37         285   

Class Z

   $ 72,981,363       $ 8.40         8,688,257   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 810,400,015            96,591,222   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Columbia International Opportunities Fund (Selling Fund)

        

Class  A

   $ 38,008,829       $ 13.06         2,910,281   

Class B

   $ 1,054,535       $ 11.99         87,918   

Class C

   $ 10,245,147       $ 12.00         853,606   

Class I

   $ 29,775,701       $ 13.57         2,194,820   

Class R

   $ 596,900       $ 12.90         46,274   

Class R4

   $ 211,800       $ 13.48         15,712   

Class Z

   $ 26,392,980       $ 13.41         1,968,720   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 106,285,892            8,077,331   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Current) (Buying Fund)

        

Class  A

   $ 248,620,168       $ 12.94         19,216,801   

Class B

   $ 1,475,278       $ 11.51         128,122   

Class C

   $ 9,860,996       $ 11.37         866,980   

Class I

   $ 2,611       $ 13.29         196   

Class K

   $ 62,697       $ 13.19         4,755   

Class R

   $ 1,339,275       $ 12.86         104,183   

Class R4

   $ 9,108       $ 13.28         686   

Class R5

   $ 38,522       $ 13.34         2,889   

Class W

   $ 175,102,867       $ 12.94         13,531,315   

Class Y

   $ 14,745,024       $ 13.30         1,108,509   

Class Z

   $ 90,758,627       $ 13.20         6,873,493   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 542,015,173            41,837,929   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Pro Forma Combined)**

        

Class  A

   $ 286,627,019       $ 12.94         22,154,016   

Class B

   $ 2,529,774       $ 11.51         219,738   

Class C

   $ 20,105,772       $ 11.37         1,768,018   

Class I

   $ 29,777,316       $ 13.29         2,240,580   

Class K

   $ 62,697       $ 13.19         4,755   

Class R

   $ 1,936,151       $ 12.85         150,633   

Class R4

   $ 220,901       $ 13.28         16, 634   

Class R5

   $ 38,522       $ 13.34         2,889   

Class W

   $ 175,102,370       $ 12.94         13,531,315   

Class Y

   $ 14,744,982       $ 13.30         1,108,509   

Class Z

   $ 117,150,467       $ 13.20         8,872,894   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

   $ 648,295,971            50,069,981   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

* Pro forma shares outstanding are calculated by dividing the net assets of the applicable Selling Fund by the net asset value per share of the corresponding Buying Fund and adding the result to the number of shares of such Buying Fund currently outstanding.
** Pro forma figures reflect the effect of estimated Reorganization costs as set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

 

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Table of Contents

Ownership of Selling Fund and Buying Fund Shares

The following table provides information on each person who may be deemed to be a “control person” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) of a Fund as of November 30, 2015 because it owns, directly or indirectly, of record more than 25% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, by virtue of its fiduciary roles with respect to its clients or otherwise. A control person may be able to facilitate shareholder approval of proposals it favors and to impede shareholder approval of proposals it opposes. In this regard, if a control person owns a sufficient number of a Fund’s outstanding shares, then, for certain shareholder proposals, such control person may be able to approve, or to prevent approval, of such proposals without regard to votes by other Fund shareholders.

 

Fund

  

Shareholder Account Registration

   Percentage
of Fund
    Percentage
of Fund
following
Reorganization
 

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund (Selling Fund)

   Charles Schwab & Co Inc.      33.81     N/A   

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Buying Fund)

   Charles Schwab & Co Inc.      N/A        7.77

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (Selling Fund)

   N/A      N/A        N/A   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (Selling Fund)

   Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith      34.31     N/A   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (Selling Fund)

   American Enterprise Investment Services      42.47     N/A   
   Charles Schwab & Co Inc.      33.27     N/A   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (Selling Fund)

   N/A      N/A        N/A   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Buying Fund)

   American Enterprise Investment Services      N/A        12.48
   Charles Schwab & Co Inc.      N/A        3.07
   Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith      N/A        16.86

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund (Selling Fund)

   American Enterprise Investment Services      31.23     N/A   

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Buying Fund)

   American Enterprise Investment Services      N/A        27.34

Columbia International Value Fund (Selling Fund)

   N/A      N/A        N/A   

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Buying Fund)

   American Enterprise Investment Services      37.17     30.25
   Affiliated Funds-of-Funds Aggregate Ownership (1)(2)      43.64     33.81

Columbia International Opportunities Fund (Selling Fund)

   Affiliated Funds-of-Funds Aggregate Ownership (1)(2)      26.27     N/A   

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Buying Fund)

   American Enterprise Investment Services      45.34     39.14
   Affiliated Funds-of-Funds Aggregate Ownership (1)(2)      N/A        4.36

 

(1)   Includes the aggregate ownership of the following affiliated funds of funds: Columbia Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio, Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio, Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio, Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio and Columbia Global Strategic Equity Fund.
(2)   Investments by funds-of-funds advised by Columbia Threadneedle (Columbia Funds-of-Funds) in shares of certain underlying funds (underlying funds) may represent significant ownership positions in such underlying funds. The Columbia Funds-of-Funds generally vote on underlying fund proposals in the same proportion that other shareholders vote on such proposals except where the Board(s) of Trustees of the Columbia Funds-of-Funds direct otherwise, including, for example, where the Columbia Funds-of-Funds own, in aggregate, a majority position of the underlying fund.

The following table provides information on shareholders who owned of record or, to the knowledge of the Fund, beneficially, more than 5% of any class of a Fund’s outstanding shares as of [November 30, 2015]. As of November 30, 2015, the officers and directors/trustees of each Fund, as a group, owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each class of such Fund.

 

-89-


Table of Contents

Table C-2. Current Ownership of Fund Shares

 

Fund

  

5% Owners

   Percent of
shares held
   Percent of shares
held following the
Reorganization

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund (Selling Fund)

  

Class A

        

Class B

        

Class C

        

Class I

        

Class R

        

Class R4

        

Class R5

        

Class W

        

Class Y

        

Class Z

        

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Buying Fund)

  

Class A

        

Class B

        

Class C

        

Class I

        

Class K

        

Class R

        

Class R4

        

Class R5

        

Class T

        

Class W

        

Class Y

        

Class Z

        

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (Selling Fund)

  

Class A

        

Class B

        

Class C

        

Class R

        

Class R4

        

Class R5

        

Class Z

        

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (Selling Fund)

  

Class A

        

Class B

        

Class C

        

Class I

        

Class R4

        

Class R5

        

Class Z

        

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (Selling Fund)

  

Class A

        

Class C

        

Class I

        

Class R

        

Class R4

        

Class R5

        

Class Z

        

 

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Fund

  

5% Owners

   Percent of
shares held
   Percent of shares
held following the
Reorganization

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (Selling Fund)

  

Class A

        

Class B

        

Class C

        

Class I

        

Class R

        

Class R4

        

Class R5

        

Class W

        

Class Z

        

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Buying Fund)

  

Class A

        

Class B

        

Class C

        

Class E

        

Class F

        

Class I

        

Class K

        

Class R

        

Class R4

        

Class R5

        

Class T

        

Class W

        

Class Y

        

Class Z

        

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund (Selling Fund)

  

Class A

        

Class B

        

Class C

        

Class I

        

Class K

        

Class R

        

Class R4

        

Class R5

        

Class Y

        

Class Z

        

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Buying Fund)

  

Class A

        

Class B

        

Class C

        

Class I

        

Class K

        

Class R

        

 

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Fund

  

5% Owners

   Percent of
shares held
   Percent of shares
held following the
Reorganization

Class R4

        

Class R5

        

Class Y

        

Class Z

        

Columbia International Value Fund (Selling Fund)

  

Class A

        

Class B

        

Class C

        

Class I

        

Class R

        

Class R4

        

Class R5

        

Class Z

        

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Buying Fund)

  

Class A

        

Class B

        

Class C

        

Class I

        

Class K

        

Class R

        

Class R4

        

Class R5

        

Class W

        

Class Y

        

Class Z

        

Columbia International Opportunities Fund (Selling Fund)

  

Class A

        

Class B

        

Class C

        

Class I

        

Class R

        

Class R4

        

Class Z

        

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Buying Fund)

  

Class A

        

Class B

        

Class C

        

Class I

        

Class K

        

Class R

        

Class R4

        

Class R5

        

Class W

        

Class Y

        

Class Z

        

 

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Table C-3. Financial Highlights of Buying Funds

The financial highlights tables below are designed to help you understand how each Buying Fund has performed for the past five full fiscal years or, if shorter, the Buying Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Buying Fund share. The total return line indicates how much an investment in the Buying Fund would have earned each period assuming any dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect payment of sales charges, if any.

The information shown below for each Buying Fund has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, except that the information shown for the six-month period ended August 31, 2015 is unaudited. The auditor is an independent registered public accounting firm, whose reports, along with the Buying Funds’ financial statements, are included in the Buying Funds’ annual report to shareholders. The independent registered public accounting firms’ reports and the Buying Funds’ financial statements are also incorporated by reference into the Merger SAI. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The total return line indicates how much an investment of a Buying Fund would have earned or lost each period assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect payment of sales charges, if any, and are not annualized for periods less than one year.

Financial Highlights — Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

     Year Ended August 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class A

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 22.37      $ 19.15      $ 15.68      $ 12.63      $ 12.61      $ 11.76   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.65 (g)       0.14        0.13        0.11        0.08        0.04   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.23     4.32        3.48        3.32        (0.03     0.87   

Total from investment operations

     0.42        4.46        3.61        3.43        0.05        0.91   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.10     (0.11     (0.12     (0.07     (0.03     (0.06

Net realized gains

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.02     (0.31     —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.52     (1.24     (0.14     (0.38     (0.03     (0.06

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 21.27      $ 22.37      $ 19.15      $ 15.68      $ 12.63      $ 12.61   

Total return

     1.99     24.15     23.23     27.59     0.39     7.75

Ratios to average net assets (b)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.09     1.11     1.15     1.19 % (c)       1.19 % (d)       1.25

Total net expenses (e)

     1.09 % (f)       1.11 % (f)       1.14 % (f)       1.16 % (c)(f)       1.16 % (d)(f)       1.19 % (f)  

Net investment income

     2.93     0.69     0.73     0.82 % (c)       0.56     0.32

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 2,297,176      $ 1,659,841      $ 913,212      $ 588,182      $ 427,039      $ 111,182   

Portfolio turnover

     60     65     47     62     78     94

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to August 31.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(f) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(g) Net investment income per share includes special dividends. The effect of these dividends amounted to $0.54 per share.

 

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Financial Highlights — Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

     Year Ended August 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class B

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 20.58      $ 17.74      $ 14.53      $ 11.74      $ 11.78      $ 11.02   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income (loss)

     0.29 (h)       (0.01     (0.00 ) (b)       0.01        (0.03     (0.05

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.05     3.98        3.24        3.09        (0.01     0.81   

Total from investment operations

     0.24        3.97        3.24        3.10        (0.04     0.76   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     —          —          (0.01     —          —          —     

Net realized gains

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.02     (0.31     —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.03     (0.31     —          —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 19.40      $ 20.58      $ 17.74      $ 14.53      $ 11.74      $ 11.78   

Total return

     1.22     23.20     22.32     26.72     (0.34 %)      6.90

Ratios to average net assets (c)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.84     1.86     1.90     1.94 % (d)       1.92 % (e)       2.00

Total net expenses (f)

     1.84 % (g)       1.86 % (g)       1.89 % (g)       1.91 % (d)(g)       1.90 % (e)(g)       1.94 % (g)  

Net investment income (loss)

     1.40     (0.08 %)      (0.02 %)      0.05 % (d)       (0.19 %)      (0.46 %) 

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 9,551      $ 14,023      $ 16,396      $ 17,292      $ 21,560      $ 3,991   

Portfolio turnover

     60     65     47     62     78     94

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to August 31.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(g) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(h) Net investment income per share includes special dividends. The effect of these dividends amounted to $0.35 per share.

 

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Financial Highlights — Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

     Year Ended August 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class C

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 20.62      $ 17.77      $ 14.55      $ 11.76      $ 11.80      $ 11.03   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income (loss)

     0.50 (h)       (0.01     (0.00 ) (b)       0.01        (0.03     (0.05

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.27     3.99        3.25        3.09        (0.01     0.82   

Total from investment operations

     0.23        3.98        3.25        3.10        (0.04     0.77   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     —          —          (0.01     —          —          —     

Net realized gains

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.02     (0.31     —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.03     (0.31     —          —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 19.43      $ 20.62      $ 17.77      $ 14.55      $ 11.76      $ 11.80   

Total return

     1.17     23.22     22.36     26.68     (0.34 %)      6.98

Ratios to average net assets (c)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.85     1.86     1.90     1.94 % (d)       1.95 % (e)       2.00

Total net expenses (f)

     1.85 % (g)       1.86 % (g)       1.89 % (g)       1.91 % (d)(g)       1.92 % (e)(g)       1.94 % (g)  

Net investment income (loss)

     2.46     (0.06 %)      (0.02 %)      0.07 % (d)       (0.22 %)      (0.44 %) 

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 409,798      $ 222,834      $ 115,940      $ 58,257      $ 36,559      $ 18,368   

Portfolio turnover

     60     65     47     62     78     94

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to August 31.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(g) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(h) Net investment income per share includes special dividends. The effect of these dividends amounted to $0.55 per share.

 

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Financial Highlights — Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

     Year Ended August 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class I

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010 (b)  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 22.53      $ 19.27      $ 15.78      $ 12.71      $ 12.69      $ 12.70   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.57 (h)       0.23        0.21        0.17        0.14        0.01   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.06     4.35        3.49        3.34        (0.03     (0.02

Total from investment operations

     0.51        4.58        3.70        3.51        0.11        (0.01

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.19     (0.19     (0.19     (0.13     (0.09     —     

Net realized gains

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.02     (0.31     —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.61     (1.32     (0.21     (0.44     (0.09     —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 21.43      $ 22.53      $ 19.27      $ 15.78      $ 12.71      $ 12.69   

Total return

     2.42     24.71     23.73     28.12     0.81     (0.08 %) 

Ratios to average net assets (c)

            

Total gross expenses

     0.65     0.68     0.70     0.75 % (d)       0.76 % (e)       0.85 % (d)  

Total net expenses (f)

     0.65     0.68     0.70     0.75 % (d)       0.76 % (e)(g)       0.85 % (d)(g)  

Net investment income

     2.55     1.12     1.17     1.24 % (d)       0.99     4.99 % (d)  

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 425,921      $ 490,451      $ 424,376      $ 385,802      $ 280,304      $ 2   

Portfolio turnover

     60     65     47     62     78     94

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to August 31.
(b) Based on operations from September 27, 2010 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(g) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(h) Net investment income per share includes special dividends. The effect of these dividends amounted to $0.37 per share.

 

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Financial Highlights — Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

     Year Ended August 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class K

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011 (b)  

Per share data

          

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 22.50      $ 19.26      $ 15.77      $ 12.70      $ 14.93   

Income from investment operations:

          

Net investment income

     0.61 (h)       0.17        0.15        0.13        0.06   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.16     4.33        3.51        3.34        (2.29

Total from investment operations

     0.45        4.50        3.66        3.47        (2.23

Less distributions to shareholders:

          

Net investment income

     (0.13     (0.13     (0.15     (0.09     —     

Net realized gains

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.02     (0.31     —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.55     (1.26     (0.17     (0.40     —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 21.40      $ 22.50      $ 19.26      $ 15.77      $ 12.70   

Total return

     2.12     24.27     23.40     27.74     (14.94 %) 

Ratios to average net assets (c)

          

Total gross expenses

     0.96     0.97     1.00     1.05 % (d)       1.05 % (d)(e)  

Total net expenses (f)

     0.96     0.97     1.00     1.05 % (d)       1.05 % (d)(e)(g)  

Net investment income

     2.73     0.81     0.87     0.93 % (d)       0.72 % (d)  

Supplemental data

          

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 115      $ 113      $ 144      $ 117      $ 100   

Portfolio turnover

     60     65     47     62     78

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to August 31.
(b) Based on operations from March 7, 2011 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(g) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(h) Net investment income per share includes special dividends. The effect of these dividends amounted to $0.47 per share.

 

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Financial Highlights — Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

     Year Ended August 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class R

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010 (b)  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 22.37      $ 19.15      $ 15.68      $ 12.63      $ 12.61      $ 12.62   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.65 (i)       0.09        0.08        0.08        0.05        0.00 (c)  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.29     4.32        3.49        3.32        (0.03     (0.01

Total from investment operations

     0.36        4.41        3.57        3.40        0.02        (0.01

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.05     (0.06     (0.08     (0.04     —          —     

Net realized gains

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.02     (0.31     —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.47     (1.19     (0.10     (0.35     —          —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 21.26      $ 22.37      $ 19.15      $ 15.68      $ 12.63      $ 12.61   

Total return

     1.69     23.86     22.93     27.34     0.16     (0.08 %) 

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.34     1.36     1.39     1.42 % (e)       1.44 % (f)       1.44 % (e)  

Total net expenses (g)

     1.34 % (h)       1.36 % (h)       1.39 % (h)       1.41 % (e)(h)       1.39 % (f)(h)       1.44 % (e)(h)  

Net investment income

     2.93     0.44     0.46     0.59 % (e)       0.32     4.34 % (e)  

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 50,048      $ 30,291      $ 13,102      $ 4,489      $ 6      $ 2   

Portfolio turnover

     60     65     47     62     78     94

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to August 31.
(b) Based on operations from September 27, 2010 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(c) Rounds to zero.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(h) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(i) Net investment income per share includes special dividends. The effect of these dividends amounted to $0.60 per share.

 

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Financial Highlights — Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

     Year Ended August 31,  

Class R4

   2015     2014     2013 (a)  

Per share data

      

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 22.83      $ 19.52      $ 15.84   

Income from investment operations:

      

Net investment income

     0.80 (f)       0.20        0.16   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.32     4.40        3.70   

Total from investment operations

     0.48        4.60        3.86   

Less distributions to shareholders:

      

Net investment income

     (0.15     (0.16     (0.16

Net realized gains

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.02

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.57     (1.29     (0.18

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 21.74      $ 22.83      $ 19.52   

Total return

     2.25     24.44     24.61

Ratios to average net assets (b)

      

Total gross expenses

     0.85     0.86     0.89 % (c)  

Total net expenses (d)

     0.85 % (e)       0.86 % (e)       0.89 % (c)(e)  

Net investment income

     3.53     0.94     1.04 % (c)  

Supplemental data

      

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 227,941      $ 105,458      $ 46,212   

Portfolio turnover

     60     65     47

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from November 8, 2012 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(f) Net investment income per share includes special dividends. The effect of these dividends amounted to $0.63 per share.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

     Year Ended August 31,  

Class R5

   2015     2014     2013 (a)  

Per share data

      

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 22.83      $ 19.52      $ 15.84   

Income from investment operations:

      

Net investment income

     0.78 (e)       0.23        0.15   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.28     4.39        3.73   

Total from investment operations

     0.50        4.62        3.88   

Less distributions to shareholders:

      

Net investment income

     (0.18     (0.18     (0.18

Net realized gains

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.02

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.60     (1.31     (0.20

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 21.73      $ 22.83      $ 19.52   

Total return

     2.34     24.60     24.75

Ratios to average net assets (b)

      

Total gross expenses

     0.71     0.73     0.75 % (c)  

Total net expenses (d)

     0.71     0.73     0.75 % (c)  

Net investment income

     3.45     1.08     1.01 % (c)  

Supplemental data

      

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 336,043      $ 209,498      $ 68,709   

Portfolio turnover

     60     65     47

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from November 8, 2012 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) Net investment income per share includes special dividends. The effect of these dividends amounted to $0.58 per share.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

     Year Ended August 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class T

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 22.19      $ 19.01      $ 15.56      $ 12.54      $ 12.51      $ 11.67   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.55 (g)       0.13        0.12        0.10        0.06        0.03   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.15     4.28        3.47        3.29        —          0.86   

Total from investment operations

     0.40        4.41        3.59        3.39        0.06        0.89   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.09     (0.10     (0.12     (0.06     (0.03     (0.05

Net realized gains

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.02     (0.31     —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.51     (1.23     (0.14     (0.37     (0.03     (0.05

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 21.08      $ 22.19      $ 19.01      $ 15.56      $ 12.54      $ 12.51   

Total return

     1.92     24.06     23.22     27.49     0.43     7.68

Ratios to average net assets (b)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.11     1.16     1.20     1.24 % (c)       1.26 % (d)       1.30

Total net expenses (e)

     1.11 % (f)       1.16 % (f)       1.19 % (f)       1.21 % (c)(f)       1.21 % (d)(f)       1.24 % (f)  

Net investment income

     2.49     0.63     0.68     0.77 % (c)       0.44     0.24

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 143,304      $ 151,430      $ 131,732      $ 117,457      $ 100,805      $ 112,862   

Portfolio turnover

     60     65     47     62     78     94

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to August 31.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(f) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(g) Net investment income per share includes special dividends. The effect of these dividends amounted to $0.45 per share.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

     Year Ended August 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class W

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010 (b)  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 22.38      $ 19.16      $ 15.69      $ 12.64      $ 12.61      $ 12.62   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.50 (i)       0.14        0.13        0.11        0.08        0.00 (c)  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.09     4.32        3.48        3.32        (0.02     (0.01

Total from investment operations

     0.41        4.46        3.61        3.43        0.06        (0.01

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.10     (0.11     (0.12     (0.07     (0.03     —     

Net realized gains

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.02     (0.31     —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.52     (1.24     (0.14     (0.38     (0.03     —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 21.27      $ 22.38      $ 19.16      $ 15.69      $ 12.64      $ 12.61   

Total return

     1.95     24.15     23.21     27.57     0.47     (0.08 %) 

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.09     1.10     1.14     1.19 % (e)       1.20 % (f)       1.19 % (e)  

Total net expenses (g)

     1.09 % (h)       1.10 % (h)       1.14 % (h)       1.16 % (e)(h)       1.16 % (f)(h)       1.19 % (e)(h)  

Net investment income

     2.26     0.67     0.73     0.83 % (e)       0.54     4.64 % (e)  

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 118,262      $ 124,021      $ 254,377      $ 106,075      $ 74,302      $ 2   

Portfolio turnover

     60     65     47     62     78     94

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to August 31.
(b) Based on operations from September 27, 2010 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(c) Rounds to zero.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(h) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(i) Net investment income per share includes special dividends. The effect of these dividends amounted to $0.40 per share.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

     Year Ended August 31,  

Class Y

   2015     2014     2013 (a)  

Per share data

      

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 22.84      $ 19.52      $ 15.84   

Income from investment operations:

      

Net investment income

     1.19 (e)       0.24        0.24   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.67     4.40        3.64   

Total from investment operations

     0.52        4.64        3.88   

Less distributions to shareholders:

      

Net investment income

     (0.19     (0.19     (0.18

Net realized gains

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.02

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.61     (1.32     (0.20

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 21.75      $ 22.84      $ 19.52   

Total return

     2.44     24.71     24.79

Ratios to average net assets (b)

      

Total gross expenses

     0.66     0.68     0.72 % (c)  

Total net expenses (d)

     0.66     0.68     0.72 % (c)  

Net investment income

     5.26     1.12     1.60 % (c)  

Supplemental data

      

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 53,246      $ 2,514      $ 79   

Portfolio turnover

     60     65     47

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from November 8, 2012 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) Net investment income per share includes special dividends. The effect of these dividends amounted to $0.96 per share.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

     Year Ended August 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class Z

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 22.52      $ 19.27      $ 15.78      $ 12.71      $ 12.68      $ 11.83   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.66 (g)       0.19        0.17        0.15        0.11        0.07   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.18     4.35        3.50        3.34        (0.01     0.86   

Total from investment operations

     0.48        4.54        3.67        3.49        0.10        0.93   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.16     (0.16     (0.16     (0.11     (0.07     (0.08

Net realized gains

     (1.42     (1.13     (0.02     (0.31     —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1.58     (1.29     (0.18     (0.42     (0.07     (0.08

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 21.42      $ 22.52      $ 19.27      $ 15.78      $ 12.71      $ 12.68   

Total return

     2.24     24.45     23.50     27.91     0.72     7.93

Ratios to average net assets (b)

            

Total gross expenses

     0.84     0.86     0.90     0.94 % (c)       0.96 % (d)       1.00

Total net expenses (e)

     0.84 % (f)       0.86 % (f)       0.89 % (f)       0.91 % (c)(f)       0.91 % (d)(f)       0.94 % (f)  

Net investment income

     2.97     0.93     0.98     1.08 % (c)       0.76     0.54

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 2,119,278      $ 1,831,114      $ 1,315,874      $ 819,630      $ 494,107      $ 344,081   

Portfolio turnover

     60     65     47     62     78     94

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to August 31.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(f) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(g) Net investment income per share includes special dividends. The effect of these dividends amounted to $0.50 per share.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

     Year Ended July 31,     Year Ended September 30,  

Class A

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 34.51      $ 31.25      $ 25.65      $ 20.84      $ 20.64      $ 18.77   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income (loss)

     0.03        0.06        0.11        0.02        (0.01     0.04   

Net realized and unrealized gain

     7.24        4.90        5.55        4.82        0.25 (b)       1.92   

Total from investment operations

     7.27        4.96        5.66        4.84        0.24        1.96   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.09     (0.08     (0.06     (0.03     (0.04     (0.09

Net realized gains

     (4.00     (1.62     —          —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (4.09     (1.70     (0.06     (0.03     (0.04     (0.09

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          0.00 (c)       —          0.00 (c)  

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 37.69      $ 34.51      $ 31.25      $ 25.65      $ 20.84      $ 20.64   

Total return

     22.51     16.29     22.09     23.22     1.16     10.48

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.11     1.14     1.18     1.16 % (e)       1.15 % (f)       1.10 % (f)  

Total net expenses (g)

     1.11 % (h)       1.14 % (h)       1.18 % (h)       1.16 % (e)(h)       1.14 % (f)(i)       1.10 % (f)(h)  

Net investment income (loss)

     0.09     0.18     0.40     0.10 % (e)       (0.06 %)      0.19

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 1,870,452      $ 1,581,112      $ 1,459,893      $ 1,316,211      $ 1,187,715      $ 148,455   

Portfolio turnover

     59     88     104     80     116     122

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to July 31.
(b) Calculation of the net gain (loss) per share (both realized and unrealized) does not correlate to the aggregate realized and unrealized gain (loss) presented in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of subscriptions and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to fluctuations in the market value of the portfolio.
(c) Rounds to zero.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(h) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(i) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

     Year Ended July 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class B

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 30.88      $ 28.25      $ 23.32      $ 19.04      $ 18.97      $ 17.30   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment loss

     (0.20     (0.17     (0.09     (0.12     (0.18     (0.10

Net realized and unrealized gain

     6.40        4.42        5.02        4.40        0.25 (b)       1.77   

Total from investment operations

     6.20        4.25        4.93        4.28        0.07        1.67   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net realized gains

     (4.00     (1.62     —          —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (4.00     (1.62     —          —          —          —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          0.00 (c)       —          0.00 (c)  

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 33.08      $ 30.88      $ 28.25      $ 23.32      $ 19.04      $ 18.97   

Total return

     21.57     15.46     21.14     22.48     0.37     9.65

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.86     1.89     1.93     1.91 % (e)       1.90 % (f)       1.85 % (f)  

Total net expenses (g)

     1.86 % (h)       1.89 % (h)       1.93 % (h)       1.91 % (e)(h)       1.89 % (f)(i)       1.85 % (f)(h)  

Net investment loss

     (0.62 %)      (0.56 %)      (0.34 %)      (0.64 %) (e)       (0.82 %)      (0.56 %) 

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 17,338      $ 24,117      $ 34,085      $ 39,046      $ 49,290      $ 14,527   

Portfolio turnover

     59     88     104     80     116     122

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to July 31.
(b) Calculation of the net gain (loss) per share (both realized and unrealized) does not correlate to the aggregate realized and unrealized gain (loss) presented in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of subscriptions and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to fluctuations in the market value of the portfolio.
(c) Rounds to zero.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(h) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(i) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

     Year Ended July 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class C

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 30.90      $ 28.27      $ 23.34      $ 19.06      $ 18.98      $ 17.31   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment loss

     (0.21     (0.17     (0.09     (0.12     (0.17     (0.10

Net realized and unrealized gain

     6.42        4.42        5.02        4.40        0.25 (b)       1.77   

Total from investment operations

     6.21        4.25        4.93        4.28        0.08        1.67   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net realized gains

     (4.00     (1.62     —          —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (4.00     (1.62     —          —          —          —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          0.00 (c)       —          0.00 (c)  

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 33.11      $ 30.90      $ 28.27      $ 23.34      $ 19.06      $ 18.98   

Total return

     21.59     15.45     21.12     22.46     0.42     9.65

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.86     1.89     1.93     1.91 % (e)       1.88 % (f)       1.85 % (f)  

Total net expenses (g)

     1.86 % (h)       1.89 % (h)       1.93 % (h)       1.91 % (e)(h)       1.87 % (f)(i)       1.85 % (f)(h)  

Net investment loss

     (0.67 %)      (0.57 %)      (0.36 %)      (0.65 %) (e)       (0.77 %)      (0.55 %) 

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 85,724      $ 63,200      $ 52,885      $ 39,542      $ 36,860      $ 15,990   

Portfolio turnover

     59     88     104     80     116     122

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to July 31.
(b) Calculation of the net gain (loss) per share (both realized and unrealized) does not correlate to the aggregate realized and unrealized gain (loss) presented in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of subscriptions and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to fluctuations in the market value of the portfolio.
(c) Rounds to zero.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(h) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(i) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

     Year Ended July 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class I

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010 (b)  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 35.43      $ 32.02      $ 26.29      $ 21.37      $ 21.14      $ 21.18   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.19        0.21        0.25        0.11        0.11        0.00 (c)  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     7.43        5.04        5.66        4.94        0.24 (d)       (0.04

Total from investment operations

     7.62        5.25        5.91        5.05        0.35        (0.04

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.24     (0.22     (0.18     (0.13     (0.12     —     

Net realized gains

     (4.00     (1.62     —          —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (4.24     (1.84     (0.18     (0.13     (0.12     —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          0.00 (c)       —          —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 38.81      $ 35.43      $ 32.02      $ 26.29      $ 21.37      $ 21.14   

Total return

     23.00     16.84     22.60     23.71     1.61     (0.19 %) 

Ratios to average net assets (e)

            

Total gross expenses

     0.69     0.70     0.71     0.72 % (f)       0.68 % (g)       0.60 % (f)  

Total net expenses (h)

     0.69     0.70     0.71     0.72 % (f)       0.68 % (g)(i)       0.60 % (f)(i)  

Net investment income

     0.52     0.62     0.87     0.54 % (f)       0.46     1.89 % (f)  

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 179,142      $ 184,811      $ 220,421      $ 203,848      $ 279,510      $ 2   

Portfolio turnover

     59     88     104     80     116     122

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to July 31.
(b) Based on operations from September 27, 2010 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(c) Rounds to zero.
(d) Calculation of the net gain (loss) per share (both realized and unrealized) does not correlate to the aggregate realized and unrealized gain (loss) presented in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of subscriptions and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to fluctuations in the market value of the portfolio.
(e) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(h) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(i) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

     Year Ended July 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class K

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011 (b)  

Per share data

          

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 35.32      $ 31.94      $ 26.24      $ 21.33      $ 24.86   

Income from investment operations:

          

Net investment income

     0.09        0.11        0.18        0.08        0.02   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     7.41        5.01        5.64        4.90        (3.55

Total from investment operations

     7.50        5.12        5.82        4.98        (3.53

Less distributions to shareholders:

          

Net investment income

     (0.14     (0.12     (0.12     (0.07     —     

Net realized gains

     (4.00     (1.62     —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (4.14     (1.74     (0.12     (0.07     —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          0.00 (c)       —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 38.68      $ 35.32      $ 31.94      $ 26.24      $ 21.33   

Total return

     22.66     16.47     22.25     23.38     (14.20 %) 

Ratios to average net assets (d)

          

Total gross expenses

     0.99     1.00     0.96     0.97 % (e)       0.95 % (e)(f)  

Total net expenses (g)

     0.99     1.00     0.96     0.97 % (e)       0.95 % (e)(f)(h)  

Net investment income

     0.23     0.32     0.64     0.40 % (e)       0.12 % (e)  

Supplemental data

          

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 176      $ 202      $ 191      $ 4,270      $ 46,696   

Portfolio turnover

     59     88     104     80     116

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to July 31.
(b) Based on operations from March 7, 2011 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(c) Rounds to zero.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(h) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

     Year Ended July 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class R

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010 (b)  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 34.44      $ 31.18      $ 25.61      $ 20.83      $ 20.64      $ 20.68   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.07     (0.02     0.05        (0.01     (0.07     0.00 (c)  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     7.24        4.89        5.52        4.79        0.26 (d)       (0.04

Total from investment operations

     7.17        4.87        5.57        4.78        0.19        (0.04

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.01     (0.00 ) (c)       —          —          —          —     

Net realized gains

     (4.00     (1.62     —          —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (4.01     (1.62     —          —          —          —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          0.00 (c)       —          —     

Increase from payment by affiliate

     —          0.01        —          —          —          —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 37.60      $ 34.44      $ 31.18      $ 25.61      $ 20.83      $ 20.64   

Total return

     22.20     16.06 % (e)       21.75     22.95     0.92     (0.19 %) 

Ratios to average net assets (f)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.36     1.39     1.43     1.40 % (g)       1.41 % (h)       1.21 % (g)  

Total net expenses (i)

     1.36 % (j)       1.39 % (j)       1.43 % (j)       1.40 % (g)(j)       1.40 % (h)(k)       1.21 % (g)(j)  

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.20 %)      (0.06 %)      0.17     (0.07 %) (g)       (0.32 %)      1.28 % (g)  

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 5,421      $ 1,534      $ 1,643      $ 726      $ 2,002      $ 2   

Portfolio turnover

     59     88     104     80     116     122

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to July 31.
(b) Based on operations from September 27, 2010 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(c) Rounds to zero.
(d) Calculation of the net gain (loss) per share (both realized and unrealized) does not correlate to the aggregate realized and unrealized gain (loss) presented in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of subscriptions and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to fluctuations in the market value of the portfolio.
(e) The Fund received a payment from an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.02%.
(f) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(g) Annualized.
(h) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(i) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(j) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(k) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

     Year Ended July 31,  

Class R4

   2015     2014     2013 (a)  

Per share data

      

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 35.98      $ 32.48      $ 26.79   

Income from investment operations:

      

Net investment income

     0.06        0.15        0.11   

Net realized and unrealized gain

     7.63        5.10        5.69   

Total from investment operations

     7.69        5.25        5.80   

Less distributions to shareholders:

      

Net investment income

     (0.18     (0.15     (0.11

Net realized gains

     (4.00     (1.62     —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (4.18     (1.77     (0.11

Increase from payment by affiliate

     —          0.02        —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 39.49      $ 35.98      $ 32.48   

Total return

     22.80     16.67 % (b)       21.70

Ratios to average net assets (c)

      

Total gross expenses

     0.86     0.89     0.93 % (d)  

Total net expenses (e)

     0.86 % (f)       0.89 % (f)       0.93 % (d)(f)  

Net investment income

     0.17     0.42     0.49 % (d)  

Supplemental data

      

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 6,506      $ 766      $ 33   

Portfolio turnover

     59     88     104

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from November 8, 2012 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) The Fund received a payment from an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.05%.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(f) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

     Year Ended July 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class R5

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011 (b)  

Per share data

          

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 35.39      $ 32.00      $ 26.28      $ 21.36      $ 24.86   

Income from investment operations:

          

Net investment income

     0.09        0.19        0.26        0.11        0.05   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     7.51        5.02        5.64        4.94        (3.55

Total from investment operations

     7.60        5.21        5.90        5.05        (3.50

Less distributions to shareholders:

          

Net investment income

     (0.22     (0.20     (0.18     (0.13     —     

Net realized gains

     (4.00     (1.62     —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (4.22     (1.82     (0.18     (0.13     —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          0.00 (c)       —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 38.77      $ 35.39      $ 32.00      $ 26.28      $ 21.36   

Total return

     22.95     16.74     22.59     23.70     (14.08 %) 

Ratios to average net assets (d)

          

Total gross expenses

     0.75     0.75     0.72     0.73 % (e)       0.70 % (e)(f)  

Total net expenses (g)

     0.75     0.75     0.72     0.73 % (e)       0.70 % (e)(f)(h)  

Net investment income

     0.25     0.57     0.89     0.53 % (e)       0.37 % (e)  

Supplemental data

          

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 3,879      $ 195      $ 36      $ 497      $ 407   

Portfolio turnover

     59     88     104     80     116

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to July 31.
(b) Based on operations from March 7, 2011 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(c) Rounds to zero.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(h) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

     Year Ended July 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class T

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 34.27      $ 31.05      $ 25.49      $ 20.69      $ 20.49      $ 18.64   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income (loss)

     0.03        0.04        0.10        0.01        (0.01     0.03   

Net realized and unrealized gain

     7.19        4.87        5.50        4.79        0.24 (b)       1.90   

Total from investment operations

     7.22        4.91        5.60        4.80        0.23        1.93   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.08     (0.07     (0.04     —          (0.03     (0.08

Net realized gains

     (4.00     (1.62     —          —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (4.08     (1.69     (0.04     —          (0.03     (0.08

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          0.00 (c)       —          0.00 (c)  

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 37.41      $ 34.27      $ 31.05      $ 25.49      $ 20.69      $ 20.49   

Total return

     22.49     16.21     22.01     23.20     1.12     10.40

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.13     1.19     1.23     1.21 % (e)       1.15 % (f)       1.15 % (f)  

Total net expenses (g)

     1.13 % (h)       1.19 % (h)       1.23 % (h)       1.21 % (e)(h)       1.14 % (f)(i)       1.15 % (f)(h)  

Net investment income

     0.08     0.13     0.35     0.05 % (e)       (0.03 %)      0.15

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 197,026      $ 172,830      $ 160,462      $ 146,207      $ 130,081      $ 143,784   

Portfolio turnover

     59     88     104     80     116     122

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to July 31.
(b) Calculation of the net gain (loss) per share (both realized and unrealized) does not correlate to the aggregate realized and unrealized gain (loss) presented in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of subscriptions and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to fluctuations in the market value of the portfolio.
(c) Rounds to zero.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(h) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(i) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

     Year Ended July 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class W

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010 (b)  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 34.57      $ 31.26      $ 25.66      $ 20.85      $ 20.64      $ 20.68   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.03        0.06        0.12        0.01        0.02        0.00 (c)  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     7.24        4.91        5.54        4.82        0.23 (d)       (0.04

Total from investment operations

     7.27        4.97        5.66        4.83        0.25        (0.04

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.09     (0.06     (0.06     (0.02     (0.04     —     

Net realized gains

     (4.00     (1.62     —          —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (4.09     (1.68     (0.06     (0.02     (0.04     —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          0.00 (c)       —          —     

Increase from payment by affiliate

     —          0.02        —          —          —          —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 37.75      $ 34.57      $ 31.26      $ 25.66      $ 20.85      $ 20.64   

Total return

     22.47     16.39 % (e)       22.12     23.19     1.21     (0.19 %) 

Ratios to average net assets (f)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.11     1.14     1.14     1.19 % (g)       1.05 % (h)       0.96 % (g)  

Total net expenses (i)

     1.11 % (j)       1.14 % (j)       1.14 % (j)       1.19 % (g)(j)       1.04 % (h)(k)       0.96 % (g)(j)  

Net investment income

     0.09     0.18     0.43     0.07 % (g)       0.07     1.52 % (g)  

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 144,250      $ 125,509      $ 4      $ 3      $ 3      $ 2   

Portfolio turnover

     59     88     104     80     116     122

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to July 31.
(b) Based on operations from September 27, 2010 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(c) Rounds to zero.
(d) Calculation of the net gain (loss) per share (both realized and unrealized) does not correlate to the aggregate realized and unrealized gain (loss) presented in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of subscriptions and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to fluctuations in the market value of the portfolio.
(e) The Fund received a payment from an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.06%.
(f) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(g) Annualized.
(h) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(i) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(j) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(k) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

     Year Ended July 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class Y

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 35.44      $ 32.03      $ 26.29      $ 21.36      $ 21.14      $ 19.20   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.07        0.22        0.25        0.11        0.11        0.13   

Net realized and unrealized gain

     7.57        5.03        5.67        4.94        0.23 (b)       1.97   

Total from investment operations

     7.64        5.25        5.92        5.05        0.34        2.10   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.25     (0.22     (0.18     (0.12     (0.12     (0.16

Net realized gains

     (4.00     (1.62     —          —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (4.25     (1.84     (0.18     (0.12     (0.12     (0.16

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          0.00 (c)       —          0.00 (c)  

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 38.83      $ 35.44      $ 32.03      $ 26.29      $ 21.36      $ 21.14   

Total return

     23.03     16.84     22.64     23.72     1.56     11.01

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     0.71     0.70     0.71     0.72 % (e)       0.67 % (f)       0.64 % (f)  

Total net expenses (g)

     0.71     0.70     0.71     0.72 % (e)       0.67 % (f)(h)       0.64 % (f)(h)  

Net investment income

     0.19     0.66     0.90     0.55 % (e)       0.48     0.66

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 2,750      $ 3      $ 3,826      $ 14,446      $ 15,311      $ 22,272   

Portfolio turnover

     59     88     104     80     116     122

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to July 31.
(b) Calculation of the net gain (loss) per share (both realized and unrealized) does not correlate to the aggregate realized and unrealized gain (loss) presented in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of subscriptions and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to fluctuations in the market value of the portfolio.
(c) Rounds to zero.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(h) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

     Year Ended July 31,     Year Ended
September 30,
 

Class Z

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 35.41      $ 32.01      $ 26.28      $ 21.33      $ 21.12      $ 19.20   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.13        0.15        0.19        0.07        0.07        0.09   

Net realized and unrealized gain

     7.43        5.03        5.66        4.94        0.24 (b)       1.96   

Total from investment operations

     7.56        5.18        5.85        5.01        0.31        2.05   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.18     (0.16     (0.12     (0.06     (0.10     (0.13

Net realized gains

     (4.00     (1.62     —          —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (4.18     (1.78     (0.12     (0.06     (0.10     (0.13

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          0.00 (c)       —          0.00 (c)  

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 38.79      $ 35.41      $ 32.01      $ 26.28      $ 21.33      $ 21.12   

Total return

     22.80     16.61     22.34     23.52     1.41     10.74

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     0.86     0.89     0.93     0.91 % (e)       0.85 % (f)       0.85 % (f)  

Total net expenses (g)

     0.86 % (h)       0.89 % (h)       0.93 % (h)       0.91 % (e)(h)       0.84 % (f)(i)       0.85 % (f)(h)  

Net investment income

     0.34     0.43     0.65     0.35 % (e)       0.28     0.45

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 1,049,380      $ 889,169      $ 850,041      $ 735,315      $ 683,738      $ 860,959   

Portfolio turnover

     59     88     104     80     116     122

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from October 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from September 30 to July 31.
(b) Calculation of the net gain (loss) per share (both realized and unrealized) does not correlate to the aggregate realized and unrealized gain (loss) presented in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of subscriptions and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to fluctuations in the market value of the portfolio.
(c) Rounds to zero.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(h) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(i) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

 

     Year Ended May 31,     Year Ended
December 31,
 

Class A

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 21.52      $ 18.82      $ 14.31      $ 13.69      $ 15.97      $ 12.59   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment loss

     (0.14     (0.03     (0.11     (0.06     (0.12     (0.11

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     2.28        4.17        5.06        0.68        (1.40     3.49   

Total from investment operations

     2.14        4.14        4.95        0.62        (1.52     3.38   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net realized gains

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          —          —          0.00 (b)  

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 21.36      $ 21.52      $ 18.82      $ 14.31      $ 13.69      $ 15.97   

Total return

     11.21     22.30     35.23     4.53     (9.42 %)      26.85 % (c)  

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.38     1.41     1.51     1.48 % (e)       1.48     1.66

Total net expenses (f)

     1.38 % (g)       1.40 % (g)       1.39 % (g)       1.41 % (e)       1.42 % (g)       1.33

Net investment loss

     (0.67 %)      (0.14 %)      (0.67 %)      (0.87 %) (e)       (0.77 %)      (0.84 %) 

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 397,847      $ 387,317      $ 325,677      $ 283,740      $ 295,973      $ 380,848   

Portfolio turnover

     26     22     9     3     18     5

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from January 1, 2012 to May 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from December 31 to May 31.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.01%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(g) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

 

     Year Ended May 31,     Year Ended
December 31,
 

Class B

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 17.97      $ 16.04      $ 12.34      $ 11.84      $ 14.04      $ 11.15   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment loss

     (0.25     (0.16     (0.19     (0.09     (0.21     (0.19

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     1.85        3.53        4.33        0.59        (1.23     3.08   

Total from investment operations

     1.60        3.37        4.14        0.50        (1.44     2.89   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net realized gains

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          —          —          0.00 (b)  

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 17.27      $ 17.97      $ 16.04      $ 12.34      $ 11.84      $ 14.04   

Total return

     10.36     21.33     34.28     4.22     (10.15 %)      25.92 % (c)  

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     2.13     2.16     2.26     2.23 % (e)       2.23     2.43

Total net expenses (f)

     2.13 % (g)       2.15 % (g)       2.14 % (g)       2.16 % (e)       2.16 % (g)       2.10

Net investment loss

     (1.41 %)      (0.92 %)      (1.41 %)      (1.62 %) (e)       (1.52 %)      (1.62 %) 

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 3,894      $ 5,782      $ 8,356      $ 12,565      $ 13,501      $ 27,172   

Portfolio turnover

     26     22     9     3     18     5

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from January 1, 2012 to May 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from December 31 to May 31.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.01%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(g) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

 

     Year Ended May 31,     Year Ended
December 31,
 

Class C

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 18.00      $ 16.06      $ 12.36      $ 11.86      $ 14.06      $ 11.17   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment loss

     (0.25     (0.16     (0.19     (0.09     (0.21     (0.19

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     1.85        3.54        4.33        0.59        (1.23     3.08   

Total from investment operations

     1.60        3.38        4.14        0.50        (1.44     2.89   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net realized gains

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          —          —          0.00 (b)  

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 17.30      $ 18.00      $ 16.06      $ 12.36      $ 11.86      $ 14.06   

Total return

     10.35     21.37     34.23     4.22     (10.13 %)      25.87 % (c)  

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     2.13     2.16     2.26     2.23 % (e)       2.23     2.42

Total net expenses (f)

     2.13 % (g)       2.15 % (g)       2.14 % (g)       2.16 % (e)       2.17 % (g)       2.09

Net investment loss

     (1.42 %)      (0.91 %)      (1.42 %)      (1.63 %) (e)       (1.52 %)      (1.60 %) 

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 43,974      $ 43,354      $ 38,785      $ 33,327      $ 37,511      $ 51,712   

Portfolio turnover

     26     22     9     3     18     5

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from January 1, 2012 to May 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from December 31 to May 31.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.01%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(g) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

 

     Year Ended May 31,     Year Ended
December 31,
 

Class I

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 23.57      $ 20.41      $ 15.41      $ 14.71      $ 17.02      $ 13.35   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.05     0.07        (0.04     (0.03     (0.04     (0.05

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     2.53        4.53        5.48        0.73        (1.51     3.72   

Total from investment operations

     2.48        4.60        5.44        0.70        (1.55     3.67   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net realized gains

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          —          —          0.00 (b)  

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 23.75      $ 23.57      $ 20.41      $ 15.41      $ 14.71      $ 17.02   

Total return

     11.70     22.83     35.91     4.76     (9.01 %)      27.49 % (c)  

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     0.93     0.93     0.96     0.98 % (e)       0.94     1.09

Total net expenses (f)

     0.93     0.93     0.93     0.94 % (e)       0.91     0.88

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.22 %)      0.32     (0.21 %)      (0.38 %) (e)       (0.24 %)      (0.38 %) 

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 22,479      $ 22,829      $ 26,109      $ 20,764      $ 14,419      $ 10,145   

Portfolio turnover

     26     22     9     3     18     5

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from January 1, 2012 to May 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from December 31 to May 31.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.01%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

 

     Year Ended May 31,     Year Ended
December 31,
 

Class K

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 23.20      $ 20.17      $ 15.28      $ 14.60      $ 16.94      $ 13.34   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.12     0.01        (0.09     (0.04     (0.09     (0.10

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     2.49        4.46        5.42        0.72        (1.49     3.70   

Total from investment operations

     2.37        4.47        5.33        0.68        (1.58     3.60   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net realized gains

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          —          —          0.00 (b)  

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 23.27      $ 23.20      $ 20.17      $ 15.28      $ 14.60      $ 16.94   

Total return

     11.39     22.45     35.49     4.66     (9.23 %)      26.99 % (c)  

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.23     1.23     1.26     1.23 % (e)       1.22     1.39

Total net expenses (f)

     1.23     1.23     1.23     1.20 % (e)       1.18     1.18

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.52 %)      0.05     (0.51 %)      (0.65 %) (e)       (0.53 %)      (0.69 %) 

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 7,323      $ 6,809      $ 5,083      $ 3,812      $ 3,642      $ 3,601   

Portfolio turnover

     26     22     9     3     18     5

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from January 1, 2012 to May 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from December 31 to May 31.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.01%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

 

     Year Ended May 31,     Year Ended December 31,  

Class R

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 20.77      $ 18.25      $ 13.92      $ 13.33      $ 15.62      $ 12.35   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment loss

     (0.19     (0.08     (0.14     (0.07     (0.16     (0.16

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     2.18        4.04        4.91        0.66        (1.37     3.43   

Total from investment operations

     1.99        3.96        4.77        0.59        (1.53     3.27   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net realized gains

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          —          —          0.00 (b)  

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 20.46      $ 20.77      $ 18.25      $ 13.92      $ 13.33      $ 15.62   

Total return

     10.87     22.01     34.92     4.43     (9.69 %)      26.48 % (c)  

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.63     1.66     1.76     1.73 % (e)       1.73     1.87

Total net expenses (f)

     1.63 % (g)       1.65 % (g)       1.64 % (g)       1.67 % (e)       1.67 % (g)       1.66

Net investment loss

     (0.92 %)      (0.40 %)      (0.92 %)      (1.14 %) (e)       (1.02 %)      (1.16 %) 

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 11,772      $ 11,933      $ 10,684      $ 9,248      $ 11,156      $ 15,733   

Portfolio turnover

     26     22     9     3     18     5

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from January 1, 2012 to May 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from December 31 to May 31.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.01%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(g) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

 

     Year Ended May 31,  

Class R4

   2015     2014     2013 (a)  

Per share data

      

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 23.63      $ 20.49      $ 15.99   

Income from investment operations:

      

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.10     0.02        (0.04

Net realized and unrealized gain

     2.53        4.56        4.98   

Total from investment operations

     2.43        4.58        4.94   

Less distributions to shareholders:

      

Net realized gains

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44

Total distributions to shareholders

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 23.76      $ 23.63      $ 20.49   

Total return

     11.45     22.64     31.47

Ratios to average net assets (b)

      

Total gross expenses

     1.13     1.16     1.27 % (c)  

Total net expenses (d)

     1.13 % (e)       1.15 % (e)       1.14 % (c)  

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.44 %)      0.07     (0.37 %) (c)  

Supplemental data

      

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 486      $ 123      $ 3   

Portfolio turnover

     26     22     9

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from November 8, 2012 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

 

     Year Ended May 31,     Year Ended December 31,  

Class R5

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 23.49      $ 20.35      $ 15.40      $ 14.70      $ 17.01      $ 13.35   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.07     0.07        (0.05     (0.03     (0.05     (0.06

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     2.53        4.51        5.44        0.73        (1.50     3.72   

Total from investment operations

     2.46        4.58        5.39        0.70        (1.55     3.66   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net realized gains

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     —          —          —          —          —          0.00 (b)  

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 23.65      $ 23.49      $ 20.35      $ 15.40      $ 14.70      $ 17.01   

Total return

     11.65     22.80     35.60     4.76     (9.02 %)      27.42 % (c)  

Ratios to average net assets (d)

            

Total gross expenses

     0.98     0.98     0.98     0.98 % (e)       0.97     1.14

Total net expenses (f)

     0.98     0.98     0.98     0.95 % (e)       0.93     0.93

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.29 %)      0.32     (0.31 %)      (0.41 %) (e)       (0.28 %)      (0.44 %) 

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 2,188      $ 630      $ 352      $ 2,145      $ 2,046      $ 2,289   

Portfolio turnover

     26     22     9     3     18     5

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from January 1, 2012 to May 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from December 31 to May 31.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.01%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

 

Class Y

   Year Ended
May 31, 2015 (a)
 

Per share data

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 23.11   

Income from investment operations:

  

Net investment loss

     (0.02

Net realized and unrealized gain

     3.42   

Total from investment operations

     3.40   

Less distributions to shareholders:

  

Net realized gains

     (2.30

Total distributions to shareholders

     (2.30

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 24.21   

Total return

     15.90

Ratios to average net assets (b)

  

Total gross expenses

     0.88 % (c)  

Total net expenses (d)

     0.88 % (c)  

Net investment loss

     (0.15 %) (c)  

Supplemental data

  

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 3   

Portfolio turnover

     26

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from October 1, 2014 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

 

     Year Ended May 31,     Year Ended December 31,  

Class Z

   2015     2014     2013     2012 (a)     2011     2010 (b)  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 23.37      $ 20.28      $ 15.35      $ 14.67      $ 17.01      $ 14.61   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.10     0.05        (0.07     (0.04     (0.08     (0.01

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     2.50        4.48        5.44        0.72        (1.50     2.41   

Total from investment operations

     2.40        4.53        5.37        0.68        (1.58     2.40   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net realized gains

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     (2.30     (1.44     (0.44     —          (0.76     —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 23.47      $ 23.37      $ 20.28      $ 15.35      $ 14.67      $ 17.01   

Total return

     11.44     22.63     35.59     4.63     (9.19 %)      16.43

Ratios to average net assets (c)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.13     1.16     1.26     1.23 % (d)       1.20     1.55 % (d)  

Total net expenses (e)

     1.13 % (f)       1.15 % (f)       1.14 % (f)       1.16 % (d)       1.19 % (f)       1.02 % (d)  

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.44 %)      0.22     (0.42 %)      (0.62 %) (d)       (0.50 %)      (0.34 %) (d)  

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 18,605      $ 7,019      $ 3,467      $ 2,417      $ 1,892      $ 133   

Portfolio turnover

     26     22     9     3     18     5

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) For the period from January 1, 2012 to May 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s fiscal year end was changed from December 31 to May 31.
(b) Based on operations from September 27, 2010 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(f) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Overseas Value Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,  

Class A

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014(a)  

Per share data

      

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 8.65      $ 9.20      $ 7.65   

Income from investment operations:

      

Net investment income

     0.15        0.20        0.19   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.42     (0.49     1.49   

Total from investment operations

     (0.27     (0.29     1.68   

Less distributions to shareholders:

      

Net investment income

     —          (0.26     (0.13

Tax return of capital

     —          (0.00 )(b)      —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          (0.26     (0.13

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 8.38      $ 8.65      $ 9.20   

Total return

     (3.12 %)      (2.92 %)      22.10

Ratios to average net assets(c)

      

Total gross expenses

     1.42 %(d)      1.40     1.71

Total net expenses(e)

     1.42 %(d)(f)      1.40 %(f)      1.41 %(f) 

Net investment income

     3.31 %(d)      2.32     2.22

Supplemental data

      

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 183,258      $ 188,171      $ 219,133   

Portfolio turnover

     41     74     63

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from February 28, 2013 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(f) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Overseas Value Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,  

Class B

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014(a)  

Per share data

      

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 8.64      $ 9.18      $ 7.65   

Income from investment operations:

      

Net investment income

     0.12        0.15        0.14   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.42     (0.49     1.47   

Total from investment operations

     (0.30     (0.34     1.61   

Less distributions to shareholders:

      

Net investment income

     —          (0.20     (0.08

Tax return of capital

     —          (0.00 )(b)      —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          (0.20     (0.08

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 8.34      $ 8.64      $ 9.18   

Total return

     (3.47 %)      (3.60 %)      21.13

Ratios to average net assets(c)

      

Total gross expenses

     2.17 %(d)      2.15     2.47

Total net expenses(e)

     2.17 %(d)(f)      2.15 %(f)      2.16 %(f) 

Net investment income

     2.75 %(d)      1.74     1.66

Supplemental data

      

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 2,962      $ 5,202      $ 9,662   

Portfolio turnover

     41     74     63

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from February 28, 2013 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(f) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Overseas Value Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,  

Class C

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014(a)  

Per share data

      

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 8.64      $ 9.18      $ 7.65   

Income from investment operations:

      

Net investment income

     0.11        0.13        0.12   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.41     (0.47     1.49   

Total from investment operations

     (0.30     (0.34     1.61   

Less distributions to shareholders:

      

Net investment income

     —          (0.20     (0.08

Tax return of capital

     —          (0.00 )(b)      —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          (0.20     (0.08

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 8.34      $ 8.64      $ 9.18   

Total return

     (3.47 %)      (3.60 %)      21.13

Ratios to average net assets(c)

      

Total gross expenses

     2.17 %(d)      2.16     2.46

Total net expenses(e)

     2.17 %(d)(f)      2.16 %(f)      2.16 %(f) 

Net investment income

     2.55 %(d)      1.54     1.46

Supplemental data

      

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 4,683      $ 4,597      $ 4,843   

Portfolio turnover

     41     74     63

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from February 28, 2013 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(f) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Overseas Value Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,    

Year Ended

February 29,

 

Class I

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014     2013     2012(a)  

Per share data

          

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 8.65      $ 9.20      $ 7.65      $ 7.22      $ 7.87   

Income from investment operations:

          

Net investment income

     0.17        0.24        0.20        0.20        0.22   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.42     (0.48     1.51        0.40        (0.62

Total from investment operations

     (0.25     (0.24     1.71        0.60        (0.40

Less distributions to shareholders:

          

Net investment income

     —          (0.31     (0.16     (0.17     (0.25

Tax return of capital

     —          (0.00 )(b)      —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          (0.31     (0.16     (0.17     (0.25

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 8.40      $ 8.65      $ 9.20      $ 7.65      $ 7.22   

Total return

     (2.89 %)      (2.43 %)      22.55     8.49     (4.55 %) 

Ratios to average net assets(c)

          

Total gross expenses

     0.92 %(d)      0.92     1.04     1.33     1.76 %(d) 

Total net expenses(e)

     0.92 %(d)      0.92     0.98     1.07     0.84 %(d) 

Net investment income

     3.76 %(d)      2.73     2.36     2.78     3.37 %(d) 

Supplemental data

          

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 297,543      $ 285,957      $ 98,706      $ 26,514      $ 28,376   

Portfolio turnover

     41     74     63     46     96

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from March 31, 2011 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Overseas Value Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,  

Class K

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014(a)  

Per share data

      

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 8.65      $ 9.20      $ 7.65   

Income from investment operations:

      

Net investment income

     0.16        0.22        0.20   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.42     (0.49     1.49   

Total from investment operations

     (0.26     (0.27     1.69   

Less distributions to shareholders:

      

Net investment income

     —          (0.28     (0.14

Tax return of capital

     —          (0.00 )(b)      —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          (0.28     (0.14

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 8.39      $ 8.65      $ 9.20   

Total return

     (3.01 %)      (2.73 %)      22.25

Ratios to average net assets(c)

      

Total gross expenses

     1.22 %(d)      1.22     1.33

Total net expenses(e)

     1.22 %(d)      1.22     1.26

Net investment income

     3.62 %(d)      2.49     2.39

Supplemental data

      

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 145      $ 172      $ 197   

Portfolio turnover

     41     74     63

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from February 28, 2013 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Overseas Value Fund

 

Class R4

   Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015(a)
(Unaudited)
 

Per share data

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 8.78   

Income from investment operations:

  

Net investment income

     0.03   

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (0.45

Total from investment operations

     (0.42

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 8.36   

Total return

     (4.78 %) 

Ratios to average net assets(b)

  

Total gross expenses

     1.16 %(c) 

Total net expenses(d)

     1.16 %(c)(e) 

Net investment income

     1.85 %(c) 

Supplemental data

  

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 2   

Portfolio turnover

     41

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from July 1, 2015 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Overseas Value Fund

 

Class R5

   Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015(a)
(Unaudited)
 

Per share data

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 8.78   

Income from investment operations:

  

Net investment income

     0.03   

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (0.45

Total from investment operations

     (0.42

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 8.36   

Total return

     (4.78 %) 

Ratios to average net assets(b)

  

Total gross expenses

     0.95 %(c) 

Total net expenses(d)

     0.95 %(c) 

Net investment income

     2.06 %(c) 

Supplemental data

  

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 2   

Portfolio turnover

     41

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from July 1, 2015 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Overseas Value Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,     Year Ended
February 29,
 

Class W

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014     2013     2012(a)  

Per share data

          

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 8.64      $ 9.19      $ 7.65      $ 7.22      $ 7.87   

Income from investment operations:

          

Net investment income

     0.15        0.21        0.19        0.17        0.22   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.41     (0.50     1.48        0.42        (0.64

Total from investment operations

     (0.26     (0.29     1.67        0.59        (0.42

Less distributions to shareholders:

          

Net investment income

     —          (0.26     (0.13     (0.16     (0.23

Tax return of capital

     —          (0.00 )(b)      —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          (0.26     (0.13     (0.16     (0.23

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 8.38      $ 8.64      $ 9.19      $ 7.65      $ 7.22   

Total return

     (3.01 %)      (2.93 %)      21.97     8.24     (4.81 %) 

Ratios to average net assets(c)

          

Total gross expenses

     1.42 %(d)      1.40     1.63     1.58     2.09 %(d) 

Total net expenses(e)

     1.42 %(d)(f)      1.40 %(f)      1.41 %(f)      1.33     1.12 %(d) 

Net investment income

     3.43 %(d)      2.41     2.21     2.46     3.24 %(d) 

Supplemental data

          

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 149,247      $ 208,707      $ 303,273      $ 2      $ 2   

Portfolio turnover

     41     74     63     46     96

Notes to Financial Highlights

(a) Based on operations from March 31, 2011 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(f) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Overseas Value Fund

 

Class Y

   Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015(a)
(Unaudited)
 

Per share data

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 8.78   

Income from investment operations:

  

Net investment income

     0.03   

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (0.44

Total from investment operations

     (0.41

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 8.37   

Total return

     (4.67 %) 

Ratios to average net assets(b)

  

Total gross expenses

     0.90 %(c) 

Total net expenses(d)

     0.90 %(c) 

Net investment income

     2.11 %(c) 

Supplemental data

  

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 2   

Portfolio turnover

     41

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from July 1, 2015 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Overseas Value Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015

(Unaudited)
    Year Ended February 28,     Year Ended
February 29,

2012
    Year Ended
February 28,

2011
 

Class Z

     2015     2014     2013      

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 8.66      $ 9.20      $ 7.66      $ 7.23      $ 8.00      $ 6.98   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.17        0.23        0.40        0.19        0.32        0.16   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.43     (0.48     1.29        0.41        (0.85     1.01   

Total from investment operations

     (0.26     (0.25     1.69        0.60        (0.53     1.17   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     —          (0.29     (0.15     (0.17     (0.24     (0.15

Tax return of capital

     —          (0.00 )(a)      —          —          —          —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          (0.29     (0.15     (0.17     (0.24     (0.15

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 8.40      $ 8.66      $ 9.20      $ 7.66      $ 7.23      $ 8.00   

Total return

     (3.00 %)      (2.56 %)      22.19     8.45     (6.17 %)      17.06

Ratios to average net assets(b)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.17 %(c)      1.16     1.52     1.32     1.87     3.65

Total net expenses(d)

     1.17 %(c)(e)      1.16 %(e)      1.21 %(e)      1.07     0.98     1.15 %(e) 

Net investment income

     3.93 %(c)      2.64     4.97     2.72     3.80     2.18

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 570      $ 340      $ 88      $ 2,680      $ 2,521      $ 8,690   

Portfolio turnover

     41     74     63     46     96     48

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Rounds to zero.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Financial Highlights — Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,     Year Ended
February 29,
    Year Ended
February 28,
 

Class A

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 13.69      $ 13.88      $ 12.02      $ 11.68      $ 12.46      $ 10.68   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.08        0.12        0.15        0.17        0.14        0.14   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.89     (0.32     1.71        0.56        (0.94     1.85   

Total from investment operations

     (0.81     (0.20     1.86        0.73        (0.80     1.99   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     —          —          —          (0.39     —          (0.21

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          —          —          (0.39     —          (0.21

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     0.06        0.01        —          —          0.02        0.00 (a) 

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 12.94      $ 13.69      $ 13.88      $ 12.02      $ 11.68      $ 12.46   

Total return

     (5.48 %)(b)      (1.37 %)(c)      15.47     6.41     (6.26 %)(d)      18.80

Ratios to average net assets(e)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.44 %(f)(g)      1.49     1.42 %(g)      1.39 %(g)      1.36     1.33 %(g) 

Total net expenses(h)

     1.43 %(f)(g)(i)      1.47 %(i)      1.42 %(g)(i)      1.38 %(g)(i)      1.32 %(i)      1.33 %(g)(i) 

Net investment income

     1.16 %(f)      0.94     1.20     1.46     1.20     1.27

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 248,620      $ 274,993      $ 316,823      $ 313,239      $ 356,708      $ 24,668   

Portfolio turnover

     101     96     125     100     112     92

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Rounds to zero.
(b) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.44%.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.10%.
(d) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.19%.
(e) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(h) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(i) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,     Year Ended
February 29,
    Year Ended
February 28,
 

Class B

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 12.23      $ 12.50      $ 10.90      $ 10.55      $ 11.34      $ 9.75   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.03        0.04        0.06        0.09        0.06        0.07   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.80     (0.32     1.54        0.49        (0.87     1.66   

Total from investment operations

     (0.77     (0.28     1.60        0.58        (0.81     1.73   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     —          —          —          (0.23     —          (0.14

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          —          —          (0.23     —          (0.14

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     0.05        0.01        —          —          0.02        0.00 (a) 

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 11.51      $ 12.23      $ 12.50      $ 10.90      $ 10.55      $ 11.34   

Total return

     (5.89 %)(b)      (2.16 %)(c)      14.68     5.59     (6.97 %)(d)      17.88

Ratios to average net assets(e)

            

Total gross expenses

     2.19 %(f)(g)      2.24     2.17 %(g)      2.13 %(g)      2.11     2.08 %(g) 

Total net expenses(h)

     2.18 %(f)(g)(i)      2.22 %(i)      2.17 %(g)(i)      2.12 %(g)(i)      2.06 %(i)      2.08 %(g)(i) 

Net investment income

     0.52 %(f)      0.33     0.52     0.91     0.62     0.70

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 1,475      $ 2,296      $ 4,260      $ 6,566      $ 11,838      $ 784   

Portfolio turnover

     101     96     125     100     112     92

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Rounds to zero.
(b) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.44%.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.10%.
(d) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.20%.
(e) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(h) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(i) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,     Year Ended
February 29,
    Year Ended
February 28,
 

Class C

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 12.08      $ 12.34      $ 10.77      $ 10.42      $ 11.20      $ 9.63   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.02        0.02        0.05        0.07        0.05        0.07   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.78     (0.29     1.52        0.51        (0.85     1.64   

Total from investment operations

     (0.76     (0.27     1.57        0.58        (0.80     1.71   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     —          —          —          (0.23     —          (0.14

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          —          —          (0.23     —          (0.14

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     0.05        0.01        —          —          0.02        0.00 (a) 

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 11.37      $ 12.08      $ 12.34      $ 10.77      $ 10.42      $ 11.20   

Total return

     (5.88 %)(b)      (2.11 %)(c)      14.58     5.64     (6.96 %)(d)      17.89

Ratios to average net assets(e)

            

Total gross expenses

     2.19 %(f)(g)      2.24     2.17 %(g)      2.14 %(g)      2.10     2.08 %(g) 

Total net expenses(h)

     2.18 %(f)(g)(i)      2.22 %(i)      2.17 %(g)(i)      2.13 %(g)(i)      2.07 %(i)      2.08 %(g)(i) 

Net investment income

     0.41 %(f)      0.19     0.45     0.72     0.48     0.72

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 9,861      $ 11,042      $ 12,562      $ 12,619      $ 15,058      $ 1,272   

Portfolio turnover

     101     96     125     100     112     92

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Rounds to zero.
(b) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.44%.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.10%.
(d) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.19%.
(e) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(h) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(i) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,     Year Ended
February 29,
    Year Ended
February 28,
 

Class I

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011(a)  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 14.03      $ 14.15      $ 12.20      $ 11.89      $ 12.62      $ 11.64   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.11        0.27        0.30        0.22        0.22        0.02   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.91     (0.40     1.65        0.58        (0.97     1.21   

Total from investment operations

     (0.80     (0.13     1.95        0.80        (0.75     1.23   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     —          —          —          (0.49     —          (0.25

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          —          —          (0.49     —          (0.25

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     0.06        0.01        —          —          0.02        0.00 (b) 

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 13.29      $ 14.03      $ 14.15      $ 12.20      $ 11.89      $ 12.62   

Total return

     (5.27 %)(c)      (0.85 %)(d)      15.98     6.96     (5.78 %)(e)      10.69

Ratios to average net assets(f)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.00 %(g)(h)      0.95     0.93 %(h)      0.93 %(h)      0.84     0.95 %(g)(h) 

Total net expenses(i)

     0.98 %(g)(h)      0.95     0.93 %(h)      0.93 %(h)      0.84     0.95 %(g)(h)(j) 

Net investment income

     1.59 %(g)      1.98     2.38     1.90     1.87     0.32 %(g) 

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 3      $ 3      $ 19      $ 24,204      $ 78,467      $ 47,056   

Portfolio turnover

     101     96     125     100     112     92

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from September 27, 2010 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.44%.
(d) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.10%.
(e) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.19%.
(f) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(g) Annualized.
(h) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(i) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(j) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,     Year Ended
February 29,
 

Class K

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014     2013     2012(a)  

Per share data

          

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 13.95      $ 14.11      $ 12.20      $ 11.85      $ 12.54   

Income from investment operations:

          

Net investment income

     0.11        0.15        0.17        0.18        0.15   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.93     (0.32     1.74        0.58        (0.86

Total from investment operations

     (0.82     (0.17     1.91        0.76        (0.71

Less distributions to shareholders:

          

Net investment income

     —          —          —          (0.41     —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          —          —          (0.41     —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     0.06        0.01        —          —          0.02   

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 13.19      $ 13.95      $ 14.11      $ 12.20      $ 11.85   

Total return

     (5.45 %)(b)      (1.13 %)(c)      15.66     6.64     (5.50 %)(d) 

Ratios to average net assets(e)

          

Total gross expenses

     1.24 %(f)(g)      1.25     1.24 %(g)      1.24 %(g)      1.21 %(f) 

Total net expenses(h)

     1.24 %(f)(g)      1.25     1.24 %(g)      1.24 %(g)      1.21 %(f) 

Net investment income

     1.53 %(f)      1.12     1.32     1.61     1.33 %(f) 

Supplemental data

          

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 63      $ 103      $ 111      $ 122      $ 135   

Portfolio turnover

     101     96     125     100     112

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from March 7, 2011 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.44%.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.10%.
(d) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.19%.
(e) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(h) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.

 

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Table of Contents

Financial Highlights — Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,     Year Ended
February 29,
    Year Ended
February 28,
 

Class R

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 13.62      $ 13.84      $ 12.01      $ 11.64      $ 12.45      $ 10.68   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.07        0.10        0.11        0.14        0.11        0.13   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.89     (0.33     1.72        0.57        (0.94     1.83   

Total from investment operations

     (0.82     (0.23     1.83        0.71        (0.83     1.96   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     —          —          —          (0.34     —          (0.19

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          —          —          (0.34     —          (0.19

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     0.06        0.01        —          —          0.02        0.00 (a) 

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 12.86      $ 13.62      $ 13.84      $ 12.01      $ 11.64      $ 12.45   

Total return

     (5.58 %)(b)      (1.59 %)(c)      15.24     6.20     (6.51 %)(d)      18.47

Ratios to average net assets(e)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.69 %(f)(g)      1.74     1.67 %(g)      1.64 %(g)      1.62     1.58 %(g) 

Total net expenses(h)

     1.68 %(f)(g)(i)      1.72 %(i)      1.67 %(g)(i)      1.63 %(g)(i)      1.57 %(i)      1.58 %(g)(i) 

Net investment income

     0.96 %(f)      0.72     0.87     1.22     0.98     1.13

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 1,339      $ 1,563      $ 1,632      $ 1,673      $ 1,899      $ 287   

Portfolio turnover

     101     96     125     100     112     92

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Rounds to zero.
(b) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.44%.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.10%.
(d) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.19%.
(e) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(h) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(i) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Financial Highlights — Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,  

Class R4

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014     2013(a)  

Per share data

        

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 14.04      $ 14.20      $ 12.27      $ 11.62   

Income from investment operations:

        

Net investment income

     0.09        0.24        0.18        0.02   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.91     (0.41     1.75        0.92   

Total from investment operations

     (0.82     (0.17     1.93        0.94   

Less distributions to shareholders:

        

Net investment income

     —          —          —          (0.29

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          —          —          (0.29

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     0.06        0.01        —          —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 13.28      $ 14.04      $ 14.20      $ 12.27   

Total return

     (5.41 %)(b)      (1.13 %)(c)      15.73     8.17

Ratios to average net assets(d)

        

Total gross expenses

     1.22 %(e)(f)      1.25     1.19 %(f)      1.25 %(e) 

Total net expenses(g)

     1.20 %(e)(f)(h)      1.21 %(i)      1.19 %(f)(h)      1.25 %(e) 

Net investment income

     1.31 %(e)      1.77     1.35     0.55 %(e) 

Supplemental data

        

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 9      $ 3      $ 7      $ 3   

Portfolio turnover

     101     96     125     100

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from November 8, 2012 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.44%.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.10%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(h) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.
(i) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of 0.01%.

 

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Financial Highlights — Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,  

Class R5

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014     2013(a)  

Per share data

        

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 14.08      $ 14.21      $ 12.26      $ 11.62   

Income from investment operations:

        

Net investment income

     0.11        0.12        0.32        0.03   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.91     (0.26     1.63        0.92   

Total from investment operations

     (0.80     (0.14     1.95        0.95   

Less distributions to shareholders:

        

Net investment income

     —          —          —          (0.31

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          —          —          (0.31

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     0.06        0.01        —          —     

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 13.34      $ 14.08      $ 14.21      $ 12.26   

Total return

     (5.26 %)(b)      (0.91 %)(c)      15.91     8.20

Ratios to average net assets(d)

        

Total gross expenses

     0.99 %(e)(f)      1.01     1.04 %(f)      1.05 %(e) 

Total net expenses(g)

     0.99 %(e)(f)      1.01     1.04 %(f)      1.05 %(e) 

Net investment income

     1.56 %(e)      0.86     2.45     0.75 %(e) 

Supplemental data

        

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 39      $ 59      $ 14      $ 3   

Portfolio turnover

     101     96     125     100

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from November 8, 2012 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.44%.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.10%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.

 

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Financial Highlights — Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,     Year Ended
February 29,
    Year Ended
February 28,
 

Class W

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011(a)  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 13.70      $ 13.88      $ 12.02      $ 11.68      $ 12.46      $ 11.48   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.08        0.13        0.13        0.16        0.12        0.02   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.90     (0.32     1.73        0.57        (0.92     1.17   

Total from investment operations

     (0.82     (0.19     1.86        0.73        (0.80     1.19   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     —          —          —          (0.39     —          (0.21

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          —          —          (0.39     —          (0.21

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     0.06        0.01        —          —          0.02        0.00 (b) 

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 12.94      $ 13.70      $ 13.88      $ 12.02      $ 11.68      $ 12.46   

Total return

     (5.55 %)(c)      (1.30 %)(d)      15.47     6.40     (6.26 %)(e)      10.52

Ratios to average net assets(f)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.44 %(g)(h)      1.48     1.41 %(h)      1.40 %(h)      1.38     1.30 %(g)(h) 

Total net expenses(i)

     1.43 %(g)(h)(j)      1.47 %(j)      1.41 %(h)(j)      1.39 %(h)(j)      1.33 %(j)      1.30 %(g)(h)(j) 

Net investment income

     1.18 %(g)      0.98     1.05     1.42     1.06     0.33 %(g) 

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 175,103      $ 205,715      $ 166,486      $ 270,144      $ 232,777      $ 3   

Portfolio turnover

     101     96     125     100     112     92

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from September 27, 2010 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.44%.
(d) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.10%.
(e) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.19%.
(f) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(g) Annualized.
(h) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(i) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(j) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Financial Highlights — Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,     Year Ended
February 29,
 

Class Y

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014     2013     2012(a)  

Per share data

          

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 14.04      $ 14.16      $ 12.21      $ 11.89      $ 12.55   

Income from investment operations:

          

Net investment income

     0.12        0.19        0.22        0.21        0.18   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.92     (0.32     1.73        0.59        (0.86

Total from investment operations

     (0.80     (0.13     1.95        0.80        (0.68

Less distributions to shareholders:

          

Net investment income

     —          —          —          (0.48     —     

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          —          —          (0.48     —     

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     0.06        0.01        —          —          0.02   

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 13.30      $ 14.04      $ 14.16      $ 12.21      $ 11.89   

Total return

     (5.27 %)(b)      (0.85 %)(c)      15.97     6.98     (5.26 %)(d) 

Ratios to average net assets(e)

          

Total gross expenses

     0.95 %(f)(g)      0.96     0.94 %(g)      0.95 %(g)      0.88 %(f) 

Total net expenses(h)

     0.95 %(f)(g)      0.96     0.94 %(g)      0.95 %(g)      0.88 %(f) 

Net investment income

     1.63 %(f)      1.41     1.67     1.79     1.64 %(f) 

Supplemental data

          

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 14,745      $ 15,568      $ 15,701      $ 14,990      $ 12,780   

Portfolio turnover

     101     96     125     100     112

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Based on operations from March 7, 2011 (commencement of operations) through the stated period end.
(b) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.44%.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.10%.
(d) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.19%.
(e) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(h) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.

 

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Financial Highlights — Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

     Six Months
Ended
August 31,
2015
    Year Ended February 28,     Year Ended
February 29,
    Year Ended
February 28,
 

Class Z

   (Unaudited)     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Per share data

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 13.96      $ 14.11      $ 12.19      $ 11.86      $ 12.62      $ 10.81   

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment income

     0.11        0.17        0.19        0.23        0.18        0.18   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (0.93     (0.33     1.73        0.54        (0.96     1.87   

Total from investment operations

     (0.82     (0.16     1.92        0.77        (0.78     2.05   

Less distributions to shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     —          —          —          (0.44     —          (0.24

Total distributions to shareholders

     —          —          —          (0.44     —          (0.24

Proceeds from regulatory settlements

     0.06        0.01        —          —          0.02        0.00 (a) 

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 13.20      $ 13.96      $ 14.11      $ 12.19      $ 11.86      $ 12.62   

Total return

     (5.44 %)(b)      (1.06 %)(c)      15.75     6.72     (6.02 %)(d)      19.08

Ratios to average net assets(e)

            

Total gross expenses

     1.18 %(f)(g)      1.24     1.17 %(g)      1.13 %(g)      1.11     1.08 %(g) 

Total net expenses(h)

     1.18 %(f)(g)(i)      1.22 %(i)      1.17 %(g)(i)      1.12 %(g)(i)      1.08 %(i)      1.08 %(g)(i) 

Net investment income

     1.58 %(f)      1.23     1.50     2.00     1.53     1.58

Supplemental data

            

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

   $ 90,759      $ 179,330      $ 237,249      $ 301,958      $ 1,093,867      $ 1,177,541   

Portfolio turnover

     101     96     125     100     112     92

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Rounds to zero.
(b) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.44%.
(c) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.10%.
(d) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.19%.
(e) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%.
(h) Total net expenses include the impact of certain fee waivers/expense reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(i) The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%.

 

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Exhibit A

Costs of the Reorganizations

Each Selling Fund and the corresponding Buying Fund may bear a portion of the out-of-pocket expenses associated with its Reorganization. Out-of-pocket expenses associated with a Reorganization include, but are not limited to: (1) the expenses associated with the preparation, printing and mailing of any shareholder communications, including this proxy statement/prospectus, and any filings with the SEC and/or other governmental authorities in connection with the Reorganization; (2) the fees and expenses of any proxy solicitation firm retained in connection with the Reorganization; and (3) the legal and other fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Reorganization.

All fees paid to governmental authorities for the registration or qualification of the Buying Fund shares to be issued in the Reorganization and all transfer agency costs related to such shares will be allocated to the Buying Fund. All fees and expenses related to printing and mailing communications to Selling Fund shareholders will be allocated to the Selling Fund. All of the other expenses of a Reorganization including, without limitation, accounting, legal and custodial expenses, will be allocated equally among the applicable Funds. Following this initial allocation among the Funds, Columbia Threadneedle limits the expenses actually borne by a Fund to not more than the anticipated reduction in expenses to be incurred by that Fund over the first year following the Reorganization. Any reduction in the Reorganization expenses borne by a Fund as a result of this limitation is absorbed by Columbia Threadneedle, not by any other Fund. In addition, Columbia Threadneedle shall bear (a) all expenses allocated to Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, and (b) at least 50 percent of all expenses allocated to Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V. The estimated costs of each Reorganization expected to be borne by each Selling Fund and each Buying Fund, in the aggregate and on a per-share basis based on shares outstanding as of November 30, 2015, are set forth below:

 

     Costs Estimated to be Borne  

Fund

   Total      Per Share  

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund (Selling Fund)

   $ 442,821       $ 0.013   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (Selling Fund)

   $ 0       $ 0.000   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (Selling Fund)

   $ 83,969       $ 0.002   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (Selling Fund)

   $ 65,464       $ 0.006   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (Selling Fund)

   $ 195,743       $ 0.003   

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund (Selling Fund)

   $ 165,547       $ 0.003   

Columbia International Value Fund (Selling Fund)

   $ 130,647       $ 0.010   

Columbia International Opportunities Fund (Selling Fund)

   $ 3,557       $ 0.000   

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Buying Fund)

   $ 3,500       $ 0.000   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Buying Fund)

   $ 2,250       $ 0.000   

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Buying Fund)

   $ 3,500       $ 0.000   

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Buying Fund)

   $ 3,500       $ 0.000   

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Buying Fund)

   $ 1,537       $ 0.000   

Should any Reorganization fail to occur, Columbia Threadneedle will bear all costs associated with that Reorganization.

 

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Based on the operating expense ratios shown in the Fees and Expenses section above for each Buying Fund, it is projected that, after the Reorganizations, assuming all of the Reorganizations are consummated, each class of each Selling Fund will benefit from expense savings that will offset the allocated Reorganization expenses. However, the benefit of those projected expense savings will not be realized immediately. It is projected that the aggregate expense savings for each Selling Fund will not exceed the allocated Reorganization expenses of that Selling Fund until approximately the number of months after its Reorganization set forth below.

 

Fund

   Number of Months  

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund

     4   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II

     0   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III

     1   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV

     2   

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V

     1   

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

     12   

Columbia International Value Fund

     8   

Columbia International Opportunities Fund

     12   

If a shareholder redeems his or her Buying Fund shares prior to the indicated time, the shareholder will receive no net benefit from the projected expense savings.

 

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Exhibit B

Additional Information Applicable to the Buying Funds

Below is information regarding the Buying Funds. All references to each Fund or the Funds in this Exhibit B refer to a Buying Fund or the Buying Funds, respectively, unless otherwise noted.

Additional Investment Strategies and Policies

This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that each Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in each Fund.

Investment Guidelines

As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of each Fund’s principal investment strategies in this prospectus or as otherwise required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of each Fund’s assets that may be invested in any security or other asset or sets forth a policy regarding an investment standard, compliance with that percentage limitation or standard will be determined solely at the time of each Fund’s investment in the security or asset.

Holding Other Kinds of Investments

Each Fund may hold investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the SAI. Each Fund may choose not to invest in certain securities described in this prospectus and in the SAI, although it has the ability to do so. Information on each Fund’s holdings can be found in each Fund’s shareholder reports or by visiting columbiathreadneedle.com/us.

Transactions in Derivatives

Each Fund may enter into derivative transactions or otherwise have exposure to derivative transactions through underlying investments. Derivatives are financial contracts whose values are, for example, based on (or “derived” from) traditional securities (such as a stock or bond), assets (such as a commodity like gold or a foreign currency), reference rates (such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 ® Index). The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Derivatives involve special risks and may result in losses or may limit each Fund’s potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies often involve leverage, which may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing each Fund to lose more money than it would have lost had it invested in the underlying security or other asset directly. The values of derivatives may move in unexpected ways, especially in unusual market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or each Fund’s shares, among other consequences. The use of derivatives may also increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders holding shares in a taxable account. Other risks arise from each Fund’s potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for each Fund’s derivative positions at times when such Fund might wish to terminate or to sell such positions. Over-the-counter instruments (investments not traded on an exchange) may be illiquid, and transactions in derivatives traded in the over-the-counter market are subject to the risk that the other party will not meet its obligations. The use of derivatives also involves the risks of mispricing or improper valuation and that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying security, asset, reference rate or index. Each Fund also may not be able to find a suitable derivative transaction counterparty, and thus may be unable to engage in derivative transactions when it is deemed favorable to do so, or at all. U.S. federal legislation has been enacted that provides for new clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These changes could restrict and/or impose significant costs or other burdens upon each Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.

Investing in Affiliated Funds

Columbia Threadneedle or an affiliate serves as investment adviser to mutual funds using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including those that are structured as “fund-of-funds”, and provides asset-allocation services to (i) shareholders by investing in shares of other Columbia Funds, which may include each Fund (collectively referred to in this section as Underlying Funds), and (ii) discretionary managed accounts (collectively referred to as affiliated products) that invest exclusively in Underlying Funds. These affiliated products, individually or collectively, may own a significant percentage of the outstanding shares of one or more Underlying Funds, and Columbia Threadneedle seeks to balance potential conflicts of interest between the affiliated products and the Underlying Funds in which they invest. The affiliated products’ investment in the Underlying Funds may have the effect of creating economies of scale, possibly resulting in lower expense ratios for the Underlying Funds, because the affiliated products may own substantial portions of the shares of Underlying Funds. However, redemption of Underlying Fund shares by one or more affiliated products could cause the expense ratio of an Underlying Fund to increase, as its fixed costs would be spread over a smaller asset base. Because of large positions of certain affiliated products, the Underlying Funds may experience relatively large inflows and outflows of cash due

 

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Table of Contents

to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Underlying Fund shares. Although Columbia Threadneedle or its affiliate may seek to minimize the impact of these transactions where possible, for example, by structuring them over a reasonable period of time or through other measures, Underlying Funds may experience increased expenses as they buy and sell portfolio securities to manage the cash flow effect related to these transactions. Further, when Columbia Threadneedle or its affiliate structures transactions over a reasonable period of time in order to manage the potential impact of the buy and sell decisions for the affiliated products, those affiliated products, including funds-of-funds, may pay more or less (for purchase activity), or receive more or less (for redemption activity), for shares of the Underlying Funds than if the transactions were executed in one transaction. In addition, substantial redemptions by affiliated products within a short period of time could require the Underlying Fund to liquidate positions more rapidly than would otherwise be desirable, which may have the effect of reducing or eliminating potential gain or causing it to realize a loss. In order to meet such redemptions, an Underlying Fund may be forced to sell its liquid (or more liquid) positions, leaving the Underlying Fund holding, post-redemption, a relatively larger position in illiquid securities (securities that are not readily marketable or that a fund may not be able to sell or dispose of in the ordinary course of business, within seven days, at approximately the value at which the fund has valued the security) or less liquid securities. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Underlying Fund to implement its investment strategy. Columbia Threadneedle or its affiliate also has an economic conflict of interest in determining the allocation of affiliated products’ assets among the Underlying Funds, as it earns different fees from the various Underlying Funds.

Investing in Money Market Funds

Each Fund may invest cash in, or hold as collateral for certain investments, shares of registered or unregistered money market funds, including funds advised by Columbia Threadneedle or its affiliates. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. Each Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which such Fund may invest.

Lending of Portfolio Securities

Each Fund may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries on a fully collateralized basis in order to earn additional income. Each Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, it is delayed in or prevented from selling the collateral after the loan is made or recovering the securities loaned or if it incurs losses on the reinvestment of cash collateral.

Each Fund currently does not participate in the securities lending program but the Board of Trustees of the applicable Fund (the Board) may determine to renew participation in the future. For more information on lending of portfolio securities and the risks involved, see each Fund’s SAI and its annual and semiannual reports to shareholders.

Investing Defensively

Each Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that may be inconsistent with its principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing some or all of its assets in money market instruments or shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or holding some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. Each Fund may take such defensive investment positions for as long a period as deemed necessary.

Each Fund may not achieve its investment objective while it is investing defensively. Investing defensively may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and taxes, and decreased Fund performance. See also Investing in Money Market Funds above for more information.

Other Strategic and Investment Measures

Each Fund may also from time to time take temporary portfolio positions that may or may not be consistent with its principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing in derivatives, such as futures (e.g., index futures) or options on futures, for various purposes, including among others, investing in particular derivatives to achieve indirect investment exposures to a sector, country or region where Columbia Threadneedle believes such positioning is appropriate. Each Fund may take such portfolio positions for as long a period as deemed necessary. While a Fund is so positioned, derivatives could comprise a substantial portion of its investments and a Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Investing in this manner may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and taxes, and decreased Fund performance. For information on the risks of investing in derivatives, see Transactions in Derivatives above.

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure

The Board has adopted policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure to shareholders and third parties of information regarding the securities owned by each Fund. A description of these policies and procedures is included in the SAI. Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information on each Fund’s website (columbiathreadneedle.com/us) only after a certain amount of time has passed, as described in the SAI.

Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information available on each Fund’s website may not always be current.

 

FUNDamentals TM

Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks

Each Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmark(s), and accordingly each Fund’s holdings may diverge significantly from those of its benchmark(s). In addition, each Fund may invest in securities outside any industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmark(s). Each Fund’s weightings in individual securities, and in industry or geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmark(s).

eDelivery and Mailings to Households

In order to reduce shareholder expenses, each Fund may, if prior consent has been provided, mail only one copy of its prospectus and each annual and semiannual report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive separate copies of these documents, call 800.345.6611 or, if your shares are held through a financial intermediary, contact your intermediary directly. Additionally, you may elect to enroll in eDelivery to receive electronic versions of these documents by logging into your account at columbiathreadneedle.com/us.

Cash Flows

The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent each Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require each Fund to sell portfolio securities at less than opportune times or to hold ready reserves of uninvested cash in amounts larger than might otherwise be the case to meet shareholder redemptions. Either situation could adversely impact each Fund’s performance.

Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses

Each Fund’s annual operating expenses, as presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during such Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of such Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The expense ratios reflect each Fund’s fee arrangements as of the date of this prospectus and, unless indicated otherwise, are based on expenses incurred during each Fund’s most recent fiscal year. Each Fund’s assets will fluctuate, but no adjustments have been or will be made to the expense ratios to reflect any differences in each Fund’s average net assets between the most recently completed fiscal year and the date of this prospectus, or a later date. In general, each Fund’s expense ratios will increase as its net assets decrease, such that each Fund’s actual expense ratios may be higher than the expense ratios presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table if assets fall. Any commitment by Columbia Threadneedle and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected, in part, to limit the impact of any increase in each Fund’s operating expense ratios that would otherwise result because of a decrease in such Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. Each Fund’s annual operating expenses are comprised of (i) investment management fees, (ii) distribution and/or service fees, and (iii) other expenses. Management fees do not vary by class, but distribution and/or service fees and other expenses may vary by class.

 

FUNDamentals TM

Other Expenses

“Other expenses” consist of the fees each Fund pays to its custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. In each Fund’s previous prospectus, “other expenses” also included administrative services fees. The management fees reported in the annual fund operating expenses table of this prospectus reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under a single management agreement. Generally, these expenses are the same for each share class and are allocated on a pro rata basis across all share classes. Transfer agent fees and certain shareholder servicing fees, however, are class specific. They differ by share class because the shareholder services provided to each share class may be different. Accordingly, the differences in “other expenses” among share classes are primarily the result of the different transfer agent and shareholder servicing fees applicable to each share class. For more information on these fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Selling Agent Compensation.

 

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Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Arrangements and Impact on Past Performance

Columbia Threadneedle and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses described below) through December 31, 2016 for Columbia Contrarian Core Fund, November 30, 2016 for Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund, September 30, 2016 for Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, and June 30, 2016 for Columbia Overseas Value Fund and Columbia Select International Equity Fund, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of each Fund’s Board, so that each Fund’s net operating expenses, after giving effect to fees waived/expenses reimbursed and any balance credits and/or overdraft charges from such Fund’s custodian, do not exceed the annual rates of:

 

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

  

Class A

     1.19

Class C

     1.94

Class I

     0.81

Class R

     1.44

Class R4

     0.94

Class R5

     0.86

Class W

     1.19

Class Y

     0.81

Class Z

     0.94

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

  

Class A

     1.23

Class B

     1.98

Class C

     1.98

Class I

     0.86

Class R

     1.48

Class R4

     0.98

Class R5

     0.91

Class W

     1.23

Class Z

     0.98

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

  

Class A

     1.38

Class B

     2.13

Class C

     2.13

Class I

     1.00

Class K

     1.30

Class R

     1.63

Class R4

     1.13

Class R5

     1.05

Class Y

     1.00

Class Z

     1.13

 

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Columbia Overseas Value Fund

  

Class A

     1.46

Class B

     2.21

Class C

     2.21

Class I

     1.03

Class R

     1.71

Class R4

     1.21

Class R5

     1.08

Class Z

     1.21
  

Columbia Select International Equity Fund

  

Class A

     1.42

Class B

     2.17

Class C

     2.17

Class I

     0.98

Class R

     1.67

Class R4

     1.17

Class Z

     1.17

Under the agreement, the following fees and expenses are excluded from each Fund’s operating expenses when calculating the waiver/reimbursement commitment, and therefore will be paid by such Fund, if applicable: taxes (including foreign transaction taxes), expenses associated with investment in affiliated and non-affiliated pooled investment vehicles (including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds), transaction costs and brokerage commissions, costs related to any securities lending program, dividend expenses associated with securities sold short, inverse floater program fees and expenses, transaction charges and interest on borrowed money, interest, extraordinary expenses and any other expenses the exclusion of which is specifically approved by the Board. This agreement may be modified or amended only with approval from all parties.

Effect of Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements on Past Performance.

Each Fund’s returns shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus reflect the effect of any fee waivers and/or reimbursements of Fund expenses by Columbia Threadneedle and/or any of its affiliates that were in place during the performance period shown. Without such fee waivers/expense reimbursements, each Fund’s returns might have been lower.

Primary Service Providers

Each Fund enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, Columbia Threadneedle, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and its custodian, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce such arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy thereunder against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of such Fund.

This prospectus provides information concerning each Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of such Fund. None of this prospectus, the SAI or any contract that is an exhibit to a Fund’s registration statement is intended to give rise to any agreement or contract between a Fund and any investor, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

Columbia Threadneedle, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial. They and their affiliates currently provide key services, including investment advisory, administration, distribution, shareholder servicing and transfer agency services, to each Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.

 

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Fund Management and Compensation (for all Buying Funds)

Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 and serves as investment adviser and administrator to the Columbia Funds. Columbia Threadneedle is a registered investment adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. Columbia Threadneedle’s management experience covers all major asset classes, including equity securities, fixed-income securities and money market instruments. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to traditional mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds, Columbia Threadneedle acts as an investment adviser for itself, its affiliates, individuals, corporations, retirement plans, private investment companies and financial intermediaries.

Subject to oversight by the Board, Columbia Threadneedle manages the day-to-day operations of each Fund, determining what securities and other investments each Fund should buy or sell and executing portfolio transactions. Columbia Threadneedle may use the research and other capabilities of its affiliates and third parties in managing each Fund’s investments. Columbia Threadneedle is also responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of each Fund, including the general supervision of each Fund’s operations, the coordination of each Fund’s service providers and the provision of related clerical and administrative services.

The SEC has issued an order that permits Columbia Threadneedle, subject to the approval of the Board, to appoint an unaffiliated subadviser or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement for each Fund without first obtaining shareholder approval. The order permits each Fund to add or to change unaffiliated subadvisers or to change the fees paid to subadvisers from time to time without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change. Columbia Threadneedle and its affiliates may have other relationships, including significant financial relationships, with current or potential subadvisers or their affiliates, which may create certain conflicts of interest. When making recommendations to the Board to appoint or to change a subadviser, or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement, Columbia Threadneedle does not consider any other relationship it or its affiliates may have with a subadviser, and Columbia Threadneedle discloses to the Board the nature of any material relationships it has with a subadviser or its affiliates.

Each Fund pays Columbia Threadneedle a fee for its management services, which include investment advisory services and administrative services. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of each Fund and is paid monthly. Prior to January 1, 2016 for Columbia Contrarian Core Fund, December 1, 2015 for Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund, October 1, 2015 for Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, and July 1, 2015 for Columbia Overseas Value Fund and Columbia Select International Equity Fund, the Fund paid Columbia Threadneedle an advisory fee under an investment management services agreement and a separate administrative services fee under an administrative services agreement. The fees paid to Columbia Threadneedle by each Fund under its investment management services agreement (“IMS Agreement”) (exclusive of administrative services fees) for its most recent fiscal year were the following percentage of each Buying Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

Buying Fund

   Percentage of Fund’s Average
Daily Net Assets
 

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

     0.59

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

     0.61

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

     0.79

Columbia Overseas Value Fund

     0.78

Columbia Select International Equity Fund

     0.78

Under its IMS Agreement or management agreement, as applicable, each Fund also pays taxes, brokerage commissions and nonadvisory expenses. A discussion regarding the basis for each Fund’s board of trustees approval of the renewal of the Fund’s IMS Agreement and the combination of each Fund’s investment management services agreement with the Fund’s administrative services agreement into the Fund’s management agreement, each with Columbia Threadneedle, is available in Columbia Contrarian Core Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2015, Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015, Columbia Overseas Value Fund’s Semiannual Report to Shareholders for the period ended August 31, 2015 and Columbia Select International Equity Fund’s Semiannual Report to Shareholders for the period ended August 31, 2015.

Portfolio Managers

Information about the portfolio managers who are primarily responsible for overseeing each Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each portfolio manager and each portfolio manager’s ownership of securities in each Fund.

 

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Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

  

Title

  

Role with
Fund

  

Managed Fund Since

Guy Pope, CFA            Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Contrarian Core Strategy    Manager    2005

Mr. Pope joined Columbia Threadneedle in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 1993. Mr. Pope began his investment career in 1993 and earned a B.A. from Colorado College and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University.

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

  

Title

   Role with Fund    Managed Fund Since
John Wilson, CFA    Senior Portfolio Manager    Lead manager    2005
Peter Deininger, CFA, CAIA            Senior Portfolio Manager    Co-manager    2010
Tchintcia Barros, CFA    Portfolio Manager    Co-manager    February 2015

Mr. Wilson was a portfolio manager for Columbia Management Advisors, LLC from 2005 until May 2010 when he joined Columbia Threadneedle in connection with its acquisition of Columbia Management Advisors, LLC. Mr. Wilson began his investment career in 1985 and earned a B.A. from Trinity College and an M.B.A. from Duke University.

Mr. Deininger was a portfolio manager for Columbia Management Advisors, LLC from 2002 until May 2010 when he joined Columbia Threadneedle in connection with its acquisition of Columbia Management Advisors, LLC. Mr. Deininger began his investment career in 1994 and earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

Ms. Barros was an investment professional with Columbia Management Advisors, LLC from 2005 until May 2010 when she joined Columbia Threadneedle in connection with its acquisition of Columbia Management Advisors, LLC. Ms. Barros began her investment career in 2000 and earned a B.A. in economics from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

  

Title

   Role with Fund    Managed Fund Since
Richard Rosen    Senior Portfolio Manager    Lead manager    1997
Kari Montanus    Portfolio Manager    Co-manager    2014

Mr. Rosen joined Columbia Threadneedle in November 2008 when it acquired J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated (Seligman), where he was a Managing Director. Mr. Rosen began his investment career in 1982 and earned a B.A. from Brandeis University and an M.B.A. from New York University.

Ms. Montanus joined Columbia Threadneedle in November 2008 when it acquired Seligman, where she worked as an investment professional since 2003. Ms. Montanus began her investment career in 1990 and earned a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. in finance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Columbia Overseas Value Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

  

Title

   Role with
Fund
   Managed Fund Since
Fred Copper, CFA    Senior Portfolio Manager    Co-manager    2008
Daisuke Nomoto, CMA (SAAJ)    Senior Portfolio Manager    Co-manager    2013

Mr. Copper joined Columbia Threadneedle in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2005. Mr. Copper began his investment career in 1990 and earned a B.S. from Boston College and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

Mr. Nomoto joined Columbia Threadneedle in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2005. Mr. Nomoto began his investment career in 1993 and earned a B.A. from Shiga University, Japan.

 

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Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

  

Title

   Role with Fund    Managed Fund Since
Simon Haines, CFA    Fund Manager    Portfolio Manager    March 2015
William Davies    Head of Global Equities and Deputy Head of Equities of Threadneedle    Deputy Portfolio Manager    March 2015
David Dudding, CFA    Fund Manager    Deputy Portfolio Manager    March 2015

Mr. Haines joined Threadneedle in 1999 as a trainee UK fund manager, progressing to fund manager effective January 2005. Mr. Haines began his investment career in 1999 and earned a degree from Oxford University.

Mr. Davies joined Threadneedle in 1994. Prior to assuming his current roles, Mr. Davies was Head of European Equities. Prior to joining Threadneedle, Mr. Davies worked for Eagle Star Investments and Hambros Bank. At Hambros Bank Mr. Davies was a European Investment Manager and led the European Equity team. Mr. Davies began his investment career in 1984 and earned a B.A (Hons) in Economics from Exeter University.

Mr. Dudding joined Threadneedle in 1999 as an analyst. Mr. Dudding began his investment career in 1999 and earned a Modern History degree and a European Politics Masters degree from Oxford University.

The Distributor

Shares of each Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay commissions, distribution and service fees and/or other compensation to entities, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for selling shares and providing services to investors.

The Transfer Agent

Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. is a registered transfer agent and wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Transfer Agent is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, and its responsibilities include processing purchases, redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares, calculating and paying distributions, maintaining shareholder records, preparing account statements and providing customer service. The Transfer Agent has engaged DST Systems, Inc., including its affiliate, Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., to provide various shareholder or “sub-transfer agency” services. In addition, the Transfer Agent enters into agreements with various financial intermediaries through which you may hold Fund shares, pursuant to which the Transfer Agent pays these financial intermediaries for providing certain shareholder services. Each Fund generally pays the Transfer Agent a per account fee, pays a fee based on the assets invested through omnibus accounts and reimburses the Transfer Agent for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest

Columbia Threadneedle, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent, all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, provide various services to each Fund and other Columbia Funds for which they are compensated. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide other services to these funds and be compensated for them.

Columbia Threadneedle and its affiliates may provide investment advisory and other services to other clients and customers substantially similar to those provided to the Columbia Funds. These activities, and other financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, may present actual and potential conflicts of interest and introduce certain investment constraints.

Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the mutual fund-related activities of Columbia Threadneedle, including, among others, insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management, banking and other financial activities. These additional activities may involve multiple advisory, financial, insurance and other interests in securities and other instruments, and in companies that issue securities and other instruments, that may be bought, sold or held by the Columbia Funds.

Conflicts of interest and limitations that could affect a Columbia Fund may arise from, for example, the following:

 

    compensation and other benefits received by Columbia Threadneedle and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates related to the management/administration of a Columbia Fund and the sale of its shares;

 

    the allocation of, and competition for, investment opportunities among each Fund, other funds and accounts advised/managed by Columbia Threadneedle and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, or Ameriprise Financial itself and its affiliates;

 

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    separate and potentially divergent management of a Columbia Fund and other funds and accounts advised/managed by Columbia Threadneedle and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates;

 

    regulatory and other investment restrictions on investment activities of Columbia Threadneedle and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates and accounts advised/managed by them;

 

    insurance and other relationships of Ameriprise Financial affiliates with companies and other entities in which a Columbia Fund invests; and

 

    regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including Columbia Threadneedle, and a Columbia Fund.

Columbia Threadneedle and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no assurance that these policies, procedures and disclosures will be effective.

Additional information about Ameriprise Financial and the types of conflicts of interest and other matters referenced above is set forth in the Investment Management and Other Services — Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Columbia Funds should carefully review these disclosures and consult with their financial advisor if they have any questions.

Certain Legal Matters

Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that each Fund is not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on such Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with such Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in each Fund’s shareholder reports and in the SAI. Additionally, Ameriprise Financial is required to make quarterly (10-Q), annual (10-K) and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the SEC on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

The Funds

The Columbia Funds (referred to as the Funds) generally share the same policies and procedures for investor services, as described below. Each Fund is a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust (CFST), Columbia Funds Series Trust I (CFST I) or Columbia Funds Series Trust II (CFST II), and certain features of distribution and/or service plans may differ among these trusts. Columbia Funds with names that include the words “Tax-Exempt,” “Municipal” or “Muni” (the Tax-Exempt Funds) have certain policies that differ from other Columbia Funds (the Taxable Funds). Each Fund offered by this prospectus is a Taxable Fund.

Funds Contact Information

Additional information about the Funds can be obtained at columbiathreadneedle.com/us,* by calling toll-free 800.345.6611, or by writing (regular mail) to Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., P.O. Box 8081, Boston, MA 02266-8081 or (express mail) Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., c/o Boston Financial, 30 Dan Road, Suite 8081, Canton, MA 02021-2809.

 

  * The website references in this prospectus are inactive links and information contained in or otherwise accessible through the referenced websites does not form a part of this prospectus.

 

FUNDamentals TM

Selling and/or Servicing Agents

The terms “selling agent” and “servicing agent” (collectively, selling agents) refer to the financial intermediaries that are authorized to sell shares of the Funds. Selling agents include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ such broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other financial intermediaries, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates.

Omnibus Accounts

The term “omnibus account” refers to a selling agent’s account with the Fund (through the Transfer Agent) that represents the combined holdings of, and transactions in, Fund shares of one or more clients of the selling agent (beneficial shareholders). Omnibus accounts are held in the name of the selling agents and not in the name of the beneficial shareholders invested in the Fund through omnibus accounts.

Retirement Plans and Omnibus Retirement Plans

The term “retirement plan” refers to retirement plans created under sections 401(a), 401(k), 457 and 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), non-qualified deferred compensation plans governed by section 409A of the Code and similar plans, but does not refer to individual retirement plans. The term “omnibus retirement plan” refers to a retirement plan that has a plan-level or omnibus account with the Transfer Agent.

 

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Summary of Share Class Features

Each share class has its own investment eligibility criteria, cost structure and other features. You may not be eligible for every share class. If you purchase shares of a Fund through a retirement plan or other product or program offered by your selling agent, not all share classes of the Fund may be made available to you. When deciding which class of shares to buy, you should consider, among other things:

 

    The amount you plan to invest.

 

    How long you intend to remain invested in the Fund.

 

    The expenses for each share class.

 

    Whether you may be eligible for a reduction or waiver of sales charges when you buy or sell shares.

Each investor’s personal situation is different and you may wish to discuss with your selling agent which share classes are available to you and which share class is appropriate for you.

The following summarizes the primary features of Class A, Class B, Class C, Class I, Class K, Class R, Class R4, Class R5, Class T, Class W, Class Y and Class Z shares.

Not all Funds offer every class of shares. Although certain share classes are generally closed to new or existing investors, information relating to these share classes is included in the table below because certain qualifying purchase orders are permitted, as described below.

 

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Share Class Features

 

Share

Class

  

Eligible Investors (a) ;

Minimum Initial

Investments (b)

  

Front-End

Sales Charges (c)

  

Contingent Deferred

Sales Charges

(CDSCs) (c)

  

Maximum Distribution

and/or Service Fees (d)

Class A   

Eligibility: Available to the general public for investment

 

Minimum Initial Investment: $2,000 for most investors

  

Taxable Funds: 5.75% maximum, declining to 0.00% on investments of $1 million or more

 

Tax-Exempt Funds: 3.00% maximum, declining to 0.00% on investments of $500,000 or more (e)

 

None for Columbia Money Market Fund and certain other Funds (e)

  

Taxable Funds: CDSC on certain investments of between $1 million and $50 million redeemed within 18 months after purchase charged as follows:

 

• 1.00% CDSC if redeemed within 12 months after purchase and

 

• 0.50% CDSC if redeemed more than 12, but less than 18, months after purchase (e)

 

Tax-Exempt Funds: Maximum CDSC of 0.75% on certain investments of $500,000 or more redeemed within 12 months after purchase. The CDSC on shares purchased prior to February 19, 2015 differs (e)

   Distribution and Service Fees: up to 0.25%
Class B   

Eligibility: Closed to new investors (f)

 

Note: Class B shares convert to Class A shares generally eight years after purchase (g)

 

Minimum Initial Investment: N/A

   None    5.00% maximum, gradually declining to 0.00% after six years (g)   

Distribution Fee: 0.75%

 

Service Fee: 0.25%

Class C   

Eligibility: Available to the general public for investment

 

Minimum Initial Investment: $2,000 for most investors

 

Purchase Order Limit for Tax-Exempt Funds: $ 499,999 (h) , none for omnibus retirement plans

 

Purchase Order Limit for Taxable Funds: $999,999 (h) ; none for omnibus retirement plans

   None    1.00% on certain investments redeemed within one year of purchase   

Distribution Fee: 0.75%

 

Service Fee: 0.25%

 

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Share

Class

  

Eligible Investors (a) ;

Minimum Initial

Investments (b)

  

Front-End

Sales Charges (c)

  

Contingent Deferred

Sales Charges

(CDSCs) (c)

  

Maximum Distribution

and/or Service Fees (d)

Class I   

Eligibility: Available only to other Columbia Funds (i.e., fund-of-fund investments)

 

Minimum Initial Investment: None

   None    None    None
Class K   

Eligibility: Closed to new investors; available only to qualified employee benefit plans, trust companies or similar institutions, 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, non-qualified deferred compensation plans whose participants are included in a qualified employee benefit plan described above, 529 plans, and health savings accounts (f)

 

Minimum Initial Investment: N/A

   None    None    Plan Administration Services Fee: 0.25%
Class R   

Eligibility: Available only to eligible retirement plans, health savings accounts and, in the sole discretion of the Distributor, other types of retirement accounts held through platforms maintained by selling agents approved by the Distributor

 

Minimum Initial Investment: None

   None    None   

Series of CFST & CFST I: distribution fee of 0.50%

 

Series of CFST II: distribution and service fee of 0.50%, of which the service fee may be up to 0.25%

Class R4   

Eligibility: Available only to (i) omnibus retirement plans, (ii) trust companies or similar institutions, (iii) broker-dealers, banks, trust companies and similar institutions that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer investment advisory or similar accounts through designated selling agents and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class R4 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements, (iv) 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, (v) 529 plans and (vi) health savings accounts

 

Minimum Initial Investment: None

   None    None    None

 

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Share

Class

  

Eligible Investors (a) ;

Minimum Initial

Investments (b)

  

Front-End

Sales Charges (c)

  

Contingent Deferred

Sales Charges

(CDSCs) (c)

  

Maximum Distribution

and/or Service Fees (d)

Class R5   

Eligibility: Available only to (i) certain registered investment advisers that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated selling agents and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class R5 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements and (ii) omnibus retirement plans (f)

 

Minimum Initial Investment: None for omnibus retirement plans;$100,000 for combined underlying accounts of eligible registered investment advisers

   None    None    None
Class T   

Eligibility: Generally closed to new investors (f)

 

Minimum Initial Investment: N/A

   5.75% maximum, declining to 0.00% on investments of $1 million or more   

CDSC on certain investments of between $1 million and $50 million redeemed within 18 months after purchase, charged as follows:

 

• 1.00% CDSC if redeemed within 12 months after purchase and

 

• 0.50% CDSC if redeemed more than 12, but less than 18, months after purchase

   Service Fee: up to 0.50%
Class W   

Eligibility : Available only to investors purchasing through certain authorized investment programs managed by investment professionals, including discretionary managed account programs

 

Minimum Initial Investment: $500

   None    None    Distribution and Service Fees: 0.25%

 

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Share

Class

  

Eligible Investors (a) ;

Minimum Initial

Investments (b)

  

Front-End

Sales Charges (c)

  

Contingent Deferred

Sales Charges

(CDSCs) (c)

  

Maximum Distribution

and/or Service Fees (d)

Class Y   

Eligibility: Available only to retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund (f)

 

Minimum Initial Investment: None

   None    None    None

 

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Share

Class

  

Eligible Investors (a) ;

Minimum Initial

Investments (b)

  

Front-End

Sales Charges (c)

  

Contingent Deferred

Sales Charges

(CDSCs) (c)

  

Maximum Distribution

and/or Service Fees (d)

Class Z   

Eligibility: Available only to certain eligible investors, which are subject to different minimum investment requirements, ranging from $0 to $2,000; effective March 29, 2013, closed to (i) accounts of selling agents that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated selling agents and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been given specific written notice from the Transfer Agent of the termination of their eligibility for new purchases of Class Z shares and (ii) omnibus retirement plans, subject to certain exceptions (f)

 

Minimum Initial Investment: See Eligibility above

   None    None    None

 

(a) For Columbia Money Market Fund, new investments must be made in Class A, Class I, Class W or Class Z shares, subject to eligibility. Class C and Class R shares of Columbia Money Market Fund are available as a new investment only to investors in the Distributor’s proprietary 401(k) products, provided that such investor is eligible to invest in the class and transact directly with the Fund or the Transfer Agent through a third party administrator or third party recordkeeper. Columbia Money Market Fund offers other classes of shares only to facilitate exchanges with other Funds offering such share classes.
(b) The minimum initial investment requirement is $5,000 for Columbia Floating Rate Fund and Columbia Inflation Protected Securities Fund, and $10,000 for Columbia Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund. See Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares for more details on the eligible investors and minimum initial investment requirements. Certain share classes are subject to minimum account balance requirements, as described in Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Transaction Rules and Policies.
(c) Actual front-end sales charges and CDSCs vary among the Funds. For more information on applicable sales charges, see Choosing a Share Class — Sales Charges and Commissions and for information about certain exceptions to these sales charges, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.
(d) These are the maximum applicable distribution and/or service fees. Fee rates and fee components (i.e., the portion of a combined fee that is a distribution or service fee) may vary among Funds. Because these fees are paid out of Fund assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of distribution and/or shareholder service fees. Although Class A shares of certain series of CFST I are subject to a combined distribution and service fee of up to 0.35%, these Funds currently limit the combined fee to 0.25%. Columbia Money Market Fund pays a distribution and service fee of up to 0.10% on Class A shares, up to 0.75% distribution fee and up to 0.10% service fee on Class B shares, up to 0.75% distribution fee on Class C shares, and 0.10% distribution and service fees on Class W shares. Columbia AMT-Free Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, Columbia High Yield Municipal Fund and Columbia Tax-Exempt Fund pay a service fee of up to 0.20% on Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Columbia AMT-Free Intermediate Muni Bond Fund pays a distribution fee of up to 0.65% on Class B and Class C shares. For more information on distribution and service fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees.
(e) For Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund, a CDSC of 0.50% is charged on certain investments of $500,000 or more redeemed within 12 months after purchase. The following Funds are not subject to a front-end sales charge or a CDSC on Class A shares: Columbia Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund. Investments in Class A shares of Tax-Exempt Funds made prior to February 19, 2015 of between $1 million and $50 million are subject to a CDSC of 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months after purchase and 0.50% if redeemed more than 12, but less than 18, months after purchase.

 

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(f) These share classes are closed to new accounts, or closed to previously eligible investors, subject to certain conditions, as summarized below and described in more detail under Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares — Eligible Investors:

 

    Class B Shares . The Funds no longer accept investments from new or existing investors in Class B shares, except through reinvestment of dividend and/or capital gain distributions by existing Class B shareholders, or a permitted exchange.

 

    Class K Shares . Shareholders who opened and funded a Class K account with a Fund as of the close of business on December 31, 2010 may continue to make additional purchases of such share class, and existing Class K accounts may continue to allow new investors or participants to be established in their Fund account.

 

    Class R5 Shares . Shareholders with Class R5 accounts funded before November 8, 2012 who do not satisfy the current eligibility criteria for Class R5 shares may not establish new Class R5 accounts but may continue to make additional purchases of Class R5 shares in existing accounts. In addition, investment advisory programs and similar programs that opened a Class R5 account as of May 1, 2010 and continuously hold Class R5 shares in such account after such date, may generally not only continue to make additional purchases of Class R5 shares but also open new Class R5 accounts for such pre-existing programs and add new shareholders in the program.

 

    Class T Shares. Shareholders with Class T accounts who received, and have continuously held, Class T shares in connection with the merger of certain Galaxy funds into certain Funds that were then named Liberty funds may continue to make additional purchases of such share class.

 

    Class Y Shares . Shareholders with Class Y accounts funded before November 8, 2012 who do not satisfy the current eligibility criteria for Class Y shares may not establish new accounts for such share class but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Y shares in existing accounts.

 

    Class Z Shares . Effective March 29, 2013, selling agents that clear Fund share transactions through designated selling agents and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been given specific written notice from the Transfer Agent of the termination of their eligibility for new purchases of Class Z shares and omnibus retirement plans are no longer permitted to establish new Class Z accounts, subject to certain exceptions. Omnibus retirement plans that opened and, subject to exceptions, funded a Class Z account as of close of business on March 28, 2013 and continuously hold Class Z shares in such account after such date, may generally continue to make additional purchases of Class Z shares, open new Class Z accounts and add new participants. In certain circumstances and in the sole discretion of the Distributor, omnibus retirement plans affiliated with a grandfathered plan may also open new Class Z accounts. Accounts of selling agents (other than omnibus retirement plans) that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated selling agents and their mutual fund trading platforms are not permitted to establish new Class Z accounts or make additional purchases of Class Z shares (other than through reinvestment of distributions).

 

(g) Timing of conversion and CDSC schedules will vary depending on the Fund and the date of your original purchase of Class B shares. For more information on the conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares, see Choosing a Share Class — Sales Charges and Commissions. Class B shares of Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund do not charge a CDSC and do not convert to Class A shares.
(h) If you are eligible to invest in Class A shares without a front-end sales charge, you should discuss your options with your selling agent. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class – Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.

Sales Charges and Commissions

Sales charges, commissions and distribution and service fees (discussed in a separate sub-section below) compensate selling agents (typically your financial advisor) for selling shares to you and for maintaining and servicing the shares held in your account with them. These charges, commissions and fees are intended to provide incentives for selling agents to provide such services. Depending on which share class you choose you will pay these charges either at the outset as a front-end sales charge, at the time you sell your shares as a CDSC and/or over time in the form of increased ongoing fees.

Whether the ultimate cost is higher for one class over another depends on the amount you invest, how long you hold your shares and whether you are eligible for reduced or waived sales charges. The differential between classes also will vary depending on the actual investment return for any given investment period. You are responsible for choosing the share class most appropriate for you after taking into account your share class eligibility and the value of accounts that you are eligible to include for the right of accumulation, which may reduce or eliminate otherwise applicable sales charges. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class – Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges . We encourage you to consult with a financial advisor who can help you with your investment decisions.

 

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Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge

You’ll pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class A shares (other than shares of Columbia Money Market Fund and certain other Funds), resulting in a smaller dollar amount being invested in a Fund than the purchase price you pay, unless you qualify for a waiver of the sales charge or you buy the shares through reinvested distributions. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.

The Distributor receives the sales charge and re-allows (or pays) a portion of the sales charge to the selling agent through which you purchased the shares. The Distributor retains the balance of the sales charge. The Distributor retains the full sales charge you pay when you purchase shares of the Fund directly from the Fund (through the Transfer Agent, rather than through a selling agent). Sales charges vary depending on the amount of your purchase.

 

FUNDamentals TM

Front-End Sales Charge Calculation

The table below presents the front-end sales charge as a percentage of both the offering price and the net amount invested.

 

    The net asset value (or NAV) per share is the price of a share calculated by the Fund every business day.

 

    The offering price per share is the NAV per share plus any front-end sales charge that applies.

The dollar amount of the sales charge is the difference between the offering price of the shares you buy (based on the applicable sales charge for the Fund) and the NAV of those shares. To determine the front-end sales charge you will pay when you buy your shares, the Fund will add the amount of your investment to the value of your account (and any other accounts eligible for aggregation of which you or your selling agent notifies the Fund) and base the sales charge on the aggregate amount. See Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges for a discussion of account value aggregation. There is no initial sales charge on reinvested dividend or capital gain distributions.

The front-end sales charge you’ll pay on Class A shares:

 

    depends on the amount you’re investing (generally, the larger the investment, the smaller the percentage sales charge), and

 

    is based on the total amount of your purchase and the value of your account (and any other accounts eligible for aggregation of which you or your selling agent notifies the Fund).

 

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Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge — Breakpoint Schedule*

 

Breakpoint Schedule For:

  Dollar amount of
shares bought (a)
    Sales
charge
as a
% of the
offering
price (b)
    Sales
charge
as a
% of the
net
amount
invested (b)
    Amount
retained by
or paid to
selling
agents as a
% of the
offering
price
 

Equity Funds,

Columbia Adaptive Alternatives Fund,

Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Fund,

Columbia Commodity Strategy Fund,

Columbia Diversified Absolute Return Fund

and Funds-of-Funds (equity)*

  $ 0–$49,999        5.75     6.10     5.00
  $ 50,000–$99,999        4.50     4.71     3.75
  $ 100,000–$249,999        3.50     3.63     3.00
  $ 250,000–$499,999        2.50     2.56     2.15
  $ 500,000–$999,999        2.00     2.04     1.75
  $ 1,000,000 or more        0.00     0.00     0.00 % (c)  

Fixed Income Funds (except those listed below),

Columbia Multi-Asset Income Fund

and Funds-of-Funds (fixed income)*

  $ 0-$49,999        4.75     4.99     4.00
  $ 50,000–$99,999        4.25     4.44     3.50
  $ 100,000–$249,999        3.50     3.63     3.00
  $ 250,000–$499,999        2.50     2.56     2.15
  $ 500,000–$999,999        2.00     2.04     1.75
  $ 1,000,000 or more        0.00     0.00     0.00 % (c)  

Tax-Exempt Funds (other than Columbia
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund)

  $ 0-$99,999        3.00     3.09     2.50
  $ 100,000–$249,999        2.50     2.56     2.15
  $ 250,000–$499,999        1.50     1.53     1.25
  $ 500,000 or more        0.00     0.00     0.00 % (c)  

 

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Table of Contents

Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge — Breakpoint Schedule*

 

Breakpoint Schedule For:

   Dollar amount of
shares bought (a)
     Sales
charge
as a
% of the
offering
price (b)
    Sales
charge
as a
% of the
net
amount
invested (b)
    Amount
retained by
or paid to
selling
agents as a
% of the
offering
price
 

Columbia Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund

   $ 0-$99,999         3.00     3.09     2.50

Columbia Floating Rate Fund, Columbia Inflation Protected Securities Fund, Columbia Intermediate Bond

   $ 100,000–$249,999         2.50     2.56     2.15

Fund, Columbia Limited Duration Credit Fund,

   $ 250,000–$499,999         2.00     2.04     1.75

Columbia Mortgage Opportunities Fund, Columbia

   $ 500,000–$999,999         1.50     1.52     1.25

U.S. Government Mortgage Fund and Columbia U.S. Social Bond Fund

   $ 1,000,000 or more         0.00     0.00     0.00 % (c)  

Columbia Short Term Bond Fund

   $ 0-$99,999         1.00     1.01     0.75
   $ 100,000–$249,999         0.75     0.76     0.50
   $ 250,000–$999,999         0.50     0.50     0.40
   $ 1,000,000 or more         0.00     0.00     0.00 % (c)  

Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund

   $ 0-$99,999         1.00     1.01     0.75
   $ 100,000–$249,999         0.75     0.76     0.50
   $ 250,000–$499,999         0.50     0.50     0.40
   $ 500,000 or more         0.00     0.00     0.00 % (c)  

 

* The following Funds are not subject to a front-end sales charge or CDSC on Class A shares: Columbia Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund. “Funds-of-Funds (equity)” includes Columbia Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio, Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio, Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio, Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio and Columbia Global Strategic Equity Fund . “Funds-of-Funds (fixed income)” includes Columbia Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio and Columbia Income Builder Fund. Columbia Balanced Fund and Columbia Global Opportunities Fund are treated as equity Funds for purposes of the table.
(a) Purchase amounts and account values may be aggregated among all eligible Fund accounts for the purposes of this table. See Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges for a discussion of account value aggregation.
(b) Because the offering price is calculated to two decimal places, the dollar amount of the sales charge as a percentage of the offering price and your net amount invested for any particular purchase of Fund shares may be higher or lower depending on whether downward or upward rounding was required during the calculation process. Purchase price includes the sales charge.
(c) For information regarding cumulative commissions paid to your selling agent when you buy Class A shares of a Fund in amounts not subject to initial sales charges, see Class A Shares — Commissions below.

Class A Shares — CDSC

In some cases, you’ll pay a CDSC if you sell Class A shares that you purchased without an initial sales charge.

Tax-Exempt Funds

 

    If you purchased Class A shares of any Tax-Exempt Fund (other than Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund) on or after February 19, 2015 without an initial sales charge because your accounts aggregated $500,000 or more at the time of purchase, you will incur a CDSC of 0.75% if you redeem those shares within 12 months after purchase. Subsequent Class A share purchases made on or after February 19, 2015 that bring your aggregate account value to $500,000 or more will also be subject to a CDSC of 0.75% if you redeem them within 12 months after purchase.

 

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    If you purchased Class A shares of Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund on or after February 19, 2015 without an initial sales charge because your accounts aggregated $500,000 or more at the time of purchase, you will incur a CDSC of 0.50% if you redeem those shares within 12 months after purchase. Subsequent Class A share purchases made on or after February 19, 2015 that bring your aggregate account value to $500,000 or more will also be subject to a CDSC of 0.50% if you redeem them within 12 months after purchase.

 

    If you purchased Class A shares of any Tax-Exempt Fund prior to February 19, 2015 without an initial sales charge because your accounts aggregated between $1 million and $50 million at the time of purchase, you will incur a CDSC if you redeem those shares within 18 months after purchase, which is charged as follows: 1.00% CDSC if shares are redeemed within 12 months after purchase; and 0.50% CDSC if shares are redeemed more than 12, but less than 18, months after purchase. Subsequent Class A share purchases made prior to February 19, 2015 that bring your aggregate account value to $1 million or more (but less than $50 million) will also be subject to a CDSC if you redeem them within 18 months after purchase as described in this paragraph.

Taxable Funds

 

    If you purchased Class A shares of any Taxable Fund without an initial sales charge because your accounts aggregated between $1 million and $50 million at the time of purchase, you will incur a CDSC if you redeem those shares within 18 months after purchase, which is charged as follows: 1.00% CDSC if shares are redeemed within 12 months after purchase; and 0.50% CDSC if shares are redeemed more than 12, but less than 18, months after purchase. Subsequent Class A share purchases that bring your aggregate account value to $1 million or more (but less than $50 million) will also be subject to a CDSC if you redeem them within 18 months after purchase as described in this paragraph.

 

FUNDamentals TM

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

A contingent deferred sales charge or CDSC is a sales charge applied at the time you sell your shares, unlike a front-end sales charge that is applied at the time of purchase. A CDSC varies based on the length of time that you have held your shares. A CDSC is applied to the NAV at the time of your purchase or sale, whichever is lower, and will not be applied to any shares you receive through reinvested distributions or any amount that represents appreciation in the value of your shares. For purposes of calculating a CDSC, the start of the holding period is generally the first day of the month in which your purchase was made.

When you place an order to sell shares of a class that has a CDSC, the Fund will first redeem any shares that aren’t subject to a CDSC, followed by those you have held the longest. This means that if a CDSC is imposed, you cannot designate the individual shares being redeemed for U.S. federal income tax purposes. You should consult your tax advisor about the tax consequences of investing in the Fund. In certain circumstances, the CDSC may not apply. See Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges for details.

Class A Shares — Commissions

The Distributor may pay your selling agent an up-front commission when you buy Class A shares. The Distributor generally funds the commission through the applicable sales charge paid by you. For more information, see Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge — Breakpoint Schedule.

The Distributor may also pay your selling agent a cumulative commission when you buy Class A shares in amounts not subject to initial sales charges, according to the following schedule:

 

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Class A Shares of Tax-Exempt Funds — Commission Schedule (Paid by the Distributor to Selling Agents)

 

Purchase Amount    Commission Level*
(as a % of net asset
value per share)
 

$500,000 –$3,999,999

     0.75 %** 

$4 million –$19,999,999

     0.50

$20 million or more

     0.25

 

* The commission level applies to the applicable asset level so, for example, for a purchase of $5 million, the Distributor would pay a commission of 0.75% on the first $4 million and 0.50% on the remaining $1 million.
** The commission level on purchases of Class A shares of Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund is: 0.50% on purchases of $500,000 to $19,999,999 and 0.25% on purchases of $20 million or more.

Class A Shares of Taxable Funds — Commission Schedule (Paid by the Distributor to Selling Agents)*

 

Purchase Amount    Commission
Level**
(as a % of net asset
value per share)
 

$1 million –$2,999,999

     1.00

$3 million –$49,999,999

     0.50

$50 million or more

     0.25

 

* Not applicable to Funds that do not assess a front-end sales charge.
** The commission level applies to the applicable asset level so, for example, for a purchase of $5 million, the Distributor would pay a commission of 1.00% on the first $3 million and 0.50% on the remaining $2 million.

Class B Shares — Sales Charges

The Funds no longer accept new investments in Class B shares, except for certain limited transactions as described in more detail under Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares — Eligible Investors — Class B Shares (Closed).

You don’t pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class B shares, but you may pay a CDSC when you sell Class B shares.

Class B Shares — CDSC

You’ll pay a CDSC if you sell Class B shares unless you qualify for a waiver of the CDSC or the shares you’re selling were bought through reinvested distributions. See Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges for details. The CDSC you pay on Class B shares depends on how long you’ve held your shares and generally declines each year until there is no sales charge, as follows:

Class B Shares — CDSC Schedule for the Funds (except those listed below)

 

Number of Years

Class B Shares Held

   Applicable
CDSC*

One

   5.00%

Two

   4.00%

Three

   3.00%

Four

   3.00%

Five

   2.00%

Six

   1.00%

Seven

   None

Eight

   None

Nine

   Conversion to Class
A Shares

 

* Because of rounding in the calculation, the actual CDSC you pay may be more or less than the CDSC calculated using these percentages.

 

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Class B Shares — CDSC Schedule for Columbia AMT-Free Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, the AMT-Free State-specific Intermediate Muni Bond Funds, Columbia Intermediate Bond Fund and Columbia Short Term Bond Fund

 

Number of Years Class B Shares Held    Applicable
CDSC*
 

One

     3.00

Two

     3.00

Three

     2.00

Class B Shares — CDSC Schedule for Columbia AMT-Free Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, the AMT-Free State-specific Intermediate Muni Bond Funds, Columbia Intermediate Bond Fund and Columbia Short Term Bond Fund

 

Number of Years

Class B Shares Held

   Applicable
CDSC*

Four

   1.00%

Five

   None

Six

   None

Seven

   None

Eight

   None

Nine

   Conversion to Class
A Shares

 

* Because of rounding in the calculation, the actual CDSC you pay may be more or less than the CDSC calculated using these percentages.

Class B shares of Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund are not subject to a CDSC.

Class B Shares — Commissions

The Distributor paid an up-front commission directly to your selling agent when you bought the Class B shares (a portion of this commission may have been paid to your financial advisor).

This up-front commission, which varies across the Funds, was up to 4.00% of the net asset value per share of Funds with a maximum CDSC of 5.00% and of Class B shares of Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund and up to 2.75% of the net asset value per share of Funds with a maximum CDSC of 3.00%. The Distributor continues to seek to recover this commission through distribution fees it receives under the Fund’s distribution plan and any applicable CDSC paid when you sell your shares. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees.

Class B Shares — Conversion to Class A Shares

Class B shares of the Funds automatically convert to Class A shares at different times depending upon the Fund. In general, Class B shares convert to Class A shares after eight years. For details and related information about how the Funds’ Class B shares convert to Class A shares, see Appendix S to the SAI. Class B shares of Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund do not convert to Class A shares.

Class C Shares — Front-End Sales Charge

You don’t pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class C shares. Although Class C shares do not have a front-end sales charge, over time Class C shares can incur distribution and/or service fees that are equal to or more than the front-end sales charge and distribution and/or service fees you would pay for Class A shares. Thus, although the full amount of your purchase of Class C shares is invested in a Fund, any positive investment return on this money may be partially or fully offset by the expected higher annual expenses of Class C shares. If you are eligible to invest in Class A shares without a front-end sales charge, you should discuss your options with your Selling Agent. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class – Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.

 

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Class C Shares — CDSC

You’ll pay a CDSC of 1.00% if you redeem Class C shares within 12 months of buying them unless you qualify for a waiver of the CDSC or the shares you’re selling were purchased through reinvested distributions. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges . Redemptions of Class C shares are not subject to a CDSC if redeemed after 12 months.

Class C Shares — Commissions

Although there is no front-end sales charge when you buy Class C shares, the Distributor pays an up-front commission directly to your selling agent of up to 1.00% of the NAV per share when you buy Class C shares (a portion of this commission may be paid to your financial advisor). The Distributor seeks to recover this commission through distribution fees it receives under the Fund’s distribution and/or service plan and any applicable CDSC applied when you sell your shares. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees.

Class R Shares — Sales Charges and Commissions

You don’t pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class R shares or a CDSC when you sell Class R shares. The Distributor pays an up-front commission directly to your selling agent when you buy Class R shares (a portion of this commission may be paid to your financial advisor), according to the following schedule:

Class R Shares — Commission Schedule (Paid by the Distributor to Selling Agents)

 

Purchase Amount

   Commission Level
(as a % of net asset
value per share)
 

$0 –$49,999,999

     0.50

$50 million or more

     0.25

The Distributor seeks to recover this commission through distribution fees it receives under the Fund’s distribution plan. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees.

Class T Shares — Front-End Sales Charge

You’ll pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class T shares, resulting in a smaller dollar amount being invested in a Fund than the purchase price you pay, unless you qualify for a waiver of the sales charge or you buy the shares through reinvested distributions. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.

The front-end sales charge you’ll pay on Class T shares:

 

    depends on the amount you’re investing (generally, the larger the investment, the smaller the percentage sales charge), and

 

    is based on the total amount of your purchase and the value of your account (and any other accounts eligible for aggregation of which you or your selling agent notifies the Fund).

Class T Shares — Front-End Sales Charge — Breakpoint Schedule

 

Breakpoint Schedule For:

   Dollar amount of
shares bought (a)
     Sales
charge
as a
% of the
offering
price (b)
    Sales
charge
as a
% of the
net
amount
invested (b)
    Amount
retained by
or paid to
selling
agents as a
% of the
offering price
 

Equity Funds

   $ 0–$49,999         5.75     6.10     5.00
   $ 50,000–$99,999         4.50     4.71     3.75
   $ 100,000–$249,999         3.50     3.63     2.75
   $ 250,000–$499,999         2.50     2.56     2.00
   $ 500,000–$999,999         2.00     2.04     1.75
   $ 1,000,000 or more         0.00     0.00     0.00 % (c)  

 

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Table of Contents

Class T Shares — Front-End Sales Charge — Breakpoint Schedule

 

Breakpoint Schedule For:

   Dollar amount of
shares bought (a)
     Sales
charge
as a
% of the
offering
price (b)
    Sales
charge
as a
% of the
net
amount
invested (b)
    Amount
retained by
or paid to
selling
agents as a
% of the
offering price
 

Fixed Income Funds

   $ 0–$49,999         4.75     4.99     4.25
   $ 50,000–$99,999         4.50     4.71     3.75
   $ 100,000–$249,999         3.50     3.63     2.75
   $ 250,000–$499,999         2.50     2.56     2.00
   $ 500,000–$999,999         2.00     2.04     1.75
   $ 1,000,000 or more         0.00     0.00     0.00 % (c)  

 

(a) Purchase amounts and account values are aggregated among all eligible Fund accounts for the purposes of this table.
(b) Because the offering price is calculated to two decimal places, the dollar amount of the sales charge as a percentage of the offering price and your net amount invested for any particular purchase of Fund shares may be higher or lower depending on whether downward or upward rounding was required during the calculation process.
(c) For more information regarding cumulative commissions paid to your selling agent when you buy $1 million or more of Class T shares, see Class T Shares — Commissions below.

Class T Shares — CDSC

In some cases, you’ll pay a CDSC if you sell Class T shares that you bought without an initial sales charge.

 

    If you purchased Class T shares without a front-end sales charge because your accounts aggregated between $1 million and $50 million at the time of purchase, you will incur a CDSC if you redeem those shares within 18 months after purchase, which is charged as follows: 1.00% CDSC if shares are redeemed within 12 months after purchase, and 0.50% CDSC if shares are redeemed more than 12, but less than 18, months after purchase.

 

    Subsequent Class T share purchases that bring your aggregate account value to $1 million or more (but less than $50 million) will also be subject to a CDSC if you redeem them within the time periods noted above.

Class T Shares — Commissions

The Distributor may pay your selling agent an up-front commission when you buy Class T shares (a portion of this commission may, in turn, be paid to your financial advisor). For more information, see Class T Shares — Front-End Sales Charge — Breakpoint Schedule, Amount retained by or paid to selling agents as a % of the offering price.

 

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The Distributor may also pay your selling agent a cumulative commission when you buy $1 million or more of Class T shares, according to the following schedule:

Class T Shares — Commission Schedule (Paid by the Distributor to Selling Agents)

 

Purchase Amount

   Commission Level
(as a % of net asset
value per share)
 

$1 million –$2,999,999

     1.00

$3 million –$49,999,999

     0.50

$50 million or more

     0.25

Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges

Front-End Sales Charge Reductions

There are two ways in which you may be able to reduce the front-end sales charge that you may pay when you buy Class A shares or Class T shares of a Fund. These types of sales charge reductions are also referred to as breakpoint discounts.

First, through the right of accumulation (ROA), you may combine the value of eligible accounts maintained by you and members of your immediate family to reach a breakpoint discount level and apply a lower sales charge to your purchase. To calculate the combined value of your Fund accounts in the particular class of shares, the Fund will use the current public offering price per share. For purposes of obtaining a breakpoint discount through ROA, you may aggregate your or your immediate family members’ ownership of certain different classes of shares held in certain account types, as described in the Eligible Accounts section below.

Second, by making a statement of intent to purchase additional shares (commonly referred to as a letter of intent (LOI)), you may pay a lower sales charge on all purchases (including existing ROA purchases) of Class A shares or Class T shares made within 13 months after the date of your LOI. Your LOI must state the aggregate amount of purchases you intend to make in that 13-month period, which must be at least $50,000 (or $100,000 for Funds with breakpoint discounts beginning at $100,000). The required form of LOI may vary by selling agent, so please contact them directly for more information. Five percent of the purchase commitment amount will be placed in escrow. At the end of the 13-month period, the shares will be released from escrow, provided that you have invested the commitment amount. If you do not invest the commitment amount by the end of the 13 months, the remaining amount of the unpaid sales charge will be redeemed from the escrowed shares and the remaining balance released from escrow. To calculate the total value of the purchases you’ve made under an LOI, the Fund will use the historic cost (i.e., dollars invested) of the shares held in each eligible account. For purposes of making an LOI to purchase additional shares, you may aggregate your ownership of certain different classes of shares held in certain account types, as described in the Eligible Accounts section below.

You must request the reduced sales charge (whether through ROA or an LOI) when you buy shares. If you do not complete and file an LOI, or do not request the reduced sales charge at the time of purchase, you will not be eligible for the reduced sales charge. To obtain a breakpoint discount, you must notify your selling agent in writing at the time you buy your shares of each eligible account maintained by you and members of your immediate family, including accounts maintained through different selling agents. You and your selling agent are responsible for ensuring that you receive discounts for which you are eligible. The Fund is not responsible for a selling agent’s failure to apply the eligible discount to your account. You may be asked by your selling agent for account statements or other records to verify your discount eligibility, including, when applicable, records for accounts opened with a different selling agent and records of accounts established by members of your immediate family.

 

FUNDamentals TM

Your “Immediate Family” and Account Value Aggregation

For purposes of obtaining a breakpoint discount for Class A shares or Class T shares the value of your account will be deemed to include the value of all applicable shares in eligible Fund accounts that are held by you and your “immediate family,” which includes your spouse, domestic partner, parent, step-parent, legal guardian, child under 21, step-child under 21, father-in-law and mother-in-law, provided that you and your immediate family members share the same mailing address. Any Fund accounts linked together for account value aggregation purposes as of the close of business on September 3, 2010 will be permitted to remain linked together. Group plan accounts are valued at the plan level.

Eligible Accounts

The following accounts are eligible for account value aggregation as described above, provided that they are invested in Class A, Class B, Class C, Class E, Class F, Class T, Class W or Class Z shares of a Fund, or non-retirement plan accounts invested in Class R4 or Class R5 shares of a Fund: individual or joint accounts; Roth and traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs); Simplified Employee Pension accounts (SEPs), Savings Investment Match Plans for Employees of Small Employers accounts (SIMPLEs) and Tax Sheltered Custodial Accounts (TSCAs); Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA)/Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) accounts for which you, your spouse, or your domestic partner is parent or guardian of the minor child; revocable trust accounts for which you or an immediate family member, individually, is the beneficial owner/grantor; accounts held in the name of your, your spouse’s, or your domestic partner’s sole proprietorship or single owner limited liability company or S corporation; qualified retirement plan assets, provided that you are the sole owner of the business sponsoring the plan, are the sole participant (other than a spouse) in the plan, and have no intention of adding participants to the plan; and investments in wrap accounts.

 

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The following accounts are not eligible for account value aggregation as described above: accounts of pension and retirement plans with multiple participants, such as 401(k) plans (which are combined to reduce the sales charge for the entire pension or retirement plan and therefore are not used to reduce the sales charge for your individual accounts); investments in 529 plans, donor advised funds, variable annuities, variable insurance products or managed separate accounts; charitable and irrevocable trust accounts; accounts holding shares of money market funds that used the Columbia brand before May 1, 2010; accounts invested in Class I, Class K, Class R or Class Y shares of a Fund; and retirement plan accounts invested in Class R4 or Class R5 shares of a Fund.

Additionally, direct purchases of Columbia Money Market Fund shares may not be aggregated; however, shares of Columbia Money Market Fund acquired by exchange from other Funds may be included in account value aggregation.

Front-End Sales Charge Waivers

The Distributor may waive front-end sales charges on purchases of Class A and Class T shares of the Funds by certain categories of investors, including Board members, certain employees of selling agents, Fund portfolio managers and certain retirement and employee benefit plans. The Distributor may waive front-end sales charges on (i) purchases (including exchanges) of Class A shares in accounts of selling agents that have entered into agreements with the Distributor to offer Fund shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee to customers and (ii) exchanges of Class Z shares of a Fund for Class A shares of the Fund. For a more complete description of categories of investors who may purchase Class A and Class T shares of the Funds at NAV, without payment of any front-end sales charge that would otherwise apply, see Appendix S to the SAI. In addition, certain types of purchases of Class A and Class T shares may be made at NAV. For a description of these eligible transactions, see Appendix S to the SAI.

CDSC Waivers

You may be able to avoid an otherwise applicable CDSC when you sell Class A, Class B, Class C or Class T shares of the Fund. This could happen because of the way in which you originally invested in the Fund, because of your relationship with the Funds or for other reasons. For example, the CDSC will be waived on redemptions of shares in the event of the shareholder’s death; that result from required minimum distributions taken from retirement accounts when the shareholder reaches age 70  1 2 ; in connection with the Fund’s Small Account Policy (which is described in Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Transaction Rules and Policies ); and by certain other investors and in certain other types of transactions. For a more complete description of the available waivers of the CDSC on redemptions of Class A, Class B, Class C or Class T shares, see Appendix S to the SAI.

Repurchases

Investors can also buy Class A shares without paying a sales charge if the purchase is made from the proceeds of a redemption of any Class A, Class B, Class C or Class T shares of a Fund (other than Columbia Money Market Fund) within 90 days, up to the amount of the redemption proceeds. Any CDSC paid upon redemption of your Class A, Class B, Class C or Class T shares of a Fund will not be reimbursed.

To be eligible for the reinstatement privilege, the purchase must be made into an account for the same owner, but does not need to be into the same Fund from which the shares were sold. The Transfer Agent, Distributor or their agents must receive a written reinstatement request from you or your selling agent within 90 days after the shares are redeemed and the purchase of Class A shares through this reinstatement privilege will be made at the NAV of such shares next calculated after the request is received in “good form.” The repurchased shares will be deemed to have the original purchase date for purposes of applying the CDSC (if any) to subsequent redemptions. Systematic withdrawals and purchases are excluded from this policy.

Restrictions and Changes in Terms and Conditions

Restrictions may apply to certain accounts and certain transactions. The Funds may change or cancel these terms and conditions at any time. Unless you provide your selling agent with information in writing about all of the factors that may count toward a waiver of a sales charge, there can be no assurance that you will receive all of the waivers for which you may be eligible. You should request that your selling agent provide this information to the Fund when placing your purchase order. Please see Appendix S of the SAI for more information about the sales charge reductions and waivers.

Distribution and Service Fees

The Board has approved, and the Funds have adopted, distribution and/or shareholder service plans which set the distribution and/or service fees that are periodically deducted from the Funds’ assets. These fees are calculated daily, may vary by share class and are intended to compensate the Distributor and/or eligible selling agents for selling Fund shares and directly or indirectly providing services to shareholders. Because the fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment over time.

 

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The table below shows the maximum annual distribution and/or service fees (as an annual % of average daily net assets) and the combined amount of such fees applicable to each share class:

 

     Distribution
Fee
  Service
Fee
  Combined
Total

Class A

   up to 0.25%   up to 0.25%   up to 0.35% (a)(b)(c)

Class B

   0.75% (d)   0.25%   1.00% (b)

Class C

   0.75% (c)(e)   0.25%   1.00% (b)

Class I

   None   None   None

Class K

   None   None (f)   None (f)

Class R (series of CFST and CFST I)

   0.50%   (g)   0.50%

Class R (series of CFST II)

   up to 0.50% (c)   up to 0.25%   0.50% (g)

Class R4

   None   None   None

Class R5

   None   None   None

Class T

   None   0.50% (h)   0.50% (h)

Class W

   up to 0.25%   up to 0.25%   0.25% (c)

Class Y

   None   None   None

Class Z

   None   None   None

 

(a) The maximum distribution and service fees of Class A shares varies among the Funds, as shown in the table below:

 

Funds    Maximum
Class A
Distribution Fee
   Maximum
Class A
Service Fee
   Maximum
Class A
Combined Total

Series of CFST

         0.25%; these Funds pay a
combined distribution and
service fee

Series of CFST II (other than Columbia Money Market Fund)

   up to 0.25%    up to 0.25%    0.25%

 

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Funds    Maximum
Class A
Distribution Fee
   Maximum
Class A
Service Fee
   Maximum
Class A
Combined Total

Columbia Money Market Fund

         0.10%
Columbia AMT-Free Oregon Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, Columbia Balanced Fund, Columbia Contrarian Core Fund, Columbia Dividend Income Fund, Columbia Global Technology Growth Fund, Columbia Intermediate Bond Fund, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Real Estate Equity Fund, Columbia Small Cap Core Fund, Columbia Small Cap Growth Fund I    up to 0.10%    up to 0.25%    up to 0.35%; these Funds may
pay distribution and service fees
up to a maximum of 0.35% of their
average daily net assets
attributable to Class A shares
(comprised of up to 0.10% for
distribution services and up to
0.25% for shareholder liaison
services) but currently limit such
fees to an aggregate fee of not
more than 0.25% for
Class A shares
Columbia Adaptive Alternatives Fund, Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Fund, Columbia AMT-Free Connecticut Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, Columbia AMT-Free Massachusetts Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, Columbia AMT-Free New York Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, Columbia Bond Fund, Columbia California Tax-Exempt Fund, Columbia Corporate Income Fund, Columbia Diversified Absolute Return Fund, Columbia Diversified Real Return Fund, Columbia Emerging Markets Fund, Columbia Global Dividend Opportunity Fund, Columbia Global Energy and Natural Resources Fund, Columbia Global Unconstrained Bond Fund, Columbia Greater China Fund, Columbia Multi-Asset Income Fund, Columbia New York Tax-Exempt Fund, Columbia Pacific/Asia Fund, Columbia Select Large Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Small Cap Value Fund I, Columbia Strategic Income Fund, Columbia U.S. Social Bond Fund, Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund, Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund       0.25%
   0.25%
Columbia AMT-Free Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, Columbia High Yield Municipal Fund, Columbia Tax Exempt Fund       0.20%
   0.20%

 

(b) The service fees for Class A, Class B and Class C shares of certain Funds vary. The annual service fee for Class A, Class B and Class C shares of Columbia AMT-Free Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, Columbia High Yield Municipal Fund and Columbia Tax-Exempt Fund may equal up to 0.20% of the average daily net asset value of all shares of such Fund class. The annual distribution fee for Class B and Class C shares for Columbia AMT-Free Intermediate Muni Bond Fund shall be 0.65% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Class B and Class C shares. Fee amounts noted apply to Class B shares of the Funds other than Class B shares of Columbia Money Market Fund, which pays distribution fees of up to 0.75% and service fees of up to 0.10% for a combined total of 0.85%. The Distributor has currently agreed not to be reimbursed by the Fund for 0.10% of the 0.85% fee for Class B shares of Columbia Money Market Fund. The Distributor has voluntarily agreed to waive the service fee for Class A, Class B and Class C shares of Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund so that the service fee does not exceed 0.15% annually. This arrangement may be modified or terminated by the Distributor at any time.
(c) Fee amounts noted apply to all Funds other than Columbia Money Market Fund, which, for each of Class A and Class W shares, pays distribution and service fees of 0.10%, and for Class C shares pays distribution fees of 0.75%. The Distributor has currently agreed not to be reimbursed by the Fund for 0.25% of the 0.50% fee for Class R shares of Columbia Money Market Fund. The Distributor has voluntarily agreed to waive the 12b-1 fees it receives from Class A, Class C, Class R and Class W shares of Columbia Money Market Fund. This arrangement may be modified or terminated by the Distributor at any time. Compensation paid to broker-dealers and other selling agents may be suspended to the extent of the Distributor’s waiver of the 12b-1 fees on these specific share classes of these Funds.

 

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(d) The Distributor has voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of the distribution fee it receives from Class B shares of Columbia Short Term Bond Fund so that the distribution fee does not exceed 0.30% annually. This arrangement may be modified or terminated by the Distributor at any time.
(e) The Distributor has voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of the distribution fee for Class C shares of the following Funds so that the distribution fee does not exceed the specified percentage annually: 0.45% for Columbia AMT-Free Connecticut Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, Columbia AMT-Free Massachusetts Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, Columbia AMT-Free New York Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, Columbia AMT-Free Oregon Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, Columbia California Tax-Exempt Fund and Columbia New York Tax-Exempt Fund; 0.60% for Columbia Corporate Income Fund and Columbia Short Term Bond Fund; 0.65% for Columbia High Yield Municipal Fund and Columbia Tax-Exempt Fund; and 0.70% for Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund. These arrangements may be modified or terminated by the Distributor at any time.
(f) Under a plan administration services agreement, the Funds’ Class K shares pay for plan administration services. These fees for Class K shares are not paid pursuant to a 12b-1 plan. See Class K Plan Administration Services Fee below for more information.
(g) Class R shares of series of CFST and CFST I pay a distribution fee pursuant to a distribution (Rule 12b-1) plan for Class R shares. The Funds do not have a shareholder service plan for Class R shares. Series of CFST II have a distribution and shareholder service plan for Class R shares, which, prior to the close of business on September 3, 2010, were known as Class R2 shares. For Class R shares of series of CFST II, the maximum fee under the plan reimbursed for distribution expenses is equal on an annual basis to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to Class R shares. Of that amount, up to 0.25% may be reimbursed for shareholder service expenses.
(h) The shareholder servicing fees for Class T shares are up to 0.50% of average daily net assets attributable to Class T shares for equity Funds and 0.40% for fixed income Funds. In general, the Funds currently limit such fees to a maximum of 0.25% for equity Funds and 0.15% for fixed-income Funds. See Class T Shareholder Service Fees below for more information.

The distribution and/or service fees for Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R and Class W shares, as applicable, may be subject to the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Distributor may retain these fees otherwise payable to selling agents if the amounts due are below an amount determined by the Distributor in its sole discretion.

Series of CFST II. For Class A, Class B and Class W shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees immediately after purchase. For Class C shares, the Distributor pays these fees in advance for the first 12 months. Selling agents also receive distribution fees up to 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares sold and held through them, which the Distributor begins to pay 12 months after purchase. For Class B shares and for the first 12 months following the sale of Class C shares, the Distributor retains the distribution fee of up to 0.75% in order to finance the payment of sales commissions to selling agents and to pay for other distribution related expenses. Selling agents may compensate their financial advisors with the shareholder service and distribution fees paid to them by the Distributor. The maximum fee for services under the distribution and/or shareholder servicing plan for series of CFST II is the lesser of the amount of reimbursable expenses and the fee rates in the table above. If a share class of a series of CFST II has no reimbursable distribution or shareholder servicing expenses, it will suspend the payment of any such fee.

Series of CFST and CFST I. For Class R shares and, with the exception noted in the next sentence, Class A shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees immediately after purchase. For Class B shares, Class A shares (if purchased as part of a purchase of shares of $1 million or more) and, with the exception noted in the next sentence, Class C shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees 12 months after purchase (for Class B share, and for the first 12 months following the sale of Class C shares, the Distributor retains the distribution fee of up to 0.75% in order to finance the payment of sales commissions to selling agents and to pay for other distribution related expenses). For Class C shares, selling agents may opt to decline payment of sales commission and, instead, may receive these fees immediately after purchase. Selling agents may compensate their financial advisors with the shareholder service and distribution fees paid to them by the Distributor.

If you maintain shares of the Fund directly with the Fund, without working directly with a financial advisor or other selling agent, distribution and service fees may be retained by the Distributor as payment or reimbursement for incurring certain distribution and shareholder service related expenses.

Over time, these distribution and/or service fees will reduce the return on your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The Fund will pay these fees to the Distributor and/or to eligible selling agents for as long as the distribution plan and/or shareholder servicing plans continue in effect, which is expected to be indefinitely. The Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time. Your selling agent may also charge you other additional fees for providing services to your account, which may be different from those described here.

Class K Plan Administration Services Fee

Class K shares pay an annual plan administration services fee for the provision of various administrative, recordkeeping, communication and educational services, including services such as implementation and conversion services, account set-up and maintenance, reconciliation and account recordkeeping, education services and administration to various plan types, including 529 plans, retirement plans and health savings accounts. The fee for Class K shares is equal on an annual basis to 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to the class.

 

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Class T Shareholder Services Fees

The Funds that offer Class T shares have adopted a shareholder services plan that permits them to pay for certain services provided to Class T shareholders by their selling agents. Equity Funds may pay shareholder servicing fees up to an aggregate annual rate of 0.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class T shares (comprised of up to 0.25% for shareholder liaison services and up to 0.25% for administrative support services). Fixed income Funds may pay shareholder servicing fees up to an aggregate annual rate of 0.40% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class T shares (comprised of up to 0.20% for shareholder liaison services and up to 0.20% for administrative support services). These fees are currently limited to an aggregate annual rate of not more than 0.25% for equity Funds and not more than 0.15% for fixed income Funds. With respect to those Funds that declare dividends on a daily basis, the shareholder servicing fee shall be waived by the selling agents to the extent necessary to prevent net investment income from falling below 0% on a daily basis. If you maintain shares of the Fund directly with the Fund, without working with a financial advisor or other intermediary, shareholder services fees may be retained by the Distributor as payment or reimbursement for incurring certain shareholder service related expenses.

Selling Agent Compensation

The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates make payments, from their own resources, to selling agents, including other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for marketing/sales support services relating to the Funds (Marketing Support Payments). Such payments are generally based upon one or more of the following factors: average net assets of the Funds sold by the Distributor attributable to that selling agent; gross sales of the Funds distributed by the Distributor attributable to that selling agent; reimbursement of ticket charges (fees that a selling agent charges its representatives for effecting transactions in Fund shares); or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each selling agent, Marketing Support Payments to any one selling agent are generally between 0.05% and 0.40% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the selling agent, and between 0.05% and 0.25% on an annual basis for firms receiving a payment based on gross sales of the Funds attributable to the selling agent. The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may make payments in larger amounts or on a basis other than those described above when dealing with certain selling agents, including certain affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (Bank of America). Such increased payments may enable such selling agents to offset credits that they may provide to customers. The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates do not make Marketing Support Payments with respect to Class Y shares; provided, however, that such payments are made to Bank of America with respect to Class Y shares of Columbia Bond Fund, Columbia Global Dividend Opportunity Fund, Columbia Income Opportunities Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Value Fund, Columbia Select International Equity Fund, Columbia Short Term Bond Fund, Columbia Small Cap Growth Fund I and Columbia Small Cap Value Fund I.

In addition, the Transfer Agent has certain arrangements in place to compensate selling agents, including other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, that hold Fund shares through omnibus accounts, including omnibus retirement plans, for services that they provide to beneficial shareholders (Shareholder Services). Shareholder Services may include sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, participant recordkeeping, shareholder or participant reporting, shareholder or participant transaction processing, maintenance of shareholder records, preparation of account statements and provision of customer service. Payments for Shareholder Services vary by selling agent but generally are not expected, with certain limited exceptions, to exceed 0.40% of the average aggregate value of the Fund’s shares.

Generally, each Fund (other than the Columbia Acorn Funds) pays a percentage of the average aggregate value of shares maintained in omnibus accounts: up to 0.20% for all share classes other than Class I, K, R5 and Y shares; 0.05% for Class K and R5 shares; and 0% for Class I and Y shares. The amounts in excess of that reimbursed by the Fund are borne by the Distributor, the Investment Manager and/or their affiliates. The Transfer Agent does not pay selling agents for Shareholder Services and the Fund does not pay the Transfer Agent for any Shareholder Services provided by selling agents, with respect to Class Y shares.

In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may make other payments or allow promotional incentives to broker-dealers to the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and by other applicable laws and regulations.

Amounts paid by the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates are paid out of their own resources and do not increase the amount paid by you or the Fund. You can find further details in the SAI about the payments made by the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates, as well as a list of the selling agents, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, to which the Distributor and the Investment Manager have agreed to make Marketing Support Payments and pay Shareholder Services fees.

Your selling agent may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described in this prospectus. You should consult with your selling agent and review carefully any disclosure your selling agent provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a selling agent and its financial advisors may have a financial incentive for recommending the Fund or a particular share class over others.

 

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Share Price Determination

The price you pay or receive when you buy, sell or exchange shares is the Fund’s next determined net asset value (or NAV) per share for a given share class. The Fund calculates the NAV per share for each class of shares of the Fund at the end of each business day.

 

FUNDamentals TM

NAV Calculation

Each of the Fund’s share classes calculates its NAV as follows:

NAV = (Value of assets of the share class) – (Liabilities of the share class)

Number of outstanding shares of the class

 

FUNDamentals TM

Business Days

A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at the close of regular trading on the NYSE, usually at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. If the NYSE closes early, the business day ends as of the time the NYSE closes. On holidays and other days when the NYSE is closed, the Fund’s NAV is not calculated and the Fund does not accept buy or sell orders. However, the value of the Fund’s assets may still be affected on such days to the extent that the Fund holds foreign securities that trade on days that foreign securities markets are open.

Equity securities are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations reported on stock exchanges and other securities markets around the world. If an equity security is listed on a national exchange, the security is valued at the closing price or, if the closing price is not readily available, the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. Certain equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are valued primarily on the basis of indicative bids, fixed-income investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued primarily using the amortized cost method, unless this methodology results in a valuation that does not approximate the market value of these securities, and those maturing in excess of 60 days are valued primarily using a market-based price obtained from a pricing service, if available. Investments in other open-end funds are valued at their latest NAVs. Both market quotations and indicative bids are obtained from outside pricing services approved and monitored pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund’s Board. For a money market fund, the Fund’s investments are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

If a market price is not readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value, the Fund will determine the price of a portfolio security based on a determination of the security’s fair value pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund’s Board. In addition, the Fund may use fair valuation to price securities that trade on a foreign exchange when a significant event has occurred after the foreign exchange closes but before the time at which the Fund’s share price is calculated. Foreign exchanges typically close before the time at which Fund share prices are calculated, and may be closed altogether on some days when the Fund is open. Such significant events affecting a foreign security may include, but are not limited to: (1) corporate actions, earnings announcements, litigation or other events impacting a single issuer; (2) governmental action that affects securities in one sector or country; (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region; or (4) significant domestic or foreign market fluctuations. The Fund uses various criteria, including an evaluation of U.S. market moves after the close of foreign markets, in determining whether a foreign security’s market price is readily available and reflective of market value and, if not, the fair value of the security. To the extent the Fund has significant holdings of small cap stocks, high-yield bonds, floating rate loans, or tax-exempt, foreign or other securities that may trade infrequently, fair valuation may be used more frequently than for other funds.

Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Fund uses fair valuation to price securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund would have priced the security. Also, the use of fair valuation may cause the Fund’s performance to diverge to a greater degree from the performance of various benchmarks used to compare the Fund’s performance because benchmarks generally do not use fair valuation techniques. Because of the judgment involved in fair valuation decisions, there can be no assurance that the value ascribed to a particular security is accurate. The Fund has retained one or more independent fair valuation pricing services to assist in the fair valuation process for foreign securities.

 

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Transaction Rules and Policies

The Fund, the Distributor or the Transfer Agent may refuse any order to buy or exchange shares. If this happens, the Fund will return any money it received, but no interest will be paid on that money.

Order Processing

Orders to buy, sell or exchange Fund shares are processed on business days. Depending upon the class of shares, orders can be made by mail, by telephone or online. Orders received in “good form” by the Transfer Agent or your selling agent before the end of a business day are priced at the NAV per share of the Fund’s applicable share class on that day. Orders received after the end of a business day will receive the next business day’s NAV per share. When a written order to buy, sell or exchange shares is sent to the Transfer Agent, the share price used to fill the order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Transfer Agent receives the order at its transaction processing center in Canton, Massachusetts, not the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery. The market value of the Fund’s investments may change between the time you submit your order and the time the Fund next calculates its NAV per share. The business day that applies to your order is also called the trade date.

“Good Form”

An order is in “good form” if the Transfer Agent or your selling agent has all of the information and documentation it deems necessary to effect your order. For example, when you sell shares by letter of instruction, “good form” means that your letter has (i) complete instructions and the signatures of all account owners, (ii) a Medallion Signature Guarantee for amounts greater than $100,000 and other transactions, as described below, and (iii) any other required documents completed and attached. For the documents required for sales by corporations, agents, fiduciaries, surviving joint owners and other legal entities, call 800.345.6611.

Medallion Signature Guarantees

The Transfer Agent may require a Medallion Signature Guarantee for your signature in order to process certain transactions. A Medallion Signature Guarantee helps assure that a signature is genuine and not a forgery. A Medallion Signature Guarantee must be provided by an eligible guarantor institution including, but not limited to, the following: a bank, credit union, savings association, broker or dealer that participates in the Securities Transfer Association Medallion Program (STAMP), the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP) or the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program (MSP). Notarization by a notary public is not an acceptable signature guarantee. The Transfer Agent reserves the right to reject a signature guarantee and to request additional documentation for any transaction.

A Medallion Signature Guarantee is required if: (i) the transaction amount is over $100,000; (ii) you want your check made payable to someone other than the registered account owner(s); (iii) the address of record has changed within the last 30 days; (iv) you want the check mailed to an address other than the address of record; (v) you want proceeds to be sent according to existing bank account instructions not coded for outgoing Automated Clearing House (ACH) or wire, or to a bank account not on file; (vi) you are the beneficiary of the account and the account owner is deceased (other documentation may be required); or (vii) you are changing legal ownership of your account.

Customer Identification Program

Federal law requires the Fund to obtain and record specific personal information to verify your identity when you open an account. This information may include your name, address, date of birth (for individuals) and taxpayer or other government issued identification (e.g., social security number (SSN) or other taxpayer identification number (TIN)). If you fail to provide the requested information, the Fund may need to delay the date of your purchase or may be unable to open your account, which may result in a return of your investment monies. In addition, if the Fund is unable to verify your identity after your account is open, the Fund reserves the right to close your account or take other steps as deemed reasonable. The Fund will not be liable for any loss resulting from any purchase delay, application rejection or account closure due to a failure to provide proper identifying information.

Small Account Policy — Class A, Class B, Class C, Class T and Class Z Share Accounts Below the Minimum Account Balance

The Funds generally will automatically sell your shares if the value of your Fund account (treating each account of the Fund you own separately from any other account of the Fund you may own) falls below the applicable Minimum Account Balance. The Minimum Account Balance varies among Funds, share classes and types of accounts, as follows:

 

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Minimum Account Balance

 

     Minimum
Account
Balance

For all Funds, classes and account types except those listed below

   $250 (None for accounts with
Systematic Investment Plans)

Individual Retirement Accounts for all Funds and classes except those listed below

   None

Columbia Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund

   $5,000

Columbia Floating Rate Fund and Columbia Inflation Protected Securities Fund

   $2,500

Class I, Class K, Class R, Class R4, Class R5, Class W and Class Y

   None

If your shares are sold, the Transfer Agent will remit the sale proceeds to you. Any otherwise applicable CDSC will not be imposed on such an automatic sale of your shares. The Transfer Agent will send you written notification in advance of any automatic sale, which will provide details on how you may avoid such an automatic sale. Generally, you may avoid such an automatic sale by raising your account balance, consolidating your accounts through an exchange of shares of another Fund in which you hold shares, or setting up a Systematic Investment Plan. For more information, contact the Transfer Agent or your selling agent. The Transfer Agent’s contact information (toll-free number and mailing addresses) as well as the Funds’ website address can be found at the beginning of the section Choosing a Share Class .

The Fund also may sell your Fund shares if your selling agent tells us to sell your shares pursuant to arrangements made with you, and under certain other circumstances allowed under the 1940 Act.

Small Account Policy — Class A, Class B, Class C, Class T and Class Z Share Accounts Minimum Balance Fee

If the value of your Fund account (treating each account of the Fund you own separately from any other account of the Fund you may own) falls below the minimum initial investment requirement applicable to you for any reason, including as a result of market decline, your account generally will be subject to a $20 annual fee. This fee will be assessed through the automatic sale of Fund shares in your account. Any otherwise applicable CDSC will not be imposed on such an automatic sale of your shares. The Transfer Agent will reduce the expenses paid by the Fund by any amounts it collects from the assessment of this fee. For Funds that do not have transfer agency expenses against which to offset the amount collected through assessment of this fee, the fee will be paid directly to the Fund. The Transfer Agent will send you written notification in advance of assessing any fee, which will provide details on how you can avoid the imposition of such fee. Generally, you may avoid the imposition of such fee by raising your Fund account balance, consolidating your Fund accounts through an exchange of shares of another Fund in which you hold shares, or setting up a Systematic Investment Plan that invests at least monthly. For more information, contact the Transfer Agent or your selling agent. The Transfer Agent’s contact information (toll-free number and mailing addresses) as well as the Funds’ website address can be found at the beginning of the section Choosing a Share Class .

The Funds reserve the right to lower the account size trigger point for the minimum balance fee in any year or for any class of shares when we believe it is appropriate to do so in light of declines in the market value of Fund shares, sales loads applicable to a particular class of shares, or for other reasons.

Exceptions to the Small Account Policy (Accounts Below Minimum Account Balance and Minimum Balance Fee)

The automatic sale of Fund shares of accounts under $250 and the annual minimum balance fee described above do not apply to shareholders of Class I, Class K, Class R, Class R4, Class R5, Class W and Class Y shares; shareholders holding their shares through broker-dealer networked accounts; wrap fee and omnibus accounts; accounts with active Systematic Investment Plans; certain qualified retirement plans; and health savings accounts. The automatic sale of Fund shares of accounts under the applicable Minimum Account Balance does not apply to individual retirement plans.

Small Account Policy — Broker-Dealer and Wrap Fee Accounts

The Funds may automatically redeem, at any time, broker-dealer networked accounts and wrap fee accounts that have account balances of $20 or less or have less than one share.

Information Sharing Agreements

As required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Funds or certain of their service providers will enter into information sharing agreements with selling agents, including participating life insurance companies and selling agents that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, selling agents are required, upon request, to: (i) provide shareholder account and transaction information; and (ii) execute instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases of Fund shares by shareholders who have been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions that violate the Fund’s excessive trading policies and procedures.

 

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Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Non-Money Market Funds

Right to Reject or Restrict Share Transaction Orders — The Fund is intended for investors with long-term investment purposes and is not intended as a vehicle for frequent trading activity (market timing) that is excessive. Investors should transact in Fund shares primarily for investment purposes. The Board has adopted excessive trading policies and procedures that are designed to deter excessive trading by investors (the Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures). The Fund discourages and does not accommodate excessive trading.

The Fund reserves the right to reject, without any prior notice, any purchase or exchange order for any reason, and will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected orders. For example, the Fund may in its sole discretion restrict or reject a purchase or exchange order even if the transaction is not subject to the specific limitation described below if the Fund or its agents determine that accepting the order could interfere with efficient management of the Fund’s portfolio or is otherwise contrary to the Fund’s best interests. The Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures apply equally to purchase or exchange transactions communicated directly to the Transfer Agent and to those received by selling agents.

Specific Buying and Exchanging Limitations — If a Fund detects that an investor has made two “material round trips” in any 28-day period, it will generally reject the investor’s future purchase orders, including exchange purchase orders, involving any Fund.

For these purposes, a “round trip” is a purchase or exchange into the Fund followed by a sale or exchange out of the Fund, or a sale or exchange out of the Fund followed by a purchase or exchange into the Fund. A “material” round trip is one that is deemed by the Fund to be material in terms of its amount or its potential detrimental impact on the Fund. Independent of this limit, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reject future buy orders by any person, group or account that appears to have engaged in any type of excessive trading activity.

These limits generally do not apply to automated transactions or transactions by registered investment companies in a “fund-of-funds” structure. These limits do not apply to payroll deduction contributions by retirement plan participants, transactions initiated by a retirement plan sponsor or certain other retirement plan transactions consisting of rollover transactions, loan repayments and disbursements, and required minimum distribution redemptions. They may be modified or rescinded for accounts held by certain retirement plans to conform to plan limits, for considerations relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or regulations of the Department of Labor, and for certain asset allocation or wrap programs. Accounts known to be under common ownership or control generally will be counted together, but accounts maintained or managed by a common intermediary generally will not be considered to be under common ownership or control. The Fund retains the right to modify these restrictions at any time without prior notice to shareholders. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reinstate trading privileges that have been revoked under the Fund’s Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.

Limitations on the Ability to Detect and Prevent Excessive Trading Practices — The Fund takes various steps designed to detect and prevent excessive trading, including daily review of available shareholder transaction information. However, the Fund receives buy, sell or exchange orders through selling agents, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by selling agents or by the use of the omnibus account arrangements they offer. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of mutual funds, particularly among certain selling agents such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit selling agents to aggregate their clients’ transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identity of the shareholders is often not known to the Fund.

Some selling agents apply their own restrictions or policies to underlying investor accounts, which may be more or less restrictive than those described here. This may impact the Fund’s ability to curtail excessive trading, even where it is identified. For these and other reasons, it is possible that excessive trading may occur despite the Fund’s efforts to detect and prevent it.

Although these restrictions and policies involve judgments that are inherently subjective and may involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of shareholders in making any such judgments.

Risks of Excessive Trading — Excessive trading creates certain risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and may create the following adverse effects:

 

    negative impact on the Fund’s performance;

 

    potential dilution of the value of the Fund’s shares;

 

    interference with the efficient management of the Fund’s portfolio, such as the need to maintain undesirably large cash positions, the need to use its line of credit or the need to buy or sell securities it otherwise would not have bought or sold;

 

    losses on the sale of investments resulting from the need to sell securities at less favorable prices;

 

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    increased taxable gains to the Fund’s remaining shareholders resulting from the need to sell securities to meet sell orders; and

 

    increased brokerage and administrative costs.

To the extent that the Fund invests significantly in foreign securities traded on markets that close before the Fund’s valuation time, it may be particularly susceptible to dilution as a result of excessive trading. Because events may occur after the close of foreign markets and before the Fund’s valuation time that influence the value of foreign securities, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of foreign securities as of the Fund’s valuation time. This is often referred to as price arbitrage. The Fund has adopted procedures designed to adjust closing market prices of foreign securities under certain circumstances to reflect what the Fund believes to be the fair value of those securities as of its valuation time. To the extent the adjustments do not work fully, investors engaging in price arbitrage may cause dilution in the value of the Fund’s shares held by other shareholders.

Similarly, to the extent that the Fund invests significantly in thinly traded high-yield bonds (junk bonds) or equity securities of small-capitalization companies, because these securities are often traded infrequently, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these securities. This is also a type of price arbitrage. Any such frequent trading strategies may interfere with efficient management of the Fund’s portfolio to a greater degree than would be the case for mutual funds that invest in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling those portfolio securities at advantageous times or prices to satisfy large and/or frequent sell orders. Any successful price arbitrage may also cause dilution in the value of Fund shares held by other shareholders.

Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Columbia Money Market Fund

A money market fund is designed to offer investors a liquid cash option that they may buy and sell as often as they wish. Accordingly, the Board has not adopted policies and procedures designed to discourage excessive or short-term trading of Columbia Money Market Fund shares. However, since frequent purchases and sales of Columbia Money Market Fund shares could in certain instances harm shareholders in various ways, including reducing the returns to long-term shareholders by increasing costs (such as spreads paid to dealers who trade money market instruments with Columbia Money Market Fund) and disrupting portfolio management strategies, Columbia Money Market Fund reserves the right, but has no obligation, to reject any purchase or exchange transaction at any time. Except as expressly described in this prospectus (such as minimum purchase amounts), Columbia Money Market Fund has no limits on purchase or exchange transactions. In addition, Columbia Money Market Fund reserves the right to impose or modify restrictions on purchases, exchanges or trading of Fund shares at any time.

Opening an Account and Placing Orders

We encourage you to consult with a financial advisor who can help you with your investment decisions and who can help you open an account. Once you have an account, you can buy, sell or exchange shares by contacting your financial advisor who will send your order to the Transfer Agent or your selling agent. As described below, once you have an account you can also communicate your orders directly to the Transfer Agent by mail, by telephone or online.

The Funds are generally available directly and through broker-dealers, banks and other selling agents or institutions, and through certain qualified and non-qualified plans, wrap fee products or other investment products sponsored by selling agents. You may exchange or sell shares through your selling agent. If you maintain your account directly with your selling agent, you must contact that agent to process your transaction.

Not all selling agents offer the Funds and certain selling agents that offer the Funds may not offer all Funds on all investment platforms or programs. Please consult with your financial advisor to determine the availability of the Funds. If you set up an account at a selling agent that does not have, and is unable to obtain, a selling agreement with the Distributor, you will not be able to transfer Fund holdings to that account. In that event, you must either maintain your Fund holdings with your current selling agent, find another selling agent with a selling agreement, or sell your Fund shares, paying any applicable CDSC. Please be aware that transactions in taxable accounts are taxable events and may result in income tax liability.

Selling agents that offer the Funds may charge you additional fees for the services they provide and they may have different policies that are not described in this prospectus. Some policy differences may include different minimum investment amounts, exchange privileges, Fund choices and cutoff times for investments. Additionally, recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to your account may be performed by the selling agents through which your shares of the Fund are held. Since the Fund (and its service providers) may not have a record of your account transactions, you should always contact the financial advisor employed by the selling agent through which you purchased or at which you maintain your shares of the Fund to make changes to your account or to give instructions concerning your account, or to obtain information about your account. The Fund and its service providers, including the Distributor and the Transfer Agent, are not responsible for the failure of these selling agents to carry out their obligations to its customers.

 

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The Fund may engage selling agents to receive purchase, exchange and sell orders on its behalf. Accounts established directly with the Fund will be serviced by the Transfer Agent. The Funds, the Transfer Agent and the Distributor do not provide investment advice.

Accounts Established Directly with the Fund

You or the financial advisor through which you buy shares may establish an account with the Fund. To do so, complete a Fund account application with your financial advisor or investment professional, and mail the account application to the Transfer Agent. Account applications may be obtained at columbiathreadneedle.com/us or may be requested by calling 800.345.6611. Make your check payable to the Fund. You will be assessed a $15 fee for any checks rejected by your financial institution due to insufficient funds or other reasons. The Funds do not accept cash, credit card convenience checks, money orders, traveler’s checks, starter checks, third or fourth party checks, or other cash equivalents.

Mail your check and completed application to the Transfer Agent at its regular or express mail address that can be found at the beginning of the section Choosing a Share Class. You may also use these addresses to request an exchange or redemption of Fund shares. When a written order to buy, sell or exchange shares is sent to the Transfer Agent, the share price used to fill the order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Transfer Agent receives the order at its transaction processing center in Canton, Massachusetts, not the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery.

You will be sent a statement confirming your purchase and any subsequent transactions in your account. You will also be sent quarterly and annual statements detailing your transactions in the Fund and the other Funds you own under the same account number. Duplicate quarterly account statements for the current year and duplicate annual statements for the most recent prior calendar year will be sent to you free of charge. Copies of year-end statements for prior years are available for a fee. Please contact the Transfer Agent for more information.

Written Transactions

Once you have an account, you can communicate written buy, sell or exchange orders to the Transfer Agent at its address that can be found at the beginning of the section Choosing a Share Class . When a written order to buy, sell or exchange shares is sent to the Transfer Agent, the share price used to fill the order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Transfer Agent receives the order at its transaction processing center in Canton, Massachusetts, not the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery.

Include in your letter: your name; the name of the Fund(s); your account number; the class of shares to be exchanged or sold; your SSN or other TIN; the dollar amount or number of shares you want to exchange or sell; specific instructions regarding delivery of redemption proceeds or exchange destination; signature(s) of registered account owner(s); and any special documents the Transfer Agent may require in order to process your order.

Corporate, trust or partnership accounts may need to send additional documents. Payment will be mailed to the address of record and made payable to the names listed on the account, unless your request specifies differently and is signed by all owners.

Telephone Transactions

For Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R, Class T, Class Y and Class Z shares, once you have an account, you may place orders to buy, sell or exchange shares by telephone. To place orders by telephone, call 800.422.3737. Have your account number and SSN or TIN available when calling.

You can sell Fund shares via the telephone, by electronic funds transfer or by check to the address of record, up to and including an aggregate of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account, if you qualify for telephone orders. Wire redemptions requested via the telephone are subject to a maximum of $3 million of shares per day, per Fund. You can buy up to and including $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account through your bank account as an Automated Clearing House (ACH) transaction via the telephone if you qualify for telephone orders.

Telephone orders may not be as secure as written orders. The Fund will take reasonable steps to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine. For example, we require proof of your identification before we will act on instructions received by telephone and may record telephone conversations. However, the Fund and its agents will not be responsible for any losses, costs or expenses resulting from an unauthorized telephone instruction when reasonable steps have been taken to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine. Telephone orders may be difficult to complete during periods of significant economic or market change or business interruption.

Online Transactions

For Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R, Class T, Class Y and Class Z shares, once you have an account, you may contact the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611 for more information on account trading restrictions and the special sign-up procedures required for online transactions. The Transfer Agent has procedures in place to authenticate electronic orders you deliver through the internet. You will be required to accept the terms of an online agreement and to establish and utilize a password in order to access online account services. You can sell up to and including an aggregate of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account through the internet if you qualify for internet orders.

 

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Wire Transactions

You may buy (or redeem) Class A, Class B (redemptions only), Class C, Class T, Class W (redemptions only), Class Y and Class Z shares of a Fund by wiring money from (or to) your bank account to (or from) your Fund account by calling the Transfer Agent at 800.422.3737. You must set up this feature prior to your request unless you are submitting your request in writing with a Medallion Signature Guarantee. The Transfer Agent charges a fee for shares sold by Fedwire. The Transfer Agent may waive the fee for certain accounts. In the case of a redemption, the receiving bank may charge an additional fee. The minimum amount that can be redeemed by wire is $500. The maximum amount that can be redeemed over the telephone is $3 million per day, per Fund account.

Electronic Funds Transfer

You may buy (or redeem) Class A, Class B (redemptions only), Class C, Class T, Class Y and Class Z shares of a Fund by electronically transferring money from (or to) your bank account to (or from) your Fund account up to and including an aggregate of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account by calling the Transfer Agent at 800.422.3737. An electronic funds transfer may take up to three business days to settle and be considered in “good form.” You must set up this feature by contacting the Transfer Agent prior to your request to obtain any necessary forms.

Important: Payments sent by an electronic fund transfer, a bank authorization, or check that are not guaranteed may take up to 10 or more calendar days to clear. If you request a redemption before the purchase funds clear, this may cause your redemption request to fail to process if the requested amount includes unguaranteed funds. If you purchased your shares by check or from your bank account as an ACH transaction, the Fund may hold the redemption proceeds when you sell those shares for a period of time after the trade date of the purchase.

Buying Shares

Eligible Investors

Class A and Class C Shares

Class A and Class C shares are available to the general public for investment. Once you have opened an account, you can buy Class A and Class C shares in a lump sum, through our Systematic Investment Plan, by dividend diversification, by wire or by electronic funds transfer. As described in this prospectus, Class A shares but not Class C shares are generally subject to a front-end sales charge, which reduces the dollar amount invested in a Fund. However, Class C shares are generally subject to higher fees than Class A shares, which will reduce any returns on Class C shares relative to Class A shares. You may be eligible to purchase Class A shares without a front-end sales charge if the value of your Columbia Fund shares held in eligible accounts reaches $1,000,000 (in the case of a purchase of Class A shares of a Taxable Fund) or $500,000 (in the case of a purchase of Class A shares of a Tax-Exempt Fund). If you are eligible to invest in Class A shares without a front-end sales charge, you should discuss your options with your selling agent. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class – Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges . A purchase order for Class C shares of a Taxable or Tax-Exempt Fund is limited to $999,999 and $499,999, respectively. Your selling agent may impose additional limits on investments in Class C shares.

For Columbia Money Market Fund, new investments must be made in Class A, Class I, Class W or Class Z shares, subject to eligibility. Class C and Class R shares of Columbia Money Market Fund are available as a new investment only to investors in the Distributor’s proprietary 401(k) products, provided that such investor is eligible to invest in the class and transacts directly with the Fund or the Transfer Agent through a third party administrator or third party recordkeeper. Columbia Money Market Fund offers other classes of shares only to facilitate exchanges with other Funds offering these classes of shares.

Class B Shares (Closed)

The Funds no longer accept investments from new or existing investors in Class B shares, except for certain limited transactions involving existing investors in Class B shares as described in more detail below.

Additional Class B shares will be issued only to existing investors in Class B shares and only through the following two types of transactions (Qualifying Transactions):

 

    Dividend and/or capital gain distributions may continue to be reinvested in Class B shares of a Fund.

 

    Shareholders invested in Class B shares of a Fund may exchange those shares for Class B shares of other Funds offering such shares. Certain exceptions apply, including that not all Funds may permit exchanges.

Any initial purchase orders for the Fund’s Class B shares will be rejected (other than through a Qualifying Transaction that is an exchange transaction).

Unless contrary instructions are received in advance by the Fund, any purchase orders (except those submitted by a selling agent through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC) as described in more detail below) that are orders for additional Class B shares of the Fund received from existing investors in Class B shares, including orders made through an active systematic investment

 

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plan, will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the Fund, without regard to the normal minimum initial investment requirement for Class A shares, but subject to the front-end sales charge that generally applies to Class A shares. See Choosing a Share Class — Sales Charges and Commissions — Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge for additional information. Your selling agent may have different policies not described here, including a policy to reject purchase orders for a Fund’s Class B shares or to automatically invest the purchase amount in Columbia Money Market Fund. Please consult your selling agent to understand its policy.

Additional purchase orders for a Fund’s Class B shares by an existing Class B shareholder, submitted by such shareholder’s selling agent through the NSCC, will be rejected due to operational limitations of the NSCC. Investors should consult their selling agent if they wish to invest in the Fund by purchasing a share class of the Fund other than Class B shares.

Dividend and/or capital gain distributions from Class B shares of a Fund will not be automatically invested in Class B shares of another Fund. Unless contrary instructions are received in advance of the date of declaration, such dividend and/or capital gain distributions from Class B shares of a Fund will be reinvested in Class B shares of the same Fund that is making the distribution.

Class I Shares

Class I shares are available only to the Funds (i.e., fund-of-funds investments).

Class K Shares (Closed)

Class K shares are closed to new investors and new accounts, subject to certain limited exceptions described below.

Shareholders who opened and funded a Class K account with the Fund as of the close of business on December 31, 2010 (including accounts once funded that subsequently reached a zero balance) may continue to make additional purchases of Class K shares. Plans may continue to make additional purchases of Fund shares and add new participants, and new plans sponsored by the same or an affiliated sponsor may invest in the Fund (and add new participants) if an initial plan so sponsored invested in the Fund as of December 31, 2010 (or had approved the Fund as an investment option as of December 31, 2010 and funded its initial account with the Fund prior to March 31, 2011) and holds Fund shares at the plan level.

An order to purchase Class K shares received by the Fund or the Transfer Agent after the close of business on December 31, 2010 (other than as described above) from a new investor or a new account that is not eligible to purchase shares will be refused by the Fund and the Transfer Agent and any money that the Fund or the Transfer Agent received with the order will be returned to the investor or the selling agent, as appropriate, without interest.

Class K shares are designed for qualified employee benefit plans, trust companies or similar institutions, charitable organizations that meet the definition in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, non-qualified deferred compensation plans whose participants are included in a qualified employee benefit plan described above, state sponsored college savings plans established under Section 529 of the Code, and health savings accounts created pursuant to public law 108-173. Class K shares may be purchased, sold or exchanged only through the Distributor or an authorized selling agent.

Class R Shares

Class R shares are available only to eligible health savings accounts sponsored by third party platforms, including those sponsored by Ameriprise Financial affiliates, eligible retirement plans and, in the sole discretion of the Distributor, other types of retirement accounts held through platforms maintained by selling agents approved by the Distributor. Eligible retirement plans include any retirement plan other than individual 403(b) plans. Class R shares are generally not available for investment through retail nonretirement accounts, traditional and Roth IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, SEPs, SAR-SEPs, Simple IRAs or 529 tuition programs. Contact the Transfer Agent or your retirement plan or health savings account administrator for more information about investing in Class R shares.

Class R4 Shares

Class R4 shares are available only to (i) omnibus retirement plans, (ii) trust companies or similar institutions, (iii) broker-dealers, banks, trust companies and similar institutions that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer investment advisory or similar accounts through designated selling agents and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class R4 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements, (iv) 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, (v) 529 plans and (vi) health savings accounts.

Class R5 Shares

Class R5 shares are available only to (i) certain registered investment advisers that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated selling agents and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class R5 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements and (ii) omnibus retirement plans. Prior to November 8, 2012, Class R5 shares were closed to new investors and new accounts, subject to certain exceptions. Existing shareholders who do not satisfy the new eligibility requirements for investment in Class R5 may not establish new Class R5 accounts but may continue to make additional purchases of Class R5 shares in accounts opened and funded

 

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prior to November 8, 2012; provided, however, that investment advisory programs and similar programs that opened a Class R5 account as of May 1, 2010, and continuously hold Class R5 shares in such account after such date, may generally not only continue to make additional purchases of Class R5 shares but also open new Class R5 accounts for such pre-existing programs and add new shareholders in the program.

Class T Shares

Class T shares are available only to investors who received (and who have continuously held) Class T shares in connection with the merger of certain Galaxy funds into certain Funds that were then named Liberty funds.

Class W Shares

Class W shares are available only to investors purchasing through authorized investment programs managed by investment professionals, including discretionary managed account programs. Class W shares may be purchased, sold or exchanged only through the Distributor or an authorized selling agent. Shares originally purchased in a discretionary managed account may continue to be held in Class W outside of a discretionary managed account, but no additional Class W purchases may be made and no exchanges to Class W shares of another Fund may be made outside of a discretionary managed account.

Class Y Shares

Class Y shares, except as noted below, are available only to retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund (through the Transfer Agent).

Class Z Shares

Class Z shares are available only to the categories of eligible investors described below under Class Z Shares Minimum Initial Investments . Selling agents that clear Fund share transactions through designated selling agents and their mutual fund trading platforms that were given specific written notice from the Transfer Agent of the termination, effective March 29, 2013, of their eligibility for new purchases of Class Z shares and omnibus retirement plans are not permitted to establish new Class Z accounts, subject to certain exceptions described below.

Omnibus retirement plans that opened and, subject to certain exceptions, funded a Class Z account with the Fund as of the close of business on March 28, 2013, and have continuously held Class Z shares in such account after such date, may generally continue to make additional purchases of Class Z shares, open new Class Z accounts and add new participants. In addition, an omnibus retirement plan affiliated with a grandfathered plan may, in the sole discretion of the Distributor, open new Class Z accounts in a Fund if the affiliated plan opened a Class Z account on or before March 28, 2013. If an omnibus retirement plan invested in Class Z shares changes recordkeepers after March 28, 2013, any new accounts established for that plan may not be established in Class Z shares, but such a plan may establish new accounts in a different share class for which the plan is eligible. The Distributor may, in its sole discretion, delay the funding requirement described above for omnibus retirement plans to allow an omnibus retirement plan that opened a Class Z account (the initial Class Z account) with the Fund as of the close of business on March 28, 2013 to make additional purchases of Class Z shares, open new Class Z accounts and add new participants so long as the initial Class Z account was funded by July 2, 2013.

Accounts of selling agents (other than omnibus retirement plans, which are discussed above) that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated selling agents and their mutual fund trading platforms that received specific written notice from the Transfer Agent of the termination, effective March 29, 2013, of their eligibility for new purchases of Class Z shares will not be permitted to establish new Class Z accounts or make additional purchases of Class Z shares (other than through reinvestment of distributions). Such accounts may, at their holder’s option, exchange Class Z shares of a Fund, without the payment of a sales charge, for Class A shares of the same Fund.

Additional Eligible Investors

In addition, the Distributor, in its sole discretion, may accept investments in any share class from investors other than those listed in this prospectus.

Minimum Initial Investments

The table below shows the Fund’s minimum initial investment requirements, which may vary by Fund, class and type of account.

 

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Minimum Initial Investments

 

     Minimum
Initial
Investment (a)
    Minimum
Initial Investment
for Accounts
with Systematic
Investment Plans
 

For all Funds, classes and account types except those listed below

   $ 2,000      $ 100 (b)  

Individual Retirement Accounts for all Funds and classes except those listed below

   $ 1,000      $ 100 (c)  

Columbia Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund

   $ 10,000      $ 10,000   

Columbia Floating Rate Fund and Columbia Inflation Protected Securities Fund

   $ 5,000      $ 5,000   

Class I, Class K, Class R, Class R4 and Class Y

     None        N/A   

Class R5

     variable (d)       N/A   

Class W

   $ 500        N/A   

Class Z

     variable (e)     $ 100 (e)  

 

(a) If your Class A, Class B, Class C, Class T or Class Z shares account balance falls below the minimum initial investment amount for any reason, including a market decline, you may be asked to increase it to the minimum initial investment amount or establish a monthly Systematic Investment Plan. If you do not do so, your account will be subject to a $20 annual low balance fee and/or shares may be automatically redeemed and the proceeds mailed to you if the account falls below the minimum account balance. See Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Transaction Rules and Policies above.
(b) Columbia Money Market Fund $2,000
(c) Columbia Money Market Fund $1,000
(d) There is no minimum initial investment in Class R5 shares for omnibus retirement plans. A minimum initial investment of $100,000 applies to aggregate purchases of Class R5 shares of a Fund for combined underlying accounts of any registered investment adviser that clears Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated selling agents and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class R5 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements.
(e) The minimum initial investment amount for Class Z shares is $0,$1,000 or $2,000 depending upon the category of eligible investor. See — Class Z Shares Minimum Initial Investments below. The minimum initial investment amount for systematic investment plan accounts is the same as the amount set forth in the first two rows of the table, as applicable.

The minimum initial investment requirements may be waived for accounts that are managed by an investment professional, for accounts held in approved discretionary or non-discretionary wrap programs, or for accounts that are a part of an employer-sponsored retirement plan. The Distributor, in its sole discretion, may also waive minimum initial investment requirements for other account types.

Minimum investment and related requirements may be modified at any time, with or without prior notice. If your account is closed and then re-opened with a systematic investment plan, your account must meet the then-current applicable minimum initial investment.

Class Z Shares Minimum Initial Investments

There is no minimum initial investment in Class Z shares for the following categories of eligible investors:

 

    Any person investing all or part of the proceeds of a distribution, rollover or transfer of assets into a Columbia Management Individual Retirement Account, from any deferred compensation plan which was a shareholder of any of the Funds of Columbia Acorn Trust on September 29, 2000, in which the investor was a participant and through which the investor invested in one or more of the Funds of Columbia Acorn Trust immediately prior to the distribution, transfer or rollover.

 

    Any health savings account sponsored by a third party platform.

 

    Any investor participating in a wrap program sponsored by a selling agent or other entity that is paid an asset-based fee by the investor and that is not compensated by the Fund for those services, other than payments for shareholder servicing or sub-accounting performed in place of the Transfer Agent.

 

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The minimum initial investment in Class Z shares for the following categories of eligible investors is $1,000:

 

    Any individual retirement plan for which a selling agent or other entity provides services and is not compensated by the Fund for those services, other than in the form of payments for shareholder servicing or sub-accounting performed in place of the Transfer Agent.

 

    Any employee of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, the Distributor or the Transfer Agent and immediate family members of any of the foregoing who share the same address and any persons employed as of April 30, 2010 by Columbia Management Advisors, LLC, Columbia Management Distributors, Inc., or Columbia Management Services, Inc., the adviser, distributor and transfer agent of series of CFST and CFST I prior to May 1, 2010 (the Previous Service Providers) and immediate family members of any of the foregoing who share the same address are eligible to make new and subsequent purchases in Class Z shares through an individual retirement account. If you maintain your account with a selling agent, you must contact that selling agent each time you seek to purchase shares to notify them that you qualify for Class Z shares.

The minimum initial investment in Class Z shares for the following categories of eligible investors is $2,000:

 

    Any shareholder (as well as any family member of a shareholder or person listed on an account registration for any account of the shareholder) of another fund distributed by the Distributor (i) who holds Class Z shares; (ii) who held Primary A shares prior to the share class redesignation of Primary A shares as Class Z shares that occurred on August 22, 2005; (iii) who holds Class A shares that were obtained by an exchange of Class Z shares; or (iv) who bought shares of certain mutual funds that were not subject to sales charges and that merged with a series of CFST or CFST I distributed by the Distributor.

 

    Any investor participating in an account offered by a selling agent or other entity that provides services to such an account, is paid an asset-based fee by the investor and is not compensated by the Fund for those services, other than payments for shareholder servicing or sub-accounting performed in place of the Transfer Agent (each investor buying shares through a financial intermediary must independently satisfy the minimum investment requirement noted above).

 

    Any institutional investor who is a corporation, partnership, trust, foundation, endowment, institution, government entity, or similar organization, which meets the respective qualifications for an accredited investor, as defined under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

    Certain financial institutions and intermediaries, such as insurance companies, trust companies, banks, endowments, investment companies or foundations, buying shares for their own account, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates and/or subsidiaries.

 

    Any employee of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, the Distributor or the Transfer Agent and immediate family members of any of the foregoing who share the same address and any persons employed as of April 30, 2010 by the Previous Service Providers and any of their immediate family members who share the same address are eligible to make new and subsequent purchases in Class Z shares through a non-retirement account. If you maintain your account with a selling agent, you must contact that selling agent each time you seek to purchase shares to notify them that you qualify for Class Z shares.

 

    Certain other investors as set forth in more detail in the SAI.

Systematic Investment Plan

The Systematic Investment Plan allows you to schedule regular purchases via automatic transfers from your bank account to the Fund on a monthly, quarterly or semiannual basis. Contact the Transfer Agent or your selling agent to set up the plan. Systematic Investment Plans may not be available for all share classes.

Dividend Diversification

Generally, you may automatically invest distributions made by another Fund into the same class of shares (and in some cases certain other classes of shares) of a Fund at no additional sales charge. A sales charge may apply when you invest distributions made with respect to shares that were not subject to a sales charge at the time of your initial purchase. Call the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611 for details. The ability to invest distributions from one Fund to another Fund may not be available to accounts held at all selling agents.

Other Purchase Rules You Should Know

 

    Once the Transfer Agent or your selling agent receives your buy order in “good form,” your purchase will be made at the next calculated public offering price per share, which is the net asset value per share plus any sales charge that applies.

 

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    You generally buy Class A and Class T shares at the public offering price per share because purchases of these share classes are generally subject to a front-end sales charge.

 

    You buy Class B, Class C, Class I, Class K, Class R, Class R4, Class R5, Class W, Class Y and Class Z shares at net asset value per share because no front-end sales charge applies to purchases of these share classes.

 

    The Distributor and the Transfer Agent reserve the right to cancel your order if the Fund does not receive payment within three business days of receiving your buy order. The Fund will return any payment received for orders that have been cancelled, but no interest will be paid on that money.

 

    Selling agents are responsible for sending your buy orders to the Transfer Agent and ensuring that we receive your money on time.

 

    Shares purchased are recorded on the books of the Fund. The Fund does not issue certificates.

Selling Shares

When you sell your shares, the Fund is effectively buying them back from you. This is called a redemption. The payment will be sent within seven days after your request is received in “good form.” When you sell shares, the amount you receive may be more or less than the amount you invested.

Your sale price will be the next NAV calculated after your request is received in “good form,” minus any applicable CDSC.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan

The Systematic Withdrawal Plan allows you to schedule regular redemptions from your account any business day on a monthly, quarterly or semiannual basis. Currently, Systematic Withdrawal Plans are generally available for Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R4, Class R5, Class T, Class W, Class Y and Class Z share accounts. Contact the Transfer Agent or your financial advisor to set up the plan. To set up the plan, your account balance must meet the class minimum initial investment amount. A Systematic Withdrawal Plan cannot be set up on an account that already has a Systematic Investment Plan established. If you set up the plan after you’ve opened your account, we may require your signature to be Medallion Signature Guaranteed.

You can choose to receive your withdrawals via check or direct deposit into your bank account. The Fund will deduct any applicable CDSC from the withdrawals before sending the balance to you. You can cancel the plan by giving the Fund 30 days’ notice in writing or by calling the Transfer Agent at 800.422.3737. It’s important to remember that if you withdraw more than your investment in the Fund is earning, you’ll eventually withdraw your entire investment.

Check Redemption Service (for Columbia Money Market Fund)

Class A and Class Z shares of Columbia Money Market Fund (which is not offered in this prospectus) offer check writing privileges. If you have $2,000 in Columbia Money Market Fund, you may request checks which may be drawn against your account. The amount of any check drawn against your Columbia Money Market Fund must be at least $100. You can elect this service on your initial application or thereafter. Call 800.345.6611 for the appropriate forms to establish this service. If you own Class A shares that were originally purchased in another Fund at NAV because of the size of the purchase, and then exchanged into Columbia Money Market Fund, check redemptions may be subject to a CDSC. A $15 charge will be assessed for any stop payment order requested by you or any overdraft in connection with checks written against your Columbia Money Market Fund account. Note that a Medallion Signature Guarantee may be required if this service is established after the account is opened.

In-Kind Redemptions

The Fund reserves the right to honor redemption orders with in-kind distributions of portfolio securities instead of cash. In the event the Fund distributes portfolio securities in-kind, you may incur brokerage and transaction costs associated with converting the portfolio securities you receive into cash. Also, the portfolio securities you receive may increase or decrease in value before you convert them into cash. For U.S. federal income tax purposes redemptions paid in securities are generally treated the same as redemptions paid in cash.

Other Redemption Rules You Should Know

 

    Once the Transfer Agent or your selling agent receives your redemption order in “good form,” your shares will be sold at the next calculated NAV per share. Any applicable CDSC will be deducted from the amount you’re selling and the balance will be remitted to you.

 

    If you sell your shares that are held directly with the Funds (through the Transfer Agent), we will normally send the redemption proceeds by mail or electronically transfer them to your bank account within three business days after the Transfer Agent or your selling agent receives your order in “good form.”

 

    If you sell your shares through a selling agent, the Funds will normally send the redemption proceeds by Fedwire within three business days after the Transfer Agent or your selling agent receives your order in “good form.”

 

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    If you paid for your shares by check or from your bank account as an ACH transaction, the Funds will hold the redemption proceeds when you sell those shares for ten calendar days after the trade date of the purchase.

 

    No interest will be paid on uncashed redemption checks.

 

    The Funds can delay payment of the redemption proceeds for up to seven days and may suspend redemptions and/or further postpone payment of redemption proceeds when the NYSE is closed or trading thereon is restricted or during emergency or other circumstances, including as determined by the SEC.

 

    Other restrictions may apply to retirement accounts. For information about these restrictions, contact your retirement plan administrator.

 

    For broker-dealer and wrap fee accounts: The Fund reserves the right to redeem your shares if your account falls below the Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement. The Fund will notify your broker-dealer prior to redeeming shares, and will provide details on how to avoid such redemption.

 

    Also keep in mind the Funds’ Small Account Policy, which is described above in Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Transaction Rules and Policies.

Exchanging Shares

You can generally sell shares of your Fund to buy shares of another Fund, in what is called an exchange. You should read the prospectus of, and make sure you understand the investment objective, principal investment strategies, risks, fees and expenses of, the Fund into which you are exchanging.

You may be subject to a sales charge if you exchange from Columbia Money Market Fund or any other Fund that does not charge a front-end sales charge into a non-money market Fund. If you hold your Fund shares through certain selling agents, including Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., you may have limited exchangeability among the Funds. Please contact your selling agent for more information.

You can generally make exchanges between like share classes of any Fund and, subject to eligibility requirements, other share classes of any Fund. Some exceptions apply. Although the Funds allow certain exchanges from one share class to another share class with higher expenses, you should consider the expenses of each class before making such an exchange.

Systematic Exchanges

You may buy Class A, Class C, Class T, Class W, Class Y and/or Class Z shares of a Fund by exchanging each month from another Fund for shares of the same class of the Fund at no additional cost, subject to the following exchange amount minimums:$50 each month for individual retirement accounts (i.e. tax qualified accounts); and $100 each month for non-retirement accounts. Contact the Transfer Agent or your selling agent to set up the plan. If you set up your plan to exchange more than $100,000 each month, you must obtain a Medallion Signature Guarantee.

Exchanges will continue as long as your balance is sufficient to complete the systematic monthly transfers, subject to the Funds’ Small Account Policy described above in Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Transaction Rules and Policies. You may terminate the program or change the amount you would like to exchange (subject to the $50 and $100 minimum requirements noted immediately above) by calling the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611. A sales charge may apply when you exchange shares of a Fund that were not assessed a sales charge at the time of your initial purchase.

Other Exchange Rules You Should Know

 

    Exchanges are made at the NAV next calculated after your exchange order is received in “good form.”

 

    Once the Fund receives your exchange request, you cannot cancel it after the market closes.

 

    The rules for buying shares of a Fund generally apply to exchanges into that Fund, including, if your exchange creates a new Fund account, it must satisfy the minimum investment amount, unless a waiver applies.

 

    Shares of the purchased Fund may not be used on the same day for another exchange or sale.

 

    If you exchange shares from Class A shares of Columbia Money Market Fund to a non-money market Fund, any further exchanges must be between shares of the same class. For example, if you exchange from Class A shares of Columbia Money Market Fund into Class C shares of a non-money market Fund, you may not exchange from Class C shares of that non-money market Fund back to Class A shares of Columbia Money Market Fund.

 

    A sales charge may apply when you exchange shares of a Fund that were not assessed a sales charge at the time of your initial purchase. For example, if your initial investment was in Columbia Money Market Fund and you exchange into a non-money market Fund, your transaction is subject to a front-end sales charge if you exchange into Class A shares and to a CDSC if you exchange into Class C shares of the Funds.

 

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    If your initial investment was in Class A shares of a non-money market Fund and you exchange shares into Columbia Money Market Fund, you may exchange that amount to another Fund, including dividends earned on that amount, without paying a sales charge.

 

    If your shares are subject to a CDSC, you will not be charged a CDSC upon the exchange of those shares. Any CDSC will be deducted when you sell the shares you received from the exchange. The CDSC imposed at that time will be based on the period that begins when you bought shares of the original Fund and ends when you sell the shares of the Fund you received from the exchange. The applicable CDSC will be the CDSC of the original Fund.

 

    You may make exchanges only into a Fund that is legally offered and sold in your state of residence. Contact the Transfer Agent or your selling agent for more information.

 

    You generally may make an exchange only into a Fund that is accepting investments.

 

    The Fund may change or cancel your right to make an exchange by giving the amount of notice required by regulatory authorities (generally 60 days for a material change or cancellation).

 

    Unless your account is part of a tax-advantaged arrangement, an exchange for shares of another Fund is a taxable event, and you may recognize a gain or loss for tax purposes.

 

    Changing your investment to a different Fund will be treated as a sale and purchase, and you will be subject to applicable taxes on the sale and sales charges on the purchase of the new Fund.

 

    Class Z shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Class A or Class Z shares of another Fund. In certain circumstances, the front-end sales charge applicable to Class A shares may be waived on exchanges of Class Z shares for Class A shares. See Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares — Eligible Investors — Class Z Shares for details.

 

    You may generally exchange Class T shares of a Fund for Class A shares of another Fund if the other Fund does not offer Class T shares. Class T shares exchanged into Class A shares cannot be exchanged back into Class T shares.

 

    Class W shares originally purchased, but no longer held, in a discretionary managed account, may not be exchanged for Class W shares of another Fund.

 

    Former CFIT Shareholders may not exchange Class Y shares of a Fund into Class Y shares of another Fund.

Same-Fund Exchange Privilege

Certain shareholders of a Fund may be or become eligible to invest in other classes of shares of the same Fund. Upon a determination of such eligibility, such shareholders may be eligible to exchange their shares for shares of the other share class, if offered. Such exchanges include exchanges of shares of one class for shares of another share class with higher expenses. Before making such an exchange, you should consider the expenses of each class. Investors should contact their selling agents to learn more about the details of the exchange privilege.

Note the following rules relating to same-Fund exchanges:

 

    No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange, except that when Class B shares are exchanged, any CDSC applicable to Class B shares will be applied.

 

    Ordinarily, shareholders will not recognize a gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon such an exchange. You should consult your tax advisor about your particular exchanges.

Distributions to Shareholders

A mutual fund can make money two ways:

 

    It can earn income on its investments. Examples of fund income are interest paid on money market instruments and bonds, and dividends paid on common stocks.

 

    A mutual fund can also have capital gains if the value of its investments increases. While a fund continues to hold an investment, any gain is generally unrealized. If the fund sells an investment, it generally will realize a capital gain if it sells that investment for a higher price than its adjusted cost basis, and will generally realize a capital loss if it sells that investment for a lower price than its adjusted cost basis. Capital gains and losses are either short-term or long-term, depending on whether the fund holds the securities for one year or less (short-term) or more than one year (long-term).

 

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FUNDamentals TM

Distributions

Mutual funds make payments of fund earnings to shareholders, distributing them among all shareholders of the fund. As a shareholder, you are entitled to your portion of a fund’s distributed income, including capital gains. Reinvesting your distributions buys you more shares of a fund which lets you take advantage of the potential for compound growth. Putting the money you earn back into your investment means it, in turn, may earn even more money. Over time, the power of compounding has the potential to significantly increase the value of your investment. There is no assurance, however, that you’ll earn more money if you reinvest your distributions rather than receive them in cash.

The Fund intends to pay out, in the form of distributions to shareholders, a sufficient amount of its income and gains so that the Fund will qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company and generally will not have to pay any federal excise tax. The Fund generally intends to distribute any net realized capital gain (whether long-term or short-term gain) at least once a year. Normally, Columbia Contrarian Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund and Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund will declare and pay distributions of net investment income according to the following schedule:

 

Declaration and Distribution Schedule  

Declarations

     Annually   

Distributions

     Annually   

Normally, Columbia Overseas Value Fund and Columbia Select International Equity Fund will declare and pay distributions of net investment income according to the following schedule:

 

Declaration and Distribution Schedule  

Declarations

     Semiannually   

Distributions

     Semiannually   

The Fund may declare or pay distributions of net investment income more frequently.

Different share classes of the Fund usually pay different net investment income distribution amounts, because each class has different expenses. Each time a distribution is made, the net asset value per share of the share class is reduced by the amount of the distribution.

The Fund generally pays cash distributions within five business days after the distribution was declared (or, if the Fund declares distributions daily, within five business days after the end of the month in which the distribution was declared). If you sell all of your shares after the record date, but before the payment date, for a distribution, you’ll normally receive that distribution in cash within five business days after the sale was made.

The Fund will automatically reinvest distributions in additional shares of the same share class of the Fund unless you inform us you want to receive your distributions in cash (the selling agent through which you purchased shares may have different policies). You can do this by contacting the Funds at the addresses and telephone numbers listed at the beginning of the section entitled Choosing a Share Class . No sales charges apply to the purchase or sale of such shares.

For accounts held directly with the Fund (through the Transfer Agent), distributions of $10 or less will automatically be reinvested in additional Fund shares only. If you elect to receive distributions by check and the check is returned as undeliverable, all subsequent distributions will be reinvested in additional shares of the Fund.

Unless you are a tax-exempt investor or holding Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account (such as a 401(k) plan or IRA), you should consider avoiding buying Fund shares shortly before the Fund makes a distribution (other than distributions of net investment income that are declared daily) of net investment income or net realized capital gain, because doing so can cost you money in taxes to the extent the distribution consists of taxable income or gains. This is because you will, in effect, receive part of your purchase price back in the distribution. This is known as “buying a dividend.” To avoid “buying a dividend,” before you invest check the Fund’s distribution schedule, which is available at the Funds’ website and/or by calling the Funds’ telephone number listed at the beginning of the section entitled Choosing a Share Class .

 

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Taxes

You should be aware of the following considerations applicable to all Funds (unless otherwise noted):

 

    The Fund intends to qualify and to be eligible for treatment each year as a regulated investment company. A regulated investment company generally is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company would result in Fund-level taxation, and consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to you and in the net asset value of your shares. Even if the Fund qualifies for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Fund may be subject to federal excise tax on certain undistributed income or gains.

 

    Otherwise taxable distributions generally are taxable to you when paid, whether they are paid in cash or automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares. Dividends paid in January are deemed paid on December 31 of the prior year if the dividend was declared and payable to shareholders of record in October, November, or December of such prior year.

 

    Distributions of the Fund’s ordinary income and net short-term capital gain, if any, generally are taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions of the Fund’s net long-term capital gain, if any, generally are taxable to you as long-term capital gain. Whether capital gains are long-term or short-term is determined by how long the Fund has owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long you have owned your shares.

 

    From time to time, a distribution from the Fund could constitute a return of capital, which is not taxable to you so long as the amount of the distribution does not exceed your tax basis in your Fund shares. A return of capital reduces your tax basis in your Fund shares, with any amounts exceeding such basis generally taxable as capital gain.

 

    If you are an individual and you meet certain holding period and other requirements for your Fund shares, a portion of your distributions may be treated as “qualified dividend income” taxable at the lower net long-term capital gain rates instead of the higher ordinary income rates. Qualified dividend income is income attributable to the Fund’s dividends received from certain U.S. and foreign corporations, as long as the Fund meets certain holding period and other requirements for the stock producing such dividends.

 

    Certain high-income individuals (as well as estates and trusts) are subject to a 3.8% tax on net investment income. For individuals, the 3.8% tax applies to the lesser of (1) the amount (if any) by which the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain threshold amounts or (2) the taxpayer’s “net investment income.”

Net investment income generally includes for this purpose dividends, including any capital gain dividends, paid by the Fund, and net gains recognized on the sale, redemption or exchange of shares of the Fund.

 

    Certain derivative instruments when held in the Fund’s portfolio subject the Fund to special tax rules, the effect of which may be to, among other things, accelerate income to the Fund, defer Fund losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of Fund portfolio securities, or convert capital gains into ordinary income, short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses or long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders.

 

    Certain Funds may purchase or write options, as described further in the SAI. Generally, a Fund realizes a capital gain or loss on an option when the option expires, or when it is exercised, sold or otherwise terminated. However, if an option is a “section 1256 contract,” which includes most traded options on a broad-based index, and the Fund holds such option at the end of its taxable year, the Fund is deemed to sell such option at fair market value at such time and recognize any gain or loss thereon, which is generally deemed to be 60% long-term and 40% short-term gain or loss, as described further in the SAI.

 

    Income and proceeds received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign taxes. If at the end of the taxable year more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets consists of securities of foreign corporations, and the Fund makes a special election, you will generally be required to include in your income for U.S. federal income tax purposes your share of the qualifying foreign income taxes paid by the Fund in respect of its foreign portfolio securities. You may be able to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of this amount, subject to certain limitations. There is no assurance that the Fund will make this election for a taxable year, even if it is eligible to do so.

 

    A sale, redemption or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable event. This includes redemptions where you are paid in securities. Your sales, redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares (including those paid in securities) usually will result in a taxable capital gain or loss to you, equal to the difference between the amount you receive for your shares (or are deemed to have received in the case of exchanges) and your adjusted tax basis in the shares, which is generally the amount you paid (or are deemed to have paid in the case of exchanges) for them. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Fund shares for more than one year at the time of sale or exchange. In certain circumstances, capital losses may be converted from short-term to long-term; in other circumstances, capital losses may be disallowed under the “wash sale” rules.

 

    The Fund generally is required to report to shareholders and the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) upon the sale, exchange or redemption of Fund shares cost basis information with respect to those shares. The Fund uses average cost basis as its default method of calculating cost basis. Please see columbiathreadneedle.com/us or contact the Fund at 800.345.6611 for more information regarding average cost basis reporting, other available cost basis methods and how to select or change a particular method or to choose specific shares to sell, redeem or exchange. If you hold Fund shares through a selling agent, you should contact your selling agent to learn about its cost basis reporting default method and the reporting elections available to your account.

 

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    The Fund is required by federal law to withhold tax on any taxable or tax-exempt distributions and redemption proceeds paid to you (including amounts paid to you in securities and amounts deemed to be paid to you upon an exchange of shares) if: you have not provided a correct TIN or have not certified to the Fund that withholding does not apply, the IRS has notified us that the TIN listed on your account is incorrect according to its records, or the IRS informs the Fund that you are otherwise subject to backup withholding.

 

FUNDamentals TM

Taxes

The information provided above is only a summary of how U.S. federal income taxes may affect your investment in the Fund. It is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Your investment in the Fund may have other tax implications. It does not apply to certain types of investors who may be subject to special rules, including foreign or tax-exempt investors or those holding Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA. Please see the SAI for more detailed tax information. You should consult with your own tax advisor about the particular tax consequences to you of an investment in the Fund, including the effect of any foreign, state and local taxes, and the effect of possible changes in applicable tax laws.

 

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Exhibit C

Comparison of Organizational Documents

This chart highlights material differences between the terms of the Declarations of Trust and By-Laws of the Buying Funds and Selling Funds.

 

Group A:    Selling Funds: Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V, Columbia International Value Fund, Columbia International Opportunities Fund. Buying Funds: Columbia Overseas Value Fund, Columbia Select International Equity Fund.
Group B:    Selling Fund: Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund. Buying Funds: Columbia Contrarian Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund.
Group C:    Selling Funds: Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund. Buying Fund: Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund.

 

Policy

  

Group A

  

Group B

  

Group C

Shareholder Liability   

Shareholders of the trust are protected from liability under Delaware statutory law, which provides that shareholders of a Delaware statutory trust have the same limitation of personal liability as is extended to shareholders of a private corporation for profit incorporated in the state of Delaware.

 

In addition, any shareholder or former shareholder exposed to liability by reason of a claim or demand relating solely to his or her being or having been a shareholder of the trust, and not because of his acts or omissions, the shareholder or former shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives or in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) will be entitled to be held harmless from and indemnified out of the assets of the trust against all loss and expense arising from such claim or demand.

   The shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for its obligations. However, the Declaration of Trust contains express disclaimers of shareholder liability for acts, obligations or affairs of the trust. The Declaration of Trust also provides for indemnification and reimbursement of expenses out of the assets of a series for any shareholder held personally liable for obligations of such series. Therefore, the possibility that a shareholder could be held liable would be limited to a situation in which the assets of the applicable series had been exhausted.    The shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for its obligations. However, the Declaration of Trust contains express disclaimers of shareholder liability for acts, obligations or affairs of the trust. The Declaration of Trust also provides for indemnification and reimbursement of expenses out of the assets of a series for any shareholder held personally liable for obligations of such series. Therefore, the possibility that a shareholder could be held liable would be limited to a situation in which the assets of the applicable series had been exhausted.
Shareholder Voting Rights    Shareholders have only the powers to vote on matters as the trustees may consider desirable and so authorize, and those voting powers expressly granted under the 1940 Act or under the law of Delaware applicable to statutory trusts.    At all meetings of shareholders, each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each dollar of net asset value (number of shares owned times net asset value per share) and each fractional dollar amount is entitled to a proportionate fractional vote.    Any fractional share of a series or class shall carry proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole share of that series or class, including rights with respect to voting.

 

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Group A

  

Group B

  

Group C

  

 

Shares may be voted in person or by proxy or in any manner authorized by the trustees. On any matter that requires shareholder approval under the 1940 Act, whether shareholders are required to vote by series or class is determined by reference to the 1940 Act. On all other matters, all shares are voted in the aggregate and not by series or class unless the trustees determine otherwise.

 

Each whole share is entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote, and each fractional share is entitle to a proportionate fractional vote.

 

There is no cumulative voting in the election of trustees.

  

 

The shareholders have the power to vote (i) for the election of trustees, (ii) to the same extent as shareholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the trust or shareholder, (iii) with respect to termination of the trust or any class or series of the trust, (iv) with respect to the approval or termination in accordance with the 1940 Act of any contract with any one or more corporations, trusts, associations, partnerships, limited partnerships or other types of organizations, or individuals as to which shareholder approval is required by the 1940 Act, and (v) with respect to additional matters relating to the trust as may be required by the 1940 Act, the Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws or any registration of the trust with the SEC (or any successor agency) or any state, or as the trustees may consider necessary or desirable.

 

On any matter submitted to a vote of shareholders, all shares entitled to vote will be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to series or class of shares, except that shares may be voted by individual series or classes (1) when required by the 1940 Act, (2) when the trustees have determined that the matter affects one or more series or classes of shares materially differently, or (3) when the matter affects only the interests of one or more series or classes.

  

 

The shareholders have the power to vote (i) for the election of trustees, (ii) to the same extent as shareholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the trust or shareholder, (iii) with respect to termination of the trust or any class or series of the trust, (iv) with respect to the approval or termination in accordance with the 1940 Act of any contract with any one or more corporations, trusts, associations, partnerships, limited partnerships or other types of organizations, or individuals as to which shareholder approval is required by the 1940 Act, and (v) with respect to additional matters relating to the trust as may be required by the 1940 Act, the Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws or any registration of the trust with the SEC (or any successor agency) or any state, or as the trustees may consider necessary or desirable.

 

On any matter submitted to a vote of shareholders, all shares entitled to vote will be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to series or class of shares, except that shares may be voted by individual series or classes (1) when required by the 1940 Act, (2) when the trustees have determined that the matter affects one or more series or classes of shares materially differently, or (3) when the matter affects only the interests of one or more series or classes.

 

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Group B

  

Group C

      There is no cumulative voting in the election of trustees.   

If authorized by the trustees, shareholders shall be entitled to vote cumulatively in the election of trustees.

 

Shareholder Meetings   

The trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders.

 

Shareholders have the right to call special meetings and vote to remove trustees but only if and to the extent the SEC staff takes the position by rule, interpretive letter or public release that Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act gives them such right. Otherwise, only the trustees, the chairman of the trustees or the president of the trust may call shareholder meetings.

  

The Declaration of Trust and By-Laws do not address annual shareholder meetings. Regular shareholder meetings are not required for business trusts under the General Laws of Massachusetts.

 

Shareholder meetings will be held when called by the trustees for the purpose of taking action on any matter requiring the vote or authority of the shareholders, or for any other matter the trustees deem necessary or desirable.

  

The Declaration of Trust and By-Laws do not address annual shareholder meetings. Regular shareholder meetings are not required for business trusts under the General Laws of Massachusetts.

 

Shareholder meetings will be held when called by the trustees for the purpose of taking action on any matter requiring the vote or authority of the shareholders, or for any other matter the trustees deem necessary or desirable.

Shareholder Quorum   

Except when a larger quorum is required by applicable law, thirty-three and one-third percent (33  1 / 3 %) of the shares entitled to vote constitutes a quorum at a shareholders’ meeting. When any one or more series or classes of the trust is to vote as a single class separate from any other shares, thirty-three and one-third percent (33  1 / 3 %) of the shares of each such series or classes entitled to vote constitutes a quorum at a shareholder’s meeting of that series.

 

A meeting may be adjourned, whether or not a quorum is present, by the vote of a majority of the shares represented at the meeting, either in

  

The presence in person or by proxy of 30% of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting constitutes a quorum.

 

When any one or more series or classes votes as a single class separate from any other shares which are to vote on the same matters as a separate class or classes, 30% of the votes entitled to be cast by each such class entitled to vote constitutes a quorum at a shareholders’ meeting of that class.

 

A meeting may be adjourned by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned within a reasonable

  

The presence in person or by proxy of 10% of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting constitutes a quorum.

 

When any one or more series or classes votes as a single class separate from any other shares which are to vote on the same matters as a separate class or classes, 10% of the votes entitled to be cast by each such class entitled to vote constitutes a quorum at a shareholders’ meeting of that class.

 

A meeting may be adjourned by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned within a reasonable

 

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Policy

  

Group A

  

Group B

  

Group C

  

person or by proxy. If a meeting is adjourned, notice does not need to be given of the adjourned meeting date unless a new record date for the adjourned meeting is set or unless the adjourned meeting is to take place more than sixty (60) days from the date set for the original meeting, in which case the board of trustees would be required to set a new record date.

 

   time after the date set for the original meeting without further notice.    time after the date set for the original meeting without further notice.
Shareholder Consent    Any action taken by shareholders may be taken without a meeting if shareholders holding a majority of the shares entitled to vote on the matter and holding a majority of the shares of any series or class entitled to vote separately on the matter consent to the action in writing and such written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of shareholders. Such consent is treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of shareholders.    Except as otherwise provided by law, the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a majority of the shareholders entitled to vote consent to the action in writing and the consents are filed with the records of the trust. The consent will be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of shareholders.    Except as otherwise provided by law, the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a majority of the shareholders entitled to vote consent to the action in writing and the consents are filed with the records of the trust. The consent will be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of shareholders.
Notice to Shareholders of Record Date   

Notice of any meeting of shareholders must be given by the trustees, chairman of the trustees or president not less than 7 days nor more than 120 days before the date of the meeting.

 

The trustees may set a record date for the

  

Written notice of any meeting of shareholders must be given by the trustees at least 7 days before the meeting.

 

The trustees may set a record date for the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of or

  

Written notice of any meeting of shareholders must be given by the trustees at least 7 days before the meeting.

 

The trustees may set a record date for the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of or

 

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Policy

  

Group A

  

Group B

  

Group C

  

purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to vote or act at a shareholders’ meeting. The record date cannot be more than 120 days before the date of the meeting.

 

   to vote at a shareholder meeting. The record date cannot be more than 90 days or less than 7 days before the date of the meeting.    to vote at a shareholder meeting. The record date cannot be more than 90 days or less than 7 days before the date of the meeting.
Shareholder Proxies   

Shareholders may vote in person or by proxy.

 

Unless the trustees declare otherwise, proxies may be given by any electronic or telecommunications device, including telefacsimile, telephone or through the Internet, but if a proposal by anyone other than the officers or trustees is submitted to a vote of the shareholders of any series or class, or if there is a proxy contest or proxy solicitation or proposal in opposition to any proposal by the officers or trustees, shares may be voted only in person or by written proxy unless the trustees specifically authorize other permissible methods of transmission.

 

The trustees may appoint inspectors for any meeting of shareholders, and these inspectors are charged with, among other things, determining the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies.

  

Shareholders may vote in person or by proxy.

 

A proxy with respect to shares held in the name of two or more persons will be valid if executed by any one of them unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a shareholder will be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity rests on the challenger.

  

Shareholders may vote in person or by proxy.

 

A proxy with respect to shares held in the name of two or more persons will be valid if executed by any one of them unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a shareholder will be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity rests on the challenger.

 

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Group A

  

Group B

  

Group C

Shareholder Demand Procedure          If a meeting of shareholders has not been held during the immediately preceding fifteen (15) months for the purpose of electing trustees, a shareholder or shareholders holding three percent (3%) or more of the voting power of all shares entitled to vote may demand a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing trustees by written notice of demand given to the trustees. Within thirty (30) days after receipt of such demand, the trustees shall call and give notice of a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing trustees. If the trustees shall fail to call such meeting or give notice thereof, then the shareholder or shareholders making the demand may call and give notice of such meeting at the expense of the trust. The trustees shall promptly call and give notice of a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon removal of any trustee of the trust when requested to do so in writing by shareholders holding not less than ten percent (10%) of the shares then outstanding. If the trustees shall fail to call or give notice of any meeting of

 

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Policy

  

Group A

  

Group B

  

Group C

        

shareholders for a period of thirty (30) days after written application by shareholders holding at least ten percent (10%) of the shares then outstanding requesting that a meeting be called for any purpose requiring action by the shareholders as provided in the Declaration of Trust or the By-laws, then shareholders holding at least ten percent (10%) of the shares then outstanding may call and give notice of such meeting.

 

Trustee Power to Amend Organizational Document    The trustees may, without shareholder vote, amend or otherwise supplement the Declaration of Trust; provided that shareholders have the right to vote on any amendment if expressly required under Delaware law or the 1940 Act, or submitted to shareholders by the trustees at their discretion.   

The trustees may amend the Declaration of Trust at any time by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then trustees provided that notice of such amendment is transmitted promptly to shareholders of record.

 

The trustees need not, however, provide notice of an amendment if the amendment is for the purpose of supplying an omission, curing any ambiguity or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision contained in the Declaration of Trust, or having any other purpose which is ministerial or clerical in nature.

  

The trustees may amend the Declaration of Trust at any time by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then trustees provided that notice of such amendment is transmitted promptly to shareholders of record.

 

The trustees need not, however, provide notice of an amendment if the amendment is for the purpose of supplying an omission, curing any ambiguity or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision contained in the Declaration of Trust, or having any other purpose which is ministerial or clerical in nature.

 

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Group A

  

Group B

  

Group C

Termination of Trust    The trust and any series thereof may be terminated at any time by the board of trustees with written notice to shareholders. To the extent the 1940 Act expressly allows shareholders the power to vote on such terminations, the trust or any series thereof may be terminated by a vote of a majority of shares entitled to vote.   

The trust may be terminated by the trustees with written notice to shareholders, or by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the shares of each series entitled to vote.

 

Any series of or class may be terminated by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the shares of that series or class, or by the trustees by written notice to the shareholders of that series or class.

 

  

The trust may be terminated by the trustees with written notice to shareholders, or by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the shares of each series entitled to vote.

 

Any series of or class may be terminated by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the shares of that series or class, or by the trustees by written notice to the shareholders of that series or class.

 

Merger or Consolidation    The trustees have the power to cause the trust or any series to be merged or consolidated with another trust or company. The trustees may accomplish such merger or consolidation with written notice to shareholders but without the vote of shareholders, unless such shareholder vote is required by law.    Subject to applicable laws, the trustees may, without shareholder consent, cause the trust or any series to be merged or consolidated with another trust or company. The trustees may also transfer all or a substantial portion of the trust’s assets to another fund or company.    Subject to applicable laws, the trustees may, without shareholder consent, cause the trust or any series to be merged or consolidated with another trust or company. The trustees may also transfer all or a substantial portion of the trust’s assets to another fund or company.
Removal of Trustees   

A trustee may be removed with or without cause at any time by a written instrument signed by at least two-thirds of the other trustees.

 

In addition, if required by Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act, any trustee may be removed at any meeting of the shareholders by a vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares.

   Trustees may be removed with or without cause by majority vote of the trustees.    Trustees may be removed with or without cause by majority vote of the trustees.

 

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Group A

  

Group B

  

Group C

Trustee Committees   

The trust has two standing committees that may not be abolished: the Audit Committee and the Nominating Committee. Otherwise, the trustees may, with a majority vote of the trustees, appoint from their number other committees consisting of two or more trustees which may be delegated such authority as the trustees consider desirable. The trustees may also abolish the non-standing committees with a majority vote of the trustees.

 

Each committee may elect a chair and each committee must maintain records of its meetings and report its actions to the full board of trustees.

 

A majority of the authorized number of committee members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of such committee, unless the board of trustees designates a lower percentage.

   The trustees may appoint from their own number and terminate committees consisting of one or more trustees, which may exercise the powers and authority of the trustees to the extent that the trustees determine.    The trustees may appoint from their own number and terminate committees consisting of one or more trustees, which may exercise the powers and authority of the trustees to the extent that the trustees determine, provided, that an Executive Committee designated by the trustees shall not be empowered to elect the president or the treasurer, to amend the By-laws, to designate, alter or abolish any committee designated by the trustees, or to perform any act for which the action of a majority of the trustees is required by law, by the Declaration of Trust or the By-laws.
Trustee Liability    Trustees will be liable to the trust by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the trustee’s office.    Trustees are not subject to personal liability, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of trustee. Additionally, trustees    Trustees are not subject to personal liability, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of trustee. Additionally, trustees

 

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Group A

  

Group B

  

Group C

     

are not personally liable for any neglect or wrong-doing of any officer, agent, or employee of the trust or for any act or omission of any other trustee.

 

Trustees that are singled out as experts on particular issues, such as a chair of a committee, are not held to any higher standard than their non-expert counterparts.

 

  

are not personally liable for any neglect or wrong-doing of any officer, agent, or employee of the trust or for any act or omission of any other trustee.

 

Trustees that are singled out as experts on particular issues, such as a chair of a committee, are not held to any higher standard than their non-expert counterparts.

 

Trustee Indemnification    The trust indemnifies the trustees against expenses, judgments, fines and settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any civil or criminal proceeding or investigations, if it is determined that the trustee acted in good faith and reasonably believed 1) that his or her conduct was in the trust’s best interests, and 2) that his or her conduct was at least not opposed to the trust’s best interests, and 3) in the case of a criminal proceeding, that he or she had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful.   

The trust indemnifies each of its trustees against all liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with the defense of any civil or criminal suit or action, except with respect to any matter (i) as to which a trustee is finally adjudicated in any such action or proceeding not to have acted in good faith in reasonable belief that such trustee’s action was in the best interests of the trust; or (ii) where the trustee acted in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such trustee’s office.

 

Expenses, including counsel fees, so

   Each person made or threatened to be made a party to or who is involved (including, without limitation, as a witness) in any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitration, or investigative, including a proceeding by or in the right of the trust by reason of the former or present capacity as a trustee of the trust or who, while a trustee of the trust, is or was serving at the request of the trust or whose duties as a trustee involve or involved service as a director, officer, partner, trustee or agent of another organization or employee benefit plan whether the basis of any proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity or in any capacity while serving as a director,

 

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Policy

  

Group A

  

Group B

  

Group C

  

A trustee will not, however, be indemnified 1) with respect to any matters where the trustee is judged to be liable on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received, whether or not the benefit resulted from action taken in that trustee’s official capacity, 2) with respect to any matter where the trustee is judged to be liable in the performance of his or her duty to the trust unless the adjudicator determines that the trustee was not liable as the result of conduct in (1) above and that the trustee is fairly entitled to indemnification, and 3) with respect to amounts paid to settle or dispose of an action with or without court approval unless a) approved by a majority vote of a quorum of trustees who are not parties and are disinterested persons, or b) a written opinion of counsel is obtained.

 

Expenses incurred in defending any proceeding may be advanced by the trust before the final disposition of a proceeding upon a written undertaking by the trustee to repay the amount advanced if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to

   incurred by any such trustee (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties) will be paid from time to time by the trust in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such trustee to repay amounts so paid to the trust if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under the By-Laws, provided, however, that either (a) such trustee shall have provided appropriate security for such undertaking, (b) the trust shall be insured against losses arising from any such advance payments, or (c) either a majority of the disinterested trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the disinterested trustees then in office act on the matter), or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, will have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts, that there is reason to believe that such trustee will be found entitled to indemnification under the By-Laws.   

officer, partner, trustee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the trust to the full extent authorized by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts; provided, however, that in an action brought against the trust to enforce rights to indemnification, the trustee shall be indemnified only if the action was authorized by the board of trustees of the trust.

 

This right to indemnification shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the trust in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding for expenses incurred in connection therewith provided, however, such payment of expenses shall be made only upon receipt of a written undertaking by the trustee or officer to repay all amounts so paid if it is ultimately determined that the trustee or officer is not entitled to indemnification.

 

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Policy

  

Group A

  

Group B

  

Group C

   indemnification, together with at least one of the following conditions to the advance: 1) security for the undertaking, 2) the existence of insurance protecting the trust against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or 3) a determination by a majority of a quorum of the trustees who are not parties to the proceeding and are not interested persons of the trust, or by an independent legal counsel, based on a review of the readily available facts that there is reason to believe that the trustee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.      
Dividends    The trustees may declare and pay dividends and distributions to shareholders of each series from the assets of such series.   

Dividends and distributions may be paid to shareholders from the trust’s net income with the frequency as the trustees may determine.

 

  

Dividends and distributions may be paid to shareholders from the trust’s net income with the frequency as the trustees may determine.

 

Capitalization    The beneficial interest in the trust shall at all times be divided into an unlimited number of shares, without par value.    The beneficial interest in the trust shall at all times be divided into an unlimited number of shares without par value.    The beneficial interest in the trust shall at all times be divided into an unlimited number of shares without par value.
Number of Trustees and Vacancies    The number of trustees may be fixed by the trustees from time to time by a written instrument signed, or a resolution approved at a duly constituted meeting, by a majority of the trustees.    The trustees may fix the number of trustees, fill vacancies in the trustees, including vacancies arising from an increase in the number of trustees, or remove trustees with or without cause.    The trustees may fix the number of trustees, fill vacancies in the trustees, including vacancies arising from an increase in the number of trustees, or remove trustees with or without cause.

 

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Group A

  

Group B

  

Group C

  

Provided, however, that the number of trustees cannot be fewer than 1 or more than 15.

 

Vacancies in the board of trustees may be filled by a majority of the remaining trustees, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining trustee, unless the trustees call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing trustees. In the event that at any time less than a majority of the trustees holding office at that time were so elected by shareholders, the board of trustees will hold a shareholders’ meeting within 60 days for the election of trustees to fill such vacancies on the board.

 

  

Shareholders may fix the number of trustees and elect trustees at any meeting of shareholders called by the trustees for that purpose and to the extent required by applicable law, including paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 16 of the 1940 Act.

 

Each trustee serves during the continued lifetime of the trust until he or she dies, resigns or is removed, or, if sooner, until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing trustees and until the election and qualification of his or her successor.

  

Shareholders may elect trustees at any meeting of shareholders called by the trustees for that purpose and to the extent required by applicable law, including paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 16 of the 1940 Act.

 

Each trustee serves during the continued lifetime of the trust until he or she dies, resigns or is removed, or, if sooner, until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing trustees and until the election and qualification of his or her successor.

Independent Chair of the Board    The Declaration of Trust does not require an independent chair of the board of trustees.    The Declaration of Trust and By-Laws do not require an independent chair of the board of trustees.    The By-Laws require an independent chair of the board of trustees.
Inspection of Books and Records    The original or a copy of the Declaration of Trust, and of each amendment thereto, is kept at the office of the trust where it may be inspected by any shareholder.   

The original or a copy of the Declaration of Trust, and of each amendment thereto, is kept at the office of the trust where it may be inspected by any shareholder.

 

  

The original or a copy of the Declaration of Trust, and of each amendment thereto, is kept at the office of the trust where it may be inspected by any shareholder.

 

Involuntary Redemption of Accounts    The trustees may redeem, repurchase and transfer shares pursuant to applicable law.    The trust has the right at its option and at any time to redeem shares of any shareholder at the net asset value thereof: (i) if at such time such shareholder owns shares of any    The trust has the right at its option and at any time to redeem shares of any shareholder at the net asset value thereof: (i) if at such time such shareholder owns shares of any

 

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Policy

  

Group A

  

Group B

  

Group C

      series or class having an aggregate net asset value of less than an amount determined from time to time by the trustees; or (ii) to the extent that such shareholder owns shares equal to or in excess of a percentage determined from time to time by the trustees of the outstanding shares of the trust or of any series or class.    series or class having an aggregate net asset value of less than an amount determined from time to time by the trustees; or (ii) to the extent that such shareholder owns shares equal to or in excess of a percentage determined from time to time by the trustees of the outstanding shares of the trust or of any series or class.

 

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EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT

 

  EASY VOTING OPTIONS:
 

 

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VOTE IN PERSON

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225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA

10:00 AM

on April 15, 2016

Please detach at perforation before mailing.

 

  COLUMBIA FUNDS   PROXY
  SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS  
  TO BE HELD ON APRIL 15, 2016  

The undersigned shareholder of the Fund or Funds named below hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Special Meeting and Proxy Statement for the special meeting of shareholders (for each Fund and the Trust as a whole, including any postponements or adjournments thereof, the “Meeting”) to be held at 10:00 AM Eastern Time, on April 15, 2016, at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA (32nd Floor, Room 3200), and, revoking any previous proxies, hereby appoints Christopher O. Petersen, Michael G. Clarke, Paul B. Goucher, Keith E. Stone, Julian Quero, Ryan C. Larrenaga, and Joseph D’Alessandro (the “Proxies”) (or any of them) as proxies for the undersigned, with full power of substitution in each of them, to attend the Meeting and to cast on behalf of the undersigned all the votes the undersigned is entitled to cast at the Meeting and otherwise represent the undersigned at the Meeting with all the powers possessed by the undersigned as if personally present at the Meeting.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Mark, sign, date and return this proxy card as soon as possible.

 

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  Note : Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on this proxy card, and date it. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing in a representative capacity, please give title.
 

 

  Signature and Title, if applicable  
 

 

  Signature (if held jointly)  
 

 

  Date           COL_27405_121815

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED ABOVE.


Table of Contents

EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

Shareholder Meeting to be Held on April 15, 2016.

This Proxy Statement and the Notice of Special Meeting are available at:

https://www.proxy-direct.com/col-27405

IF YOU VOTE ON THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE,

YOU NEED NOT RETURN THIS PROXY CARD

 

FUNDS

   FUNDS    FUNDS

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund

   Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV

   Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V    Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

Columbia International Value Fund

   Columbia International Opportunities Fund   

Please detach at perforation before mailing.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSALS LISTED BELOW. THIS PROXY CARD, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED BELOW AND, ABSENT DIRECTION, WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSALS LISTED BELOW. THE PROXIES ARE ALSO AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS OR POSTPONEMENTS THEREOF, INCLUDING ANY ADJOURNMENT(S) NECESSARY TO OBTAIN QUORUMS AND/OR APPROVALS.

PLEASE MARK BOXES BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS. Example:    ¢

 

1.     To approve and Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund and Columbia Contrarian Core Fund.

   FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN            
Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund    ¨    ¨    ¨            

2.     To approve and Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund.

   FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN       FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN
01 Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II    ¨    ¨    ¨    02 Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III    ¨    ¨    ¨
03 Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV    ¨    ¨    ¨    04 Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V    ¨    ¨    ¨

3.     To approve and Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund and Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund.

   FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN            
Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund    ¨    ¨    ¨            

4.     To approve and Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between Columbia International Value Fund and Columbia Overseas Value Fund.

   FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN            
Columbia International Value Fund    ¨    ¨    ¨            

5.     To approve and Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between Columbia International Opportunities Fund and Columbia Select International Equity Fund.

   FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN            
Columbia International Opportunities Fund    ¨    ¨    ¨            

EVERY VOTE IS IMPORTANT! PLEASE VOTE TODAY USING ONE OF THE FOUR AVAILABLE OPTIONS!

COL_27405_121815


Table of Contents

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

[Date, 2016]

This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) relates to the following proposed reorganizations (the “Reorganizations”):

 

  1. Reorganization of Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust I (a “Selling Fund”) into Columbia Contrarian Core Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust I (a “Buying Fund”).

 

  2. Reorganization of each of Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (formerly, Columbia Marsico 21st Century Fund), Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (formerly, Columbia Marsico Focused Equities Fund), Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (formerly, Columbia Marsico Growth Fund), each a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust, and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (formerly, Columbia Marsico Flexible Capital Fund), a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust II (each a “Selling Fund”) into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust I (a “Buying Fund”).

 

  3. Reorganization of Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust II (a “Selling Fund”) into Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust II (a “Buying Fund”).

 

  4. Reorganization of Columbia International Value Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust (a “Selling Fund”), into Columbia Overseas Value Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust (a “Buying Fund”).

 

  5. Reorganization of Columbia International Opportunities Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust (a “Selling Fund”) into Columbia Select International Equity Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust (a “Buying Fund”).

This SAI contains information which may be of interest to shareholders of the Selling Funds but which is not included in the combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus dated [[Date, 2016]] (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) which relates to the Reorganizations. As described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the Reorganizations would involve the transfer of all the assets of each Selling Fund in exchange for shares of the Buying Fund and the assumption of all the liabilities of each Selling Fund by the Buying Fund. Each Selling Fund would distribute the Buying Fund shares it receives to its shareholders in complete liquidation of each Selling Fund. This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. The Proxy Statement/Prospectus has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is available upon request and without charge by writing to the Buying Funds at c/o Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., P.O. Box 8081, Boston, MA 02266-8081, or by calling 800.345.6611.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Additional Information About Each Buying Fund

     1   

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms

     1   

Financial Statements

     1   

Appendix A – Statement of Additional Information of Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, Columbia Overseas Value Fund and Columbia Select International Equity Fund

     A-1   

Appendix B – Pro forma financial statements of Columbia Contrarian Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, Columbia Overseas Value Fund and Columbia Select International Equity Fund

     B-1   

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT EACH BUYING FUND

Attached hereto as Appendix A is the Statement of Additional Information of Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, Columbia Overseas Value Fund and Columbia Select International Equity Fund dated December 1, 2015.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMS

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, located at 225 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402, is the independent registered public accounting firm for Columbia Contrarian Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, Columbia Overseas Value Fund and Columbia Select International Equity Fund, providing audit and tax return review services and assistance and consultation in connection with the review of various Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Financial Highlights and Financial Statements included in Columbia Contrarian Core Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015; the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Financial Highlights and Financial Statements included in Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2015; the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Financial Highlights and Financial Statements included in Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015; the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Financial Highlights and Financial Statements included in Columbia Overseas Value Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2015; and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Financial Highlights and Financial Statements included in Columbia Select International Equity Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2015 are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

The audited financial statements for Columbia Contrarian Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, Columbia Overseas Value Fund and Columbia Select International Equity Fund included in their respective Annual Reports to Shareholders and incorporated by reference into this SAI have been so included and incorporated in reliance upon the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, given on their authority as experts in auditing and accounting. The audited financial statements for Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V, Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund, Columbia International Value Fund and Columbia International Opportunities Fund incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus have been so included and incorporated in reliance upon the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, given on their authority as experts in auditing and accounting.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Pro forma financial statements of the Buying Funds for the Reorganizations are attached hereto as Appendix B.

 

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Appendix A – Statement of Additional Information of Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, Columbia Overseas Value Fund and Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

A-1


Table of Contents
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
December 1, 2015
Columbia Funds Series Trust
Columbia AMT-Free California Intermediate Muni
Bond Fund
Class A: NACMX Class B: CCIBX Class C: CCICX
Class R4: CCMRX Class R5: CNBRX Class Z: NCMAX
Columbia AMT-Free Georgia Intermediate Muni
Bond Fund
Class A: NGIMX Class B: NGITX Class C: NGINX
Class R4: CGIMX Class Z: NGAMX  
Columbia AMT-Free Maryland Intermediate Muni
Bond Fund
Class A: NMDMX Class B: NMITX Class C: NMINX
Class R4: CMDMX Class Z: NMDBX  
Columbia AMT-Free North Carolina Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Class A: NNCIX Class B: NNITX Class C: NNINX
Class R4: CNCEX Class Z: NNIBX  
Columbia AMT-Free South Carolina Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Class A: NSCIX Class B: NISCX Class C: NSICX
Class R4: CSICX Class Z: NSCMX  
Columbia AMT-Free Virginia Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Class A: NVAFX Class B: NVANX Class C: NVRCX
Class R4: CAIVX Class Z: NVABX  
Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate
Aggressive Portfolio
Class A: NBIAX Class B: NLBBX Class C: NBICX
Class K: CAMKX Class R: CLBRX Class R4: CGBRX
Class R5: CLHRX Class T: CGGTX Class Y: CPHNX
Class Z: NBGPX    
Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate
Conservative Portfolio
Class A: NLGAX Class B: NLIBX Class C: NIICX
Class K: CCAKX Class R: CLIRX Class R4: CHWRX
Class R5: CLRRX Class Y: CPDGX Class Z: NIPAX
Columbia Convertible Securities Fund
Class A: PACIX Class B: NCVBX Class C: PHIKX
Class I: CCSIX Class R: CVBRX Class R4: COVRX
Class R5: COCRX Class W: CVBWX Class Y: CSFYX
Class Z: NCIAX    
Columbia Global Strategic Equity Fund
Class A: NLGIX Class B: NLGBX Class C: NLGCX
Class K: CGRUX Class R: CLGRX Class R4: CWPRX
Class R5: CGPRX Class Z: NGPAX  
Columbia International Opportunities Fund
Class A: MAIOX Class B: MBIOX Class C: MCIOX
Class I: CMOIX Class R: CMORX Class R4: CLFRX
Class Z: NMOAX    
Columbia International Value Fund
Class A: NIVLX Class B: NBIVX Class C: NVICX
Class I: CVLIX Class R: CIVRX Class R4: CVFRX
Class R5: CLVRX Class Z: EMIEX  
Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund
Class A: NMIAX Class I: CCEIX Class R: CCERX
Class R4: CECFX Class R5: CLNCX Class Y: CECYX
Class Z: NMIMX    
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II
Class A: NMTAX Class B: NMTBX Class C: NMYCX
Class R: CMTRX Class R4: CTFRX Class R5: CADQX
Class Z: NMYAX    
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III
Class A: NFEAX Class B: NFEBX Class C: NFECX
Class I: CMRIX Class R4: CSFRX Class R5: CADRX
Class Z: NFEPX    
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V
Class A: NMGIX Class B: NGIBX Class C: NMICX
Class I: CMWIX Class R: CMWRX Class R4: CWSRX
Class R5: CTGRX Class W: CMSWX Class Z: NGIPX
Columbia Large Cap Index Fund
Class A: NEIAX Class B: CLIBX Class I: CCXIX
Class R5: CLXRX Class Z: NINDX  
Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund
Class A: NTIAX Class I: CIDIX Class R5: CPXRX
Class Z: NMPAX    
Columbia Mid Cap Value Fund
Class A: CMUAX Class B: CMUBX Class C: CMUCX
Class I: CMVUX Class K: CMUFX Class R: CMVRX
Class R4: CFDRX Class R5: CVERX Class W: CMUWX
Class Y: CMVYX Class Z: NAMAX  
Columbia Overseas Value Fund
Class A: COAVX Class B: COBVX Class C: COCVX
Class I: COVIX Class K: COKVX Class R: —
Class R4: COSVX Class R5: COSSX Class W: COVWX
Class Y: COSYX Class Z: COSZX  
Columbia Select Global Growth Fund
Class A: COGAX Class C: COGCX Class R: COGRX
Class R4: CADHX Class R5: CADIX Class Z: COGZX
Columbia Select International Equity Fund
Class A: NIIAX Class B: NIENX Class C: NITRX
Class I: CUAIX Class K: CMEFX Class R: CIERX
Class R4: CQYRX Class R5: CQQRX Class W: CMAWX
Class Y: CMIYX Class Z: NIEQX  
Columbia Select Large Cap Equity Fund
Class A: NSGAX Class B: NSIBX Class C: NSGCX
Class I: CLPIX Class R5: CLCRX Class W: CLCWX
Class Z: NSEPX    
Columbia Short Term Bond Fund
Class A: NSTRX Class B: NSTFX Class C: NSTIX
Class I: CTMIX Class K: CBRFX Class R: CSBRX
Class R4: CMDRX Class R5: CCBRX Class W: CSBWX
Class Y: CSBYX Class Z: NSTMX  
Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund
Class A: NSMMX Class B: NSMNX Class C: NSMUX
Class R4: CSMTX Class R5: CNNRX Class Z: NSMIX
Columbia Small Cap Index Fund
Class A: NMSAX Class B: CIDBX Class I: CSIIX
Class K: CIDUX Class R5: CXXRX Class W: CSMWX
Class Z: NMSCX    
Columbia Small Cap Value Fund II
Class A: COVAX Class B: COVBX Class C: COVCX
Class I: CSLIX Class R: CCTRX Class R4: CLURX
Class R5: CRRRX Class Y: CRRYX Class Z: NSVAX


Table of Contents
Columbia Funds Series Trust II
Active Portfolios ® Multi-Manager Value Fund
Class A: CDEIX    
Columbia Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund
Class A: RARAX Class B: CARBX Class C: RARCX
Class I: RVAIX Class R4: CARCX Class R5: COUIX
Class W: RACWX Class Y: CABYX Class Z: CACZX
Columbia AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
Class A: INTAX Class B: ITEBX Class C: RTCEX
Class R4: CATRX Class R5: CADNX Class Z: CATZX
Columbia Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund
Class A: CAJAX Class C: CAJCX Class I: CAPIX
Class R: CAJRX Class R5: TAPRX Class Z: CAJZX
Columbia Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio
Class A: AXBAX Class B: AXPBX Class C: RBGCX
Class K: CAGRX Class R: CPARX Class R4: CPDAX
Class R5: CPANX Class Y: CPDIX Class Z: CPAZX
Columbia Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio
Class A: ABDAX Class B: ABBDX Class C: RPCCX
Class K: CPVRX Class R: CBVRX Class R4: CPCYX
Class R5: CPAOX Class Y: CPDHX Class Z: CBVZX
Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio
Class A: ABUAX Class B: AURBX Class C: AMTCX
Class K: CBRRX Class R: CBMRX Class R4: CPCZX
Class R5: CPAMX Class Y: CPDMX Class Z: CBMZX
Columbia Commodity Strategy Fund
Class A: CCSAX Class C: CCSCX Class I: CCIYX
Class R: CCSRX Class R4: CCOMX Class R5: CADLX
Class W: CCSWX Class Y: CCFYX Class Z: CCSZX
Columbia Diversified Equity Income Fund
Class A: INDZX Class B: IDEBX Class C: ADECX
Class I: ADIIX Class K: IDQYX Class R: RDEIX
Class R4: RDERX Class R5: RSEDX Class W: CDEWX
Class Y: CDEYX Class Z: CDVZX  
Columbia Dividend Opportunity Fund
Class A: INUTX Class B: IUTBX Class C: ACUIX
Class I: RSOIX Class K: RSORX Class R: RSOOX
Class R4: CDORX Class R5: RSDFX Class W: CDOWX
Class Y: CDOYX Class Z: CDOZX  
Columbia Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Class A: REBAX Class B: CMBBX Class C: REBCX
Class I: RSMIX Class K: CMKRX Class R: CMBRX
Class R4: CEBSX Class R5: CEBRX Class W: REMWX
Class Y: CEBYX Class Z: CMBZX  
Columbia European Equity Fund
Class A: AXEAX Class B: AEEBX Class C: REECX
Class I: CEEIX Class K: CEQRX Class R4: CADJX
Class R5: CADKX Class W: CEEWX Class Z: CEEZX
Columbia Flexible Capital Income Fund
Class A: CFIAX Class C: CFIGX Class I: CFIIX
Class R: CFIRX Class R4: CFCRX Class R5: CFXRX
Class W: CFIWX Class Z: CFIZX  
Columbia Floating Rate Fund
Class A: RFRAX Class B: RSFBX Class C: RFRCX
Class I: RFRIX Class K: CFERX Class R: CFRRX
Class R4: CFLRX Class R5: RFRFX Class W: RFRWX
Class Y: CFRYX Class Z: CFRZX  
Columbia Global Bond Fund
Class A: IGBFX Class B: IGLOX Class C: AGBCX
Class I: AGBIX Class K: RGBRX Class R: RBGRX
Class W: RGBWX Class Y: CGBYX Class Z: CGBZX
Columbia Global Equity Value Fund
Class A: IEVAX Class B: INEGX Class C: REVCX
Class I: CEQIX Class K: AEVYX Class R: REVRX
Class R4: RSEVX Class R5: RSEYX Class W: CEVWX
Class Y: CEVYX Class Z: CEVZX  
Columbia Global Infrastructure Fund
Class A: RRIAX Class B: RRIBX Class C: RRICX
Class I: RRIIX Class K: RRIYX Class R: RRIRX
Class R4: CRRIX Class R5: RRIZX Class Z: CRIZX
Columbia Global Opportunities Fund
Class A: IMRFX Class B: IMRBX Class C: RSSCX
Class K: IDRYX Class R: CSARX Class R4: CSDRX
Class R5: CLNRX Class W: CGOPX Class Z: CSAZX
Columbia High Yield Bond Fund
Class A: INEAX Class B: IEIBX Class C: APECX
Class I: RSHIX Class K: RSHYX Class R: CHBRX
Class R4: CYLRX Class R5: RSHRX Class W: RHYWX
Class Y: CHYYX Class Z: CHYZX  
Columbia Income Builder Fund
Class A: RBBAX Class B: RBBBX Class C: RBBCX
Class K: CIPRX Class R: CBURX Class R4: CNMRX
Class R5: CKKRX Class W: CINDX Class Z: CBUZX
Columbia Income Opportunities Fund
Class A: AIOAX Class B: AIOBX Class C: RIOCX
Class I: AOPIX Class K: COPRX Class R: CIORX
Class R4: CPPRX Class R5: CEPRX Class W: CIOWX
Class Y: CIOYX Class Z: CIOZX  
Columbia Inflation Protected Securities Fund
Class A: APSAX Class B: APSBX Class C: RIPCX
Class I: AIPIX Class K: CISRX Class R: RIPRX
Class R5: CFSRX Class W: RIPWX Class Z: CIPZX
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV
Class A: CCMAX Class C: CCFCX Class I: CFCIX
Class R: CCFRX Class R4: CMECX Class R5: CTXRX
Class Z: CCMZX    
Columbia Large Core Quantitative Fund*
Class A: AQEAX Class B: AQEBX Class C: RDCEX
Class I: ALEIX Class K: RQEYX Class R: CLQRX
Class R4: CLCQX Class R5: RSIPX Class W: RDEWX
Class Y: CCQYX Class Z: CCRZX  
Columbia Large Growth Quantitative Fund*
Class A: RDLAX Class B: CGQBX Class C: RDLCX
Class I: RDLIX Class K: RDLFX Class R: CGQRX
Class R4: CGQFX Class R5: CQURX Class W: RDLWX
Class Y: CGQYX Class Z: CLQZX  
Columbia Large Value Quantitative Fund*
Class A: RLCAX Class B: CVQBX Class C: RDCCX
Class I: CLQIX Class K: RLCYX Class R: RLCOX
Class R4: COLEX Class R5: COLVX Class T: CVQTX
Class W: RLCWX Class Y: COLYX Class Z: CVQZX
Columbia Limited Duration Credit Fund
Class A: ALDAX Class B: ALDBX Class C: RDCLX
Class I: ALDIX Class K: CLDRX Class R4: CDLRX
Class R5: CTLRX Class W: RLDWX Class Y: CLDYX
Class Z: CLDZX    
Columbia Minnesota Tax-Exempt Fund
Class A: IMNTX Class B: IDSMX Class C: RMTCX
Class R4: CLONX Class R5: CADOX Class Z: CMNZX
Columbia Money Market Fund
Class A: IDSXX Class B: ACBXX Class C: RCCXX
Class I: RCIXX Class R: RVRXX Class R5: CMRXX
Class W: RCWXX Class Z: IDYXX  
Columbia Mortgage Opportunities Fund
Class A: CLMAX Class C: CLMCX Class I: CLMIX
Class R4: CLMFX Class R5: CLMVX Class W: CLMWX
Class Z: CLMZX    
Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund
Class A: ASVAX Class B: ASVBX Class C: APVCX
Class I: CAVIX Class K: RSGLX Class R: RSVTX
Class R4: RSVRX Class R5: RSCVX Class Y: CMAYX
Class Z: CMAZX    
Columbia Select Global Equity Fund
Class A: IGLGX Class B: IDGBX Class C: RGCEX
Class I: CGEIX Class K: IDGYX Class R: CGERX
Class R5: RGERX Class W: CGEWX Class Z: CGEZX


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Columbia Select Large-Cap Value Fund
Class A: SLVAX Class B: SLVBX Class C: SVLCX
Class I: CLVIX Class K: SLVTX Class R: SLVRX
Class R4: CSERX Class R5: SLVIX Class W: CSVWX
Class Y: CSRYX Class Z: CSVZX  
Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund
Class A: SSCVX Class B: SSCBX Class C: SVMCX
Class I: CSSIX Class K: SSLRX Class R: SSVRX
Class R4: CSPRX Class R5: SSVIX Class Y: CSSYX
Class Z: CSSZX    
Columbia Seligman Communications and
Information Fund
Class A: SLMCX Class B: SLMBX Class C: SCICX
Class I: CSFIX Class K: SCIFX Class R: SCIRX
Class R4: SCIOX Class R5: SCMIX Class Z: CCIZX
Columbia Seligman Global Technology Fund
Class A: SHGTX Class B: SHTBX Class C: SHTCX
Class I: CSYIX Class K: SGTSX Class R: SGTRX
Class R4: CCHRX Class R5: SGTTX Class Z: CSGZX
Columbia Small/Mid Cap Value Fund
Class A: AMVAX Class B: AMVBX Class C: AMVCX
Class I: RMCIX Class K: RMCVX Class R: RMVTX
Class R4: RMCRX Class R5: RSCMX Class W: CVOWX
Class Y: CPHPX Class Z: CMOZX  
Columbia U.S. Government Mortgage Fund
Class A: AUGAX Class B: AUGBX Class C: AUGCX
Class I: RVGIX Class K: RSGYX Class R4: CUVRX
Class R5: CGVRX Class W: CGMWX Class Y: CUGYX
Class Z: CUGZX    
* Effective December 21, 2015, each Fund’s name will change as follows: from Columbia Large Core Quantitative Fund to Columbia Disciplined Core Fund, from Columbia Large Growth Quantitative Fund to Columbia Disciplined Growth Fund, and from Columbia Large Value Quantitative Fund to Columbia Disciplined Value Fund. Throughout this SAI, each of these Funds is referred to using the name that will be effective December 21, 2015.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, references herein to “each Fund”, “the Funds”, “a Fund” or “Funds” refers to each Fund listed above.
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus, is not a substitute for reading any prospectus and is intended to be read in conjunction with each Fund’s current prospectus (as amended or supplemented), the date of which may be found in the section of this SAI entitled About the Trusts . The most recent annual report for each Fund, which includes the Fund’s audited financial statements for its most recent fiscal period, is incorporated by reference into this SAI.
Copies of the Funds' current prospectuses and annual and semiannual reports may be obtained without charge by writing Columbia Funds, c/o Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., P.O. Box 8081, Boston, MA 02266-8081, by calling Columbia Funds at 800.345.6611 or by visiting the Columbia Funds’ website at www.columbiathreadneedle.com/us.


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Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 1


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SAI PRIMER
The SAI is a part of the Funds' registration statement that is filed with the SEC. The registration statement includes the Funds' prospectuses, the SAI and certain exhibits. The SAI, and any supplements to it, can be found online at www.columbiathreadneedle.com/us or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
For purposes of any electronic version of this SAI, all references to websites, or universal resource locators (URLs), are intended to be inactive and are not meant to incorporate the contents of any such website or URL into this SAI.
The SAI generally provides additional information about the Funds that is not required to be in the Funds' prospectuses. The SAI expands discussions of certain matters described in the Funds' prospectuses and provides certain additional information about the Funds that may be of interest to some investors. Among other things, the SAI provides information about:
the organization of each Trust;
the Funds' investments;
the Funds' investment adviser, investment subadviser(s) (if any) and other service providers, including roles and relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, and conflicts of interest;
the governance of the Funds;
the Funds' brokerage practices;
the share classes offered by the Funds;
the purchase, redemption and pricing of Fund shares; and
the application of U.S. federal income tax laws.
Investors may find this information important and helpful. If you have any questions about the Funds, please call Columbia Funds at 800.345.6611 or contact your financial advisor.
Before reading the SAI, you should consult the Glossary below, which defines certain of the terms used in the SAI.
Glossary
1933 Act Securities Act of 1933, as amended
1934 Act Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
1940 Act Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
Administrative Services Agreement The Administrative Services Agreement, as amended, if applicable, between a Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Investment Manager
Ameriprise Financial Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
BANA Bank of America, National Association
Bank of America Bank of America Corporation
BFDS/DST Boston Financial Data Services, Inc./DST Systems, Inc.
Barrow Hanley Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC
Board The Trusts' Board of Trustees
Board Services Board Services Corporation
Business Day Any day on which the NYSE is open for business
Capital Allocation Portfolios Collectively, Columbia Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio, Columbia Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio, Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio, Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio and Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio
CEA Commodity Exchange Act
CFST Columbia Funds Series Trust
CFST I Columbia Funds Series Trust I
CFST II Columbia Funds Series Trust II
CFTC The United States Commodities Futures Trading Commission
CMOs Collateralized mortgage obligations
Code Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 2


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Codes of Ethics The codes of ethics adopted by the Funds, the Investment Manager, the Distributor and/or any sub-adviser, as applicable, pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act
Columbia Funds Complex The fund complex that is comprised of the registered investment companies advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates
Columbia Funds or Columbia Fund Family The open-end investment management companies, including the Funds, advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates or principally underwritten by the Distributor
Columbia Management Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Custodian JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
CVP – Managed Volatility Funds Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Conservative Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Conservative Growth Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Growth Fund and Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
DFA Dimensional Fund Advisors LP
Distribution Agreement The Distribution Agreement between a Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Distributor
Distribution Plan(s) One or more of the plans adopted by the Board pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for the distribution of the Funds’ shares
Distributor Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
Donald Smith Donald Smith & Co., Inc.
FDIC Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Feeder Fund A series of CFST that had invested all of its assets in the Master Portfolio; after the close of business on December 13, 2013, the Feeder Fund, International Value Fund, converted to a stand-alone Fund and ceased being a Feeder Fund
FHLMC The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
Fitch Fitch, Inc.
FNMA Federal National Mortgage Association
The Fund(s) or a Fund One or more of the open-end management investment companies listed on the front cover of this SAI
GNMA Government National Mortgage Association
Independent Trustees The Trustees of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds
Interested Trustees The Trustees of the Board who are currently treated as “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds
Investment Management Services Agreement The Investment Management Services Agreements, as amended, if applicable, between a Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Investment Manager
Investment Manager Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
IRS United States Internal Revenue Service
JPMorgan JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., the Funds' custodian
LIBOR London Interbank Offered Rate
Management Agreement The Management Agreements, as amended, if applicable, between a Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Investment Manager
Marsico Capital Marsico Capital Management, LLC
Master Portfolio Columbia International Value Master Portfolio, a series of Columbia Funds Master Investment Trust, LLC
MetWest Capital Metropolitan West Capital Management, LLC
Moody’s Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
NASDAQ National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations system
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Nations Funds The Funds within the Columbia Funds Complex that historically bore the Nations brand and includes series of CFST
NAV Net asset value per share of a Fund
NRSRO Nationally recognized statistical ratings organization (such as, for example, Moody’s, Fitch or S&P)
NSCC National Securities Clearing Corporation
NYSE New York Stock Exchange
Previous Adviser Columbia Management Advisors, LLC, the investment adviser of certain Columbia Funds prior to May 1, 2010 when Ameriprise Financial acquired the long-term asset management business of the Previous Adviser, which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America.
Previous Distributor Columbia Management Distributors, Inc., the distributor of certain Columbia Funds prior to May 1, 2010 when Ameriprise Financial acquired the long-term asset management business of the Previous Adviser, which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America.
Previous Transfer Agent Columbia Management Services, Inc., the transfer agent of certain Columbia Funds prior to May 1, 2010 when Ameriprise Financial acquired the long-term asset management business of the Previous Adviser, which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America.
REIT Real estate investment trust
REMIC Real estate mortgage investment conduit
RIC A “regulated investment company,” as such term is used in the Code
RiverSource Funds The Funds within the Columbia Funds Complex that historically bore the RiverSource brand and includes series of CFST II
S&P Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“Standard & Poor’s” and “S&P” are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and have been licensed for use by the Investment Manager. The Columbia Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor’s and Standard & Poor’s makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Columbia Funds)
SAI This Statement of Additional Information, as amended and supplemented from time-to-time
SBH Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Seligman Funds The Funds within the Columbia Fund Complex that historically bore the Seligman brand and includes series of CFST II
SEC United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Selling Agent(s) One or more of the financial intermediaries that are authorized to sell shares of the Funds, which include, broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ such broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisors, third party administrators and other financial intermediaries, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates.
Shares Shares of a Fund
State Street State Street Bank and Trust Company, the former custodian for series of CFST
State Tax-Exempt Funds and State Municipal Bond Funds Collectively, AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, MN Tax-Exempt Fund, AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund, AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund and AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Sub-Advisory Agreement The Subadvisory Agreement among the Trust on behalf of the Fund(s), the Investment Manager and a Fund’s investment subadviser(s), as the context may require
Subsidiary One or more wholly-owned subsidiaries of a Fund
Threadneedle Threadneedle International Limited
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Transfer Agency Agreement The Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Transfer Agent
Transfer Agent Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
Trustee(s) One or more of the Board’s Trustees
Trusts CFST and CFST II, the registered investment companies in the Columbia Fund Family to which this SAI relates
Throughout this SAI, the Funds are referred to as follows:
Fund Name:   Referred to as:
Active Portfolios Multi-Manager Value Fund   AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund
Columbia Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund   Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund
Columbia AMT-Free California Intermediate Muni Bond Fund   AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free Georgia Intermediate Muni Bond Fund   AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free Maryland Intermediate Muni Bond Fund   AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free North Carolina Intermediate Muni Bond Fund   AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free South Carolina Intermediate Muni Bond Fund   AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund   AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free Virginia Intermediate Muni Bond Fund   AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund   Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund
Columbia Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio   Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio
Columbia Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio   Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio
Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio   Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio
Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio   Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio
Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio   Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio
Columbia Commodity Strategy Fund   Commodity Strategy Fund
Columbia Convertible Securities Fund   Convertible Securities Fund
Columbia Disciplined Core Fund   Disciplined Core Fund
Columbia Disciplined Growth Fund   Disciplined Growth Fund
Columbia Disciplined Value Fund   Disciplined Value Fund
Columbia Diversified Equity Income Fund   Diversified Equity Income Fund
Columbia Dividend Opportunity Fund   Dividend Opportunity Fund
Columbia Emerging Markets Bond Fund   Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Columbia European Equity Fund   European Equity Fund
Columbia Flexible Capital Income Fund   Flexible Capital Income Fund
Columbia Floating Rate Fund   Floating Rate Fund
Columbia Global Bond Fund   Global Bond Fund
Columbia Global Equity Value Fund   Global Equity Value Fund
Columbia Global Infrastructure Fund   Global Infrastructure Fund
Columbia Global Opportunities Fund   Global Opportunities Fund
Columbia Global Strategic Equity Fund   Global Strategic Equity Fund
Columbia High Yield Bond Fund   High Yield Bond Fund
Columbia Income Builder Fund   Income Builder Fund
Columbia Income Opportunities Fund   Income Opportunities Fund
Columbia Inflation Protected Securities Fund   Inflation Protected Securities Fund
Columbia International Opportunities Fund   International Opportunities Fund
Columbia International Value Fund   International Value Fund
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Fund Name:   Referred to as:
Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund   Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II   Large Cap Growth Fund II
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III   Large Cap Growth Fund III
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV   Large Cap Growth Fund IV
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V   Large Cap Growth Fund V
Columbia Large Cap Index Fund   Large Cap Index Fund
Columbia Limited Duration Credit Fund   Limited Duration Credit Fund
Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund   Mid Cap Index Fund
Columbia Mid Cap Value Fund   Mid Cap Value Fund
Columbia Minnesota Tax-Exempt Fund   MN Tax-Exempt Fund
Columbia Money Market Fund   Money Market Fund
Columbia Mortgage Opportunities Fund   Mortgage Opportunities Fund
Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund   Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund
Columbia Overseas Value Fund   Overseas Value Fund
Columbia Select Global Equity Fund   Select Global Equity Fund
Columbia Select Global Growth Fund   Select Global Growth Fund
Columbia Select International Equity Fund   Select International Equity Fund
Columbia Select Large Cap Equity Fund   Select Large Cap Equity Fund
Columbia Select Large-Cap Value Fund   Select Large-Cap Value Fund
Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund   Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund
Columbia Seligman Communications and Information Fund   Seligman Communications and Information Fund
Columbia Seligman Global Technology Fund   Seligman Global Technology Fund
Columbia Short Term Bond Fund   Short Term Bond Fund
Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund   Short Term Municipal Bond Fund
Columbia Small Cap Index Fund   Small Cap Index Fund
Columbia Small Cap Value Fund II   Small Cap Value Fund II
Columbia Small/Mid Cap Value Fund   Small/Mid Cap Value Fund
Columbia U.S. Government Mortgage Fund   U.S. Government Mortgage Fund
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ABOUT THE Trusts
The Trusts are open-end management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.
CFST was organized as a Delaware business trust, a form of entity now known as a statutory trust, on October 22, 1999. On September 26, 2005, CFST changed its name from Nations Funds Trust to Columbia Funds Series Trust. CFST II was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on January 27, 2006. On March 7, 2011, CFST II changed its name from RiverSource Series Trust to Columbia Funds Series Trust II and prior to September 11, 2007 was known as RiverSource Retirement Series Trust.
Fund Fiscal Year End Prospectus Date Date Began
Operations*
Diversified** Fund Investment Category***
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund October 31 3/1/2015 6/15/2006 Yes Alternative
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund April 30 9/1/2015 8/19/2002 Yes Tax-exempt fixed income
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund April 30 9/1/2015 3/1/1992 Yes Tax-exempt fixed income
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund April 30 9/1/2015 9/1/1990 No Tax-exempt fixed income
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund April 30 9/1/2015 12/11/1992 Yes Tax-exempt fixed income
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund April 30 9/1/2015 1/6/1992 Yes Tax-exempt fixed income
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund July 31 12/1/2015 11/24/1976 Yes Tax-exempt fixed income
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund April 30 9/1/2015 9/20/1989 Yes Tax-exempt fixed income
AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund May 31 10/1/2015 4/20/2012 Yes Equity
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund October 31 3/1/2015 7/15/2009 Yes Equity
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio January 31 6/1/2015 3/4/2004 Yes Fund-of-funds – equity
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio January 31 6/1/2015 3/4/2004 Yes Fund-of-funds – fixed income
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio January 31 6/1/2015 10/15/1996 Yes Fund-of-funds – equity
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio January 31 6/1/2015 10/15/1996 Yes Fund-of-funds – fixed income
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio January 31 6/1/2015 3/4/2004 Yes Fund-of-funds – equity
Commodity Strategy Fund May 31 10/1/2015 7/28/2011 Yes Equity
Convertible Securities Fund February 28/29 7/1/2015 9/25/1987 Yes Equity
Disciplined Core Fund July 31 12/1/2015 4/24/2003 Yes Equity
Disciplined Growth Fund July 31 12/1/2015 5/17/2007 Yes Equity
Disciplined Value Fund July 31 12/1/2015 8/1/2008 Yes Equity
Diversified Equity Income Fund May 31 10/1/2015 10/15/1990 Yes Equity
Dividend Opportunity Fund May 31 10/1/2015 8/1/1988 Yes Equity
Emerging Markets Bond Fund October 31 3/1/2015 2/16/2006 No Taxable fixed income
European Equity Fund October 31 3/1/2015 6/26/2000 Yes Equity
Flexible Capital Income Fund May 31 10/1/2015 7/28/2011 Yes Flexible
Floating Rate Fund July 31 12/1/2015 2/16/2006 Yes Taxable fixed income
Global Bond Fund October 31 3/1/2015 3/20/1989 No Taxable fixed income
Global Equity Value Fund February 28/29 7/1/2015 5/14/1984 Yes Equity
Global Infrastructure Fund April 30 9/1/2015 2/19/2009 Yes Equity
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Fund Fiscal Year End Prospectus Date Date Began
Operations*
Diversified** Fund Investment Category***
Global Opportunities Fund July 31 12/1/2015 1/28/1985 Yes Flexible
Global Strategic Equity Fund January 31 6/1/2015 10/15/1996 Yes Fund-of-funds – equity
High Yield Bond Fund May 31 10/1/2015 12/8/1983 Yes Taxable fixed income
Income Builder Fund January 31 6/1/2015 2/16/2006 Yes Fund-of-funds – fixed income
Income Opportunities Fund July 31 12/1/2015 6/19/2003 Yes Taxable fixed income
Inflation Protected Securities Fund July 31 12/1/2015 3/4/2004 No Taxable fixed income
International Opportunities Fund February 28/29 7/1/2015 8/1/2000 Yes Equity
International Value Fund February 28/29 7/1/2015 12/27/1995 Yes Equity
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund February 28/29 7/1/2015 7/31/1996 Yes Equity
Large Cap Growth Fund II February 28/29 7/1/2015 4/10/2000 Yes Equity
Large Cap Growth Fund III February 28/29 7/1/2015 12/31/1997 No Equity
Large Cap Growth Fund IV August 31 1/1/2015 9/28/2010 Yes Flexible
Large Cap Growth Fund V February 28/29 7/1/2015 12/31/1997 Yes Equity
Large Cap Index Fund February 28/29 7/1/2015 12/15/1993 Yes Equity
Limited Duration Credit Fund July 31 12/1/2015 6/19/2003 Yes Taxable fixed income
Mid Cap Index Fund February 28/29 7/1/2015 3/31/2000 Yes Equity
Mid Cap Value Fund February 28/29 7/1/2015 11/20/2001 Yes Equity
MN Tax-Exempt Fund July 31 12/1/2015 8/18/1986 No Tax-exempt fixed income
Money Market Fund July 31 12/1/2015 10/6/1975 Yes Taxable money market
Mortgage Opportunities Fund May 31 10/1/2015 4/30/2014 No Taxable fixed income
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund May 31 10/1/2015 6/18/2001 Yes Equity
Overseas Value Fund February 28/29 7/1/2015 3/31/2008 Yes Equity
Select Global Equity Fund October 31 3/1/2015 5/29/1990 Yes Equity
Select Global Growth Fund February 28/29 7/1/2015 4/30/2008 Yes Equity
Select International Equity Fund February 28/29 7/1/2015 12/2/1991 Yes Equity
Select Large Cap Equity Fund February 28/29 7/1/2015 10/2/1998 Yes Equity
Select Large-Cap Value Fund May 31 10/1/2015 4/25/1997 Yes Equity
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund May 31 10/1/2015 4/25/1997 Yes Equity
Seligman Communications and Information Fund May 31 10/1/2015 6/23/1983 No Equity
Seligman Global Technology Fund October 31 3/1/2015 5/23/1994 No Equity
Short Term Bond Fund March 31 8/1/2015 9/30/1992 Yes Taxable fixed income
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund April 30 9/1/2015 10/7/1993 Yes Tax-exempt fixed income
Small Cap Index Fund February 28/29 7/1/2015 10/15/1996 Yes Equity
Small Cap Value Fund II February 28/29 7/1/2015 5/1/2002 Yes Equity
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund May 31 10/1/2015 2/14/2002 Yes Equity
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund May 31 10/1/2015 2/14/2002 Yes Taxable fixed income
* Certain Funds reorganized into series of the Trust. The date of operations for these Funds represents the date on which the predecessor funds began operation.
** A “diversified” Fund may not, with respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets in securities of any one issuer or purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer, except obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
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  Government, its agencies or instrumentalities and except securities of other investment companies. A “non-diversified” Fund may invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund, which increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a “diversified” fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, a “non-diversified” Fund’s value will likely be more volatile than the value of a more diversified fund.
*** The Fund Investment Category is used as a convenient way to describe Funds in this SAI and should not be deemed a description of the Fund’s principal investment strategies, which are described in the Fund’s prospectus.
Name Changes. The table below identifies the Funds whose names have changed in the past five years, the effective date of the name change and the former name.
Fund Effective Date of Name Change Previous Fund Name
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund July 7, 2014 Columbia California Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund July 7, 2014 Columbia Georgia Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund July 7, 2014 Columbia Maryland Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund July 7, 2014 Columbia North Carolina Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund July 7, 2014 Columbia South Carolina Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund July 7, 2014 Columbia Virginia Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund December 11, 2013 Columbia Active Portfolios – Diversified Equity Income Fund
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio December 14, 2012 Columbia Portfolio Builder Aggressive Fund
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio December 14, 2012 Columbia Portfolio Builder Conservative Fund
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio December 14, 2012 Columbia LifeGoal Balanced Growth Fund
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio December 14, 2012 Columbia LifeGoal Income and Growth Portfolio
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio December 14, 2012 Columbia Portfolio Builder Moderate Fund
Disciplined Core Fund December 21, 2015 Columbia Large Core Quantitative Fund
Disciplined Growth Fund December 21, 2015 Columbia Large Growth Quantitative Fund
Disciplined Value Fund December 21, 2015 Columbia Large Value Quantitative Fund
Global Equity Value Fund September 5, 2014 Columbia Equity Value Fund
Global Infrastructure Fund December 11, 2013 Columbia Recovery and Infrastructure Fund
Global Opportunities Fund December 14, 2012 Columbia Strategic Allocation Fund
Global Strategic Equity Fund June 2, 2015 Columbia LifeGoal ® Growth Portfolio
International Opportunities Fund May 1, 2015 Columbia Marsico International Opportunities Fund
Large Cap Growth Fund II November 20, 2015 Columbia Marsico 21st Century Fund
Large Cap Growth Fund III November 20, 2015 Columbia Marsico Focused Equities Fund
Large Cap Growth Fund IV November 20, 2015 Columbia Marsico Flexible Capital Fund
Large Cap Growth Fund V November 20, 2015 Columbia Marsico Growth Fund
Select Global Equity Fund January 15, 2015 Columbia Global Equity Fund
Select Global Growth Fund November 20, 2015 Columbia Marsico Global Fund
Select International Equity Fund May 1, 2015 Columbia Multi-Advisor International Equity Fund
Select Large Cap Equity Fund December 11, 2013 Columbia Large Cap Core Fund
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Fund Effective Date of Name Change Previous Fund Name
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund July 7, 2014 Columbia Mid Cap Value Opportunity
Upcoming Changes for Money Market Fund
In connection with amendments to the rules that govern money market funds, the Board of the Fund has approved a recommendation made by the Investment Manager to convert the Fund to a government money market fund effective on or about October 1, 2016. On such date, the Fund will be re-named Columbia Government Money Market Fund and will be required to invest 99.5% of its assets in cash, government securities and repurchase agreements collateralized by cash or government securities. By converting to a government money market fund, the Fund will seek to maintain a stable net asset value per share and will not be subject to liquidity fees or redemption gates.
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FUNDAMENTAL AND NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES
The following discussion of “fundamental” and “non-fundamental” investment policies and limitations for each Fund supplements the discussion of investment policies in the Funds' prospectuses. A fundamental policy may be changed only with Board and shareholder approval. A non-fundamental policy may be changed only with Board approval and does not require shareholder approval.
Unless otherwise noted in a Fund’s prospectus or this SAI, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a maximum percentage of a Fund’s assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding an investment standard, compliance with such percentage limitation or standard will be determined solely at the time of the Fund’s acquisition of such security or asset (Time of Purchase Standard). Thus, a Fund may continue to hold a security even though it causes the Fund to exceed a percentage limitation because of fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s assets.
Notwithstanding any of a Fund’s other investment policies, the Fund, subject to certain limitations, may invest its assets in another investment company. These underlying funds have adopted their own investment policies that may be more or less restrictive than those of the Fund. Unless a Fund has a policy to consider the policies of underlying funds, the Fund may engage in investment strategies indirectly that would otherwise be prohibited under the Fund’s investment policies.
In adhering to the fundamental and non-fundamental investment restrictions and policies applicable to Commodity Strategy Fund, the Fund will, to the extent possible, treat any assets of its Subsidiary generally as if the assets were held directly by the Fund.
For all series of CFST II, except Mortgage Opportunities Fund: Notwithstanding any of a Fund’s other investment policies, the Fund may invest its assets in an open-end management investment company having substantially the same investment objectives, policies, and restrictions as the Fund for the purpose of having those assets managed as part of a combined pool.
Fundamental Policies
The table below shows Fund-specific policies that may be changed only with a “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund, which means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (1) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or (2) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting if more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented at the meeting in person or by proxy. The table indicates whether or not a fund has a policy on a particular topic. A dash indicates that the Fund does not have a Fundamental policy on a particular topic. The specific policy is stated in the paragraphs that follow the table.
Fund A
Buy or
sell real
estate
B
Buy or sell
commodities
C
Issuer
Diversification
D
Concentrate
in any one
industry
E
Invest
80%
F
Act as an
underwriter
G
Lending
H
Borrow
money
I
Issue
senior
securities
J
Buy on
margin/
sell
short
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund A1 B1 C5 D13 F1 G1 H1 I1
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 E3 F3 G3 H2 I3
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 E3 F3 G3 H2 I3
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A5 B6 D6 E3 F3 G3 H2 I3
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 E3 F3 G3 H2 I3
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 E3 F3 G3 H2 I3
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund A1 B1 C1 D7 E2 (a) F1 G1 H1 I1
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 E3 F3 G3 H2 I3
AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund A1 B8 C5 D13 F1 G1 H1 I1
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund A1 B2 C5 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio A1 B1 C5 D2 F1 G1 H1 I1
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio A1 B1 C5 D2 F1 G1 H1 I1
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio A1 B1 C5 D2 F1 G1 H1 I1
Commodity Strategy Fund A1 B9 C5 D5 F1 G1 H1 I1
Convertible Securities Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
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Fund A
Buy or
sell real
estate
B
Buy or sell
commodities
C
Issuer
Diversification
D
Concentrate
in any one
industry
E
Invest
80%
F
Act as an
underwriter
G
Lending
H
Borrow
money
I
Issue
senior
securities
J
Buy on
margin/
sell
short
Disciplined Core Fund A1 B1 C1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Disciplined Growth Fund A1 B2 C1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Disciplined Value Fund A1 B2 C5 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Diversified Equity Income Fund A1 B1 C1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Dividend Opportunity Fund A1 B1 C1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Emerging Markets Bond Fund A1 B3 D3 F1 G1 H1 I1
European Equity Fund A1 B1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Flexible Capital Income Fund A1 B9 C5 D5 F1 G1 H1 I1
Floating Rate Fund A1 B3 C1 D4 F1 G1 H1 I1
Global Bond Fund A1 B1 C6 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Global Equity Value Fund A1 B1 C1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Global Infrastructure Fund A1 B3 C5 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Global Opportunities Fund A1 B1 C1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Global Strategic Equity Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
High Yield Bond Fund A1 B1 C1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Income Builder Fund A1 B3 C5 D2 F1 G1 H1 I1
Income Opportunities Fund A1 B1 C1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Inflation Protected Securities Fund A1 B1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
International Opportunities Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
International Value Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Large Cap Growth Fund II A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Large Cap Growth Fund III A5 B6 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Large Cap Growth Fund IV A4 B3 C5 D10 F1 G1 H1 I1
Large Cap Growth Fund V A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Large Cap Index Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Limited Duration Credit Fund A1 B1 C1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Mid Cap Index Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Mid Cap Value Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
MN Tax-Exempt Fund A1 B1 D7 E1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Money Market Fund A2 A2 C1 F1 G1 H1 I1 J1
Mortgage Opportunities Fund A1 B1 D12 F1 G1 H1 I1
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund A1 B2 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Overseas Value Fund A6 B7 C4 D13 F4 G4 H3 I4
Select Global Equity Fund A1 B1 C1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
Select Global Growth Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Select International Equity Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Select Large Cap Equity Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Select Large-Cap Value Fund A3 B5 C3 D11 F2 G2 I2 I2 J2
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund A3 B5 C3 D11 F2 G2 I2 I2 J2
Seligman Communications and Information Fund A3 B5 D9 F2 G2 I2 I2 J2
Seligman Global Technology Fund A3 B5 D8 F2 G2 I2 I2 J2
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Fund A
Buy or
sell real
estate
B
Buy or sell
commodities
C
Issuer
Diversification
D
Concentrate
in any one
industry
E
Invest
80%
F
Act as an
underwriter
G
Lending
H
Borrow
money
I
Issue
senior
securities
J
Buy on
margin/
sell
short
Short Term Bond Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 E4 F3 G3 H2 I3
Small Cap Index Fund A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Small Cap Value Fund II A5 B6 C2 D6 F3 G3 H2 I3
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund A1 B1 C1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund A1 B1 C1 D1 F1 G1 H1 I1
(a) The Fund does not intend to purchase bonds or other debt securities, the interest from which is subject to the alternative minimum tax.
A. Buy or sell real estate
A1 – The Fund will not buy or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business or real estate investment trusts. For purposes of this policy, real estate includes real estate limited partnerships.
A2 – The Fund will not buy or sell real estate, commodities or commodity contracts. For purposes of this policy, real estate includes real estate limited partnerships.
A3 – The Fund will not purchase or hold any real estate, except that a Fund may invest in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by persons (other than real estate investment trusts) which deal in real estate or interests therein.
A4 – The Fund will not buy or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business, real estate investment trusts (REITs) or entities similar to REITs formed under the laws of non-U.S. companies. For purposes of this policy, real estate includes real estate limited partnerships.
A5 – The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, except the Fund may purchase securities of issuers which deal or invest in real estate and may purchase securities which are secured by real estate or interests in real estate.
A6 – The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, except the Fund may: (i) purchase securities of issuers which deal or invest in real estate, (ii) purchase securities which are secured by real estate or interests in real estate and (iii) hold and dispose of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the exercise of its rights as a holder of securities which are secured by real estate or interests therein.
B. Buy or sell physical commodities*
B1 – The Fund will not buy or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the Fund from buying or selling options and futures contracts (and, in the case of Mortgage Opportunities Fund, swaps) or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by, or whose value is derived from, physical commodities.
B2 – The Fund will not buy or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the Fund from buying or selling options, futures contracts and foreign currency or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by, or whose value is derived from, physical commodities.
B3 – The Fund will not buy or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the Fund from buying or selling options, futures contracts and foreign currency (and, in the case of Large Cap Growth Fund IV, swaps) or from entering into forward currency contracts or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by, or whose value is derived from, physical commodities.
B4 – The Fund will not buy or sell commodities, except that the Fund may to the extent consistent with its investment objective(s), invest in securities of companies that purchase or sell commodities or which invest in such programs, and purchase and sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, and options on futures contracts and enter into swap contracts and other financial transactions relating to commodities. This restriction does not apply to foreign currency transactions including without limitation forward currency contracts.
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B5 – The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except to the extent permissible under applicable law and interpretations, as they may be amended from time to time.
B6 – The Fund may not purchase or sell commodities, except that the Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment objective, invest in securities of companies that purchase or sell commodities or which invest in such programs, and purchase and sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, and options on futures contracts. This limitation does not apply to foreign currency transactions, including, without limitation, forward currency contracts.
B7 – The Fund may not purchase or sell commodities, except that the Fund may to the extent consistent with its investment objective: (i) invest in securities of companies that purchase or sell commodities or which invest in such programs, (ii) purchase and sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, and options on futures contracts and (iii) enter into swap contracts and other financial transactions relating to commodities. This limitation does not apply to foreign currency transactions including without limitation forward currency contracts.
B8 – The Fund will not buy or sell commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the Fund from transacting in derivative instruments relating to commodities, including but not limited to, buying or selling options, swap contracts or futures contracts, or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by, or whose value is derived from, commodities.
B9 – The Fund will not buy or sell physical commodities, except that the Fund may to the extent consistent with its investment objective(s), invest in securities of companies that purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts or which invest in such programs, and the Fund may, without limitation by this restriction, purchase and sell options, forward contracts, commodities futures contracts, commodity-linked notes, and options on futures contracts and enter into swap contracts and other financial transactions relating to, or that are secured by, physical commodities or commodity indices. This restriction does not apply to foreign currency transactions including without limitation forward currency contracts. This restriction also does not prevent Columbia Commodity Strategy Fund from investing up to 25% of its total assets in one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries (as described further herein and referred to herein collectively as the “Subsidiary”), thereby gaining exposure to the investment returns of commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax requirements.

* For purposes of the fundamental investment policy on buying and selling physical commodities above, at the time of the establishment of the restriction for certain Funds, swap contracts on financial instruments or rates were not within the understanding of the term “commodities.” Notwithstanding any federal legislation or regulatory action by the CFTC that subjects such swaps to regulation by the CFTC, these Funds will not consider such instruments to be commodities for purposes of this restriction.
C. Issuer Diversification*
C1 – The Fund will not purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer, except that up to 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested without regard to this 10% limitation. For tax-exempt Funds, for purposes of this policy, the terms of a municipal security determine the issuer. The Fund will not invest more than 5% of its total assets in securities of any company, government, or political subdivision thereof, except the limitation will not apply to investments in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, or instrumentalities, or other investment companies, and except that up to 25% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to this 5% limitation. For tax-exempt Funds, for purposes of this policy, the terms of a municipal security determine the issuer.
C2 – The Fund may not purchase securities (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the securities of such issuer or it would own more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer, except that: (i) up to 25% of its total assets may be invested without regard to these limitations; and (ii) a Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.
C3 – The Fund will not make any investment inconsistent with its classification as a diversified company under the 1940 Act.
C4 – The Fund may not purchase securities (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the securities of such issuer or it would own more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer, except that: (a) up to 25% of its total assets may be invested without regard to these limitations; and (b) the Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, or any applicable exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.
C5 – The Fund will not purchase securities (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the securities of
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  such issuer or it would own more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer, except that: (a) up to 25% of its total assets may be invested without regard to these limitations; and (b) a Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, or any applicable exemptive relief.
C6 – The Fund will not purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer, except that up to 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested without regard to this 10% limitation. For tax-exempt Funds, for purposes of this policy, the terms of a municipal security determine the issuer.

* For purposes of applying the limitation set forth in its issuer diversification policy above, a Fund does not consider futures or swaps central counterparties, where the Fund has exposure to such central counterparties in the course of making investments in futures and securities, to be issuers.
D. Concentration*
D1 – The Fund will not concentrate in any one industry. According to the present interpretation by the SEC, this means that up to 25% of the Fund’s total assets, based on current market value at time of purchase, can be invested in any one industry.
D2 – The Fund will not concentrate in any one industry. According to the present interpretation by the SEC, this means that up to 25% of the Fund’s total assets, based on current market value at time of purchase, can be invested in any one industry. The Fund itself does not intend to concentrate, however, the aggregation of holdings of the underlying funds may result in the Fund indirectly investing more than 25% of its assets in a particular industry. The Fund does not control the investments of the underlying funds and any indirect concentration will occur only as a result of the Fund following its investment objectives by investing in the underlying funds.
D3 – While the Fund may invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of foreign governmental and corporate entities located in the same country, it will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in any single foreign governmental issuer.
D4 – The Fund will not concentrate in any one industry. According to the present interpretation by the SEC, this means that up to 25% of the Fund’s total assets, based on current market value at time of purchase, can be invested in any one industry. For purposes of this restriction, loans will be considered investments in the industry of the underlying borrower, rather than that of the seller of the loan.
D5 – The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in securities of corporate issuers engaged in any one industry. The foregoing restriction does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or repurchase agreements secured by them. In addition, the foregoing restriction shall not apply to or limit, Commodity Strategy Fund’s counterparties in commodities-related transactions.
D6 – The Fund may not purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the value of its total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that: a) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, any state or territory of the United States, or any of their agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; and b) notwithstanding this limitation or any other fundamental investment limitation, assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.
D7 – The Fund will not invest more than 25% of total assets, at market value, in any one industry; except that municipal securities and securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities are not considered an industry for purposes of this limitation.
D8 – The Fund will, under normal market conditions, invest at least 25% of the value of its total assets at the time of purchase in the securities of issuers conducting their principal business activities in the technology and related group of industries, provided that: (i) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, any state or territory of the United States or any of their agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; and (ii) notwithstanding this limitation or any other fundamental investment limitation, assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies or subsidiaries to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
D9 – The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets, at market value, in the securities of issuers in any particular industry, except that the Fund will invest at least 25% of the value of its total assets in securities of companies principally engaged in the communications, information and related industries and provided that this limitation shall exclude securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.
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D10 – The Fund will not concentrate in any one industry (other than U.S. Government securities, provided that this limitation shall exclude securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities). According to the present interpretation by the SEC, this means that up to 25% of the Fund’s total assets, based on current market value at time of purchase, can be invested in any one industry.
D11 – The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets, at market value, in the securities of issuers in any particular industry, provided that this limitation shall exclude securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.
D12 – The Fund will not purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the value of its total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that: i) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, any state, municipality or territory of the United States, or any of their agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; and ii) notwithstanding this limitation or any other fundamental investment limitation, assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief obtained by the Fund. Consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, the Fund may invest 25% or more of its total assets in securities issued by sovereign and quasi-sovereign ( e.g. , government agencies or instrumentalities) foreign governmental issuers or obligors, including in emerging market countries, but it will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in any single foreign governmental issuer.
D13 – The Fund will not purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the value of its total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that: (i) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, any state or territory of the United States, or any of their agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; and (ii) notwithstanding this limitation or any other fundamental investment limitation, assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

* For purposes of applying the limitation set forth in its concentration policy, above, a Fund will generally use the industry classifications provided by the Global Industry Classification System (GICS) for classification of issuers of equity securities and the classifications provided by the Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index for classification of issues of fixed-income securities. The Fund does not consider futures or swaps clearinghouses or securities clearinghouses, where the Fund has exposure to such clearinghouses in the course of making investments in futures and securities, to be part of any industry.
E. Invest 80%
E1 – The Fund will not under normal market conditions, invest less than 80% of its net assets in municipal obligations that are generally exempt from federal income tax as well as respective state and local income tax.
E2 – The Fund will not under normal market conditions, invest less than 80% of its net assets in bonds and other debt securities issued by or on behalf of state or local governmental units whose interest, in the opinion of counsel for the issuer, is exempt from federal income tax.
E3 – The Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities that pay interest exempt from federal income tax, other than the federal alternative minimum tax, and state individual income tax.
E4 – The Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities that pay interest exempt from federal income tax, other than the federal alternative minimum tax
F. Act as an underwriter
F1 – The Fund will not act as an underwriter (sell securities for others). However, under the securities laws, the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter when it purchases securities directly from the issuer and later resells them.
F2 – The Fund will not underwrite the securities of other issuers, except insofar as the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the 1933 Act in disposing of a portfolio security or in connection with investments in other investment companies.
F3 – The Fund may not underwrite any issue of securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act except when it might technically be deemed to be an underwriter either: (i) in connection with the disposition of a portfolio security; or (ii) in connection with the purchase of securities directly from the issuer thereof in accordance with its investment objective. This restriction shall not limit the Fund’s ability to invest in securities issued by other registered management investment companies.
F4 – The Fund may not underwrite any issue of securities issued by other persons within the meaning of the 1933 Act except when it might be deemed to be an underwriter either: (i) in connection with the disposition of a portfolio
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  security; or (ii) in connection with the purchase of securities directly from the issuer thereof in accordance with its investment objective. This restriction shall not limit the Fund’s ability to invest in securities issued by other registered investment companies.
G. Lending
G1 – The Fund will not lend securities or participate in an interfund lending program if the total of all such loans would exceed 33  1 3 % of the Fund’s total assets except this fundamental investment policy shall not prohibit the Fund from purchasing money market securities, loans, loan participation or other debt securities, or from entering into repurchase agreements. For funds-of-funds – equity, under current Board policy, the Fund has no current intention to borrow to a material extent.
G2 – The Fund will not make loans, except as permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule thereunder, any SEC or SEC staff interpretations thereof or any exemptions therefrom which may be granted by the SEC.
G3 – The Fund may not make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.
G4 – The Fund may not make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
H. Borrowing*
H1 – The Fund will not borrow money, except for temporary purposes (not for leveraging or investment) in an amount not exceeding 33  1 3 % of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings) immediately after the borrowings. For funds-of-funds – equity, under current Board policy, the Fund has no current intention to borrow to a material extent.
H2 – The Fund may not borrow money except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.
H3 – The Fund may not borrow money except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

* For purposes of the policies described herein, this restriction shall not prevent the Funds from engaging in derivatives, short sales or other portfolio transactions that create leverage, as allowed by each Fund’s investment policies.
I. Issue senior securities
I1 – The Fund will not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
I2 – The Fund will not issue senior securities or borrow money, except as permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule thereunder, any SEC or SEC staff interpretations thereof or any exemptions therefrom which may be granted by the SEC.
I3 – The Fund may not issue senior securities except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive relief obtained by the Fund.
I4 – The Fund may not issue senior securities except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
J. Buy on margin/sell short
J1 – The Fund will not buy on margin or sell short or deal in options to buy or sell securities.
J2 – The Fund will not purchase securities on margin except as permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule thereunder, any SEC or SEC staff interpretations thereof or any exemptions therefrom which may be granted by the SEC.
In addition to the policies described above and any fundamental policy described in the prospectus:
For Money Market Fund, the Fund will not:
Purchase common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, other equity securities, corporate bonds or debentures, state bonds, municipal bonds, or industrial revenue bonds.
For Seligman Communications and Information Fund, Seligman Global Technology Fund, Select Large-Cap Value Fund and Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, the Fund will not:
Purchase or hold the securities of any issuer, if to its knowledge, directors or officers of the Fund and, only in the case of Seligman Global Technology Fund, the directors and officers of the Fund’s Investment Manager, individually owning beneficially more than 0.5% of the outstanding securities of that issuer own in the aggregate more than 5% of such securities.
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Enter into repurchase agreements of more than one week’s duration if more than 10% of the Fund’s net assets would be so invested.
Non-fundamental Policies
The following non-fundamental policies may be changed by the Board at any time and may be in addition to those described in the prospectus.
Investment in Illiquid Securities
No more than 5% of a money market Fund’s total assets will be held in securities and other instruments that are illiquid. No more than 15% of the net assets of any other Fund will be held in securities and other instruments that are illiquid. “Illiquid Securities” are defined in accordance with the SEC staff’s current guidance and interpretations which provide that an illiquid security is a security which may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the security. Compliance with this limitation is not measure under the Time of Purchase Standard.
Investment in Other Investment Companies
The Funds may not purchase securities of other investment companies except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
Investment in Foreign Securities
For AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund, Disciplined Core Fund, Disciplined Growth Fund, Disciplined Value Fund, Diversified Equity Income Fund, Dividend Opportunity Fund, Flexible Capital Income Fund, Floating Rate Fund, High Yield Bond Fund, Income Opportunities Fund, Inflation Protected Securities Fund, Limited Duration Credit Fund, Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund, Select Large-Cap Value Fund, Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, Seligman Communications and Information Fund and Small/Mid Cap Value Fund:
Up to 25% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in foreign investments.
For Convertible Securities Fund:
Up to 15% of its total assets in Eurodollar convertible securities and up to an additional 20% of its total assets in foreign securities.
For Money Market Fund:
Up to 35% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign investments.
For Large Cap Growth Fund II, Large Cap Growth Fund III, Large Cap Growth Fund IV, Large Cap Growth Fund V, Mid Cap Value Fund, Select Large Cap Equity Fund and Small Cap Value Fund II:
Up to 20% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in foreign securities.
For U.S. Government Mortgage Fund:
Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in foreign investments.
Invest 80%
For Large Cap Growth Fund III:
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities.
Selling Securities Short
For series of CFST other than Funds with a fundamental policy with respect to selling securities short:
The Funds may not sell securities short, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
Purchasing Securities of Any One Issuer
For AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund and Large Cap Growth Fund III:
The Fund may not purchase securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government Obligations and securities of other investment companies) if, immediately after such purchase, more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of one issuer, and with respect to 50% of the Fund’s total assets, more than 5% of its assets would be invested in the securities of one issuer.
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Additional Information About Concentration
Mortgage Opportunities Fund will consider the concentration policies of any underlying funds in which it invests when evaluating compliance with its concentration policy.
Names Rule Policy
To the extent a Fund is subject to Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act (the Names Rule), and does not otherwise have a fundamental policy in place to comply with the Names Rule, such Fund has adopted the following non-fundamental policy: Shareholders will receive at least 60 days’ notice of any change to the Fund’s investment objective or principal investment strategies made in order to comply with the Names Rule. The notice will be provided in plain English in a separate written document, and will contain the following prominent statement or similar statement in bold-face type: “Important Notice Regarding Change in Investment Policy.” This statement will appear on both the notice and the envelope in which it is delivered, unless it is delivered separately from other communications to investors, in which case the statement will appear either on the notice or the envelope in which the notice is delivered.
Summary of 1940 Act Restrictions on Certain Activities
Certain of the Fund’s fundamental and non-fundamental policies set forth above prohibit transactions “except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief”. The following discussion summarizes the flexibility that the Fund currently gains from these exceptions. To the extent the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder may, in the future, be amended to provide greater flexibility, or to the extent the SEC may in the future grant exemptive relief providing greater flexibility, the Fund will be able to use that flexibility without seeking shareholder approval of its fundamental policies.
Borrowing money – The 1940 Act permits a Fund to borrow up to 33  1 3 % of its total assets (including the amounts borrowed) from banks, plus an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes, which may be borrowed from banks or other sources. The exception in the fundamental policy allows the Funds to borrow money subject to these conditions. Compliance with this limitation is not measured under the Time of Purchase Standard (meaning, a Fund may not exceed these thresholds including if, after borrowing, the Fund’s net assets decrease due to market fluctuations).
Investing in other investment companies – The 1940 Act, in summary, provides that a fund generally may not: (i) purchase more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of another investment company; (ii) purchase securities issued by another registered investment company representing more than 5% of the investing fund’s total assets; and (iii) purchase securities issued by investment companies that in the aggregate represent more than 10% of the acquiring fund’s total assets (the “3, 5 and 10 Rule”). Affiliated funds-of-funds (i.e., those funds that invest in other funds within the same fund family), with respect to investments in such affiliated underlying funds, are not subject to the 3, 5 and 10 Rule and, therefore, may invest in affiliated underlying funds without restriction. A fund-of-funds may also invest its assets in unaffiliated funds, but the fund-of-funds generally may not purchase more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one unaffiliated fund. Additionally, certain exceptions to these limitations apply to investments in money market mutual funds. If shares of the Fund are purchased by an affiliated fund beyond the 3, 5 and 10 Rule in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act, for so long as shares of the Fund are held by such other affiliated fund, the Fund will not purchase securities of a registered open-end investment company or registered unit investment trust in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.
Issuing senior securities – A “senior security” is an obligation with respect to the earnings or assets of a company that takes precedence over the claims of that company’s common stock with respect to the same earnings or assets. The 1940 Act prohibits a mutual fund from issuing senior securities other than certain borrowings from a bank, but SEC staff interpretations allow a Fund to engage in certain types of transactions that otherwise might raise senior security concerns (such as short sales, buying and selling financial futures contracts and other derivative instruments and selling put and call options), provided that the Fund segregates or designates on the Fund’s books and records liquid assets, or otherwise covers the transaction with offsetting portfolio securities, in amounts sufficient to offset any liability associated with the transaction. The exception in the fundamental policy allows the Fund to operate in reliance upon these staff interpretations.
Making loans (Lending) – Under the 1940 Act, a mutual fund may loan money or property to persons who do not control and are not under common control with the Fund, except that a Fund may make loans to a wholly-owned subsidiary. In addition, the SEC staff takes the position that a Fund may not lend portfolio securities representing more than one-third of the Fund’s total value. A Fund must receive from the borrower collateral at least equal in value to the loaned securities, marked to market daily. The exception in the fundamental policy allows the Fund to make loans to third parties, including loans of its portfolio securities, subject to these conditions.
Purchase of securities on margin – A purchase on margin involves a loan from the broker-dealer arranging the transaction. The “margin” is the cash or securities that the buyer/borrower places with the broker-dealer as collateral against the loan. However, the purchase of securities on margin is effectively prohibited by the 1940 Act because the Fund generally may borrow only from banks. Thus, under current law, this exception does not provide any additional flexibility to the Fund.
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Selling securities short – A Fund may sell a security short by borrowing the security, then selling it to a third party. The Fund will eventually need to close out the short sale by buying the security and returning it, together with interest, to the party from whom the Fund borrowed the security. The SEC staff takes the position that, as described under “Issuing senior securities” above, a mutual fund must segregate or designate on the Fund’s books and records liquid assets with a value equal to, or otherwise cover the obligation to return, the security. The exception in the fundamental policy allows the Fund to sell securities short provided it designates liquid assets with a value equal to, or otherwise covers the obligation to return, the security.
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ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS
Each Fund’s investment objective, principal investment strategies and related principal risks are discussed in each Fund’s prospectus. Each Fund’s prospectus identifies the types of securities in which the Fund invests principally and summarizes the principal risks to the Fund’s portfolio as a whole associated with such investments. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus or this SAI, the investment objective and policies of a Fund may be changed without shareholder approval.
To the extent that a type of security identified in the table below for a Fund is not described in the Fund’s prospectus (or as a sub-category of such security type in this SAI), the Fund generally invests in such security type, if at all, as part of its non-principal investment strategies.
Information about individual types of securities (including certain of their associated risks) in which some or all of the Funds may invest is set forth below. Each Fund may invest in these types of securities, subject to its investment objective and fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies. A Fund is not required to invest in any or all of the types of securities listed below.
Funds-of-funds invest in a combination of underlying funds, although they may also invest directly in stocks, bonds and other securities. These underlying funds have their own investment strategies and types of investments they are allowed to engage in and purchase. Funds-of-funds may invest directly or indirectly through investments in underlying funds, in securities and other instruments and may engage in the investment strategies indicated in the table below.
Certain Investment Activity Limits. The overall investment and other activities of the Investment Manager and its affiliates may limit the investment opportunities for each Fund in certain markets, industries or transactions or in individual issuers where limitations are imposed upon the aggregate amount of investment by the Funds and other accounts managed by the Investment Manager and accounts of its affiliates (collectively, affiliated investors). From time to time, each Fund’s activities also may be restricted because of regulatory restrictions applicable to the Investment Manager and its affiliates and/or because of their internal policies. See Investment Management and Other Services – Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates – Certain Conflicts of Interest .
Temporary Defensive Positions. Each Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation investing some or all of its assets in money market instruments or shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or holding some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. The Fund may take such defensive investment positions for as long a period as deemed necessary.
Other Strategic and Investment Measures. Unless prohibited by its investment policies, a Fund may also from time to time take temporary portfolio positions that may or may not be consistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing in derivatives, such as futures ( e.g. , index futures) or options on futures, for various purposes, including among others, investing in particular derivatives to achieve indirect investment exposure to a sector, country or region where the Investment Manager (or Fund subadviser, if applicable) believes such defensive positioning is appropriate. Each Fund may do so without limit and for as long a period as deemed necessary, when the Investment Manager or the Fund’s subadviser, if applicable: (i) believes that market conditions are not favorable for profitable investing or to avoid losses, including under adverse market, economic, political or other conditions; (ii) is unable to locate favorable investment opportunities; or (iii) determines that a temporary defensive position is advisable or necessary in order to meet anticipated redemption requests, or for other reasons. While the Fund is so positioned, derivatives could comprise a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments and the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Investing in this manner may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and taxes, and decreased Fund performance.
Types of Investments
A black circle indicates that the investment strategy or type of investment generally is authorized for a category of funds. Exceptions are noted following the table. See About the Trusts for fund investment categories.
Type of Investment Alternative Equity
and
Flexible
Funds-of-Funds
– Equity and
Fixed Income
Taxable
Fixed
Income
Taxable
Money Market
Fund
Tax-Exempt
Fixed
Income
Asset-Backed Securities
Bank Obligations (Domestic and Foreign)
Collateralized Bond Obligations •A
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Type of Investment Alternative Equity
and
Flexible
Funds-of-Funds
– Equity and
Fixed Income
Taxable
Fixed
Income
Taxable
Money Market
Fund
Tax-Exempt
Fixed
Income
Commercial Paper
Common Stock •B
Convertible Securities •C •D
Corporate Debt Securities •E
Custody Receipts and Trust Certificates •F •F •F
Debt Obligations
Depositary Receipts
Derivatives
Dollar Rolls •G
Foreign Currency Transactions •H
Foreign Securities
Guaranteed Investment Contracts (Funding Agreements)
High-Yield Securities
Illiquid Securities
Inflation Protected Securities
Initial Public Offerings
Inverse Floaters •I
Investments in Other Investment Companies (Including ETFs)
Listed Private Equity Funds
Money Market Instruments
Mortgage-Backed Securities
Municipal Securities
Participation Interests
Partnership Securities
Preferred Stock •J •J
Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities
Real Estate Investment Trusts
Repurchase Agreements
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
Short Sales •K •K •K •K •K
Sovereign Debt
Standby Commitments
U.S. Government and Related Obligations
Variable and Floating Rate Obligations •L •L •L
A. The following Fund is not authorized to invest in collateralized bond obligations: Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund.
B. The following Fund is not authorized to invest in common stock: U.S. Government Mortgage Fund.
C. The following Fund is not authorized to invest in convertible securities: Commodity Strategy Fund.
D. The following Fund is not authorized to invest in convertible securities: U.S. Government Mortgage Fund.
E. While the Fund is prohibited from investing in corporate bonds, it may invest in securities classified as corporate bonds if they meet the requirements of Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Act.
F. The following equity, flexible, taxable fixed income and tax-exempt fixed income Funds are not authorized to invest in Custody Receipts and Trust Certificates: each series of CFST.
G. The following Funds are authorized to invest in Dollar Rolls: AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund, Commodity Strategy Fund, Flexible Capital Income Fund, Global Opportunities Fund and each series of CFST.
H. The following Funds are not authorized to invest in Foreign Currency Transactions: State Tax-Exempt and State Municipal Bond Funds.
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I. The following Funds are authorized to invest in inverse floaters: AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund, Commodity Strategy Fund, Flexible Capital Income Fund, Global Opportunities Fund and each series of CFST.
J. The following taxable fixed income and tax-exempt fixed income Funds are not authorized to invest in preferred stock: AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund and U.S. Government Mortgage Fund.
K. The Funds are not prohibited from engaging in short sales, subject to any Fundamental or Non-Fundamental Investment policy, however, each Fund will seek Board approval prior to utilizing short sales as an active part of its investment strategy.
L. The following equity, flexible, taxable money market and tax-exempt fixed income Funds are authorized to invest in Floating Rate Loans: AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund, Commodity Strategy Fund, Flexible Capital Income Fund, Global Opportunities Fund and each series of CFST.
Asset-Backed Securities
Asset-backed securities represent interests in, or debt instruments that are backed by, pools of various types of assets that generate cash payments generally over fixed periods of time, such as, among others, motor vehicle installment sales, contracts, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, and receivables from revolving (credit card) agreements. Such securities entitle the security holders to receive distributions ( i.e. , principal and interest) that are tied to the payments made by the borrower on the underlying assets (less fees paid to the originator, servicer, or other parties, and fees paid for credit enhancement), so that the payments made on the underlying assets effectively pass through to such security holders. Asset-backed securities typically are created by an originator of loans or owner of accounts receivable that sells such underlying assets to a special purpose entity in a process called a securitization. The special purpose entity issues securities that are backed by the payments on the underlying assets, and have a minimum denomination and specific term. Asset-backed securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. Collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) are but one example of an asset-backed security. See Types of Investments – Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments – Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities and Types of Investments – Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with asset-backed securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Liquidity Risk and Prepayment and Extension Risk.
Bank Obligations (Domestic and Foreign)
Bank obligations include certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, time deposits and promissory notes that earn a specified rate of return and may be issued by (i) a domestic branch of a domestic bank, (ii) a foreign branch of a domestic bank, (iii) a domestic branch of a foreign bank or (iv) a foreign branch of a foreign bank. Bank obligations may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations. See Types of Investments – Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations for more information.
Certificates of deposit, or so-called CDs, typically are interest-bearing debt instruments issued by banks and have maturities ranging from a few weeks to several years. Yankee dollar certificates of deposit are negotiable CDs issued in the United States by branches and agencies of foreign banks. Eurodollar certificates of deposit are CDs issued by foreign banks with interest and principal paid in U.S. dollars. Eurodollar and Yankee Dollar CDs typically have maturities of less than two years and have interest rates that typically are pegged to the London Interbank Offered Rate or LIBOR. See Types of Investments – Eurodollar and Yankee Dollar and Related Derivative Instruments . Bankers’ acceptances are time drafts drawn on and accepted by banks, are a customary means of effecting payment for merchandise sold in import-export transactions and are a general source of financing. A time deposit can be either a savings account or CD that is an obligation of a financial institution for a fixed term. Typically, there are penalties for early withdrawals of time deposits. Promissory notes are written commitments of the maker to pay the payee a specified sum of money either on demand or at a fixed or determinable future date, with or without interest.
Bank investment contracts are issued by banks. Pursuant to such contracts, a Fund may make cash contributions to a deposit fund of a bank. The bank then credits to the Fund payments at floating or fixed interest rates. A Fund also may hold funds on deposit with its custodian for temporary purposes.
Certain bank obligations, such as some CDs, are insured by the FDIC up to certain specified limits. Many other bank obligations, however, are neither guaranteed nor insured by the FDIC or the U.S. Government. These bank obligations are “backed” only by the creditworthiness of the issuing bank or parent financial institution. Domestic and foreign banks are subject to different governmental regulation. Accordingly, certain obligations of foreign banks, including Eurodollar and Yankee dollar obligations, involve different and/or heightened investment risks than those affecting obligations of domestic banks, including, among others, the possibilities that: (i) their liquidity could be impaired because of political or economic developments; (ii) the obligations may be less marketable than comparable obligations of domestic banks; (iii) a foreign jurisdiction might impose withholding and other taxes at high levels on interest income; (iv) foreign deposits may be seized or nationalized; (v) foreign governmental restrictions such as exchange controls may be imposed, which could adversely affect the payment of principal and/or interest on those obligations; (vi) there may be less publicly available information concerning foreign banks issuing the
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obligations; and (vii) the reserve requirements and accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements applicable to foreign banks may differ (including, less stringent) from those applicable to domestic banks. Foreign banks generally are not subject to examination by any U.S. Government agency or instrumentality. See Types of Investments – Foreign Securities .
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with bank obligations include: Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Liquidity Risk, and Prepayment and Extension Risk.
Collateralized Bond Obligations
Collateralized bond obligations (CBOs) are investment grade bonds backed by a pool of bonds, which may include junk bonds (which are considered speculative investments). CBOs are similar in concept to collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), but differ in that CBOs represent different degrees of credit quality rather than different maturities. (See Types of Investments – Mortgage-Backed Securities and – Asset-Backed Securities . ) CBOs are often privately offered and sold, and thus not registered under the federal securities laws.
Underwriters of CBOs package a large and diversified pool of high-risk, high-yield junk bonds, which is then structured into “tranches.” Typically, the first tranche represents a senior claim on collateral and pays the lowest interest rate; the second tranche is junior to the first tranche and therefore subject to greater risk and pays a higher rate; the third tranche is junior to both the first and second tranche, represents the lowest credit quality and instead of receiving a fixed interest rate receives the residual interest payments — money that is left over after the higher tranches have been paid. CBOs, like CMOs, are substantially overcollateralized and this, plus the diversification of the pool backing them, may earn certain of the tranches investment-grade bond ratings. Holders of third-tranche CBOs stand to earn higher or lower yields depending on the rate of defaults in the collateral pool. See Types of Investments – High-Yield Securities .
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with CBOs include: Credit Risk, Illiquid Securities Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Liquidity Risk, High-Yield Securities Risk and Prepayment and Extension Risk.
Commercial Paper
Commercial paper is a short-term debt obligation, usually sold on a discount basis, with a maturity ranging from 2 to 270 days issued by banks, corporations and other borrowers. It is sold to investors with temporary idle cash as a way to increase returns on a short-term basis. These instruments are generally unsecured, which increases the credit risk associated with this type of investment. See Types of Investments — Debt Obligations and Types of Investments — Illiquid Securities. See Appendix A for a discussion of securities ratings.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with commercial paper include: Credit Risk and Liquidity Risk.
Common Stock
Common stock represents a unit of equity ownership of a corporation. Owners typically are entitled to vote on the selection of directors and other important corporate governance matters, and to receive dividend payments, if any, on their holdings. However, ownership of common stock does not entitle owners to participate in the day-to-day operations of the corporation. Common stocks of domestic and foreign public corporations can be listed, and their shares traded, on domestic stock exchanges, such as the NYSE or the NASDAQ Stock Market. Domestic and foreign corporations also may have their shares traded on foreign exchanges, such as the London Stock Exchange or Tokyo Stock Exchange. See Types of Investments – Foreign Securities . Common stock may be privately placed or publicly offered. The price of common stock is generally determined by corporate earnings, type of products or services offered, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and market conditions generally. In the event that a corporation declares bankruptcy or is liquidated, the claims of secured and unsecured creditors and owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock. See Types of Investments – Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities – Preferred Stock and – Convertible Securities for more information.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with common stock include: Issuer Risk and Market Risk.
Convertible Securities
Convertible securities include bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price (the conversion price). As such, convertible securities combine the investment characteristics of debt securities and equity securities. A holder of convertible securities is entitled to receive the income of a bond, debenture or note or the dividend of a preferred stock until the conversion privilege is exercised. The market value of
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convertible securities generally is a function of, among other factors, interest rates, the rates of return of similar nonconvertible securities and the financial strength of the issuer. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates rise and, conversely, to rise as interest rates decline. However, a convertible security’s market value tends to reflect the market price of the common stock of the issuing company when that stock price approaches or is greater than its conversion price. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, the price of the convertible security tends to be influenced more by the rate of return of the convertible security. Because both interest rate and common stock’s market movements can influence their value, convertible securities generally are not as sensitive to changes in interest rates as similar non-convertible debt securities nor generally as sensitive to changes in share price as the underlying common stock. Convertible securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. See Types of Investments – Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments – Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities, Types of Investments – Common Stock, Types of Investments – Corporate Debt Securities and Types of Investments – Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.
Certain convertible securities may have a mandatory conversion feature, pursuant to which the securities convert automatically into common stock or other equity securities (of the same or a different issuer) at a specified date and at a specified exchange ratio. Certain convertible securities may be convertible at the option of the issuer, which may require a holder to convert the security into the underlying common stock, even at times when the value of the underlying common stock or other equity security has declined substantially. In addition, some convertible securities may be rated below investment grade or may not be rated and, therefore, may be considered speculative investments. Companies that issue convertible securities frequently are small- and mid-capitalization companies and, accordingly, carry the risks associated with such companies. In addition, the credit rating of a company’s convertible securities generally is lower than that of its conventional debt securities. Convertible securities are senior to equity securities and have a claim to the assets of an issuer prior to the holders of the issuer’s common stock in the event of liquidation but generally are subordinate to similar non-convertible debt securities of the same issuer. Some convertible securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates when their predetermined conversion price is much higher than the price for the issuing company’s common stock.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with convertible securities include: Convertible Securities Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Market Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk, and Reinvestment Risk.
Corporate Debt Securities
Corporate debt securities are long and short term fixed income securities typically issued by businesses to finance their operations. Corporate debt securities are issued by public or private companies, as distinct from debt securities issued by a government or its agencies. The issuer of a corporate debt security often has a contractual obligation to pay interest at a stated rate on specific dates and to repay principal periodically or on a specified maturity date. Corporate debt securities typically have four distinguishing features: (1) they are taxable; (2) they have a par value of $1,000; (3) they have a term maturity, which means they come due at a specified time period; and (4) many are traded on major securities exchanges. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most common types of corporate debt securities, with the primary difference being their interest rates, maturity dates and secured or unsecured status. Commercial paper has the shortest term and usually is unsecured, as are debentures. The broad category of corporate debt securities includes debt issued by domestic or foreign companies of all kinds, including those with small-, mid- and large-capitalizations. The category also includes bank loans, as well as assignments, participations and other interests in bank loans. Corporate debt securities may be rated investment grade or below investment grade and may be structured as fixed-, variable or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. They may also be senior or subordinated obligations. See Appendix A for a discussion of securities ratings. See Types of Investments – Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments – Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities, Types of Investments – Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities, Types of Investments – Debt Obligations, Types of Investments – Commercial Paper and Types of Investments – High-Yield Securities for more information.
Extendible commercial notes (ECNs) are very similar to commercial paper except that, with ECNs, the issuer has the option to extend the notes’ maturity. ECNs are issued at a discount rate, with an initial redemption of not more than 90 days from the date of issue. If ECNs are not redeemed by the issuer on the initial redemption date, the issuer will pay a premium (step-up) rate based on the ECN’s credit rating at the time.
Because of the wide range of types and maturities of corporate debt securities, as well as the range of creditworthiness of issuers, corporate debt securities can have widely varying risk/return profiles. For example, commercial paper issued by a large established domestic corporation that is rated by an NRSRO as investment grade may have a relatively modest return on principal but present relatively limited risk. On the other hand, a long-term corporate note issued, for example, by a small foreign corporation from an emerging market country that has not been rated by an NRSRO may have the potential for relatively large returns on principal but carries a relatively high degree of risk.
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Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with corporate debt securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, High Yield Securities Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk and Reinvestment Risk.
Custody Receipts and Trust Certificates
Custody receipts and trust certificates are derivative products that evidence direct ownership in a pool of securities. Typically, a sponsor will deposit a pool of securities with a custodian in exchange for custody receipts evidencing interests in those securities. The sponsor generally then will sell the custody receipts or trust certificates in negotiated transactions at varying prices. Each custody receipt or trust certificate evidences the individual securities in the pool and the holder of a custody receipt or trust certificate generally will have all the rights and privileges of owners of those securities.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with custody receipts and trust certificates include: Liquidity Risk and Counterparty Risk. In addition, custody receipts and trust certificates generally are subject to the same risks as the securities evidenced by the receipts or certificates.
Debt Obligations
Many different types of debt obligations exist (for example, bills, bonds, and notes). Issuers of debt obligations have a contractual obligation to pay interest at a fixed, variable or floating rate on specified dates and to repay principal by a specified maturity date. Certain debt obligations (usually intermediate and long-term bonds) have provisions that allow the issuer to redeem or “call” a bond before its maturity. Issuers are most likely to call these securities during periods of falling interest rates. When this happens, an investor may have to replace these securities with lower yielding securities, which could result in a lower return.
The market value of debt obligations is affected primarily by changes in prevailing interest rates and the issuer’s perceived ability to repay the debt. The market value of a debt obligation generally reacts inversely to interest rate changes. When prevailing interest rates decline, the market value of the bond usually rises, and when prevailing interest rates rise, the market value of the bond usually declines.
In general, the longer the maturity of a debt obligation, the higher its yield and the greater the sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Conversely, the shorter the maturity, the lower the yield and the lower the sensitivity to changes in interest rates.
As noted, the values of debt obligations also may be affected by changes in the credit rating or financial condition of their issuers. Generally, the lower the quality rating of a security, the higher the degree of risk as to the payment of interest and return of principal. To compensate investors for taking on such increased risk, those issuers deemed to be less creditworthy generally must offer their investors higher interest rates than do issuers with better credit ratings. See Types of Investments – Corporate Debt Securities, Types of Investments – High-Yield Securities. See Types of Investments – Trust-Preferred Securities for information with respect to the trust-preferred or trust-issued securities.
Determining Investment Grade for Purposes of Investment Policies. Unless otherwise stated in the Fund’s prospectus, when determining, under a Fund’s investment policies, whether a debt instrument is investment grade or below investment grade for purposes of purchase by the Fund, the Fund will apply a particular credit quality rating methodology, as described within the Fund’s shareholder reports, when available. These methodologies typically make use of credit quality ratings assigned by a third-party rating agency or agencies, when available. Credit quality ratings assigned by a rating agency are subjective opinions, not statements of fact, and are subject to change, including daily. Credit quality ratings apply to the Fund’s debt instrument investments and not the Fund itself.
Ratings limitations under a Fund’s investment policies are applied at the time of purchase by a Fund. Subsequent to purchase, a debt instrument may cease to be rated by a rating agency or its rating may be reduced by a rating agency(ies) below the minimum required for purchase by a Fund. Neither event will require the sale of such debt instrument, but it may be a factor in considering whether to continue to hold the instrument. Unless otherwise stated in a Fund’s prospectus or in this SAI, a Fund may invest in debt instruments that are not rated by a rating agency. When a debt instrument is not rated by a rating agency, the Investment Manager or, as applicable, a Fund subadviser determines, at the time of purchase, whether such debt instrument is of investment grade or below investment grade (e.g., junk bond) quality. A Fund’s debt instrument holdings that are not rated by a rating agency are typically referred to as “Not Rated” within the Fund’s shareholder reports.
See Appendix A for a discussion of securities ratings.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with debt obligations include: Confidential Information Access Risk, Credit Risk, Highly Leveraged Transactions Risk, Impairment of Collateral Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Liquidity Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk and Reinvestment Risk.
Determining Average Maturity. When determining the average maturity of a Fund's portfolio, the Fund may use the effective maturity of a portfolio security by, among other things, adjusting for interest rate reset dates, call dates or “put” dates.
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Depositary Receipts
See Types of Investments – Foreign Securities below.
Derivatives
General
Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are based on (or “derived” from) traditional securities (such as a stock or a bond), assets (such as a commodity, like gold), reference rates (such as LIBOR), market indices (such as the S& P 500 ® Index) or customized baskets of securities or instruments. Some forms of derivatives, such as exchange-traded futures and options on securities, commodities, or indices, are traded on regulated exchanges. These types of derivatives are standardized contracts that can easily be bought and sold, and whose market values are determined and published daily. Non-standardized derivatives, on the other hand, tend to be more specialized or complex, and may be harder to value. Many derivative instruments often require little or no initial payment and therefore often create inherent economic leverage. Derivatives, when used properly, can enhance returns and be useful in hedging portfolios and managing risk. Some common types of derivatives include futures; options; options on futures; forward foreign currency exchange contracts; forward contracts on securities and securities indices; linked securities and structured products; CMOs; stripped securities; warrants and rights; swap agreements and swaptions.
A Fund may use derivatives for a variety of reasons, including, for example: (i) to enhance its return; (ii) to attempt to protect against possible unfavorable changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased for its portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange rate fluctuations ( i.e. , to hedge); (iii) to protect its unrealized gains reflected in the value of its portfolio securities; (iv) to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment purposes; (v) to reduce transaction costs; (vi) to manage the effective maturity or duration of its portfolio; and/or (vii) to maintain cash reserves while remaining fully invested.
A Fund may use any or all of the above investment techniques and may purchase different types of derivative instruments at any time and in any combination. The use of derivatives is a function of numerous variables, including market conditions. See also Types of Investments – Warrants and Rights and When Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions .
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with transactions in derivatives (including the derivatives instruments discussed below) include: Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Leverage Risk, Liquidity Risk, Market Risk, Derivatives Risk, Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk, Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk, Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Futures Contracts Risk, Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Structured Notes Risk, Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Swaps, Derivatives Risk/Forward Interest Rate Agreements Risk, Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk, Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk, Derivatives Risk/Inverse Floaters Risk, Derivatives Risk/Options Risk, Derivatives Risk/Portfolio Swaps and Total Return Swaps Risk, Derivatives Risk/Total Return Swaps Risk, and Derivatives Risk/Warrants Risk.
Indexed or Linked Securities (Structured Products)
General . Indexed or linked securities, also often referred to as “structured products,” are instruments that may have varying combinations of equity and debt characteristics. These instruments are structured to recast the investment characteristics of the underlying security or reference asset. If the issuer is a unit investment trust or other special purpose vehicle, the structuring will typically involve the deposit with or purchase by such issuer of specified instruments (such as commercial bank loans or securities) and/or the execution of various derivative transactions, and the issuance by that entity of one or more classes of securities (structured securities) backed by, or representing interests in, the underlying instruments. The cash flow on the underlying instruments may be apportioned among the newly issued structured securities to create securities with different investment characteristics, such as varying maturities, payment priorities and interest rate provisions, and the extent of such payments made with respect to structured securities is dependent on the extent of the cash flow on the underlying instruments.
Indexed and Inverse Floating Rate Securities. A Fund may invest in securities that provide a potential return based on a particular index or interest rates. For example, a Fund may invest in debt securities that pay interest based on an index of interest rates. The principal amount payable upon maturity of certain securities also may be based on the value of the index. To the extent a Fund invests in these types of securities, a Fund’s return on such securities will rise and fall with the value of the particular index: that is, if the value of the index falls, the value of the indexed securities owned by a Fund will fall. Interest and principal payable on certain securities may also be based on relative changes among particular indices.
A Fund may also invest in so-called “inverse floaters” or “residual interest bonds” on which the interest rates vary inversely with a floating rate (which may be reset periodically by a dutch auction, a remarketing agent, or by reference to a short-term tax-exempt interest rate index). A Fund may purchase synthetically-created inverse floating rate bonds evidenced by custodial or trust receipts. A trust funds the purchase of a bond by issuing two classes of certificates: short-term floating rate notes (typically sold to third parties) and the inverse floaters (also known as residual certificates). No additional income beyond that provided by the trust’s underlying bond is created; rather, that income is merely divided-up between the two classes of certificates. Generally,
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income on inverse floating rate bonds will decrease when interest rates increase, and will increase when interest rates decrease. Such securities can have the effect of providing a degree of investment leverage, since they may increase or decrease in value in response to changes in market interest rates at a rate that is a multiple of the actual rate at which fixed-rate securities increase or decrease in response to such changes. As a result, the market values of such securities will generally be more volatile than the market values of fixed-rate securities. To seek to limit the volatility of these securities, a Fund may purchase inverse floating obligations that have shorter-term maturities or that contain limitations on the extent to which the interest rate may vary. Certain investments in such obligations may be illiquid. Furthermore, where such a security includes a contingent liability, in the event of an adverse movement in the underlying index or interest rate, a Fund may be required to pay substantial additional margin to maintain the position.
Credit-Linked Securities. Among the income-producing securities in which a Fund may invest are credit linked securities. The issuers of these securities frequently are limited purpose trusts or other special purpose vehicles that, in turn, invest in a derivative instrument or basket of derivative instruments, such as credit default swaps, interest rate swaps and other securities, in order to provide exposure to certain fixed income markets. For instance, a Fund may invest in credit-linked securities as a cash management tool in order to gain exposure to a certain market and/or to remain fully invested when more traditional income-producing securities are not available. Like an investment in a bond, investments in these credit linked securities represent the right to receive periodic income payments (in the form of distributions) and payment of principal at the end of the term of the security. However, these payments are conditioned on or linked to the issuer’s receipt of payments from, and the issuer’s potential obligations to, the counterparties to the derivative instruments and other securities in which the issuer invests. For instance, the issuer may sell one or more credit default swaps, under which the issuer would receive a stream of payments over the term of the swap agreements provided that no event of default has occurred with respect to the referenced debt obligation upon which the swap is based. If a default occurs, the stream of payments may stop and the issuer would be obligated to pay the counterparty the par (or other agreed upon value) of the referenced debt obligation. This, in turn, would reduce the amount of income and/or principal that a Fund would receive. A Fund’s investments in these securities are indirectly subject to the risks associated with derivative instruments. These securities generally are exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. Accordingly, there may be no established trading market for the securities and they may constitute illiquid investments.
Index-, Commodity- and Currency-Linked Securities. “Index-linked” or “commodity-linked” notes are debt securities of companies that call for interest payments and/or payment at maturity in different terms than the typical note where the borrower agrees to make fixed interest payments and to pay a fixed sum at maturity. Principal and/or interest payments on an index-linked or commodity-linked note depend on the performance of one or more market indices, such as the S&P 500 ® Index, a weighted index of commodity futures such as crude oil, gasoline and natural gas or the market prices of a particular commodity or basket of commodities or securities. Currency-linked debt securities are short-term or intermediate-term instruments having a value at maturity, and/or an interest rate, determined by reference to one or more foreign currencies. Payment of principal or periodic interest may be calculated as a multiple of the movement of one currency against another currency, or against an index.
Index-, commodity- and currency-linked securities may entail substantial risks. Such instruments may be subject to significant price volatility. The company issuing the instrument may fail to pay the amount due on maturity. The underlying investment may not perform as expected by a Fund’s portfolio manager. Markets and underlying investments and indexes may move in a direction that was not anticipated by a Fund’s portfolio manager. Performance of the derivatives may be influenced by interest rate and other market changes in the United States and abroad, and certain derivative instruments may be illiquid.
Linked securities are often issued by unit investment trusts. Examples of this include such index-linked securities as S&P Depositary Receipts (SPDRs), which is an interest in a unit investment trust holding a portfolio of securities linked to the S&P 500 ® Index, and a type of exchange-traded fund (ETF). Because a unit investment trust is an investment company under the 1940 Act, a Fund’s investments in SPDRs are subject to the limitations set forth in Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, although the SEC has issued exemptive relief permitting investment companies such as the Funds to invest beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1)(A) subject to certain conditions. SPDRs generally closely track the underlying portfolio of securities, trade like a share of common stock and pay periodic dividends proportionate to those paid by the portfolio of stocks that comprise the S&P 500 ® Index. As a holder of interests in a unit investment trust, a Fund would indirectly bear its ratable share of that unit investment trust’s expenses. At the same time, a Fund would continue to pay its own management and advisory fees and other expenses, as a result of which a Fund and its shareholders in effect would be absorbing levels of fees with respect to investments in such unit investment trusts.
Because linked securities typically involve no credit enhancement, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments. Investments in structured products may be structured as a class that is either subordinated or unsubordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated linked securities typically have higher rates of return and present greater risks than unsubordinated structured products. Structured products sometimes are sold in private placement transactions and often have a limited trading market.
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Investments in linked securities have the potential to lead to significant losses because of unexpected movements in the underlying financial asset, index, currency or other investment. The ability of a Fund to utilize linked securities successfully will depend on its ability correctly to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. Because currency-linked securities usually relate to foreign currencies, some of which may be currencies from emerging market countries, there are certain additional risks associated with such investments.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts
Futures Contracts. A futures contract sale creates an obligation by the seller to deliver the type of security or other asset called for in the contract at a specified delivery time for a stated price. A futures contract purchase creates an obligation by the purchaser to take delivery of the type of security or other asset called for in the contract at a specified delivery time for a stated price. The specific security or other asset delivered or taken at the settlement date is not determined until on or near that date. The determination is made in accordance with the rules of the exchange on which the futures contract was made. A Fund may enter into futures contracts which are traded on national or foreign futures exchanges and are standardized as to maturity date and underlying security or other asset. Futures exchanges and trading in the United States are regulated under the CEA by the CFTC, a U.S. Government agency. See Types of Investments – Derivatives – CFTC Regulation below for information on CFTC regulation.
Traders in futures contracts may be broadly classified as either “hedgers” or “speculators.” Hedgers use the futures markets primarily to offset unfavorable changes (anticipated or potential) in the value of securities or other assets currently owned or expected to be acquired by them. Speculators less often own the securities or other assets underlying the futures contracts which they trade, and generally use futures contracts with the expectation of realizing profits from fluctuations in the value of the underlying securities or other assets.
Upon entering into futures contracts, in compliance with regulatory requirements, cash or liquid securities, at least equal in value to the amount of a Fund’s obligation under the contract (less any applicable margin deposits and any assets that constitute “cover” for such obligation), will be designated in a Fund’s books and records.
Unlike when a Fund purchases or sells a security, no price is paid or received by a Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract, although a Fund is required to deposit with its custodian in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker an amount of cash and/or U.S. Government securities in order to initiate and maintain open positions in futures contracts. This amount is known as “initial margin.” The nature of initial margin in futures transactions is different from that of margin in security transactions, in that futures contract margin does not involve the borrowing of funds by a Fund to finance the transactions. Rather, initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit intended to assure completion of the contract (delivery or acceptance of the underlying security or other asset) that is returned to a Fund upon termination of the futures contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Minimum initial margin requirements are established by the relevant futures exchange and may be changed. Brokers may establish deposit requirements which are higher than the exchange minimums. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margin which may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded. Subsequent payments, called “variation margin,” to and from the broker (or the custodian) are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying security or other asset fluctuates, a process known as “marking to market.” If the futures contract price changes to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional variation margin will be required. Conversely, a change in the contract value may reduce the required margin, resulting in a repayment of excess margin to the contract holder. Variation margin payments are made for as long as the contract remains open. A Fund expects to earn interest income on its margin deposits.
Although futures contracts by their terms call for actual delivery or acceptance of securities or other assets (stock index futures contracts or futures contracts that reference other intangible assets do not permit delivery of the referenced assets), the contracts usually are closed out before the settlement date without the making or taking of delivery. A Fund may elect to close some or all of its futures positions at any time prior to their expiration. The purpose of taking such action would be to reduce or eliminate the position then currently held by a Fund. Closing out an open futures position is done by taking an opposite position (“buying” a contract which has previously been “sold,” “selling” a contract previously “purchased”) in an identical contract ( i.e. , the same aggregate amount of the specific type of security or other asset with the same delivery date) to terminate the position. Final determinations are made as to whether the price of the initial sale of the futures contract exceeds or is below the price of the offsetting purchase, or whether the purchase price exceeds or is below the offsetting sale price. Final determinations of variation margin are then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to a Fund, and a Fund realizes a loss or a gain. Brokerage commissions are incurred when a futures contract is bought or sold.
Successful use of futures contracts by a Fund is subject to its portfolio manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of interest rates and other factors affecting securities and commodities markets. This requires different skills and techniques than those required to predict changes in the prices of individual securities. A Fund, therefore, bears the risk that future market trends will be incorrectly predicted.
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The risk of loss in trading futures contracts in some strategies can be substantial, due both to the relatively low margin deposits required and the potential for an extremely high degree of leverage involved in futures contracts. As a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss to the investor. For example, if at the time of purchase, 10% of the value of the futures contract is deposited as margin, a subsequent 10% decrease in the value of the futures contract would result in a total loss of the margin deposit, before any deduction for the transaction costs, if the account were then closed out. A 15% decrease would result in a loss equal to 150% of the original margin deposit if the contract were closed out. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount posted as initial margin for the contract.
In the event of adverse price movements, a Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments in order to maintain its required margin. In such a situation, if a Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities in order to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The inability to close the futures position also could have an adverse impact on the ability to hedge effectively.
To reduce or eliminate a hedge position held by a Fund, a Fund may seek to close out a position. The ability to establish and close out positions will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid secondary market. It is not certain that this market will develop or continue to exist for a particular futures contract, which may limit a Fund’s ability to realize its profits or limit its losses. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain contracts; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions, closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of contracts, or underlying securities; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances, such as volume in excess of trading or clearing capability, may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or a clearing corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of contracts (or a particular class or series of contracts), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in the class or series of contracts) would cease to exist, although outstanding contracts on the exchange that had been issued by a clearing corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
Interest Rate Futures Contracts. Bond prices are established in both the cash market and the futures market. In the cash market, bonds are purchased and sold with payment for the full purchase price of the bond being made in cash, generally within five business days after the trade. In the futures market, a contract is made to purchase or sell a bond in the future for a set price on a certain date. Historically, the prices for bonds established in the futures markets have tended to move generally in the aggregate in concert with the cash market prices and have maintained fairly predictable relationships. Accordingly, a Fund may use interest rate futures contracts as a defense, or hedge, against anticipated interest rate changes. A Fund presently could accomplish a similar result to that which it hopes to achieve through the use of interest rate futures contracts by selling bonds with long maturities and investing in bonds with short maturities when interest rates are expected to increase, or conversely, selling bonds with short maturities and investing in bonds with long maturities when interest rates are expected to decline. However, because of the liquidity that is often available in the futures market, the protection is more likely to be achieved, perhaps at a lower cost and without changing the rate of interest being earned by a Fund, through using futures contracts.
Interest rate futures contracts are traded in an auction environment on the floors of several exchanges — principally, the Chicago Board of Trade, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the New York Futures Exchange. Each exchange guarantees performance under contract provisions through a clearing corporation, a nonprofit organization managed by the exchange membership. A public market exists in futures contracts covering various financial instruments including long-term U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes; GNMA modified pass-through mortgage backed securities; three-month U.S. Treasury Bills; and ninety-day commercial paper. A Fund may also invest in exchange-traded Eurodollar contracts, which are interest rate futures on the forward level of LIBOR. These contracts are generally considered liquid securities and trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Such Eurodollar contracts are generally used to “lock-in” or hedge the future level of short-term rates. A Fund may trade in any interest rate futures contracts for which there exists a public market, including, without limitation, the foregoing instruments.
Index Futures Contracts. An index futures contract is a contract to buy or sell units of an index at a specified future date at a price agreed upon when the contract is made. Entering into a contract to buy units of an index is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position in the index. Entering into a contract to sell units of an index is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position in the index. A unit is the current value of the index. A Fund may enter into stock index futures contracts, debt index futures contracts, or other index futures contracts appropriate to its objective(s).
Municipal Bond Index Futures Contracts. Municipal bond index futures contracts may act as a hedge against changes in market conditions. A municipal bond index assigns values daily to the municipal bonds included in the index based on the independent assessment of dealer-to-dealer municipal bond brokers. A municipal bond index futures contract represents a firm
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commitment by which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount equal to a specified dollar amount multiplied by the difference between the municipal bond index value on the last trading date of the contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally struck. No physical delivery of the underlying securities in the index is made.
Commodity-Linked Futures Contracts. Commodity-linked futures contracts are traded on futures exchanges. These futures exchanges offer a central marketplace in which to transact in futures contracts, a clearing corporation to process trades, and standardization of expiration dates and contract sizes. Futures markets also specify the terms and conditions of delivery as well as the maximum permissible price movement during a trading session. Additionally, the commodity futures exchanges may have position limit rules that limit the amount of futures contracts that any one party may hold in a particular commodity at any point in time. These position limit rules are designed to prevent any one participant from controlling a significant portion of the market.
Commodity-linked futures contracts are generally based upon commodities within six main commodity groups: (1) energy, which includes, among others, crude oil, brent crude oil, gas oil, natural gas, gasoline and heating oil; (2) livestock, which includes, among others, feeder cattle, live cattle and hogs; (3) agriculture, which includes, among others, wheat (Kansas wheat and Chicago wheat), corn and soybeans; (4) industrial metals, which includes, among others, aluminum, copper, lead, nickel and zinc; and (5) precious metals, which includes, among others, gold and silver; and (6) softs, which includes cotton, coffee, sugar and cocoa. A Fund may purchase commodity futures contracts, swaps on commodity futures contracts, options on futures contracts and options and futures on commodity indices with respect to these six main commodity groups and the individual commodities within each group, as well as other types of commodities.
The price of a commodity futures contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity. These storage costs include the time value of money invested in the physical commodity plus the actual costs of storing the commodity less any benefits from ownership of the physical commodity that are not obtained by the holder of a futures contract (this is sometimes referred to as the “convenience yield”). To the extent that these storage costs change for an underlying commodity while a Fund is long futures contracts on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may change proportionately.
In the commodity futures markets, if producers of the underlying commodity wish to hedge the price risk of selling the commodity, they will sell futures contracts today to lock in the price of the commodity at delivery tomorrow. In order to induce speculators to take the corresponding long side of the same futures contract, the commodity producer must be willing to sell the futures contract at a price that is below the expected future spot price. Conversely, if the predominant hedgers in the futures market are the purchasers of the underlying commodity who purchase futures contracts to hedge against a rise in prices, then speculators will only take the short side of the futures contract if the futures price is greater than the expected future spot price of the commodity.
The changing nature of the hedgers and speculators in the commodity markets will influence whether futures contract prices are above or below the expected future spot price. This can have significant implications for a Fund when it is time to replace an existing contract with a new contract. If the nature of hedgers and speculators in futures markets has shifted such that commodity purchasers are the predominant hedgers in the market, a Fund might open the new futures position at a higher price or choose other related commodity-linked investments.
The values of commodities which underlie commodity futures contracts are subject to additional variables which may be less significant to the values of traditional securities such as stocks and bonds. Variables such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes and tariffs may have a larger impact on commodity prices and commodity-linked investments, including futures contracts, commodity-linked structured notes, commodity-linked options and commodity-linked swaps, than on traditional securities. These additional variables may create additional investment risks which subject a Fund’s commodity-linked investments to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities.
Options on Futures Contracts. A Fund may purchase and write call and put options on those futures contracts that it is permitted to buy or sell. A Fund may use such options on futures contracts in lieu of writing options directly on the underlying securities or other assets or purchasing and selling the underlying futures contracts. Such options generally operate in the same manner as options purchased or written directly on the underlying investments. A futures option gives the holder, in return for the premium paid, the right, but not the obligation, to buy from (call) or sell to (put) the writer of the option a futures contract at a specified price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise, the writer of the option is obligated to pay the difference between the cash value of the futures contract and the exercise price. Like the buyer or seller of a futures contract, the holder or writer of an option has the right to terminate its position prior to the scheduled expiration of the option by selling or purchasing an option of the same series, at which time the person entering into the closing purchase transaction will realize a gain or loss. There is no guarantee that such closing purchase transactions can be effected.
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A Fund will enter into written options on futures contracts only when, in compliance with regulatory requirements, it has designated cash or liquid securities at least equal in value to the underlying security’s or other asset’s value (less any applicable margin deposits). A Fund will be required to deposit initial margin and maintenance margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it pursuant to brokers’ requirements similar to those described above.
Options on Index Futures Contracts. A Fund may also purchase and sell options on index futures contracts. Options on index futures give the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in an index futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put), at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account, which represents the amount by which the market price of the index futures contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the index future. If an option is exercised on the last trading day prior to the expiration date of the option, the settlement will be made entirely in cash equal to the difference between the exercise price of the option and the closing level of the index on which the future is based on the expiration date. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the premium paid.
Use by Tax-Exempt Funds of Interest Rate and U.S. Treasury Security Futures Contracts and Options. If a Fund invests in tax-exempt securities, it may purchase and sell futures contracts and related options on interest rate and U.S. Treasury securities when, in the opinion of a Fund’s portfolio manager, price movements in these security futures and related options will correlate closely with price movements in the tax-exempt securities which are the subject of the hedge. Interest rate and U.S. Treasury securities futures contracts require the seller to deliver, or the purchaser to take delivery of, the type of security called for in the contract at a specified date and price. Options on interest rate and U.S. Treasury security futures contracts give the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract at the specified option exercise price at any time during the period of the option.
Options on Stocks, Stock Indices and Other Indices. A Fund may purchase and write ( i.e. , sell) put and call options. Such options may relate to particular stocks or stock indices, and may or may not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC). Stock index options are put options and call options on various stock indices. In most respects, they are identical to listed options on common stocks.
There is a key difference between stock options and index options in connection with their exercise. In the case of stock options, the underlying security, common stock, is delivered. However, upon the exercise of an index option, settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the index. The option holder who exercises the index option receives an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than (in the case of a call) or less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the stock index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple. A stock index fluctuates with changes in the market value of the securities included in the index. For example, some stock index options are based on a broad market index, such as the S&P 500 ® Index or a narrower market index, such as the S&P 100 ® Index. Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment.
A Fund may, for the purpose of hedging its portfolio, subject to applicable securities regulations, purchase and write put and call options on foreign stock indices listed on foreign and domestic stock exchanges.
As an alternative to purchasing call and put options on index futures, a Fund may purchase call and put options on the underlying indices themselves. Such options could be used in a manner identical to the use of options on index futures. Options involving securities indices provide the holder with the right to make or receive a cash settlement upon exercise of the option based on movements in the relevant index. Such options must be listed on a national securities exchange and issued by the OCC. Such options may relate to particular securities or to various stock indices, except that a Fund may not write covered options on an index.
Writing Covered Options. A Fund may write covered call options and covered put options on securities held in its portfolio. Call options written by a Fund give the purchaser the right to buy the underlying securities from a Fund at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the security’s market price; put options give the purchaser the right to sell the underlying securities to a Fund at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the security’s market price.
A Fund may write covered options, which means that, so long as a Fund is obligated as the writer of a call option, it will own the underlying securities subject to the option (or comparable securities satisfying the cover requirements of securities exchanges). In the case of put options, a Fund will hold liquid assets equal to the price to be paid if the option is exercised. In addition, a Fund will be considered to have covered a put or call option if and to the extent that it holds an option that offsets some or all of the risk of the option it has written. A Fund may write combinations of covered puts and calls (straddles) on the same underlying security.
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A Fund will receive a premium from writing a put or call option, which increases a Fund’s return on the underlying security if the option expires unexercised or is closed out at a profit. The amount of the premium reflects, among other things, the relationship between the exercise price and the current market value of the underlying security, the volatility of the underlying security, the amount of time remaining until expiration, current interest rates, and the effect of supply and demand in the options market and in the market for the underlying security. By writing a call option, a Fund limits its opportunity to profit from any increase in the market value of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option but continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of the underlying security. By writing a put option, a Fund assumes the risk that it may be required to purchase the underlying security for an exercise price higher than the security’s then-current market value, resulting in a potential capital loss unless the security subsequently appreciates in value.
A Fund’s obligation to sell an instrument subject to a call option written by it, or to purchase an instrument subject to a put option written by it, may be terminated prior to the expiration date of the option by a Fund’s execution of a closing purchase transaction, which is effected by purchasing on an exchange an offsetting option of the same series ( i.e. , same underlying instrument, exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously written. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected in order to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying instrument from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying instrument or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying instrument. A Fund realizes a profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction (option premium plus transaction costs) is less or more than the premium received from writing the option. Because increases in the market price of a call option generally reflect increases in the market price of the security underlying the option, any loss resulting from a closing purchase transaction may be offset in whole or in part by unrealized appreciation of the underlying security.
If a Fund writes a call option but does not own the underlying security, and when it writes a put option, a Fund may be required to deposit cash or securities with its broker as “margin” or collateral for its obligation to buy or sell the underlying security. As the value of the underlying security varies, a Fund may also have to deposit additional margin with the broker. Margin requirements are complex and are fixed by individual brokers, subject to minimum requirements currently imposed by the Federal Reserve Board and by stock exchanges and other self-regulatory organizations.
Purchasing Put Options. A Fund may purchase put options to protect its portfolio holdings in an underlying security against a decline in market value. Such hedge protection is provided during the life of the put option since a Fund, as holder of the put option, is able to sell the underlying security at the put exercise price regardless of any decline in the underlying security’s market price. For a put option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security must decline sufficiently below the exercise price to cover the premium and transaction costs. By using put options in this manner, a Fund will reduce any profit it might otherwise have realized from appreciation of the underlying security by the premium paid for the put option and by transaction costs.
Purchasing Call Options. A Fund may purchase call options, including call options to hedge against an increase in the price of securities that a Fund wants ultimately to buy. Such hedge protection is provided during the life of the call option since a Fund, as holder of the call option, is able to buy the underlying security at the exercise price regardless of any increase in the underlying security’s market price. In order for a call option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security must rise sufficiently above the exercise price to cover the premium and transaction costs. These costs will reduce any profit a Fund might have realized had it bought the underlying security at the time it purchased the call option.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Options. OTC options (options not traded on exchanges) are generally established through negotiation with the other party to the options contract. A Fund will enter into OTC options transactions only with primary dealers in U.S. Government securities and, in the case of OTC options written by a Fund, only pursuant to agreements that will assure that a Fund will at all times have the right to repurchase the option written by it from the dealer at a specified formula price. A Fund will treat the amount by which such formula price exceeds the amount, if any, by which the option may be “in-the-money” as an illiquid investment. It is the present policy of a Fund not to enter into any OTC option transaction if, as a result, more than 15% (10% in some cases; refer to your Fund’s prospectuses) of a Fund’s net assets would be invested in (i) illiquid investments (determined under the foregoing formula) relating to OTC options written by a Fund, (ii) OTC options purchased by a Fund, (iii) securities which are not readily marketable, and (iv) repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days.
Swap Agreements
Swap agreements are derivative instruments that can be individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease a Fund’s exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices or inflation rates. A Fund may enter into a variety of swap agreements, including interest rate, index, commodity, commodity futures, equity, equity index, credit default, bond futures, total return, portfolio and currency exchange rate swap agreements, and other types of swap agreements such as caps, collars and floors. A Fund also may enter into swaptions, which are options to enter into a swap agreement.
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Swap agreements are usually entered into without an upfront payment because the value of each party’s position is the same. The market values of the underlying commitments will change over time, resulting in one of the commitments being worth more than the other and the net market value creating a risk exposure for one party or the other.
In a typical interest rate swap, one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a floating interest rate times a “notional principal amount,” in return for payments equal to a fixed rate times the same amount, for a specified period of time. If a swap agreement provides for payments in different currencies, the parties might agree to exchange notional principal amounts as well. In a total return swap agreement, the non-floating rate side of the swap is based on the total return of an individual security, a basket of securities, an index or another reference asset. Swaps may also depend on other prices or rates, such as the value of an index or mortgage prepayment rates.
In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level, while the seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. A collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor. In interest rate collar transactions, one party sells a cap and purchases a floor, or vice versa, in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels or collar amounts.
Swap agreements will tend to shift a Fund’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another. For example, if a Fund agreed to pay fixed rates in exchange for floating rates while holding fixed-rate bonds, the swap would tend to decrease a Fund’s exposure to long-term interest rates. Another example is if a Fund agreed to exchange payments in dollars for payments in foreign currency. In that case, the swap agreement would tend to decrease a Fund’s exposure to U.S. interest rates and increase its exposure to foreign currency and interest rates.
Because swaps are two-party contracts that may be subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and termination and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. If a swap is not liquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.
Moreover, a Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. When a counterparty’s obligations are not fully secured by collateral, then the Fund is essentially an unsecured creditor of the counterparty. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there is no assurance that a counterparty will be able to meet its obligations pursuant to such contracts or that, in the event of default, the Fund will succeed in enforcing contractual remedies. Counterparty risk still exists even if a counterparty’s obligations are secured by collateral because the Fund’s interest in collateral may not be perfected or additional collateral may not be promptly posted as required. Counterparty risk also may be more pronounced if a counterparty’s obligations exceed the amount of collateral held by the Fund (if any), the Fund is unable to exercise its interest in collateral upon default by the counterparty, or the termination value of the instrument varies significantly from the marked-to-market value of the instrument.
Counterparty risk with respect to derivatives will be affected by new rules and regulations affecting the derivatives market. Some derivatives transactions are required to be centrally cleared, and a party to a cleared derivatives transaction is subject to the credit risk of the clearing house and the clearing member through which it holds its cleared position, rather than the credit risk of its original counterparty to the derivative transaction. Credit risk of market participants with respect to derivatives that are centrally cleared is concentrated in a few clearing houses, and it is not clear how an insolvency proceeding of a clearing house would be conducted and what impact an insolvency of a clearing house would have on the financial system. A clearing member is obligated by contract and by applicable regulation to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to cleared derivatives transactions from the clearing member’s proprietary assets. However, all funds and other property received by a clearing broker from its customers are generally held by the clearing broker on a commingled basis in an omnibus account, and the clearing member may invest those funds in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulations. The assets of a Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of a Fund’s clearing member, because the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing broker’s customers for a relevant account class. Also, the clearing member is required to transfer to the clearing organization the amount of margin required by the clearing organization for cleared derivatives, which amounts are generally held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization for all customers of the clearing member. Regulations promulgated by the CFTC require that the clearing member notify the clearing house of the amount of initial margin provided by the clearing member to the clearing organization that is attributable to each customer. However, if the clearing member does not provide accurate reporting, the Funds are subject to the risk that a clearing organization will use a Fund’s assets held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing organization. In addition, clearing members generally provide to the clearing organization the net amount of variation margin required for cleared swaps for all of its
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customers in the aggregate, rather than the gross amount of each customer. The Funds are therefore subject to the risk that a clearing organization will not make variation margin payments owed to a Fund if another customer of the clearing member has suffered a loss and is in default, and the risk that a Fund will be required to provide additional variation margin to the clearing house before the clearing house will move the Fund’s cleared derivatives transactions to another clearing member. In addition, if a clearing member does not comply with the applicable regulations or its agreement with the Funds, or in the event of fraud or misappropriation of customer assets by a clearing member, a Fund could have only an unsecured creditor claim in an insolvency of the clearing member with respect to the margin held by the clearing member.
Interest Rate Swaps. Interest rate swap agreements are often used to obtain or preserve a desired return or spread at a lower cost than through a direct investment in an instrument that yields the desired return or spread. They are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate cash flow for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. In a standard interest rate swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange their respective commitments to pay fixed or floating interest rates on a predetermined specified (notional) amount. The swap agreement’s notional amount is the predetermined basis for calculating the obligations that the swap counterparties have agreed to exchange. Under most swap agreements, the obligations of the parties are exchanged on a net basis. The two payment streams are netted out, with each party receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including LIBOR, swap rates, Treasury rates and foreign interest rates.
Credit Default Swap Agreements. A Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements, which may have as reference obligations one or more securities or a basket of securities that are or are not currently held by a Fund. The protection “buyer” in a credit default contract is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no credit event, such as a default, on a reference obligation has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount, if the swap is cash settled. A Fund may be either the buyer or seller in a credit default swap. If a Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, a Fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer generally may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity whose value may have significantly decreased. As a seller, a Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. As the seller, a Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, a Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.
Credit default swap agreements may involve greater risks than if a Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly since, in addition to risks relating to the reference obligation, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk. A Fund will enter into credit default swap agreements generally with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. A buyer generally will lose its investment and recover nothing if no credit event occurs and the swap is held to its termination date. If a credit event were to occur, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the seller.
A Fund’s obligations under a credit default swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund). In connection with credit default swaps in which a Fund is the buyer, the Fund will segregate or designate cash or other liquid assets or enter into certain offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the Fund’s exposure (any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed by the Fund to any counterparty), on a mark-to-market basis. In connection with credit default swaps in which a Fund is the seller, the Fund will segregate or designate cash or other liquid assets or enter into offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the full notional amount of the swap (minus any amounts owed to the Fund). Such segregation or designation will ensure that a Fund has assets available to satisfy its obligations with respect to the transaction. Such segregation or designation will not limit a Fund’s exposure to loss.
Equity Swaps. A Fund may engage in equity swaps. Equity swaps allow the parties to the swap agreement to exchange components of return on one equity investment ( e.g. , a basket of equity securities or an index) for a component of return on another non-equity or equity investment, including an exchange of differential rates of return. Equity swaps may be used to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in circumstances where direct investment may be restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impractical. Equity swaps also may be used for other purposes, such as hedging or seeking to increase total return.
Total Return Swap Agreements. Total return swap agreements are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets. Total return swap agreements may be used to
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obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such market. Total return swap agreements may effectively add leverage to a Fund’s portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, a Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.
Total return swap agreements are subject to the risk that a counterparty will default on its payment obligations to a Fund thereunder, and conversely, that a Fund will not be able to meet its obligation to the counterparty. Generally, a Fund will enter into total return swaps on a net basis ( i.e. , the two payment streams are netted against one another with a Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments). The net amount of the excess, if any, of a Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each total return swap will be accrued on a daily basis, and an amount of liquid assets having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to the accrued excess will be designated by a Fund in its books and records. If the total return swap transaction is entered into on other than a net basis, the full amount of a Fund’s obligations will be accrued on a daily basis, and the full amount of a Fund’s obligations will be designated by a Fund in an amount equal to or greater than the market value of the liabilities under the total return swap agreement or the amount it would have cost a Fund initially to make an equivalent direct investment, plus or minus any amount a Fund is obligated to pay or is to receive under the total return swap agreement.
Variance, Volatility and Correlation Swap Agreements. Variance and volatility swaps are contracts that provide exposure to increases or decreases in the volatility of certain referenced assets. Correlation swaps are contracts that provide exposure to increases or decreases in the correlation between the prices of different assets or different market rates.
Commodity-Linked Swaps. Commodity-linked swaps are two-party contracts in which the parties agree to exchange the return or interest rate on one instrument for the return of a particular commodity, commodity index or commodities futures or options contract. The payment streams are calculated by reference to an agreed upon notional amount. A one-period swap contract operates in a manner similar to a forward or futures contract because there is an agreement to swap a commodity for cash at only one forward date. A Fund may engage in swap transactions that have more than one period and therefore more than one exchange of commodities.
A Fund may invest in total return commodity swaps to gain exposure to the overall commodity markets. In a total return commodity swap, a Fund will receive the price appreciation of a commodity index, a portion of the index, or a single commodity in exchange for paying an agreed-upon fee. If the commodity swap is for one period, the Fund will pay a fixed fee, established at the outset of the swap. However, if the term of the commodity swap is more than one period, with interim swap payments, the Fund will pay an adjustable or floating fee. With a “floating” rate, the fee is pegged to a base rate such as LIBOR, and is adjusted each period. Therefore, if interest rates increase over the term of the swap contract, a Fund may be required to pay a higher fee at each swap reset date.
Cross Currency Swaps. Cross currency swaps are similar to interest rate swaps, except that they involve multiple currencies. A Fund may enter into a cross currency swap when it has exposure to one currency and desires exposure to a different currency. Typically, the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of the contract. In addition to paying and receiving amounts at the beginning and termination of the agreements, both sides will have to pay in full periodically based upon the currency they have borrowed. Changes in foreign exchange currency rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.
Contracts for Differences. Contracts for differences are swap arrangements in which the parties agree that their return (or loss) will be based on the relative performance of two different groups or baskets of securities. Often, one or both baskets will be an established securities index. A Fund’s return will be based on changes in value of theoretical long futures positions in the securities comprising one basket (with an aggregate face value equal to the notional amount of the contract for differences) and theoretical short futures positions in the securities comprising the other basket. A Fund also may use actual long and short futures positions and achieve similar market exposure by netting the payment obligations of the two contracts. A Fund typically enters into contracts for differences (and analogous futures positions) when its portfolio manager believes that the basket of securities constituting the long position will outperform the basket constituting the short position. If the short basket outperforms the long basket, a Fund will realize a loss — even in circumstances when the securities in both the long and short baskets appreciate in value.
Swaptions. A swaption is an options contract on a swap agreement. These transactions give a party the right (but not the obligation) to enter into new swap agreements or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement (which are described herein) at some designated future time on specified terms, in return for payment of the purchase price (the “premium”) of the option. A Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions to the same extent it may make use of standard options on securities or other instruments. The writer of the contract receives the premium and bears the risk of unfavorable changes in the market value on the underlying swap agreement. Swaptions can be bundled and sold as a package. These are commonly called interest rate caps, floors and collars (which are described herein).
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Many swaps are complex and often valued subjectively. Many over-the-counter derivatives are complex and their valuation often requires modeling and judgment, which increases the risk of mispricing or incorrect valuation. The pricing models used may not produce valuations that are consistent with the values the Fund realizes when it closes or sells an over-the-counter derivative. Valuation risk is more pronounced when the Fund enters into over-the-counter derivatives with specialized terms because the market value of those derivatives in some cases is determined in part by reference to similar derivatives with more standardized terms. Incorrect valuations may result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties, undercollateralization and/or errors in calculation of the Fund’s net asset value.
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) established a framework for the regulation of OTC swap markets; the framework outlined the joint responsibility of the CFTC and the SEC in regulating swaps. The CFTC is responsible for the regulation of swaps, the SEC is responsible for the regulation of security-based swaps and they are both jointly responsible for the regulation of mixed swaps.
Risk of Potential Governmental Regulation of Derivatives
It is possible that government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures and swap agreements, may limit or prevent the Funds from using such instruments as a part of their investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent the Funds from being able to achieve their investment objectives. The effects of present or future legislation and regulation in this area are not known, but the effects could be substantial and adverse.
The futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. In addition, the SEC, CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation or reduction of speculative position limits, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading.
The regulation of swaps and futures transactions in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. There is a possibility of future regulatory changes altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in a Fund or the ability of a Fund to continue to implement its investment strategies. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Act, which was signed into law in July 2010, will change the way in which the U.S. financial system is supervised and regulated. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act sets forth a new legislative framework for OTC derivatives, such as swaps, in which the Funds may invest. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act makes broad changes to the OTC derivatives market, grants significant new authority to the SEC and the CFTC to regulate OTC derivatives and market participants, and will require clearing of many OTC derivatives transactions.
Additional Risk Factors in Cleared Derivatives Transactions
Under recently adopted rules and regulations, transactions in some types of swaps (including interest rate swaps and credit default swaps on North American and European indices) are required to be centrally cleared. In a transaction involving those swaps (“cleared derivatives”), a Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house, rather than a bank or broker. Since the Funds are not members of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Funds will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In a cleared derivatives transaction, the Funds will make payments (including margin payments) to and receive payments from a clearing house through their accounts at clearing members. Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house.
In many ways, centrally cleared derivative arrangements are less favorable to mutual funds than bilateral arrangements. For example, the Funds may be required to provide greater amounts of margin for cleared derivatives positions than for bilateral derivatives transactions. Also, in contrast to a bilateral derivatives position, following a period of notice to a Fund, a clearing member generally can require termination of an existing cleared derivatives position at any time or increases in margin requirements above the margin that the clearing member required at the beginning of a transaction. Clearing houses also have broad rights to increase margin requirements for existing positions or to terminate those positions at any time. Any increase in margin requirements or termination of existing cleared derivatives positions by the clearing member or the clearing house could interfere with the ability of a Fund to pursue its investment strategy. Further, any increase in margin requirements by a clearing member could also expose a Fund to greater credit risk to its clearing member, because margin for cleared derivatives transactions in excess of clearing house’s margin requirements typically is held by the clearing member. Also, a Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or that the Investment Manager expects to be cleared), and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. While the documentation in place between the Funds and their clearing members generally provides that the clearing members will accept for clearing all transactions submitted for clearing that are within credit limits (specified in advance) for each Fund, the Funds are still subject to the risk that no clearing member will be willing or able to clear a transaction. In those cases, the position might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of the position, including loss of an increase in the value of the position and/or loss of hedging protection. In addition, the documentation governing the relationship between the Funds and clearing members is developed by the clearing members and generally is less favorable to the Funds than typical bilateral
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derivatives documentation. For example, documentation relating to cleared derivatives generally includes a one-way indemnity by the Funds in favor of the clearing member for losses the clearing member incurs as the Funds’ clearing member and typically does not provide the Funds any remedies if the clearing member defaults or becomes insolvent. While futures contracts entail similar risks, the risks likely are more pronounced for cleared swaps due to their more limited liquidity and market history.
Some types of cleared derivatives are required to be executed on an exchange or on a swap execution facility. A swap execution facility is a trading platform where multiple market participants can execute derivatives by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants in the platform. While this execution requirement is designed to increase transparency and liquidity in the cleared derivatives market, trading on a swap execution facility can create additional costs and risks for the Funds. For example, swap execution facilities typically charge fees, and if a Fund executes derivatives on a swap execution facility through a broker intermediary, the intermediary may impose fees as well. Also, a Fund may indemnify a swap execution facility, or a broker intermediary who executes cleared derivatives on a swap execution facility on the Fund’s behalf, against any losses or costs that may be incurred as a result of the Fund’s transactions on the swap execution facility.
These and other new rules and regulations could, among other things, further restrict a Fund’s ability to engage in, or increase the cost to the Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to the Fund, increasing margin or capital requirements, or otherwise limiting liquidity or increasing transaction costs. These regulations are new and evolving, so their potential impact on the Funds and the financial system are not yet known. While the new regulations and the central clearing of some derivatives transactions are designed to reduce systemic risk ( i.e. , the risk that the interdependence of large derivatives dealers could cause a number of those dealers to suffer liquidity, solvency or other challenges simultaneously), there is no assurance that the new clearing mechanisms will achieve that result, and in the meantime, as noted above, central clearing and related requirements expose the Funds to new kinds of risks and costs.
CFTC Regulation
Pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the CEA, Commodity Strategy Fund no longer qualifies for an exclusion from the definition of a commodity pool. Accordingly, the Fund is registered as a "commodity pool" and the Investment Manager is registered as a “commodity pool operator” with respect to the Fund under the CEA.
Each of the other Funds listed on the cover of this SAI qualifies for an exclusion from the definition of a commodity pool under the CEA and has on file a notice of exclusion under CFTC Rule 4.5. Accordingly, the Investment Manager is not subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA with respect to these Funds, although the Investment Manager is a registered “commodity pool operator” and “commodity trading advisor”. To remain eligible for the exclusion, each of these Funds is limited in its ability to use certain financial instruments regulated under the CEA (“commodity interests”), including futures and options on futures and certain swaps transactions. In the event that a Fund’s investments in commodity interests are not within the thresholds set forth in the exclusion, one or more Funds not currently registered as a “commodity pool” may be required to register as such, which could increase Fund expenses, adversely affecting the Fund’s total return.
Dollar Rolls
Dollar rolls involve selling securities ( e.g. , mortgage-backed securities or U.S. Treasury securities) and simultaneously entering into a commitment to purchase those or similar securities on a specified future date and price from the same party. Mortgage dollar rolls and U.S. Treasury rolls are types of dollar rolls. A Fund foregoes principal and interest paid on the securities during the “roll” period. A Fund is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the lower forward price for the future purchase of the securities, as well as the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. The investor also could be compensated through the receipt of fee income equivalent to a lower forward price.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with mortgage dollar rolls include: Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk and Interest Rate Risk.
Equity-Linked Notes
An equity-linked note (ELN) is a debt instrument whose value is based on the value of a single equity security, basket of equity securities or an index of equity securities (each, an Underlying Equity). An ELN typically provides interest income, thereby offering a yield advantage over investing directly in an Underlying Equity. The Fund may purchase ELNs that trade on a securities exchange or those that trade on the over-the-counter markets, including Rule 144A securities. The Fund may also purchase ELNs in a privately negotiated transaction with the issuer of the ELNs (or its broker-dealer affiliate). The Fund may or may not hold an ELN until its maturity.
Equity-linked securities also include issues such as Structured Yield Product Exchangeable for Stock (STRYPES), Trust Automatic Common Exchange Securities (TRACES), Trust Issued Mandatory Exchange Securities (TIMES) and Trust Enhanced Dividend Securities (TRENDS). The issuers of these equity-linked securities generally purchase and hold a portfolio of stripped U.S. Treasury securities maturing on a quarterly basis through the conversion date, and a forward purchase contract
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with an existing shareholder of the company relating to the common stock. Quarterly distributions on such equity-linked securities generally consist of the cash received from the U.S. Treasury securities and such equity-linked securities generally are not entitled to any dividends that may be declared on the common stock.
ELNs also include participation notes issued by a bank or broker-dealer that entitles the Fund to a return measured by the change in value of an Underlying Equity. Participation notes are typically used when a direct investment in the Underlying Equity is restricted due to country-specific regulations. Investment in a participation note is not the same as investment in the constituent shares of the company (or other issuer type) to which the Underlying Equity is economically tied. A participation note represents only an obligation of the company or other issuer type to provide the Fund the economic performance equivalent to holding shares of the Underlying Equity. A participation note does not provide any beneficial or equitable entitlement or interest in the relevant Underlying Equity. In other words, shares of the Underlying Equity are not in any way owned by the Fund.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with equity-linked notes include: Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk, Liquidity Risk and Market Risk.
Eurodollar and Yankee Dollar and Related Derivative Instruments
Eurodollar instruments are bonds that pay interest and principal in U.S. dollars held in banks outside the United States, primarily in Europe. Eurodollar instruments are usually issued on behalf of multinational companies and foreign governments by large underwriting groups composed of banks and issuing houses from many countries. Yankee Dollar instruments are U.S. dollar-denominated bonds issued in the United States by foreign banks and corporations. These investments involve risks that are different from investments in securities issued by U.S. issuers.
Eurodollar futures contracts enable purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for the lending of funds and sellers to obtain a fixed rate for borrowings. A Fund may use Eurodollar futures contracts and options thereon to hedge against changes in the LIBOR, to which many interest rate swaps and fixed income instruments are linked.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with Eurodollar and Yankee Dollar instruments include: Credit Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, Interest Rate Risk and Issuer Risk.
Event-Linked Instruments/Catastrophe Bonds
A Fund may obtain event-linked exposure by investing in “event-linked bonds” or “event-linked swaps” or by implementing “event-linked strategies.” Event-linked exposure results in gains or losses that typically are contingent on, or formulaically related to, defined trigger events. Examples of trigger events include hurricanes, earthquakes, weather-related phenomena or statistics relating to such events. Some event-linked bonds are commonly referred to as “catastrophe bonds.” If a trigger event occurs, the principal amount of the bond is reduced (potentially to zero), and a Fund may lose all or a portion of its entire principal invested in the bond or the entire notional amount on a swap.
Exchange-traded notes (ETNs)
ETNs are instruments that combine aspects of bonds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and are designed to provide investors with access to the returns, less investor fees and expenses, of various market benchmarks or strategies to which they are usually linked. When an investor buys an ETN, the issuer, typically an underwriting bank, promises to pay upon maturity the amount reflected in the benchmark or strategy (minus fees and expenses). Some ETNs make periodic coupon payments. Like ETFs, ETNs are traded on an exchange, but ETNs have additional risks compared to ETFs, including the risk that if the credit of the ETN issuer becomes suspect, the investment might lose some or all of its value. Though linked to the performance, for example, of a market benchmark, ETNs are not equities or index funds, but they do share several characteristics. Similar to equities, ETNs are traded on an exchange and can be sold short. Similar to index funds, ETNs may be linked to the return of a benchmark or strategy, but ETNs don't have an ownership interest in the instruments underlying the benchmark or strategy the ETN is tracking.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with exchange-traded notes include: Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk and Market Risk.
Foreign Currency Transactions
Because investments in foreign securities usually involve currencies of foreign countries and because a Fund may hold cash and cash equivalent investments in foreign currencies, the value of a Fund’s assets as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. Also, a Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time, causing a Fund’s NAV to fluctuate. Currency exchange rates are generally determined by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets, actual or anticipated changes in interest rates, and other complex factors. Currency exchange rates also can be affected by the intervention of U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political developments.
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Spot Rates and Derivative Instruments . A Fund may conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either at the spot (cash) rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or by entering into forward foreign currency exchange contracts (forward contracts). (See Types of Investments – Derivatives .) These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. Because foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market might involve substantially larger amounts than those involved in the use of such derivative instruments, a Fund could be disadvantaged by having to deal in the odd lot market for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round lots.
A Fund may enter into forward contracts for a variety of reasons, including for risk management (hedging) or for investment purposes.
When a Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency or has been notified of a dividend or interest payment, it may desire to lock in the price of the security or the amount of the payment, usually in U.S. dollars, although it could desire to lock in the price of the security in another currency. By entering into a forward contract, a Fund would be able to protect itself against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between different currencies from the date the security is purchased or sold to the date on which payment is made or received or when the dividend or interest is actually received.
A Fund may enter into forward contracts when management of the Fund believes the currency of a particular foreign country may decline in value relative to another currency. When selling currencies forward in this fashion, a Fund may seek to hedge the value of foreign securities it holds against an adverse move in exchange rates. The precise matching of forward contract amounts and the value of securities involved generally will not be possible since the future value of securities in foreign currencies more than likely will change between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it matures. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult and successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain.
This method of protecting the value of a Fund’s securities against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. It simply establishes a rate of exchange that can be achieved at some point in time. Although forward contracts can be used to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in value of hedged currency, they will also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of such currency increase.
A Fund may also enter into forward contracts when the Fund’s portfolio manager believes the currency of a particular country will increase in value relative to another currency. A Fund may buy currencies forward to gain exposure to a currency without incurring the additional costs of purchasing securities denominated in that currency.
For example, the combination of U.S. dollar-denominated instruments with long forward currency exchange contracts creates a position economically equivalent to a position in the foreign currency, in anticipation of an increase in the value of the foreign currency against the U.S. dollar. Conversely, the combination of U.S. dollar-denominated instruments with short forward currency exchange contracts is economically equivalent to borrowing the foreign currency for delivery at a specified date in the future, in anticipation of a decrease in the value of the foreign currency against the U.S. dollar.
Unanticipated changes in the currency exchange results could result in poorer performance for Funds that enter into these types of transactions.
A Fund may designate cash or securities in an amount equal to the value of the Fund’s total assets committed to consummating forward contracts entered into under the circumstance set forth above. If the value of the securities declines, additional cash or securities will be designated on a daily basis so that the value of the cash or securities will equal the amount of the Fund’s commitments on such contracts.
At maturity of a forward contract, a Fund may either deliver (if a contract to sell) or take delivery of (if a contract to buy) the foreign currency or terminate its contractual obligation by entering into an offsetting contract with the same currency trader, having the same maturity date, and covering the same amount of foreign currency.
If a Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, it will incur a gain or loss to the extent there has been movement in forward contract prices. If a Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, it may subsequently enter into a new forward contract to buy or sell the foreign currency.
Although a Fund values its assets each business day in terms of U.S. dollars, it may not intend to convert its foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. However, it will do so from time to time, and such conversions involve certain currency conversion costs. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (spread) between the prices at which they buy and sell various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to a Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should a Fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer.
It is possible, under certain circumstances, including entering into forward currency contracts for investment purposes, that a Fund will be required to limit or restructure its forward contract currency transactions to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under the Internal Revenue Code.
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Options on Foreign Currencies. A Fund may buy put and call options and write covered call and cash-secured put options on foreign currencies for hedging purposes and to gain exposure to foreign currencies. For example, a decline in the dollar value of a foreign currency in which securities are denominated will reduce the dollar value of such securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remains constant. In order to protect against the diminutions in the value of securities, a Fund may buy put options on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency does decline, a Fund would have the right to sell the currency for a fixed amount in dollars and would thereby offset, in whole or in part, the adverse effect on its portfolio that otherwise would have resulted.
Conversely, where a change in the dollar value of a currency would increase the cost of securities a Fund plans to buy, or where a Fund would benefit from increased exposure to the currency, a Fund may buy call options on the foreign currency, giving it the right to purchase the currency for a fixed amount in dollars. The purchase of the options could offset, at least partially, the changes in exchange rates.
As in the case of other types of options, however, the benefit to a Fund derived from purchases of foreign currency options would be reduced by the amount of the premium and related transaction costs. In addition, where currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent anticipated, a Fund could sustain losses on transactions in foreign currency options that would require it to forego a portion or all of the benefits of advantageous changes in rates.
A Fund may write options on foreign currencies for similar purposes. For example, when a Fund anticipates a decline in the dollar value of foreign-denominated securities due to adverse fluctuations in exchange rates, it could, instead of purchasing a put option, write a call option on the relevant currency, giving the option holder the right to purchase that currency from the Fund for a fixed amount in dollars. If the expected decline occurs, the option would most likely not be exercised and the diminution in value of securities would be offset, at least partially, by the amount of the premium received.
Similarly, instead of purchasing a call option when a foreign currency is expected to appreciate, a Fund could write a put option on the relevant currency, giving the option holder the right to that currency from the Fund for a fixed amount in dollars. If rates move in the manner projected, the put option would expire unexercised and allow the Fund to hedge increased cost up to the amount of the premium.
As in the case of other types of options, however, the writing of a foreign currency option will constitute only a partial hedge up to the amount of the premium, and only if rates move in the expected direction. If this does not occur, the option may be exercised and the Fund would be required to buy or sell the underlying currency at a loss that may not be offset by the amount of the premium. Through the writing of options on foreign currencies, the Fund also may be required to forego all or a portion of the benefits that might otherwise have been obtained from favorable movements on exchange rates.
An option written on foreign currencies is covered if a Fund holds currency sufficient to cover the option or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that currency without additional cash consideration upon conversion of assets denominated in that currency or exchange of other currency held in its portfolio. An option writer could lose amounts substantially in excess of its initial investments, due to the margin and collateral requirements associated with such positions.
Options on foreign currencies are traded through financial institutions acting as market-makers, although foreign currency options also are traded on certain national securities exchanges, such as the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and the Chicago Board Options Exchange, subject to SEC regulation. In an over-the-counter trading environment, many of the protections afforded to exchange participants will not be available. For example, there are no daily price fluctuation limits, and adverse market movements could therefore continue to an unlimited extent over a period of time. Although the purchaser of an option cannot lose more than the amount of the premium plus related transaction costs, this entire amount could be lost.
Foreign currency option positions entered into on a national securities exchange are cleared and guaranteed by the OCC, thereby reducing the risk of counterparty default. Further, a liquid secondary market in options traded on a national securities exchange may be more readily available than in the over-the-counter market, potentially permitting a Fund to liquidate open positions at a profit prior to exercise or expiration, or to limit losses in the event of adverse market movements.
Foreign Currency Futures and Related Options. A Fund may enter into currency futures contracts to buy or sell currencies. It also may buy put and call options and write covered call and cash-secured put options on currency futures. Currency futures contracts are similar to currency forward contracts, except that they are traded on exchanges (and have margin requirements) and are standardized as to contract size and delivery date. Most currency futures call for payment of delivery in U.S. dollars. A Fund may use currency futures for the same purposes as currency forward contracts, subject to CFTC limitations.
Currency futures and options on futures values can be expected to correlate with exchange rates, but will not reflect other factors that may affect the value of the Fund’s investments. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a Yen-denominated bond against a decline in the Yen, but will not protect a Fund against price decline if the issuer’s creditworthiness deteriorates. Because the value of a Fund’s investments denominated in foreign currency will change in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of a forward contract to the value of a Fund’s investments denominated in that currency over time.
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Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with foreign currency transactions include: Foreign Currency Risk, Derivatives Risk, Interest Rate Risk, and Liquidity Risk.
Foreign Securities
Unless otherwise stated in a Fund’s prospectus, stocks, bonds and other securities or investments are deemed to be “foreign” based primarily on the issuer’s place of organization/incorporation, but the Fund may also consider the issuer’s domicile, its principal place of business, its primary stock exchange listing, the source of its revenue or other factors. A Fund’s investments in foreign markets, may include issuers in emerging markets, as well as frontier markets, each of which carry heightened risks as compared with investments in other typical foreign markets. Unless otherwise stated in a Fund’s prospectus, emerging market countries are generally those either defined by World Bank-defined per capita income brackets or determined to be an emerging market based on the Fund portfolio manager’s qualitative judgments about a country’s level of economic and institutional development, among other factors. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies and even less developed capital markets than typical emerging market countries (which themselves have increased investment risk relative to investing in more developed markets) and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries. Foreign securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. See Types of Investments – Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments – Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities and Types of Investments – Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.
Due to the potential for foreign withholding taxes, MSCI publishes two versions of its indices reflecting the reinvestment of dividends using two different methodologies: gross dividends and net dividends. While both versions reflect reinvested dividends, they differ with respect to the manner in which taxes associated with dividend payments are treated. In calculating the net dividends version, MSCI incorporates reinvested dividends applying the withholding tax rate applicable to foreign non-resident institutional investors that do not benefit from double taxation treaties. The Investment Manager believes that the net dividends version of MSCI indices better reflects the returns U.S. investors might expect were they to invest directly in the component securities of an MSCI index.
There is a practice in certain foreign markets under which an issuer’s securities are blocked from trading at the custodian or sub-custodian level for a specified number of days before and, in certain instances, after a shareholder meeting where such shares are voted. This is referred to as “share blocking”. The blocking period can last up to several weeks. Share blocking may prevent a Fund from buying or selling securities during this period, because during the time shares are blocked, trades in such securities will not settle. It may be difficult or impossible to lift blocking restrictions, with the particular requirements varying widely by country. As a consequence of these restrictions, the Investment Manager, on behalf of a Fund, may abstain from voting proxies in markets that require share blocking.
Foreign securities may include depositary receipts, such as American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs). ADRs are U.S. dollar-denominated receipts issued in registered form by a domestic bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. EDRs are foreign currency-denominated receipts issued in Europe, typically by foreign banks or trust companies and foreign branches of domestic banks, that evidence ownership of foreign or domestic securities. GDRs are receipts structured similarly to ADRs and EDRs and are marketed globally. Depositary receipts will not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities. In general, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, and EDRs, in bearer form, are designed for use in European securities markets. GDRs are tradable both in the United States and in Europe and are designed for use throughout the world. A Fund may invest in depositary receipts through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a depositary, whereas a depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the deposited security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of such facilities and the depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute interest holder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights to the holders of such receipts in respect of the deposited securities. The issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States, and, therefore, there may be limited information available regarding such issuers and/or limited correlation between available information and the market value of the depositary receipts.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with foreign securities include: Emerging Markets Securities Risk, Foreign Currency Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, Frontier Market Risk, Geographic Concentration Risk, Issuer Risk and Market Risk.
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Guaranteed Investment Contracts (Funding Agreements)
Guaranteed investment contracts, or funding agreements, are short-term, privately placed debt instruments issued by insurance companies. Pursuant to such contracts, a Fund may make cash contributions to a deposit fund of the insurance company’s general account. The insurance company then credits to a Fund payments at negotiated, floating or fixed interest rates. A Fund will purchase guaranteed investment contracts only from issuers that, at the time of purchase, meet certain credit and quality standards. In general, guaranteed investment contracts are not assignable or transferable without the permission of the issuing insurance companies, and an active secondary market does not exist for these investments. In addition, the issuer may not be able to pay the principal amount to a Fund on seven days’ notice or less, at which time the investment may be considered illiquid under applicable SEC regulatory guidance and subject to certain restrictions. See Types of Investments – Illiquid Securities .
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with guaranteed investment contracts (funding agreements) include: Credit Risk and Liquidity Risk.
High-Yield Securities
High-yield, or low and below investment grade securities (below investment grade securities are also known as “junk bonds”) are debt securities with the lowest investment grade rating ( e.g. , BBB by S&P and Fitch or Baa by Moody’s), that are below investment grade ( e.g. , lower than BBB by S&P and Fitch or Baa by Moody’s) or that are unrated but determined by a Fund’s portfolio manager to be of comparable quality. These types of securities may be issued to fund corporate transactions or restructurings, such as leveraged buyouts, mergers, acquisitions, debt reclassifications or similar events, are more speculative in nature than securities with higher ratings and tend to be more sensitive to credit risk, particularly during a downturn in the economy. These types of securities generally are issued by unseasoned companies without long track records of sales and earnings, or by companies or municipalities that have questionable credit strength. High-yield securities and comparable unrated securities: (i) likely will have some quality and protective characteristics that, in the judgment of one or more NRSROs, are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions; (ii) are speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation; and (iii) may have a less liquid secondary market, potentially making it difficult to value or sell such securities. Credit ratings issued by credit rating agencies are designed to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities. They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of lower-quality securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true risks of an investment. In addition, credit rating agencies may or may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of the issuer that affect the market value of the securities. Consequently, credit ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality. High-yield securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. See Types of Investments – Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments – Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities and Types of Investments – Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.
The rates of return on these types of securities generally are higher than the rates of return available on more highly rated securities, but generally involve greater volatility of price and risk of loss of principal and income, including the possibility of default by or insolvency of the issuers of such securities. Accordingly, a Fund may be more dependent on the Investment Manager’s (or, if applicable, a subadviser’s) credit analysis with respect to these types of securities than is the case for more highly rated securities.
The market values of certain high-yield securities and comparable unrated securities tend to be more sensitive to individual corporate developments and changes in economic conditions than are the market values of more highly rated securities. In addition, issuers of high-yield and comparable unrated securities often are highly leveraged and may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them, so that their ability to service their debt obligations during an economic downturn or during sustained periods of rising interest rates may be impaired.
The risk of loss due to default is greater for high-yield and comparable unrated securities than it is for higher rated securities because high-yield securities and comparable unrated securities generally are unsecured and frequently are subordinated to more senior indebtedness. A Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent that it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on its holdings of such securities. The existence of limited markets for lower-rated debt securities may diminish a Fund’s ability to: (i) obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing such securities and calculating portfolio net asset value; and (ii) sell the securities at fair market value either to meet redemption requests or to respond to changes in the economy or in financial markets.
Many lower-rated securities are not registered for offer and sale to the public under the 1933 Act. Investments in these restricted securities may be determined to be liquid (able to be sold within seven days at approximately the price at which they are valued by a Fund) pursuant to policies approved by the Fund’s Trustees. Investments in illiquid securities, including restricted securities that have not been determined to be liquid, may not exceed 15% of a Fund’s net assets. A Fund is not otherwise subject to any limitation on its ability to invest in restricted securities. Restricted securities may be less liquid than other lower-rated securities, potentially making it difficult to value or sell such securities.
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Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with high-yield securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, High-Yield Securities Risk and Prepayment and Extension Risk.
Illiquid Securities
Illiquid securities are defined by a Fund consistent with the SEC staff’s current guidance and interpretations which provide that an illiquid security is an asset which may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which a Fund has valued the investment on its books. Some securities, such as those not registered under U.S. securities laws, cannot be sold in public transactions. Some securities are deemed to be illiquid because they are subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale. Subject to its investment policies, a Fund may invest in illiquid investments and may invest in certain restricted securities that are deemed to be illiquid securities at the time of purchase.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risk typically associated with illiquid securities include: Liquidity Risk.
Inflation-Protected Securities
Inflation is a general rise in prices of goods and services. Inflation erodes the purchasing power of an investor’s assets. For example, if an investment provides a total return of 7% in a given year and inflation is 3% during that period, the inflation-adjusted, or real, return is 4%. Inflation-protected securities are debt securities whose principal and/or interest payments are adjusted for inflation, unlike debt securities that make fixed principal and interest payments. One type of inflation-protected debt security is issued by the U.S. Treasury. The principal of these securities is adjusted for inflation as indicated by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for urban consumers and interest is paid on the adjusted amount. The CPI is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy.
If the CPI falls, the principal value of inflation-protected securities will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Conversely, if the CPI rises, the principal value of inflation-protected securities will be adjusted upward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities will be increased. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-protected securities, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the inflation-protected securities is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Other inflation-indexed securities include inflation-related bonds, which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.
Other issuers of inflation-protected debt securities include other U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, corporations and foreign governments. There can be no assurance that the CPI or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure.
Any increase in principal for an inflation-protected security resulting from inflation adjustments is considered by IRS regulations to be taxable income in the year it occurs. For direct holders of an inflation-protected security, this means that taxes must be paid on principal adjustments even though these amounts are not received until the bond matures. Similarly, a Fund treated as a regulated investment company (RIC) under the Code that holds these securities distributes both interest income and the income attributable to principal adjustments in the form of cash or reinvested shares, which are taxable to shareholders.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with inflation-protected securities include: Inflation-Protected Securities Risk, Interest Rate Risk and Market Risk. In addition, inflation-protected securities issued by non-U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities are subject to Credit Risk.
Initial Public Offerings
A Fund may invest in initial public offerings (IPOs) of common stock or other primary or secondary syndicated offerings of equity or debt securities issued by a corporate issuer. Fixed income funds frequently invest in these types of offerings of debt securities. A purchase of IPO securities often involves higher transaction costs than those associated with the purchase of securities already traded on exchanges or markets. A Fund may hold IPO securities for a period of time, or may sell them soon after the purchase. Investments in IPOs could have a magnified impact — either positive or negative — on a Fund’s performance while the Fund’s assets are relatively small. The impact of an IPO on a Fund’s performance may tend to diminish as the Fund’s assets grow. In circumstances when investments in IPOs make a significant contribution to a Fund’s performance, there can be no assurance that similar contributions from IPOs will continue in the future.
Although one or more risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with IPOs include: Initial Public Offering (IPO) Risk, Issuer Risk, Liquidity Risk, Market Risk and Small Company Securities Risk.
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Inverse Floaters
See Types of Investments – Derivatives – Indexed or Linked Securities (Structured Products) above.
Investments in Other Investment Companies (Including ETFs)
Investing in other investment companies may be a means by which a Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective. A Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies within the limits prescribed by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive relief currently or in the future available to a Fund. These securities include shares of other open-end investment companies ( i.e. , mutual funds), closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), UCITS funds (pooled investment vehicles established in accordance with the Undertaking for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities adopted by European Union member states) and business development companies.
Except with respect to funds structured as funds-of-funds or so-called master/feeder funds or other funds whose strategies otherwise allow such investments, the 1940 Act generally requires that a fund limit its investments in another investment company or series thereof so that, as determined at the time a securities purchase is made: (i) no more than 5% of the value of its total assets will be invested in the securities of any one investment company; (ii) no more than 10% of the value of its total assets will be invested in the aggregate in securities of other investment companies; and (iii) no more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company or series thereof will be owned by a fund or by companies controlled by a fund. Such other investment companies may include ETFs, which are shares of publicly traded unit investment trusts, open-end funds or depositary receipts that may be passively managed ( e.g. , they seek to track the performance of specific indexes or companies in related industries) or they may be actively managed. The SEC has granted orders for exemptive relief to certain ETFs that permit investments in those ETFs by certain other registered investment companies in excess of these limits.
ETFs are listed on an exchange and trade in the secondary market on a per-share basis, which allows investors to purchase and sell ETF shares at their market price throughout the day. Certain ETFs, such as passively managed ETFs, hold portfolios of securities that are designed to replicate, as closely as possible before expenses, the price and yield of a specified market index. The performance results of these ETFs will not replicate exactly the performance of the pertinent index due to transaction and other expenses, including fees to service providers borne by ETFs. ETF shares are sold and redeemed at net asset value only in large blocks called creation units. The Funds’ ability to redeem creation units may be limited by the 1940 Act, which provides that ETFs will not be obligated to redeem shares held by the Funds in an amount exceeding one percent of their total outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days.
Although a Fund may derive certain advantages from being able to invest in shares of other investment companies, such as to be fully invested, there may be potential disadvantages. Investing in other investment companies may result in higher fees and expenses for a Fund and its shareholders. A shareholder may be charged fees not only on Fund shares held directly but also on the investment company shares that a Fund purchases. Because these investment companies may invest in other securities, they are also subject to the risks associated with a variety of investment instruments as described in this SAI.
Under the 1940 Act and rules and regulations thereunder, a Fund may purchase shares of affiliated funds, subject to certain conditions. Investing in affiliated funds may present certain actual or potential conflicts of interest. For more information about such actual and potential conflicts of interest, see Investment Management and Other Services – Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates – Certain Conflicts of Interest .
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with the securities of other investment companies include: Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) Risk, Investing in Other Funds Risk, Issuer Risk and Market Risk.
Listed Private Equity Funds
A Fund may invest directly in listed private equity funds, which may include, among others, business development companies, investment holding companies, publicly traded limited partnership interests (common units), publicly traded venture capital funds, publicly traded venture capital trusts, publicly traded private equity funds, publicly traded private equity investment trusts, publicly traded closed-end funds, publicly traded financial institutions that lend to or invest in privately held companies and any other publicly traded vehicle whose purpose is to invest in privately held companies.
A Fund may invest in listed private equity funds that hold investments in a wide array of businesses and industries at various stages of development, from early stage to later stage to fully mature businesses. A Fund may invest in listed private equity funds that emphasize making equity and equity-like (preferred stock, convertible stock and warrants) investments in later stage to mature businesses, or may invest in listed private equity funds making debt investments or investments in companies at other stages of development. In addition, a Fund may invest in the common stock of closed-end management investment companies, including business development companies that invest in securities of listed private equity companies.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with investment in listed private equity funds include: Credit Risk, Liquidity Risk, Market Risk, Sector Risk, and Valuation Risk.
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Money Market Instruments
Money market instruments include cash equivalents and short-term debt obligations which include: (i) bank obligations, including certificates of deposit (CDs), time deposits and bankers’ acceptances, and letters of credit of banks or savings and loan associations having capital surplus and undivided profits (as of the date of its most recently published annual financial statements) in excess of $100 million (or the equivalent in the instance of a foreign branch of a U.S. bank) at the date of investment; (ii) funding agreements; (iii) repurchase agreements; (iv) obligations of the United States, foreign countries and supranational entities, and each of their subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities; (v) certain corporate debt securities, such as commercial paper, short-term corporate obligations and extendible commercial notes; (vi) participation interests; and (vii) municipal securities. Money market instruments may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations and may be privately placed or publicly offered. A Fund may also invest in affiliated and unaffiliated money market mutual funds, which invest primarily in money market instruments. See Types of Investments – Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations and Types of Investments – Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.
With respect to money market securities, certain U.S. Government obligations are backed or insured by the U.S. Government, its agencies or its instrumentalities. Other money market securities are backed only by the claims paying ability or creditworthiness of the issuer.
Bankers’ acceptances are marketable short-term credit instruments used to finance the import, export, transfer or storage of goods. They are termed “accepted” when a bank unconditionally guarantees their payment at maturity.
A Fund may invest its daily cash balance in Columbia Short-Term Cash Fund, a money market fund established for the exclusive use of the funds in the Columbia Fund Complex and other institutional clients of the Investment Manager.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with money market instruments include: Credit Risk, Inflation Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Money Market Fund Risk and Regulatory Risk.
Mortgage-Backed Securities
Mortgage-backed securities are a type of asset-backed security that represent interests in, or debt instruments backed by, pools of underlying mortgages. In some cases, these underlying mortgages may be insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies. Mortgage-backed securities entitle the security holders to receive distributions that are tied to the payments made on the underlying mortgage collateral (less fees paid to the originator, servicer, or other parties, and fees paid for credit enhancement), so that the payments made on the underlying mortgage collateral effectively pass through to such security holders. Mortgage-backed securities are created when mortgage originators (or mortgage loan sellers who have purchased mortgage loans from mortgage loan originators) sell the underlying mortgages to a special purpose entity in a process called a securitization. The special purpose entity issues securities that are backed by the payments on the underlying mortgage loans, and have a minimum denomination and specific term. Mortgage-backed securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. See Types of Investments – Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments – Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities and Types of Investments – Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.
Mortgage-backed securities may be issued or guaranteed by GNMA (also known as Ginnie Mae), FNMA (also known as Fannie Mae), or FHLMC (also known as Freddie Mac), but also may be issued or guaranteed by other issuers, including private companies. GNMA is a government-owned corporation that is an agency of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It guarantees, with the full faith and credit of the United States, full and timely payment of all monthly principal and interest on its mortgage-backed securities. Until recently, FNMA and FHLMC were government-sponsored corporations owned entirely by private stockholders. Both issue mortgage-related securities that contain guarantees as to timely payment of interest and principal but that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. The value of the companies’ securities fell sharply in 2008 due to concerns that the firms did not have sufficient capital to offset losses. The U.S. Treasury has historically had the authority to purchase obligations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In addition, in 2008, due to capitalization concerns, Congress provided the U.S. Treasury with additional authority to lend Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac emergency funds and to purchase the companies’ stock, as described below. In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had been placed in conservatorship.
In the past Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have received significant capital support through U.S. Treasury preferred stock purchases and Federal Reserve purchases of their mortgage-backed securities. There can be no assurance that these or other agencies of the government will provide such support in the future. The future status of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac could be impacted by, among other things, the actions taken and restrictions placed on Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac by the FHFA in its role as conservator, the restrictions placed on Fannie Mae’s or Freddie Mac’s operations and activities under the senior stock purchase
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agreements, market responses to developments at Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and future legislative and regulatory action that alters the operations, ownership structure and/or mission of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, each of which may, in turn, impact the value of, and cash flows on, any securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Stripped mortgage-backed securities are a type of mortgage-backed security that receives differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from the underlying assets. Generally, there are two classes of stripped mortgage-backed securities: Interest Only (IO) and Principal Only (PO). IOs entitle the holder to receive distributions consisting of all or a portion of the interest on the underlying pool of mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. POs entitle the holder to receive distributions consisting of all or a portion of the principal of the underlying pool of mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. See Types of Investments – Stripped Securities for more information.
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMOs) are hybrid mortgage-related instruments issued by special purpose entities secured by pools of mortgage loans or other mortgage-related securities, such as mortgage pass-through securities or stripped mortgage-backed securities. CMOs may be structured into multiple classes, often referred to as “tranches,” with each class bearing a different stated maturity and entitled to a different schedule for payments of principal and interest, including prepayments. Principal prepayments on collateral underlying a CMO may cause it to be retired substantially earlier than its stated maturity or final distribution dates, resulting in a loss of all or part of the premium if any has been paid. The yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of other debt securities. Among the differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently on mortgage-backed securities, usually monthly, and principal may be repaid at any time. These factors may reduce the expected yield. Interest is paid or accrues on all classes of the CMOs on a periodic basis. The principal and interest payments on the underlying mortgage assets may be allocated among the various classes of CMOs in several ways. Typically, payments of principal, including any prepayments, on the underlying mortgage assets are applied to the classes in the order of their respective stated maturities or final distribution dates, so that no payment of principal is made on CMOs of a class until all CMOs of other classes having earlier stated maturities or final distribution dates have been paid in full.
Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) are a specific type of mortgage-backed security collateralized by a pool of mortgages on commercial real estate.
CMO residuals are mortgage securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the foregoing. The cash flow generated by the mortgage assets underlying a series of CMOs is applied first to make required payments of principal and interest on the CMOs and second to pay the related administrative expenses and any management fee of the issuer. The residual in a CMO structure generally represents the interest in any excess cash flow remaining after making the foregoing payments. Each payment of such excess cash flow to a holder of the related CMO residual represents income and/or a return of capital. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a CMO will depend on, among other things, the characteristics of the mortgage assets, the coupon rate of each class of CMO, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the pre-payment experience on the mortgage assets. In particular, the yield to maturity on CMO residuals is extremely sensitive to pre-payments on the related underlying mortgage assets, in the same manner as an interest-only (“IO”) class of stripped mortgage-backed securities. In addition, if a series of a CMO includes a class that bears interest at an adjustable rate, the yield to maturity on the related CMO residual will also be extremely sensitive to changes in the level of the index upon which interest rate adjustments are based. As described below with respect to stripped mortgage-backed securities, in certain circumstances an ETF may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in a CMO residual. CMO residuals are generally purchased and sold by institutional investors through several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers. Transactions in CMO residuals are generally completed only after careful review of the characteristics of the securities in question. In addition, CMO residuals may, or pursuant to an exemption therefrom, may not have been registered under the 1933 Act. CMO residuals, whether or not registered under the 1933 Act, may be subject to certain restrictions on transferability, and may be deemed “illiquid” and subject to a Fund’s limitations on investment in illiquid securities.
Mortgage pass-through securities are interests in pools of mortgage-related securities that differ from other forms of debt securities, which normally provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts with principal payments at maturity or specified call dates. Instead, these securities provide a monthly payment which consists of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their residential or commercial mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Additional payments are caused by repayments of principal resulting from the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, net of fees or costs which may be incurred. Some mortgage-related securities (such as securities issued by the GNMA) are described as “modified pass-through.” These securities entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the mortgage pool, net of certain fees, at the scheduled payment dates regardless of whether or not the mortgagor actually makes the payment.
REMICs are entities that own mortgages and elect REMIC status under the Code and, like CMOs, issue debt obligations collateralized by underlying mortgage assets that have characteristics similar to those issued by CMOs.
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Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with mortgage- and asset-backed securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Liquidity Risk, Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk and Reinvestment Risk.
Municipal Securities
Municipal securities include debt obligations issued by governmental entities, including states, political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities, and authorities, as well as U.S. territories (such as Guam and Puerto Rico) and their political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities, and authorities, to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities, the refunding of outstanding obligations, the payment of general operating expenses, and the extension of loans to public institutions and facilities.
Municipal securities may include municipal bonds, municipal notes and municipal leases, which are described below. Municipal bonds are debt obligations of a governmental entity that obligate the municipality to pay the holder a specified sum of money at specified intervals and to repay the principal amount of the loan at maturity. Municipal securities can be classified into two principal categories, including “general obligation” bonds and other securities and “revenue” bonds and other securities. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue securities are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise tax or other specific revenue source, such as the user of the facility being financed. Municipal securities also may include “moral obligation” securities, which normally are issued by special purpose public authorities. If the issuer of moral obligation securities is unable to meet its debt service obligations from current revenues, it may draw on a reserve fund, the restoration of which is a moral commitment but not a legal obligation of the governmental entity that created the special purpose public authority. Municipal securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. See Types of Investments – Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments – Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities and Types of Investments – Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.
Municipal notes may be issued by governmental entities and other tax-exempt issuers in order to finance short-term cash needs or, occasionally, to finance construction. Most municipal notes are general obligations of the issuing entity payable from taxes or designated revenues expected to be received within the relevant fiscal period. Municipal notes generally have maturities of one year or less. Municipal notes can be subdivided into two sub-categories: (i) municipal commercial paper and (ii) municipal demand obligations.
Municipal commercial paper typically consists of very short-term unsecured negotiable promissory notes that are sold, for example, to meet seasonal working capital or interim construction financing needs of a governmental entity or agency. While these obligations are intended to be paid from general revenues or refinanced with long-term debt, they frequently are backed by letters of credit, lending agreements, note repurchase agreements or other credit facility agreements offered by banks or institutions. See Types of Investments – Commercial Paper for more information.
Municipal demand obligations can be subdivided into two general types: variable rate demand notes and master demand obligations. Variable rate demand notes are tax-exempt municipal obligations or participation interests that provide for a periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid on the notes. They permit the holder to demand payment of the notes, or to demand purchase of the notes at a purchase price equal to the unpaid principal balance, plus accrued interest either directly by the issuer or by drawing on a bank letter of credit or guaranty issued with respect to such note. The issuer of the municipal obligation may have a corresponding right to prepay at its discretion the outstanding principal of the note plus accrued interest upon notice comparable to that required for the holder to demand payment. The variable rate demand notes in which a Fund may invest are payable, or are subject to purchase, on demand, usually on notice of seven calendar days or less. The terms of the notes generally provide that interest rates are adjustable at intervals ranging from daily to six months.
Master demand obligations are tax-exempt municipal obligations that provide for a periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid and permit daily changes in the amount borrowed. The interest on such obligations is, in the opinion of counsel for the borrower, excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes (but not necessarily for alternative minimum tax purposes). Although there is no secondary market for master demand obligations, such obligations are considered by a Fund to be liquid because they are payable upon demand.
Municipal lease obligations are participations in privately arranged loans to state or local government borrowers and may take the form of a lease, an installment purchase, or a conditional sales contract. They are issued by state and local governments and authorities to acquire land, equipment, and facilities. An investor may purchase these obligations directly, or it may purchase participation interests in such obligations. In general, municipal lease obligations are unrated, in which case they will be determined by a Fund’s portfolio manager to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase to rated instruments that may be acquired by a Fund. Frequently, privately arranged loans have variable interest rates and may be backed by a bank letter of credit. In other cases, they may be unsecured or may be secured by assets not easily liquidated.
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Moreover, such loans in most cases are not backed by the taxing authority of the issuers and may have limited marketability or may be marketable only by virtue of a provision requiring repayment following demand by the lender.
Municipal leases may be subject to greater risks than general obligation or revenue bonds. State constitutions and statutes set forth requirements that states or municipalities must meet in order to issue municipal obligations. Municipal leases may contain a covenant by the state or municipality to budget for and make payments due under the obligation. Certain municipal leases may, however, provide that the issuer is not obligated to make payments on the obligation in future years unless funds have been appropriated for this purpose each year.
Although lease obligations do not constitute general obligations of the municipal issuer to which the government’s taxing power is pledged, a lease obligation ordinarily is backed by the government’s covenant to budget for, appropriate, and make the payments due under the lease obligation. However, certain lease obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses that provide that the government has no obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a periodic basis. In the case of a “non-appropriation” lease, a Fund’s ability to recover under the lease in the event of non-appropriation or default likely will be limited to the repossession of the leased property in the event that foreclosure proves difficult.
Tender option bonds are municipal securities having relatively long maturities and bearing interest at a fixed interest rate substantially higher than prevailing short-term tax-exempt rates that is coupled with the agreement of a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution, to grant the security holders the option, at periodic intervals, to tender their securities to the institution and receive the face value thereof. The financial institution receives periodic fees equal to the difference between the municipal security’s coupon rate and the rate that would cause the security to trade at face value on the date of determination.
There are variations in the quality of municipal securities, both within a particular classification and between classifications, and the rates of return on municipal securities can depend on a variety of factors, including general money market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer, general conditions of the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation, and the rating of the issue. The ratings of NRSROs represent their opinions as to the quality of municipal securities. It should be emphasized, however, that these ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality, and municipal securities with the same maturity, interest rate, and rating may have different rates of return while municipal securities of the same maturity and interest rate with different ratings may have the same rate of return. The municipal bond market is characterized by a large number of different issuers, many having smaller sized bond issues, and a wide choice of different maturities within each issue. For these reasons, most municipal bonds do not trade on a daily basis and many trade only rarely. Because many of these bonds trade infrequently, the spread between the bid and offer may be wider and the time needed to develop a bid or an offer may be longer than for other security markets. See Appendix A for a discussion of securities ratings. (See Types of Investments – Debt Obligations .)
Standby Commitments. Standby commitments are securities under which a purchaser, usually a bank or broker-dealer, agrees to purchase, for a fee, an amount of a Fund’s municipal obligations. The amount payable by a bank or broker-dealer to purchase securities subject to a standby commitment typically will be substantially the same as the value of the underlying municipal securities. A Fund may pay for standby commitments either separately in cash or by paying a higher price for portfolio securities that are acquired subject to such a commitment.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with standby commitments include: Counterparty Risk, Market Risk and Municipal Securities Risk.
Taxable Municipal Obligations. Interest or other investment return is subject to federal income tax for certain types of municipal obligations for a variety of reasons. These municipal obligations do not qualify for the federal income tax exemption because (a) they did not receive necessary authorization for tax-exempt treatment from state or local government authorities, (b) they exceed certain regulatory limitations on the cost of issuance for tax-exempt financing or (c) they finance public or private activities that do not qualify for the federal income tax exemption. These non-qualifying activities might include, for example, certain types of multi-family housing, certain professional and local sports facilities, refinancing of certain municipal debt, and borrowing to replenish a municipality’s underfunded pension plan.
For more information about the key risks associated with investments in municipal securities of particular states, see Appendix C. See Appendix A for a discussion of securities ratings. (See Types of Investments – Debt Obligations .)
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with municipal securities include: Credit Risk, Inflation Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Market Risk, Municipal Securities Risk and Municipal Securities Risk/Health Care Sector Risk.
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Participation Interests
Participation interests (also called pass-through certificates or securities) represent an interest in a pool of debt obligations, such as municipal bonds or notes that have been “packaged” by an intermediary, such as a bank or broker-dealer. Participation interests typically are issued by partnerships or trusts through which a Fund receives principal and interest payments that are passed through to the holder of the participation interest from the payments made on the underlying debt obligations. The purchaser of a participation interest receives an undivided interest in the underlying debt obligations. The issuers of the underlying debt obligations make interest and principal payments to the intermediary, as an initial purchaser, which are passed through to purchasers in the secondary market, such as a Fund. Mortgage-backed securities are a common type of participation interest. Participation interests may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in- kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. See Types of Investments – Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments – Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities and Types of Investments – Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.
Loan participations also are a type of participation interest. Loans, loan participations, and interests in securitized loan pools are interests in amounts owed by a corporate, governmental, or other borrower to a lender or consortium of lenders (typically banks, insurance companies, investment banks, government agencies, or international agencies).
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with loan participations include: Confidential Information Access Risk, Credit Risk and Interest Rate Risk.
Partnership Securities
The Fund may invest in securities issued by publicly traded partnerships or master limited partnerships or limited liability companies (together referred to as “PTPs/MLPs”). These entities are limited partnerships or limited liability companies that may be publicly traded on stock exchanges or markets such as the NYSE, the NYSE Alternext US LLC (“NYSE Alternext”) (formerly the American Stock Exchange) and NASDAQ. PTPs/MLPs often own businesses or properties relating to energy, natural resources or real estate, or may be involved in the film industry or research and development activities. Generally PTPs/MLPs are operated under the supervision of one or more managing partners or members. Limited partners, unit holders, or members (such as a fund that invests in a partnership) are not involved in the day-to-day management of the company. Limited partners, unit holders, or members are allocated income and capital gains associated with the partnership project in accordance with the terms of the partnership or limited liability company agreement.
At times PTPs/MLPs may potentially offer relatively high yields compared to common stocks. Because PTPs/MLPs are generally treated as partnerships or similar limited liability “pass-through” entities for tax purposes, they do not ordinarily pay income taxes, but pass their earnings on to unit holders (except in the case of some publicly traded firms that may be taxed as corporations). For tax purposes, unit holders may initially be deemed to receive only a portion of the distributions attributed to them because certain other portions may be attributed to the repayment of initial investments and may thereby lower the cost basis of the units or shares owned by unit holders. As a result, unit holders may effectively defer taxation on the receipt of some distributions until they sell their units. These tax consequences may differ for different types of entities.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with partnership securities include: Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Liquidity Risk and Market Risk.
Preferred Stock
Preferred stock represents units of ownership of a corporation that frequently have dividends that are set at a specified rate. Preferred stock has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock shares some of the characteristics of both debt and equity. Preferred stock ordinarily does not carry voting rights. Most preferred stock is cumulative; if dividends are passed ( i.e. , not paid for any reason), they accumulate and must be paid before common stock dividends. Participating preferred stock entitles its holders to share in profits above and beyond the declared dividend, along with common shareholders, as distinguished from nonparticipating preferred stock, which is limited to the stipulated dividend. Convertible preferred stock is exchangeable for a given number of shares of common stock and thus tends to be more volatile than nonconvertible preferred stock, which generally behaves more like a fixed income bond. Preferred stock may be privately placed or publicly offered. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. See Types of Investments – Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.
Auction preferred stock (APS) is a type of adjustable-rate preferred stock with a dividend determined periodically in a Dutch auction process by corporate bidders. An APS is distinguished from standard preferred stock because its dividends change from time to time. Shares typically are bought and sold at face values generally ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 per share. Holders of APS may not be able to sell their shares if an auction fails, such as when there are more shares of APS for sale at an auction than there are purchase bids.
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Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with preferred stock include: Convertible Securities Risk, Issuer Risk, Liquidity Risk and Market Risk.
Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities
Private placement securities are securities that have been privately placed and are not registered under the 1933 Act. They are generally eligible for sale only to certain eligible investors. Private placements often may offer attractive opportunities for investment not otherwise available on the open market. Private placement and other “restricted” securities often cannot be sold to the public without registration under the 1933 Act or the availability of an exemption from registration (such as Rules 144 or 144A), or they are “not readily marketable” because they are subject to other legal or contractual delays in or restrictions on resale. Asset-backed securities, common stock, convertible securities, corporate debt securities, foreign securities, high-yield securities, money market instruments, mortgage-backed securities, municipal securities, participation interests, preferred stock and other types of equity and debt instruments may be privately placed or restricted securities.
Private placements typically may be sold only to qualified institutional buyers (or, in the case of the initial sale of certain securities, such as those issued in collateralized debt obligations or collateralized loan obligations, to accredited investors (as defined in Rule 501(a) under the 1933 Act), or in a privately negotiated transaction or to a limited number of purchasers, or in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from registration.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with private placement and other restricted securities include: Issuer Risk, Liquidity Risk, Market Risk and Confidential Information Access Risk.
Real Estate Investment Trusts
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are pooled investment vehicles that manage a portfolio of real estate or real estate related loans to earn profits for their shareholders. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property, such as shopping centers, nursing homes, office buildings, apartment complexes, and hotels, and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. REITs can be subject to extreme volatility due to fluctuations in the demand for real estate, changes in interest rates, and adverse economic conditions.
Partnership units of real estate and other types of companies sometimes are organized as master limited partnerships in which ownership interests are publicly traded.
Similar to regulated investment companies, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with certain requirements under the Code. The failure of a REIT to continue to qualify as a REIT for tax purposes can materially affect its value. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses paid by a REIT in which it invests. REITs often do not provide complete tax information until after the calendar year-end. Consequently, because of the delay, it may be necessary for a Fund investing in REITs to request permission to extend the deadline for issuance of Forms 1099-DIV beyond January 31. In the alternative, amended Forms 1099-DIV may be sent.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with REITs include: Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Market Risk and Real Estate-Related Investment Risk.
Repurchase Agreements
Repurchase agreements are agreements under which a Fund acquires a security for a relatively short period of time (usually within seven days) subject to the obligation of a seller to repurchase and a Fund to resell such security at a fixed time and price (representing the Fund’s cost plus interest). The repurchase agreement specifies the yield during the purchaser’s holding period. Repurchase agreements also may be viewed as loans made by a Fund that are collateralized by the securities subject to repurchase, which may consist of a variety of security types. A Fund typically will enter into repurchase agreements only with commercial banks, registered broker-dealers and the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation. Such transactions are monitored to ensure that the value of the underlying securities will be at least equal at all times to the total amount of the repurchase obligation, including any accrued interest.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with repurchase agreements include: Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk, Issuer Risk, Market Risk and Repurchase Agreements Risk.
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Reverse Repurchase Agreements
Reverse repurchase agreements are agreements under which a Fund temporarily transfers possession of a portfolio instrument to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash. At the same time, the Fund agrees to repurchase the instrument at an agreed-upon time (normally within 7 days) and price which reflects an interest payment. A Fund generally retains the right to interest and principal payments on the security. Reverse repurchase agreements also may be viewed as borrowings made by a Fund.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with reverse repurchase agreements include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Leverage Risk, Market Risk and Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk.
Short Sales
A Fund may sometimes sell securities short when it owns an equal amount of the securities sold short. This is a technique known as selling short “against the box.” If a Fund makes a short sale “against the box,” it would not immediately deliver the securities sold and would not receive the proceeds from the sale. The seller is said to have a short position in the securities sold until it delivers the securities sold, at which time it receives the proceeds of the sale. To secure its obligation to deliver securities sold short, a Fund will deposit in escrow in a separate account with the custodian an equal amount of the securities sold short or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such securities. A Fund can close out its short position by purchasing and delivering an equal amount of the securities sold short, rather than by delivering securities already held by a Fund, because a Fund might want to continue to receive interest and dividend payments on securities in its portfolio that are convertible into the securities sold short.
Short sales “against the box” entail many of the same risks and considerations described below regarding short sales not “against the box.” However, when a Fund sells short “against the box” it typically limits the amount of its effective leverage. A Fund’s decision to make a short sale “against the box” may be a technique to hedge against market risks when a Fund’s portfolio manager believes that the price of a security may decline, causing a decline in the value of a security owned by a Fund or a security convertible into or exchangeable for such security. In such case, any future losses in a Fund’s long position would be reduced by a gain in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses in the long position are reduced will depend upon the amount of securities sold short relative to the amount of the securities a Fund owns, either directly or indirectly, and, in the case where a Fund owns convertible securities, changes in the investment values or conversion premiums of such securities. Short sales may have adverse tax consequences to a Fund and its shareholders.
Subject to its fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies, a Fund may engage in short sales that are not “against the box,” which are sales by a Fund of securities, contracts or instruments that it does not own in hopes of purchasing the same security, contract or instrument at a later date at a lower price. The technique is also used to protect a profit in a long-term position in a security, commodity futures contract or other instrument. To make delivery to the buyer, a Fund must borrow or purchase the security. If borrowed, a Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed from the third party, so a Fund must purchase the security at the market price at a later time. If the price of the security has increased during this time, then a Fund will incur a loss equal to the increase in price of the security from the time of the short sale plus any premiums and interest paid to the third party. (Until the security is replaced, a Fund is required to pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividends or interest which accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, a Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet the margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.) Short sales of forward commitments and derivatives do not involve borrowing a security. These types of short sales may include futures, options, contracts for differences, forward contracts on financial instruments and options such as contracts, credit-linked instruments, and swap contracts.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with short sales include: Leverage Risk, Market Risk and Short Selling Risk.
Sovereign Debt
Sovereign debt obligations are issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies. It may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject. (See also Types of Investments – Foreign Securities .) In addition, there may be no legal recourse against a sovereign debtor in the event of a default.
Sovereign debt includes Brady Bonds, which are securities issued under the framework of the Brady Plan, an initiative announced by former U.S. Treasury Secretary Nicholas F. Brady in 1989 as a mechanism for debtor nations to restructure their outstanding external commercial bank indebtedness.
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Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with sovereign debt include: Credit Risk, Emerging Markets Securities Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, Issuer Risk and Market Risk.
Standby Commitments
See Types of Investments – Municipal Securities above.
Stripped Securities
Stripped securities are the separate income or principal payments of a debt security and evidence ownership in either the future interest or principal payments on an instrument. There are many different types and variations of stripped securities. For example, Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal Securities (STRIPS) can be component parts of a U.S. Treasury security where the principal and interest components are traded independently through DTC, a clearing agency registered pursuant to Section 17A of the 1934 Act and created to hold securities for its participants, and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic computerized book-entries, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Treasury Investor Growth Receipts (TIGERs) are U.S. Treasury securities stripped by brokers. Stripped mortgage-backed securities, (SMBS) also can be issued by the U.S. Government or its agencies. Stripped securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations. See Types of Investments – Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations for more information.
SMBS usually are structured with two or more classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions from a pool of mortgage-backed assets. Common types of SMBS will be structured so that one class receives some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage-backed assets, while another class receives most of the interest and the remainder of the principal.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with stripped securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Liquidity Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk and Stripped Securities Risk
Trust-Preferred Securities
Trust-preferred securities, also known as trust-issued securities, are securities that have characteristics of both debt and equity instruments and are typically treated by the Funds as debt investments.
Generally, trust-preferred securities are cumulative preferred stocks issued by a trust that is created by a financial institution, such as a bank holding company. The financial institution typically creates the trust with the objective of increasing its capital by issuing subordinated debt to the trust in return for cash proceeds that are reflected on the financial institutions balance sheet.
The primary asset owned by the trust is the subordinated debt issued to the trust by the financial institution. The financial institution makes periodic interest payments on the debt as discussed further below. The financial institution will subsequently own the trust’s common securities, which may typically represent a small percentage of the trust’s capital structure. The remainder of the trust’s capital structure typically consists of trust-preferred securities which are sold to investors. The trust uses the sales proceeds to purchase the subordinated debt issued by the financial institution. The financial institution uses the proceeds from the subordinated debt sale to increase its capital while the trust receives periodic interest payments from the financial institution for holding the subordinated debt.
The trust uses the interest received to make dividend payments to the holders of the trust-preferred securities. The dividends are generally paid on a quarterly basis and are often higher than other dividends potentially available on the financial institution’s common stocks. The interests of the holders of the trust-preferred securities are senior to those of common stockholders in the event that the financial institution is liquidated, although their interests are typically subordinated to those of other holders of other debt issued by the institution.
The primary benefit for the financial institution in using this particular structure is that the trust-preferred securities issued by the trust are treated by the financial institution as debt securities for tax purposes (as a consequence of which the expense of paying interest on the securities is tax deductible), but are treated as more desirable equity securities for purposes of the calculation of capital requirements.
In certain instances, the structure involves more than one financial institution and thus, more than one trust. In such a pooled offering, an additional separate trust may be created. This trust will issue securities to investors and use the proceeds to purchase the trust-preferred securities issued by other trust subsidiaries of the participating financial institutions. In such a structure, the trust-preferred securities held by the investors are backed by other trust-preferred securities issued by the trust subsidiaries.
If a financial institution is financially unsound and defaults on interest payments to the trust, the trust will not be able to make dividend payments to holders of the trust-preferred securities such as the Fund, as the trust typically has no business operations other than holding the subordinated debt issued by the financial institution(s) and issuing the trust-preferred securities and common stock backed by the subordinated debt.
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Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with trust-preferred securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Liquidity Risk and Prepayment and Extension Risk.
U.S. Government and Related Obligations
U.S. Government obligations include U.S. Treasury obligations and securities issued or guaranteed by various agencies of the U.S. Government or by various agencies or instrumentalities established or sponsored by the U.S. Government. U.S. Treasury obligations and securities issued or guaranteed by various agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government differ in their interest rates, maturities and time of issuance, as well as with respect to whether they are guaranteed by the U.S. Government. U.S. Government and related obligations may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations. See Types of Investments – Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations for more information.
Investing in U.S. Government and related obligations is subject to certain risks. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk ( i.e. , the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality and, as a result, may be subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises historically have involved limited risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, no assurance can be given that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to any of these entities if it is not obligated to do so by law.
Government-sponsored entities issuing securities include privately owned, publicly chartered entities created to reduce borrowing costs for certain sectors of the economy, such as farmers, homeowners, and students. They include the Federal Farm Credit Bank System, Farm Credit Financial Assistance Corporation, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Student Loan Marketing Association (SLMA), and Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC). Government-sponsored entities may issue discount notes (with maturities ranging from overnight to 360 days) and bonds. On September 7, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), an agency of the U.S. Government, placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship, a statutory process with the objective of returning the entities to normal business operations. FHFA will act as the conservator to operate the enterprises until they are stabilized.
On August 5, 2011, S& P lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating for the United States of America to “AA+” from “AAA”. Because a Fund may invest in U.S. Government obligations, the value of its shares may be adversely affected by S&P’s downgrade or any future downgrades of the U.S. Government’s credit rating. The long-term impact of the downgrade is uncertain. See Appendix A for a description of securities ratings.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with U.S. Government and related obligations include: Credit Risk, Inflation Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk, Reinvestment Risk and U.S. Government Obligations Risk.
Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations
Variable- and floating-rate obligations are debt instruments that provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate and, under certain circumstances, varying principal amounts. Unlike a fixed interest rate, a variable, or floating, rate is one that rises and declines based on the movement of an underlying index of interest rates and may pay interest at rates that are adjusted periodically according to a specified formula. Variable- or floating-rate securities frequently include a demand feature enabling the holder to sell the securities to the issuer at par. In many cases, the demand feature can be exercised at any time. Some securities that do not have variable or floating interest rates may be accompanied by puts producing similar results and price characteristics. Variable-rate demand notes include master demand notes that are obligations that permit the investor to invest fluctuating amounts, which may change daily without penalty, pursuant to direct arrangements between the investor (as lender), and the borrower. The interest rates on these notes fluctuate. The issuer of such obligations normally has a corresponding right, after a given period, to prepay in its discretion the outstanding principal amount of the obligations plus accrued interest upon a specified number of days’ notice to the holders of such obligations. Because these obligations are direct lending arrangements between the lender and borrower, it is not contemplated that such instruments generally will be traded. There generally is not an established secondary market for these obligations. Accordingly, where these obligations are not secured by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements, the lender’s right to redeem is dependent on the ability of the borrower to pay principal and interest on demand. Such obligations frequently are not rated by credit rating agencies and may involve heightened risk of default by the issuer. Asset-backed securities, bank obligations, convertible securities, corporate debt securities, foreign securities, high-yield securities, money market instruments, mortgage-backed securities, municipal securities, participation interests, stripped securities, U.S. Government and related obligations and other types of debt instruments may be structured as variable- and floating-rate obligations.
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Most floating rate loans are acquired directly from the agent bank or from another holder of the loan by assignment. Most such loans are secured, and most impose restrictive covenants on the borrower. These loans are typically made by a syndicate of banks and institutional investors, represented by an agent bank which has negotiated and structured the loan and which is responsible generally for collecting interest, principal, and other amounts from the borrower on its own behalf and on behalf of the other lending institutions in the syndicate, and for enforcing its rights and the rights of the syndicate against the borrower. Each of the lending institutions, including the agent bank, lends to the borrower a portion of the total amount of the loan, and retains the corresponding interest in the loan. Floating rate loans may include delayed draw term loans and prefunded or synthetic letters of credit.
A Fund’s ability to receive payments of principal and interest and other amounts in connection with loans held by it will depend primarily on the financial condition of the borrower. The failure by the Fund to receive scheduled interest or principal payments on a loan would adversely affect the income of the Fund and would likely reduce the value of its assets, which would be reflected in a reduction in the Fund’s NAV. Banks and other lending institutions generally perform a credit analysis of the borrower before originating a loan or purchasing an assignment in a loan. In selecting the loans in which the Fund will invest, however, the Investment Manager will not rely on that credit analysis of the agent bank, but will perform its own investment analysis of the borrowers. The Investment Manager’s analysis may include consideration of the borrower’s financial strength and managerial experience, debt coverage, additional borrowing requirements or debt maturity schedules, changing financial conditions, and responsiveness to changes in business conditions and interest rates. Investments in loans may be of any quality, including “distressed” loans, and will be subject to the Fund’s credit quality policy.
Loans may be structured in different forms, including assignments and participations. In an assignment, a Fund purchases an assignment of a portion of a lender’s interest in a loan. In this case, the Fund may be required generally to rely upon the assigning bank to demand payment and enforce its rights against the borrower, but would otherwise be entitled to all of such bank’s rights in the loan.
The borrower of a loan may, either at its own election or pursuant to terms of the loan documentation, prepay amounts of the loan from time to time. There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to reinvest the proceeds of any loan prepayment at the same interest rate or on the same terms as those of the original loan.
Corporate loans in which a Fund may purchase a loan assignment are made generally to finance internal growth, mergers, acquisitions, recapitalizations, stock repurchases, leveraged buy-outs, dividend payments to sponsors and other corporate activities. The highly leveraged capital structure of certain borrowers may make such loans especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. The Fund may hold investments in loans for a very short period of time when opportunities to resell the investments that a Fund’s Portfolio Manager believes are attractive arise.
Certain of the loans acquired by a Fund may involve revolving credit facilities under which a borrower may from time to time borrow and repay amounts up to the maximum amount of the facility. In such cases, the Fund would have an obligation to advance its portion of such additional borrowings upon the terms specified in the loan assignment. To the extent that the Fund is committed to make additional loans under such an assignment, it will at all times designate cash or securities in an amount sufficient to meet such commitments.
Notwithstanding its intention in certain situations to not receive material, non-public information with respect to its management of investments in floating rate loans, the Investment Manager may from time to time come into possession of material, non-public information about the issuers of loans that may be held in a Fund’s portfolio. Possession of such information may in some instances occur despite the Investment Manager’s efforts to avoid such possession, but in other instances the Investment Manager may choose to receive such information (for example, in connection with participation in a creditors’ committee with respect to a financially distressed issuer). As, and to the extent, required by applicable law, the Investment Manager’s ability to trade in these loans for the account of the Fund could potentially be limited by its possession of such information. Such limitations on the Investment Manager’s ability to trade could have an adverse effect on the Fund by, for example, preventing the Fund from selling a loan that is experiencing a material decline in value. In some instances, these trading restrictions could continue in effect for a substantial period of time.
In some instances, other accounts managed by the Investment Manager may hold other securities issued by borrowers whose floating rate loans may be held in a Fund’s portfolio. These other securities may include, for example, debt securities that are subordinate to the floating rate loans held in the Fund’s portfolio, convertible debt or common or preferred equity securities.
In certain circumstances, such as if the credit quality of the issuer deteriorates, the interests of holders of these other securities may conflict with the interests of the holders of the issuer’s floating rate loans. In such cases, the Investment Manager may owe conflicting fiduciary duties to the Fund and other client accounts. The Investment Manager will endeavor to carry out its obligations to all of its clients to the fullest extent possible, recognizing that in some cases certain clients may achieve a lower economic return, as a result of these conflicting client interests, than if the Investment Manager’s client accounts collectively held only a single category of the issuer’s securities.
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Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with variable- or floating-rate obligations include: Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Liquidity Risk and Prepayment and Extension Risk.
Warrants and Rights
Warrants and rights are types of securities that give a holder a right to purchase shares of common stock. Warrants usually are issued together with a bond or preferred stock and entitle a holder to purchase a specified amount of common stock at a specified price typically for a period of years. Rights usually have a specified purchase price that is lower than the current market price and entitle a holder to purchase a specified amount of common stock typically for a period of only weeks. Warrants may be used to enhance the marketability of a bond or preferred stock. Warrants do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. Warrants may be considered to have more speculative characteristics than certain other types of investments. In addition, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date, if any.
The potential exercise price of warrants or rights may exceed their market price, such as when there is no movement in the market price or the market price of the common stock declines.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with warrants and rights include: Convertible Securities Risk, Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk, Issuer Risk and Market Risk.
When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions
When-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions involve the purchase or sale of securities by a Fund, with payment and delivery taking place in the future after the customary settlement period for that type of security. Normally, the settlement date occurs within 45 days of the purchase although in some cases settlement may take longer. The investor does not pay for the securities or receive dividends or interest on them until the contractual settlement date. When engaging in when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions, a Fund typically will designate liquid assets in an amount equal to or greater than the purchase price. The payment obligation and, if applicable, the interest rate that will be received on the securities, are fixed at the time that a Fund agrees to purchase the securities. A Fund generally will enter into when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions only with the intention of completing such transactions.
However, a Fund’s portfolio manager may determine not to complete a transaction if he or she deems it appropriate to close out the transaction prior to its completion. In such cases, a Fund may realize short-term gains or losses.
To Be Announced Securities (“TBAs”). As with other delayed delivery transactions, a seller agrees to issue a TBA security at a future date. However, the seller does not specify the particular securities to be delivered. Instead, the Fund agrees to accept any security that meets specified terms. For example, in a TBA mortgage-backed security transaction, the Fund and the seller would agree upon the issuer, interest rate and terms of the underlying mortgages. The seller would not identify the specific underlying mortgages until it issues the security. TBA mortgage-backed securities increase market risks because the underlying mortgages may be less favorable than anticipated by the Fund. See Types of Investments – Mortgage-Backed Securities and Types of Investments – Asset-Backed Securities for more information.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions include: Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk and Market Risk.
Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities
Zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities are types of debt instruments that do not necessarily make payments of interest in fixed amounts or at fixed intervals. Asset-backed securities, convertible securities, corporate debt securities, foreign securities, high-yield securities, mortgage-backed securities, municipal securities, participation interests, stripped securities, U.S. Government and related obligations and other types of debt instruments may be structured as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities.
Zero-coupon securities do not pay interest on a current basis but instead accrue interest over the life of the security. These securities include, among others, zero-coupon bonds, which either may be issued at a discount by a corporation or government entity or may be created by a brokerage firm when it strips the coupons from a bond or note and then sells the bond or note and the coupon separately. This technique is used frequently with U.S. Treasury bonds, and zero-coupon securities are marketed under such names as CATS (Certificate of Accrual on Treasury Securities), TIGERs or STRIPS. Zero-coupon bonds also are issued by municipalities. Buying a municipal zero-coupon bond frees its purchaser of the obligation to pay regular federal income tax on imputed interest, since the interest is exempt for regular federal income tax purposes. Zero-coupon certificates of deposit and zero-coupon mortgages are generally structured in the same fashion as zero-coupon bonds; the certificate of deposit holder or mortgage holder receives face value at maturity and no payments until then.
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Pay-in-kind securities normally give the issuer an option to pay cash at a coupon payment date or to give the holder of the security a similar security with the same coupon rate and a face value equal to the amount of the coupon payment that would have been made.
Step-coupon securities trade at a discount from their face value and pay coupon interest that gradually increases over time. The coupon rate is paid according to a schedule for a series of periods, typically lower for an initial period and then increasing to a higher coupon rate thereafter. The discount from the face amount or par value depends on the time remaining until cash payments begin, prevailing interest rates, liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issue.
Zero-coupon, step-coupon and pay-in-kind securities holders generally have substantially all the rights and privileges of holders of the underlying coupon obligations or principal obligations. Holders of these securities typically have the right upon default on the underlying coupon obligations or principal obligations to proceed directly and individually against the issuer and are not required to act in concert with other holders of such securities.
See Appendix A for a discussion of securities ratings.
Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with zero-coupon, step-coupon, and pay-in-kind securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk and Zero-Coupon Bonds Risk.
Information Regarding Risks
The following is a summary of risks of investing in the Funds and the risk characteristics associated with the various investment instruments available to the Funds for investment. A Fund’s risk profile is largely defined by the Fund’s primary portfolio holdings and principal investment strategies (for the description of a Fund’s principal investment strategies and principal risks, please see that Fund’s prospectus). However, the Funds are allowed to use securities, instruments, strategies and other assets and investments other than those described in the Fund’s principal investment strategies, subjecting the Fund to the risks associated with these securities, instruments, strategies and other assets and investments. One or more of the following risks may be associated with investment in a Fund at any time:
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to make investment decisions that will achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies.
Activist Strategies Risk. The Fund may purchase securities of a company that is the subject of a proxy contest or which activist investors are attempting to influence, in the expectation that new management or a change in business strategies will cause the price of the company’s securities to increase. If the proxy contest, or the new management, is not successful, the market price of the company’s securities will typically fall.
In addition, where an acquisition or restructuring transaction or proxy fight is opposed by the subject company’s management, the transaction often becomes the subject of litigation. Such litigation involves substantial uncertainties and may impose substantial cost and expense on the Fund.
Allocation Risk. For any Fund that uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective, there is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes, investments, managers, strategies and/or investment styles will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Alternative Strategies Investment Risk. An investment in alternative investment strategies (Alternative Strategies), whether through direct investment or through one or more underlying funds, involves risks, which may be significant. Alternative Strategies may include strategies, instruments or other assets, such as derivatives, that seek investment returns uncorrelated with the broad equity and fixed income/debt markets, as well as those providing exposure to other markets (such as commodity markets), including but not limited to absolute (positive) return strategies. Alternative Strategies may fail to achieve their desired performance, market or other exposure, or their returns (or lack thereof) may be more correlated with the broad equity and/or fixed income/debt markets than was anticipated, and the Fund may lose money.
Arbitrage Strategies Risk. The Fund may purchase securities at prices only slightly below the anticipated value to be paid or exchanged for such securities in a merger, exchange offer or cash tender offer, and substantially above the prices at which such securities traded immediately prior to announcement of the transaction. If there is a perception that the proposed transaction will not be consummated or will be delayed, the market price of the security may decline sharply, which would result in a loss to the Fund. In addition, if the manager determines that the offer is likely to be increased, either by the original bidder or by another party, the Fund may purchase securities above the offer price; such purchases are subject to a high degree of risk.
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The consummation of mergers and tender and exchange offers can be prevented or delayed by a variety of factors, including opposition by the management or shareholders of the target company, private litigation or litigation involving regulatory agencies, and approval or non-action of regulatory agencies. The likelihood of occurrence of these and other factors, and their impact on an investment, can be very difficult to evaluate.
Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of the Fund's asset-backed securities may be affected by, among other things, changes in interest rates, factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the receivables, the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements, or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Asset-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit card, auto, student and home equity loans. They may also be backed by securities backed by these types of loans and others, such as mortgage loans. Asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Most asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying debt may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of asset-backed securities, resulting in valuations that are volatile and sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Bankruptcy Process and Trade Claims Risk. The Fund may purchase bankruptcy claims. There are a number of significant risks inherent in the bankruptcy process. The effect of a bankruptcy filing on a company may adversely and permanently affect the company and cause it to be incapable of restoring itself as a viable business. Many events in a bankruptcy are the product of contested matters and adversarial proceedings. The duration of a bankruptcy proceeding is difficult to predict and a creditor’s return on investment can be adversely affected by delays while the plan of reorganization is being finalized. The administrative costs in connection with a bankruptcy proceeding are frequently high and are paid out of the debtor’s estate before any return to creditors. The Fund may also purchase trade claims against companies, including companies in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings, which include claims of suppliers for unpaid goods delivered, claims for unpaid services rendered, claims for contract rejection damages and claims related to litigation. An investment in trade claims is very speculative, illiquid, and carries a high degree of risk. The markets in trade claims are not regulated by U.S. federal securities laws or the SEC.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the loans and securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Commodity-related Investment Risk. The value of commodities investments will generally be affected by overall market movements and factors specific to a particular industry or commodity, which may include demand for the commodity, weather, embargoes, tariffs, and economic health, political, international, regulatory and other developments. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for commodities, which may, in turn, reduce market prices and cause the value of Fund shares to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. Exposure to commodities and commodities markets may subject the value of the Fund's investments to greater volatility than other types of investments. No, or limited, active trading market may exist for certain commodities investments, which may impair the ability to sell or to realize the full value of such investments in the event of the need to liquidate such investments. In addition, adverse market conditions may impair the liquidity of actively traded commodities investments. Certain types of commodities instruments are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument. The Fund may make commodity-related investments through, and may invest in one or more underlying funds that make commodity-related investments through, one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries organized outside the U.S. that are generally not subject to U.S. laws (including securities laws) and their protections. However, any such subsidiary is wholly owned and controlled by the Fund and any underlying fund subsidiary is wholly-owned and controlled by the underlying fund, making it unlikely that the subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund or the underlying fund and their shareholders. Further, any such subsidiaries will be subject to the laws of a foreign jurisdiction, and can be adversely affected by developments in that jurisdiction.
Concentration Risk. To the extent that the Fund concentrates its investment in particular issuers, countries, geographic regions, industries or sectors, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse developments in such areas of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of issuers, countries, geographic regions, industries, sectors or investments.
Confidential Information Access Risk. In many instances, issuers of floating rate loans offer to furnish material, non-public information (Confidential Information) to prospective purchasers or holders of the issuer’s floating rate loans to help potential investors assess the value of the loan. Portfolio managers may avoid the receipt of Confidential Information about the issuers of floating rate loans being considered for acquisition by the Fund, or held in the Fund. A decision not to receive Confidential Information from these issuers may disadvantage the Fund as compared to other floating rate loan investors, and may adversely affect the price the Fund pays for the loans it purchases, or the price at which the Fund sells the loans. Further, in situations when
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holders of floating rate loans are asked, for example, to grant consents, waivers or amendments, the ability to assess the desirability of such consents, waivers or amendments may be compromised. For these and other reasons, it is possible that the decision not to receive Confidential Information could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt instruments, such as interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates) and credit risk (the risk that the issuer of a debt instrument will default or otherwise become unable, or be perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due). Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk (the risk that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise). Because the value of a convertible security can be influenced by both interest rates and the common stock's market movements, a convertible security generally is not as sensitive to interest rates as a similar debt instrument, and generally will not vary in value in response to other factors to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would typically be paid before the company's common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. The Fund may be forced to convert a convertible security before it otherwise would choose to do so, which may decrease the Fund's return.
Counterparty Risk. The risk exists that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle in which the Fund invests may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, including making payments to the Fund. The Fund may obtain no or limited recovery in a bankruptcy or other organizational proceedings, and any recovery may be significantly delayed. Transactions that the Fund enters into may involve counterparties in the financial services sector and, as a result, events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.
Credit Risk. Credit Risk is the risk that the value of loans or other fixed-income instruments may decline if the borrower or the issuer thereof defaults or otherwise becomes unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the actual or perceived willingness or ability of the borrower or the issuer to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the financial condition of the borrower or the issuer or in general economic conditions. Fixed-income securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain fixed-income securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. Rating agencies assign credit ratings to certain loans and fixed-income instruments to indicate their credit risk. Lower quality or unrated loans or securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated loans or securities. Non-investment grade loans or fixed-income instruments (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk”) may be subject to greater price fluctuations and are more likely to experience a default than investment grade loans or fixed-income instruments and therefore may expose the Fund to increased credit risk. If the Fund purchases unrated loans or fixed-income securities, or if the ratings of such investments held by the Fund are lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual.
Cyber Security Risk. With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform necessary business functions, investment companies such as the Fund and its service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks. In general, cyber-attacks result from deliberate attacks but unintentional events may have effects similar to those caused by cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial-of-service attacks on fund websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information and causing operational disruption. Successful cyber-attacks against, or security breakdowns of, a Fund or its adviser, subadviser(s), distributor, custodians, transfer agent, Selling Agents and/or other third party service providers may adversely impact a Fund or its shareholders. For instance, cyber-attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact a Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential Fund information, impede trading, cause reputational damage, and subject the Fund to regulatory fines, penalties or financial losses, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund may also incur substantial costs for cyber security risk management in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. While the Fund or the Fund’s service providers have established business continuity plans and systems designed to prevent such cyber-attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities or other instruments in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund’s investment therein to lose value.
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Depositary Receipts Risk. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company reflecting ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve risks similar to the risks associated with investments in foreign securities, including those associated with the particular country, which may be related to the particular political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country and fluctuations in its currency, as well as market risk tied to the underlying foreign company. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights, may not have the same rights afforded typical company stockholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering and may experience difficulty in receiving company stockholder communications. A potential conflict of interest exists to the extent that the Fund invests in ADRs for which the Fund's custodian serves as depository bank.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility for the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments, these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, and may offset gains), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant losses for the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred by the Fund in entering into futures contracts is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures by the Fund may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally required in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. The liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges.
Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Structured Notes Risk. The use of commodity-linked structured notes is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The Fund’s investments in commodity-linked structured notes involve substantial risks, including risk of loss of interest and principal, lack of a secondary ( i.e. , liquid) market, and risk of greater volatility than investments in traditional equity and debt markets.
If payment of interest on a commodity-linked structured note is linked to the value of a particular commodity, commodity index or other economic variable, the Fund might receive lower interest payments (or not receive any of the interest due) on its investments if there is a loss of value of the underlying investment. Further, to the extent that the amount of principal to be repaid upon maturity is linked to the value of a particular commodity, commodity index or other economic variable, the Fund might not receive a portion (or any) of the principal at maturity of the investment or upon earlier exchange. At any time, the risk of loss associated with a particular structured note in the Fund’s portfolio may be significantly higher than the value of the note.
A liquid secondary market may not exist for the commodity-linked structured notes held in the Fund’s portfolio, which may make it difficult for the notes to be sold at a price acceptable to the portfolio managers or to accurately value them. Investment in commodity-linked structured notes also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, and may offset gains), each of which may result in significant losses for the Fund.
The value of the commodity-linked structured notes may fluctuate significantly because the values of the underlying investments to which they are linked are themselves volatile. Additionally, the particular terms of a commodity-linked structured note may create economic leverage by requiring payment by the issuer of an amount that is a multiple of the price increase or decrease of the underlying commodity, commodity index, or other economic variable. Economic leverage will increase the volatility of the value of these commodity-linked notes as they may increase or decrease in value more quickly than the underlying commodity, commodity index or other economic variable.
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Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Swaps Risk. The use of commodity-linked swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Commodity-linked swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of short swap transactions. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk) and are subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, and may offset gains), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (the risk that it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant losses for the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Contracts for Difference Risk. Contracts for differences are swap arrangements in which the parties agree that their return (or loss) will be based on the relative performance of two different groups or baskets of securities or other instruments. Often, one or both baskets will be an established securities index. The Fund’s return will be based on changes in value of theoretical long futures positions in the securities comprising one basket (with an aggregate face value equal to the notional amount of the contract for differences) and theoretical short futures positions in the securities comprising the other basket. The Fund also may use actual long and short futures positions and achieve similar market exposure by netting the payment obligations of the two contracts. If the short basket outperforms the long basket, the Fund will realize a loss – even in circumstances when the securities in both the long and short baskets appreciate in value.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swap Indexes Risk. A credit default swap (CDS) is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make one or more payments to the second party, while the second party assumes the risk of certain defaults, generally a failure to pay on a referenced debt obligation or the bankruptcy of the obligation’s issuer. As such, a CDS generally enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event. A credit default index (CDX) is an index of CDS. Credit default swap indexes (CDSX) are swap agreements that are intended to track the performance of a CDX. CDSX allow an investor, such as the Fund, to manage credit risk or to take a position on a basket of debt obligations more efficiently than transacting in single name CDS. If a credit event occurs in one of the reference issuers, the protection is paid out through the delivery of the defaulted bond by the buyer of protection in return for payment of the notional value of the defaulted bond by the seller of protection or through a cash settlement between the two parties. The reference issuer is then removed from the index. CDSX are subject to the risk that the Fund’s counterparty will default on its obligations. If such a default were to occur, any contractual remedies that the Fund may have may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could delay or limit the Fund's recovery. Thus, if the counterparty under a CDSX defaults on its obligation to make payments thereunder, as a result of its bankruptcy or otherwise, the Fund may lose such payments altogether, or collect only a portion thereof, which collection could involve costs or delays. The Fund’s return from investment in CDSX may not match the return of the referenced index. Further, investment in CDSX could result in losses if the referenced index does not perform as expected. Unexpected changes in the composition of the index may also affect performance of CDSX. If a referenced index has a dramatic intraday move that causes a material decline in the Fund’s net assets, the terms of the Fund’s CDSX may permit the counterparty to immediately close out the transaction. In that event, the Fund may be unable to enter into another CDSX or otherwise achieve desired exposure, even if the referenced index reverses all or a portion of its intraday move.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. The use of credit default swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps, among other factors, may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, and may offset gains), pricing risk (the risk that swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant losses for the Fund. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur.
Derivatives Risk/Equity-Linked Notes Risk. An equity-linked note (ELN) is a debt instrument whose value is based on the value of a single equity security, basket of equity securities or an index of equity securities (each, an Underlying Equity). An ELN typically provides interest income, thereby offering a yield advantage over investing directly in an Underlying Equity. The Fund may purchase ELNs that trade on a securities exchange or those that trade on the over-the-counter markets, including securities offered and sold under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Fund may also purchase an ELN in a
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privately negotiated transaction with the issuer of the ELN (or its broker-dealer affiliate). The Fund's investment in ELNs has the potential to lead to significant losses because ELNs are subject to the market and volatility risks associated with their Underlying Equity, and to additional risks not typically associated with investments in listed equity securities, such as liquidity risk, credit risk of the issuer and concentration risk. The liquidity of unlisted ELNs is normally determined by the willingness of the issuer to make a market in the ELN. While the Fund will seek to purchase ELNs only from issuers that it believes to be willing to, and capable of, repurchasing the ELN at a reasonable price, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell any ELN at such a price or at all. This may impair the Fund’s ability to enter into other transactions at a time when doing so might be advantageous. In addition, because ELNs often take the form of unsecured notes of the issuer, the Fund would be subject to the risk that the issuer may default on its obligations under the ELN, thereby subjecting the Fund to the further risk of being too concentrated in the securities (including ELNs) of that issuer. The Fund may or may not hold an ELN until its maturity. ELNs also include participation notes.
Derivatives Risk/Exchange-Traded Notes Risk. Because exchange-traded notes (ETNs) are unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities, an investment in an ETN exposes the Fund to the risk that an ETN’s issuer may be unable to pay, which means that the Fund is subject to issuer credit risk, including that the value of the ETN may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, despite the underlying benchmark or strategy remaining unchanged. ETNs do not typically offer principal protection, so the Fund may lose some or all of its investment. The returns of ETNs are usually linked to the performance of a market benchmark or strategy, less investor fees and expenses. The Fund will bear its proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the ETN, which may cause the Fund’s returns to be lower. The return on ETNs will typically be lower than the total return on a direct investment in the components of the underlying index or strategy because of the ETN’s investor fees and expenses. The value of an ETN may also be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in the underlying market, changes in the applicable interest rates, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced underlying benchmark or strategy.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. The use of these derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. These instruments are a type of derivative contract, whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country's or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These instruments may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations, subjecting the Fund to foreign currency risk (the risk that Fund performance may be negatively impacted by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund exposes a significant percentage of its assets to currencies other than the U.S. dollar). The effectiveness of any currency hedging strategy by a Fund may be reduced by the Fund’s inability to precisely match forward contract amounts and the value of securities involved. Forward foreign currency contracts used for hedging may also limit any potential gain that might result from an increase or decrease in the value of the currency. Unanticipated changes in the currency markets could result in reduced performance for the Fund or losses. At or prior to maturity of a forward contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been movement in forward contract prices. When the Fund converts its foreign currencies into U.S. dollars, it may incur currency conversion costs due to the spread between the prices at which it may buy and sell various currencies in the market. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund, among other factors, to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or will be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument) and leverage risk (i.e., the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instruments). The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful and the Fund may experience significant losses as a result.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Interest Rate Agreements Risk. Under forward interest rate agreements, the buyer locks in an interest rate at a future settlement date. If the interest rate on the settlement date exceeds the lock rate, the buyer pays the seller the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). If the lock rate exceeds the interest rate on the settlement date, the seller pays the buyer the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). The Fund may act as a buyer or a seller. Investment in these instruments subjects the Fund to risks, including counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, and may offset gains) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant losses for the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be
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reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses for the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, and may offset gains) and pricing risk (the risk that the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant losses for the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Inflation Rate Swaps Risk. An inflation rate swap is a derivative instrument used to transfer inflation risk from one party to another through an exchange of cash flows. In an inflation rate swap, one party pays a fixed rate on a notional principal amount, while the other party pays a floating rate linked to an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Investments in inflation rate swaps subject the Fund (and, therefore, shareholders) to risks, including hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, and may offset gains), counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), and inflation risk (the risk that inflation rates may change drastically as a result of unexpected shifts in the global economy), each of which may result in significant losses for the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR), swap rates, treasury rates and other foreign interest rates. A swap agreement can increase or decrease the volatility of the Fund's investments and its NAV. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, and are, among other factors, subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging and correlation risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, and may offset gains, including because of a lack of correlation between the swaps and the portfolio of bonds that the swaps are designed to hedge or replace), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value), liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant losses for the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Inverse Floaters Risk. Inverse floaters (or inverse variable or floating rate securities) are a type of derivative, long-term fixed income obligation with a variable or floating interest rate that moves in the opposite direction of short-term interest rates. As short-term interest rates go down, the holders of the inverse floaters receive more income and, as short-term interest rates go up, the holders of the inverse floaters receive less income. Variable rate securities provide for a specified periodic adjustment in the interest rate, while floating rate securities have interest rates that change whenever there is a change in a designated benchmark rate or the issuer’s credit quality. While inverse floaters tend to provide more income than similar term and credit quality fixed-rate bonds, they also exhibit greater volatility in price movement. There is a risk that the current interest rate on variable and floating rate securities may not accurately reflect current market interest rates or adequately compensate the holder for the current creditworthiness of the issuer. Some variable or floating rate securities are structured with liquidity features and some may include market-dependent liquidity features that may present greater liquidity risk. Other risks associated with transactions in inverse floaters include interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), counterparty risk (the risk that the issuer of a security may or will default or otherwise become unable, or be perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments when due) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, and may offset gains), each of which may result in significant losses for the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. Options may be traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, and may offset gains), each of which may result in significant losses for the Fund.
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Derivatives Risk/Structured Investments Risk. Structured instruments include debt instruments that are collateralized by the underlying cash flows of a pool of financial assets or receivables. Structured investments may be less liquid than other debt securities (or illiquid), and the price of structured investments may be more volatile. In some cases, depending on its terms, a structured investment may provide that the principal and/or interest payments may be adjusted below zero. Structured investments also may involve significant credit risk and risk of default by the counterparty. The Fund’s use of structured instruments may not work as intended. If structured investments are used to reduce the duration of the Fund’s portfolio, this may limit the Fund’s return when having a longer duration would be beneficial (for instance, when interest rates decline).
Derivatives Risk/Swaps Risk. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In a swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the return, based upon an agreed-upon notional value, of a defined underlying asset or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference based upon an agreed-upon notional value. Swaps could result in Fund losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of swap transactions involving short exposures. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps, among other factors, may be leveraged (creating leverage risk in that the Fund’s exposure and potential losses are greater than the amount invested) and are subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, and may offset gains), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant losses for the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Portfolio Swaps and Total Return Swaps Risk. The use of portfolio swaps or total return swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In a swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return of a defined underlying asset (such as an equity security or basket of such securities) or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference. Portfolio swaps and equity swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of short swap transactions. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps, among other factors, may be leveraged (creating leverage risk) and are subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk ( it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Total Return Swaps Risk. The use of total return swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In a total return swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return of a defined underlying asset (such as an equity security or basket of such securities) or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party makes periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference. Total return swaps could result in Fund losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps, among other factors, may be leveraged (creating leverage risk in that the Fund’s exposure and potential losses are greater than the amount invested), and are subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, and may offset gains), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (the risk that it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), which may result in significant losses for the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Warrants Risk. Warrants are securities giving the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy the stock of an issuer at a given price (generally higher than the value of the stock at the time of issuance) during a specified period or perpetually. Warrants may be acquired separately or in connection with the acquisition of securities. Warrants do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date. Warrants may be subject to the risk that the securities could lose value. There also is the
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risk that the potential exercise price may exceed the market price of the warrants or rights. Investment in these instruments also subject the Fund to liquidity risk (the risk that it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), which may result in significant losses for the Fund.
Distressed Securities Risk. The Fund may purchase distressed securities of business enterprises involved in workouts, liquidations, reorganizations, bankruptcies and similar situations. Since there is typically substantial uncertainty concerning the outcome of transactions involving business enterprises in these situations, there is a high degree of risk of loss, including loss of the entire investment.
In bankruptcy, there can be considerable delay in reaching accord on a restructuring plan acceptable to a bankrupt company’s lenders, bondholders and other creditors and then obtaining the approval of the bankruptcy court. Such delays could result in substantial losses to the investments in such company’s securities or obligations. Moreover, there is no assurance that a plan favorable to the class of securities held by the Fund will be adopted or that the subject company might not eventually be liquidated rather than reorganized.
In liquidations (both in and out of bankruptcy) and other forms of corporate reorganization, there exists the risk that the reorganization either will be unsuccessful, will be delayed or will result in a distribution of cash or a new security, the value of which will be less than the purchase price of the security in respect of which such distribution is received. It may be difficult to obtain accurate information concerning a company in financial distress, with the result that the analysis and valuation are especially difficult. The market for securities of such companies tends to be illiquid and sales may be possible only at substantial discounts.
Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, such as China, Russia and certain countries in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political, economic or other conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity ( i.e. , lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Operational and Settlement Risks of Securities in Emerging Markets. In addition to having less developed securities markets, banks in emerging markets that are eligible foreign sub-custodians may be recently organized, lack extensive operating experience or lack effective government oversight or regulation. In addition, there may be legal restrictions or limitations on the ability of the Fund to recover assets held in custody by a foreign sub-custodian in the event of the bankruptcy of the sub-custodian. Because settlement systems may be less organized than in developed markets and because delivery versus payment settlement may not be possible or reliable, there may be a greater risk that settlement may be delayed and that cash or securities of the Fund may be lost because of failures of or defects in the system, including fraud or corruption. Settlement systems in emerging markets also have a higher risk of failed trades.
Risks Related to Currencies and Corporate Actions in Emerging Markets. Risks related to currencies and corporate actions are also greater in emerging market countries than in developed countries. For example, some emerging market countries may have fixed or managed currencies that are not free-floating against the U.S. dollar. Further, certain currencies may not be traded internationally, or countries may have varying exchange rates. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience sustained periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates which can have negative effects on a country’s economy and securities markets. Corporate action procedures in emerging market countries may be less reliable and have limited or no involvement by the depositories and central banks. Lack of standard practices and payment systems can lead to significant delays in payment.
Risks Related to Corporate and Securities Laws in Emerging Markets. Securities laws in emerging markets may be relatively new and unsettled and, consequently, there is a risk of rapid and unpredictable change in laws regarding foreign investment, securities regulation, title to securities and shareholder rights. Accordingly, foreign investors may be adversely affected by new
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or amended laws and regulations. In addition, the systems of corporate governance to which issuers in certain emerging markets are subject may be less advanced than the systems to which issuers located in more developed countries are subject, and therefore, shareholders of such issuers may not receive many of the protections available to shareholders of issuers located in more developed countries. These risks may be heightened in China and Russia.
China Stock Connect Risk. The risks noted here are in addition to the risks described under Emerging Market Securities Risk . A Fund may, directly or indirectly (through, for example, participation notes or other types of equity-linked notes), purchase shares in mainland China-based companies that trade on Chinese stock exchanges such as the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (China A-Shares) through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect (Stock Connect), a mutual market access program designed to, among other things, enable foreign investment in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) via brokers in Hong Kong. There are significant risks inherent in investing in China A-Shares through Stock Connect. The underdeveloped state of PRC’s investment and banking systems subjects the settlement, clearing, and registration of China A-Shares transactions to heightened risks. Stock Connect can only operate when both PRC and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banking services are available in both markets on the corresponding settlement days. As such, if either or both markets are closed on a U.S. trading day, a Fund may not be able to dispose of its China A-Shares in a timely manner, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. PRC regulations require that a fund that wishes to sell its China A-Shares pre-deliver the China A-Shares to a broker. If the China A-Shares are not in the broker’s possession before the market opens on the day of sale, the sell order will be rejected. This requirement could also limit a fund’s ability to dispose of its China A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect in a timely manner. Additionally, Stock Connect is subject to daily quota limitations on purchases of China A-Shares. Once the daily quota is reached, orders to purchase additional China A-Shares through Stock Connect will be rejected. A Fund’s investment in China A-Shares may only be traded through Stock Connect and is not otherwise transferable. Stock Connect utilizes an omnibus clearing structure, and the Fund’s shares will be registered in its custodian’s name on the Central Clearing and Settlement System. This may limit the ability of the Investment Manager (and/or any subadviser, as the case may be) to effectively manage a Fund, and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of its custodian or to greater risk of expropriation. Investment in China A-Shares through Stock Connect may be available only through a single broker that is an affiliate of the Fund’s custodian, which may affect the quality of execution provided by such broker. Stock Connect restrictions could also limit the ability of a Fund to sell its China A-Shares in a timely manner, or to sell them at all. Further, different fees, costs and taxes are imposed on foreign investors acquiring China A-Shares acquired through Stock Connect, and these fees, costs and taxes may be higher than comparable fees, costs and taxes imposed on owners of other securities providing similar investment exposure.
EuroZone-Related Risk. A number of countries in the European Union (EU) have experienced, and may continue to experience, severe economic and financial difficulties. Additional EU member countries may also fall subject to such difficulties. These events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments in euro-denominated securities and derivatives contracts, securities of issuers located in the EU or with significant exposure to EU issuers or countries. If the euro is dissolved entirely, the legal and contractual consequences for holders of euro-denominated obligations and derivative contracts would be determined by laws in effect at such time. Such investments may continue to be held, or purchased, to the extent consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and permitted under applicable law. These potential developments, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could adversely affect the value of Fund shares.
Certain countries in the EU have had to accept assistance from supra-governmental agencies such as the International Monetary Fund, the European Stability Mechanism (the ESM) or other supra-governmental agencies. The European Central Bank has also been intervening to purchase Eurozone debt in an attempt to stabilize markets and reduce borrowing costs.
There can be no assurance that these agencies will continue to intervene or provide further assistance and markets may react adversely to any expected reduction in the financial support provided by these agencies. Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, could be significant and far-reaching.
Event-Driven Trading Risk. The Fund may seek to profit from the occurrence of specific corporate or other events. A delay in the timing of these events, or the failure of these events to occur at all, may have a significant negative effect on the Fund’s performance.
Event-driven investing requires the relevant manager to make predictions about (i) the likelihood that an event will occur and (ii) the impact such event will have on the value of a company’s securities. If the event fails to occur or it does not have the effect foreseen, losses can result. For example, the adoption of new business strategies, a meaningful change in management or the sale of a division or other significant assets by a company may not be valued as highly by the market as the manager had anticipated, resulting in losses. In addition, a company may announce a plan of restructuring which promises to enhance value and fail to implement it, resulting in losses to investors.
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Event-Linked Instruments Risk. The Fund may seek to profit from investment in debt securities whose performance is linked to the occurrence of specific “trigger” events, such as a hurricane, earthquake, or other physical or weather-related phenomena. If a trigger event causes losses exceeding a specific amount in the geographic region and time period specified in a bond, the Fund may lose a portion or all of its principal invested in the bond or suffer a reduction in credited interest. Some event-linked bonds have features that delay the return of capital upon the occurrence of a specified event; in these cases, whether or not there is loss of capital or interest, the return on the investment may be significantly lower during the extension period. Bonds commonly referred to as “catastrophe bonds” are a type of event-linked instrument in which the Fund may invest. Catastrophe bonds may be issued by government agencies, insurance companies, reinsurers, special purpose corporations or other on-shore or off-shore entities (such special purpose entities are created to accomplish a narrow and well-defined objective, such as the issuance of a note in connection with a reinsurance transaction). The return on these securities is tied primarily to property insurance risk and is analogous to underwriting insurance in certain circumstances. By isolating insurance risk, these securities are largely uncorrelated to other more traditional investments. Risks associated with investment in catastrophe bonds would include, for example, a major hurricane or similar catastrophe striking a heavily populated area of the East Coast of the United States or a major earthquake with an epicenter in an urban area on the West Coast of the United States. In addition to specified trigger events, catastrophe bonds may expose the Fund to other risks, such as credit risk, counterparty risk, adverse regulatory or jurisdictional interpretations, adverse tax consequences, liquidity risk, and foreign exchange risk. Event-linked exposure often provides for an extension of maturity to process and audit loss claims where a trigger event has, or possibly has, occurred. An extension of maturity may increase volatility. From time to time, the volume of catastrophe bonds available in the market may be insufficient to enable the Fund to invest as great a percentage of its assets in catastrophe bonds as it would like.
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) Risk. An ETF’s share price may not track its specified market index (if any) and may trade below its net asset value. Certain ETFs use a “passive” investment strategy and do not take defensive positions in volatile or declining markets. Other ETFs in which the Fund may invest are actively managed ETFs ( i.e. , they do not track a particular benchmark), which indirectly subjects the Fund to active management risk. An active secondary market in an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained and may be halted or interrupted due to actions by its listing exchange, unusual market conditions or other reasons. There can be no assurance an ETF’s shares will continue to be listed on an active exchange. In addition, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses and similar expenses incurred through ownership of the ETF.
The Fund generally expects to purchase shares of ETFs through broker-dealers in transactions on a securities exchange, and in such cases the Fund will pay customary brokerage commissions for each purchase and sale. Shares of an ETF may also be acquired by depositing a specified portfolio of the ETF’s underlying securities, as well as a cash payment generally equal to accumulated dividends of the securities (net of expenses) up to the time of deposit, with the ETF’s custodian, in exchange for which the ETF will issue a quantity of new shares sometimes referred to as a “creation unit.” Similarly, shares of an ETF purchased on an exchange may be accumulated until they represent a creation unit, and the creation unit may be redeemed in kind for a portfolio of the underlying securities (based on the ETF’s net asset value) together with a cash payment generally equal to accumulated dividends as of the date of redemption. The Funds may redeem creation units for the underlying securities (and any applicable cash), and may assemble a portfolio of the underlying securities (and any required cash) to purchase creation units. The Funds’ ability to redeem creation units may be limited by the 1940 Act, which provides that ETFs, the shares of which are purchased in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, will not be obligated to redeem such shares in an amount exceeding one percent of their total outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short or long periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, imposition of currency controls and economic or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. The Fund may also incur currency conversion costs when converting foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa.
Foreign Currency-related Tax Risk. As a regulated investment company (RIC), the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from sources treated as “qualifying income” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Fund may gain exposure to local currency markets through forward currency contracts. Although foreign currency gains currently constitute “qualifying income,” the Treasury Department has the authority to issue regulations excluding from the definition of “qualifying income” a RIC’s foreign currency gains not “directly related” to its “principal business” of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect thereto). Such regulations might treat gains from some of the Fund’s foreign currency-denominated positions as not qualifying income and there is a remote possibility that such regulations might be applied retroactively, in which case, the Fund might not qualify as a RIC for one or more years. In the event the Treasury Department issues such regulations, the Fund’s Board may authorize a significant change in investment strategy or the Fund’s liquidation.
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Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than securities of U.S. companies so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income, capital gains or proceeds from the disposition of foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. In some cases such withholding or other taxes could potentially be confiscatory. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Operational and Settlement Risks of Foreign Securities. The Fund’s foreign securities are generally held outside the United States in the primary market for the securities in the custody of certain eligible foreign banks and trust companies (“foreign sub-custodians”), as permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act). Settlement practices for foreign securities may differ from those in the United States. Some countries have limited governmental oversight and regulation of industry practices, stock exchanges, depositories, registrars, brokers and listed companies, which increases the risk of corruption and fraud and the possibility of losses to the Fund. In particular, under certain circumstances, foreign securities may settle on a delayed delivery basis, meaning that the Fund may be required to make payment for securities before the Fund has actually received delivery of the securities or deliver securities prior to the receipt of payment. Typically, in these cases, the Fund will receive evidence of ownership in accordance with the generally accepted settlement practices in the local market entitling the Fund to delivery or payment at a future date, but there is a risk that the security will not be delivered to the Fund or that payment will not be received, although the Fund and its foreign sub-custodians take reasonable precautions to mitigate this risk. Losses can also result from lost, stolen or counterfeit securities; defaults by brokers and banks; failures or defects of the settlement system; or poor and improper record keeping by registrars and issuers.
Share Blocking. Share blocking refers to a practice in certain foreign markets under which an issuer’s securities are blocked from trading at the custodian or sub-custodian level for a specified number of days before and, in certain instances, after a shareholder meeting where a vote of shareholders takes place. The blocking period can last up to several weeks. Share blocking may prevent the Fund from buying or selling securities during this period, because during the time shares are blocked, trades in such securities will not settle. It may be difficult or impossible to lift blocking restrictions, with the particular requirements varying widely by country. As a consequence of these restrictions, the Investment Manager, on behalf of the Fund, may abstain from voting proxies in markets that require share blocking.
Forward Commitments on Mortgage-Backed Securities (including Dollar Rolls) Risk. When purchasing mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market (MBS TBAs), the seller agrees to deliver mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but may make no guarantee as to the specific securities to be delivered. In lieu of taking delivery of mortgage-backed securities, the Fund could enter into dollar rolls, which are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk). MBS TBAs and dollar rolls are subject to counterparty risk.
Frontier Market Risk. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies and even less developed capital markets than typical emerging market countries (which themselves have increased investment risk relative to more developed market countries) and, as a result, the Fund’s exposure to risks associated with investing in emerging market countries are magnified when the Fund invests in frontier market countries. The increased risks include: the potential for extreme price volatility and illiquidity in frontier market countries; government ownership or control of parts of the private sector and of certain companies;
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trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which frontier market countries trade; and the relatively new and unsettled securities laws in many frontier market countries. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in frontier market countries are even more likely than emerging markets securities to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk .
Fund-of-Funds Risk. Determinations regarding asset classes or underlying funds and the Fund’s allocations thereto may not successfully achieve the Fund’s investment objective, in whole or in part. The selected underlying funds’ performance may be lower than the performance of the asset class they were selected to represent or may be lower than the performance of alternative underlying funds that could have been selected to represent the asset class. The Fund also is exposed to the same risks as the underlying funds in direct proportion to the allocation of its assets among the underlying funds. Therefore, to the extent that the Fund invests significantly in a particular underlying fund, the Fund’s performance would be significantly impacted by the performance of such underlying fund. Generally, by investing in a combination of underlying funds, the Fund has exposure to the risks of many areas of the market. By concentrating its investments in relatively few underlying funds, the Fund may have more concentrated market exposures, subjecting the Fund to greater risk of loss should those markets decline or fail to rise. The ability of the Fund to realize its investment objective will depend, in large part, on the extent to which the underlying funds realize their investment objectives. There is no guarantee that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment objectives. The performance of underlying funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of each underlying fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in an underlying fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. These transactions might also result in higher brokerage, tax or other costs for an underlying fund. This risk may be particularly important when one investor owns a substantial portion of an underlying fund. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds for investment by the Fund, and may also face potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds, because the fees the Investment Manager receives from some underlying funds may be higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds. Also, to the extent that the Fund is constrained/restricted from investing (or investing further) in a particular underlying fund for one or more reasons (e.g., underlying fund capacity constraints or regulatory restrictions) or if the Fund chooses to sell its investment in an underlying fund because of poor investment performance or for other reasons, the Fund may have to invest in another underlying fund(s), including less desirable funds – from a strategy or investment performance standpoint – which could have a negative impact on Fund performance. In addition, Fund performance could be negatively impacted if an appropriate alternate underlying fund(s) does not present itself in a timely manner or at all.
Geographic Focus Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s NAV may be more volatile than the NAV of a more geographically diversified fund.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Hedging Transactions Risk. The Fund may invest in securities and utilize financial instruments for a variety of hedging purposes. Hedging transactions may limit the opportunity for gain if the value of the portfolio position should increase. There can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in hedging transactions at any given time, even under volatile market conditions, or that any hedging transactions the Fund engages in will be successful. Moreover, it may not be possible for the Fund to enter into a hedging transaction at a price sufficient to protect its assets. The Fund may not anticipate a particular risk so as to hedge against it.
Hedging against a decline in the value of a portfolio position does not eliminate fluctuations in the values of portfolio positions or prevent losses if the values of such positions decline, but establishes other positions designed to gain from those same developments, thus moderating the decline in the portfolio positions’ value. Such hedging transactions also limit the opportunity for gain if the value of the portfolio position should increase. Moreover, it may not be possible for the Fund to hedge against an exchange rate, interest rate or security price fluctuation that is so generally anticipated that the Fund is not able to enter into a hedging transaction at a price sufficient to protect its assets from the decline in value of the portfolio positions anticipated as a result of such fluctuations.
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The Fund is not required to attempt to hedge portfolio positions and, for various reasons, may determine not to do so. Furthermore, the Fund may not anticipate a particular risk so as to hedge against it. While the Fund may enter into hedging transactions to seek to reduce risk, such transactions may result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if the Fund had not engaged in any such hedging transaction. In addition, the degree of correlation between price movements of the instruments used in a hedging strategy and price movements in the portfolio position being hedged may vary. For a variety of reasons, the Fund may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Such imperfect correlation may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. The successful utilization of hedging and risk management transactions requires skills complementary to those needed in the selection of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. Moreover, it should be noted that a portfolio will always be exposed to certain risks that cannot be hedged, such as credit risk (relating both to particular securities and counterparties), liquidity risk and widening risk.
High-Yield Investments Risk. Securities and other debt instruments held by the Fund that are rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated debt instruments of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated debt instruments and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than higher-rated debt instruments. High-yield debt instruments are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These debt instruments typically pay a premium – a higher interest rate or yield – because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield debt instruments may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated debt instruments. The ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the debt instruments and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated debt instruments are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated debt instruments.
Highly Leveraged Transactions Risk. The loans or other securities in which the Fund invests may consist of transactions involving refinancings, recapitalizations, mergers and acquisitions and other financings for general corporate purposes. The Fund’s investments also may include senior obligations of a borrower issued in connection with a restructuring pursuant to Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (commonly known as “debtor-in-possession” financings), provided that such senior obligations are determined by the Fund’s portfolio managers to be a suitable investment for the Fund. In such highly leveraged transactions, the borrower assumes large amounts of debt in order to have the financial resources to attempt to achieve its business objectives. Such business objectives may include but are not limited to: management’s taking over control of a company (leveraged buy-out); reorganizing the assets and liabilities of a company (leveraged recapitalization); or acquiring another company. Loans or securities that are part of highly leveraged transactions involve a greater risk (including default and bankruptcy) than other investments.
Impairment of Collateral Risk. The value of collateral, if any, securing a loan can decline, and may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations or difficult or costly to liquidate. In addition, the Fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, certain floating rate and other loans may not be fully collateralized and may decline in value.
Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the uncertainty over the future real value (after inflation) of an investment. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors, including unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy, and the Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to Fund investors.
Inflation-Protected Securities Risk. Inflation-protected debt securities tend to react to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates can be described as nominal interest rates minus the expected impact of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-protected debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-protected debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and may be more volatile than interest paid on ordinary bonds. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments. Income earned by a shareholder depends on the amount of principal invested, and that principal will not grow with inflation unless the shareholder reinvests the portion of Fund distributions that comes from inflation adjustments. A Fund’s investment in certain inflation-protected debt securities may generate taxable income in excess of the interest they pay to the Fund, which may cause the Fund to sell investments to obtain cash to make income distributions to shareholders, including at times when it may not be advantageous to do so.
IPO Risk. IPOs are subject to many of the same risks as investing in companies with smaller market capitalizations. To the extent the Fund determines to invest in IPOs, it may not be able to invest to the extent desired, because, for example, only a small portion (if any) of the securities being offered in an IPO are available to the Fund. The investment performance of the Fund during periods when it is unable to invest significantly or at all in IPOs may be lower than during periods when the Fund is able
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to do so. In addition, as the Fund increases in size, the impact of IPOs on the Fund’s performance will generally decrease. IPOs sold within 12 months of purchase may result in increased short-term capital gains, which will be taxable to the Fund’s shareholders as ordinary income.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of loans and other fixed-income instruments tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of loans and other fixed-income instruments tend to rise. Changes in the value of a fixed-income instrument usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will generally affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a fixed-income instrument, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance. Actions by governments and central banking authorities can result in increases in interest rates. Such actions may negatively affect the value of fixed-income instruments held by the Fund, resulting in a negative impact on the Fund's performance and NAV. Debt instruments with floating coupon rates are typically less sensitive to interest rate changes, but these debt instruments may decline in value if their coupon rates do not rise as much as, or keep pace with, yields on such types of debt instruments. Because rates on certain floating rate loans and other debt instruments reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Fund’s NAV. Any interest rate increases could cause the value of a Fund’s investments in fixed-income instruments to decrease. Rising interest rates may prompt redemptions from a Fund, which may force the Fund to sell investments at a time when it is not advantageous to do so, which could result in losses.
Investing in Other Funds Risk. The Fund’s investment in other funds (affiliated and/or unaffiliated funds, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs)) subjects the Fund to the investment performance (positive or negative) and risks of the underlying funds in direct proportion to the Fund’s investment therein. In addition, investments in ETFs have unique characteristics, including, but not limited to, the expense structure and additional expenses associated with investing in ETFs. The performance of the underlying funds could be adversely affected if other investors in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of a fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in the underlying funds could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. These transactions might also result in higher brokerage, tax or other costs for the underlying funds. This risk may be particularly important when one investor owns a substantial portion of the underlying funds. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated underlying funds for investment by the Fund because the fees paid to it by some underlying funds are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds, as well as a potential conflict in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds. Also, to the extent that the Fund is constrained/restricted from investing (or investing further) in a particular underlying fund for one or more reasons (e.g., underlying fund capacity constraints or regulatory restrictions) or if the Fund chooses to sell its investment in an underlying fund because of poor investment performance or for other reasons, the Fund may have to invest in another underlying fund(s), including less desirable funds – from a strategy or investment performance standpoint – which could have a negative impact on Fund performance. In addition, Fund performance could be negatively impacted if an appropriate alternate underlying fund(s) does not present itself in a timely manner or at all.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its loans or securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Large Fund Investor Risk. The Fund may from time to time sell a substantial amount of its shares to relatively few investors or a single investor, including other funds advised by the Investment Manager, or third parties. Sales to and redemptions from large investors may be very substantial relative to the size of the Fund and carry potentially adverse effects. While it is not possible to predict the overall effect of such sales and redemptions, such transactions may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is required to invest cash received in connection with a sale or to sell a substantial amount of its portfolio securities to facilitate a redemption, in either case, a time when the Fund would otherwise prefer not to invest or sell, such as in an up market or down market, respectively. Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s transaction costs, which would also detract from Fund performance, while also having potentially negative tax consequences to investors. The Fund, because of a large redemption, may be forced to sell its liquid or more liquid positions, resulting in the Fund holding a higher percentage of less liquid or illiquid securities (securities that may be unable to sell at a favorite time or price). Because the expenses and costs of the Fund are shared by its investors, large redemptions in the Fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for non-redeeming Fund shareholders. In addition, in the event of a Fund proxy proposal, a large investor(s) could dictate with its/their vote the results of the proposal, which may have a less favorable impact on minority-stake shareholders.
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Leverage Risk. Leverage occurs when the Fund increases its assets available for investment using borrowings, short sales, derivatives, or similar instruments or techniques. If the Fund uses leverage, through the purchase of particular instruments such as derivatives, the Fund may experience capital losses that exceed the net assets of the Fund. Because short sales involve borrowing securities and then selling them, the Fund’s short sales effectively leverage the Fund’s assets. The Fund’s assets that are used as collateral to secure the Fund’s obligations to return the securities sold short may decrease in value while the short positions are outstanding, which may force the Fund to use its other assets to increase the collateral. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but may also exaggerate the Fund’s volatility and risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with any event, circumstance, or characteristic of an investment or market that negatively impacts the Fund’s ability to sell, or realize the proceeds from the sale of, an investment at a desirable time or price. Liquidity risk may arise because of, for example, a lack of marketability of the investment. Decreases in the number of financial institutions, including banks and broker-dealers willing to make markets (match up sellers and buyers) in the Fund’s investments or decreases in their capacity or willingness to trade such investments may increase the Fund’s exposure to this risk. The debt market has experienced considerable growth, and financial institutions making markets in instruments purchased and sold by the Fund (e.g., bond dealers) have experienced increased regulation over their businesses. The impact of that growth and regulation on the ability and willingness of financial institutions to engage in trading or “making a market” in such instruments remains unsettled. As a result, the Fund, when seeking to sell its portfolio investments, could find that selling is more difficult than anticipated, especially during times of high market volatility. Market participants attempting to sell the same or similar instrument at the same time as the Fund could exacerbate the Fund’s exposure to liquidity risk. The Fund may have to accept a lower selling price for the holding, sell other investments that it might otherwise prefer to hold, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Certain investments that were liquid when purchased by the Fund may later become illiquid, particularly in times of overall economic distress. Changing regulatory, market or other conditions or environments (for example, the interest rate or credit environments) may also adversely affect the liquidity and the price of the Fund's investments. Certain types of investments, such as structured notes and non-investment grade fixed-income securities, as an example, may be especially subject to liquidity risk. Floating rate loans also generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale and may trade infrequently on the secondary market. The value of the loan to the Fund may be impaired in the event that the Fund needs to liquidate such loans. The inability to purchase or sell floating rate loans and other debt instruments at a fair price may have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. Securities or other assets in which the Fund invests may be traded in the over-the-counter market rather than on an exchange and therefore may be more difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing illiquid or less liquid investments as compared to valuing liquid or more liquid investments. Price volatility may be higher for illiquid or less liquid investments as a result of, for example, the relatively less frequent pricing of such securities (as compared to liquid or more liquid investments). Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss or decline of value to the Fund. Overall market liquidity and other factors can lead to an increase in Fund redemptions, which may negatively impact Fund performance and NAV, including, for example, if the Fund is forced to sell investments in a down market.
Governments and their regulatory agencies and self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Fund or the Investment Manager or any Fund subadviser, as the case may be, are regulated or supervised. Such legislation or regulation could affect or preclude a Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.
Governments and their regulatory agencies and self-regulatory organizations may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of a Fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the Funds to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the Funds.
While the Investment Manager and any subadvisers can endeavor to take various preventative measures to address liquidity risk, including conducting periodic portfolio risk analysis/management and stress-testing, such measures may not be successful and may not have fully accounted for the specific circumstances that ultimately impact a Fund and its holdings.
Listed Private Equity Fund Investment Risk. Private equity funds include financial institutions or vehicles whose principal business is to invest in and lend capital to privately held companies. The Fund is subject to the underlying risks that affect private equity funds in which it invests, which may include increased liquidity risk, valuation risk, sector risk and credit risk. Limited or incomplete information about the companies in which private equity funds invest, and relatively concentrated investment portfolios of private equity funds, may expose the Fund to greater volatility and risk of loss. Fund investment in private equity funds subjects Fund shareholders indirectly to the fees and expenses incurred by private equity funds.
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Loan Assignment/Loan Participation Risk. If a bank loan is acquired through an assignment, the Fund may not be able to unilaterally enforce all rights and remedies under the loan and with regard to any associated collateral. If a bank loan is acquired through a participation, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce against the borrower compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement, and the Fund may not benefit from the collateral supporting the debt obligation in which it has purchased the participation. As a result, the Fund will be exposed to the credit risk of both the borrower and the institution selling the participation.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests may not be considered “securities,” and purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid. Loan interests may be difficult to value and typically have extended settlement periods, which expose the Fund to the risk that the receipt of principal and interest payments may be delayed until the loan interest settles. Extended settlement periods during significant Fund redemption activity could potentially cause short-term liquidity demands within the Fund. To meet liquidity demands, the Fund could be forced to sell investments at unfavorable prices, or borrow money or effect short settlements when possible (at a cost to the Fund), in an effort to generate sufficient cash to pay redeeming shareholders. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or transactions, such as corporate acquisitions, may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions.
Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets, although many covenants may be waived or modified with the consent of a certain percentage of the holders of the loans even if the Fund does not consent. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In most loan agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan, including the Fund. Such actions may include invalidating the loan, the lien on the collateral, the priority status of the loan, or ordering the refund of interest previously paid by the borrower. Any such actions by a court could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. A default or expected default of a loan could also make it difficult for the Fund to sell the loan at a price approximating the value previously placed on it. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel. This may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect its NAV. Loans that have a lower priority for repayment in an issuer’s capital structure may involve a higher degree of overall risk than more senior loans of the same borrower. In the event of a default, second lien secured loans will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the first lien secured lenders. The remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. In addition, if a secured loan is foreclosed, the Fund would likely bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. The collateral may be difficult to sell and the Fund would bear the risk that the collateral may decline in value while the Fund is holding it. From time to time, disagreements may arise amongst the holders of loans and debt in the capital structure of an issuer, which may give rise to litigation risks, including the risk that a court could take action adverse to the holders of the loan, which could negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. Alternatively, the Fund may acquire a participation interest in a loan that is held by another party. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. As a participant, the Fund also would be subject to the risk that the party selling the participation interest would not remit the Fund’s pro rata share of loan payments to the Fund. It may also be difficult for the Fund to obtain an accurate picture of a lending bank’s financial condition.
Macro Strategy Risk. The profitability of any macro program depends primarily on the ability of its manager to predict derivative contract price movements to implement investment ideas regarding macroeconomic trends. Price movements for commodity interests are influenced by, among other things: changes in interest rates; governmental, agricultural, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies; weather and climate conditions; natural disasters, such as hurricanes; changing supply and demand relationships; changes in balances of payments and trade; U.S. and international rates of inflation and deflation; currency devaluations and revaluations; U.S. and international political and economic events; and changes in philosophies and emotions of market participants. The manager’s trading methods may not take all of these factors into account.
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The global macro programs to which the Fund’s investments are exposed typically use derivative financial instruments that are actively traded using a variety of strategies and investment techniques that involve significant risks. The derivative financial instruments traded include commodities, currencies, futures, options and forward contracts and other derivative instruments that have inherent leverage and price volatility that result in greater risk than instruments used by typical mutual funds, and the systematic programs used to trade them may rely on proprietary investment strategies that are not fully disclosed, which may in turn result in risks that are not anticipated.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. The value of Fund investments may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the investments the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these investments, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than loans and other debt instruments, under certain market conditions, loans and other debt instruments may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Master Limited Partnership Risk. Investments in securities (units) of master limited partnerships involve risks that differ from an investment in common stock. Holders of these units have more limited rights to vote on matters affecting the partnership. These units may be subject to cash flow and dilution risks. There are also certain tax risks associated with such an investment. In particular, the Fund’s investment in master limited partnerships can be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and can limit the Fund’s ability to so qualify. In addition, conflicts of interest may exist between common unit holders, subordinated unit holders and the general partner of a master limited partnership, including a conflict arising as a result of incentive distribution payments. In addition, there are risks related to the general partner’s right to require unit holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price.
Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have more risk than securities of larger capitalization companies (larger companies). For example, mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be difficult and result in Fund investment losses. In addition, some mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Model and Technology Risk. Investment strategies or programs that are fundamentally dependent on proprietary or licensed technology, such as, among other things, hardware, software, model-based strategies, data gathering systems, order execution, and trade allocation systems, and/or risk management systems may not be successful on an ongoing basis or could contain errors, omissions, imperfections, or malfunctions. Any such errors, imperfections or limitations in a model could affect the ability of the manager to implement strategies. Despite testing, monitoring and independent safeguards, these errors may result in, among other things, execution and allocation failures and failures to properly gather, organize and analyze amounts of data from third parties and other external sources. More specifically, as it is not possible or practicable for a manager to factor all relevant, available data into quantitative model forecasts and/or trading decisions, managers (and/or affiliated licensors of such data) will use their discretion to determine what data to gather with respect to an investment strategy and what subset of that data the models will take into account to produce forecasts that may have an impact on ultimate trading decisions, all of which may have a negative effect on the Fund.
Errors are often extremely difficult to detect and some may go undetected for long periods of time and some may never be detected. The adverse impact caused by these errors can compound over time. A manager (and/or the licensor of the models or technology) may detect certain errors that it chooses, in its sole discretion, not to address or fix. By necessity, models make simplifying assumptions that limit their efficacy. Models that appear to explain prior market data can fail to predict future market events. Moreover, an increasing number of market participants may rely on models that are similar to those used by a manager (or an affiliate of a manager), which may result in a substantial number of market participants taking the same action with respect to an investment. Should one or more of these other market participants begin to divest themselves of one or more portfolio investments, the Fund could suffer losses. Additionally, shareholders should be aware that there is no guarantee that a manager that uses quantitative techniques will use any specific data or type of data in generating forecasts or making trading decisions on behalf of the Fund, nor is there any guarantee that the data actually utilized in generating forecasts or making trading decisions on behalf of the Fund will be (i) the most accurate data available or (ii) free from errors.
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Money Market Fund Investment Risk. An investment in a money market fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by any bank, the FDIC or any other government agency. Although certain types of money market funds seek to preserve the value of investments at $1.00 per share, it is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in these and other types of money market funds. In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund directly bears, the Fund indirectly bears the fees and expenses of any money market funds in which it invests, including affiliated money market funds. To the extent these fees and expenses, along with the fees and expenses of any other funds in which the Fund may invest, are expected to equal or exceed 0.01% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, they will be reflected in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses set forth in the table under “Fees and Expenses of the Fund.” By investing in a money market fund, the Fund will be exposed to the investment risks of the money market fund in direct proportion to such investment. The money market fund may not achieve its investment objective, and the Fund, through its investment in the money market fund, may not achieve its investment objective. To the extent the Fund invests in instruments such as derivatives, the Fund may hold investments, which may be significant, in money market fund shares to cover its obligations resulting from its investments in derivatives. Money market funds and the securities they invest in are subject to comprehensive regulations. The enactment of new legislation or regulations, as well as changes in interpretation and enforcement of current laws, may affect the manner of operation, performance and/or yield of money market funds. In the event that a money market fund’s portfolio liquidity declines below a certain level, the money market fund’s board may impose a liquidity fee on redemptions of up to 2% or suspend redemptions for a period of time (i.e., impose a redemption gate). These measures may result in an investment loss or prohibit the Fund from redeeming shares when the Investment Manager would otherwise redeem shares.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of mortgages from which payments of interest and principal (net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities) are distributed to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Other types of asset-backed securities typically represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit, automobile, student and home equity loans. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making them more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed (i) by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association) or (ii) by its agencies, authorities, enterprises or instrumentalities (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)), which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (although FNMA and FHLMC may be able to access capital from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations under such securities). Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by various credit enhancements, such as pool insurance, guarantees issued by governmental entities, letters of credit from a bank or senior/subordinated structures, and may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government, whether or not such obligations are guaranteed by the private issuer.
Multi-Strategy Risk. The multi-strategy approach employed by the Fund involves special risks, which include the risk that investment decisions, at the Fund or the underlying fund level, may conflict with each other; for example, at any particular time, one manager may be purchasing shares of an issuer whose shares are being sold by another manager. Consequently, the Fund could indirectly incur transaction costs without accomplishing any net investment result. Also, managers may use proprietary or licensed investment strategies that are based on considerations and factors that are not fully disclosed to the Fund or other investors.
Moreover, consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, these proprietary or licensed investment strategies, which may include quantitative mathematical models or systems, may be changed or refined over time. A manager (or the licensor of the strategies used by the manager) may make certain changes to the strategies the manager has previously used, may not use such strategies at all (or the manager’s license may be revoked), or may use additional strategies, where such changes or discretionary decisions, and the reasons for such changes or decisions, are also not disclosed to the Fund or other investors. These strategies may involve risks under some market conditions that are not anticipated by the Investment Manager or the Fund.
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Municipal Securities Risk. Municipal securities are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including general financing for state and local governments, or financing for a specific project or public facility, and include obligations of the governments of the U.S. territories, commonwealths and possessions such as Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the extent such obligations are exempt from state and federal income taxes. Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political and legislative changes at the state or federal level. Municipal securities may be fully or partially backed by the taxing authority of the local government, by the credit of a private issuer, by the current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets or by domestic or foreign entities providing credit support, such as letters of credit, guarantees or insurance, and are generally classified into general obligation bonds and special revenue obligations. General obligation bonds are backed by an issuer's taxing authority and may be vulnerable to limits on a government's power or ability to raise revenue or increase taxes. They may also depend for payment on legislative appropriation and/or funding or other support from other governmental bodies. Revenue obligations are payable from revenues generated by a particular project or other revenue source, and are typically subject to greater risk of default than general obligation bonds because investors can look only to the revenue generated by the project or other revenue source backing the project, rather than to the general taxing authority of the state or local government issuer of the obligations. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance projects in sectors such as education, health care, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal market. The amount of publicly available information for municipal issuers is generally less than for corporate issuers.
Certain of the municipalities or territories in which the Fund may invest have recently experienced significant financial difficulties. A credit rating downgrade relating to, default by, or insolvency or bankruptcy of, one or several municipal security issuers of a state, territory, commonwealth or possession in which the Fund invests could affect the market values and marketability of many or all municipal obligations of such state, territory, commonwealth or possession. The value of the Fund’s shares will be negatively impacted to the extent it invests in such securities. The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports show, at a point in time, the Fund’s investment exposures. The risk of investing in the Fund is directly correlated to the Fund’s investment exposures.
The Fund’s investments in municipal securities may include securities of issuers in the health care sector, which subjects the Fund’s investments to the risks associated with that sector, including the risk of regulatory action or policy changes by numerous governmental agencies and bodies, including federal, state, and local governmental agencies, as well as requirements imposed by private entities, such as insurance companies. A major source of revenue for the health care industry is payments from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. As a result, the industry is sensitive to legislative changes and reductions in governmental spending for such programs. Numerous other factors may affect the industry, such as general and local economic conditions, demand for services, expenses (including, among others, malpractice insurance premiums) and competition among health care providers. Additional factors also may adversely affect health care facility operations, such as adoption of legislation proposing a national health insurance program, other state or local health care reform measures, medical and technological advances that alter the need for or cost of health services or the way in which such services are delivered, changes in medical coverage that alter the traditional fee-for-service revenue stream, and efforts by employers, insurers, and governmental agencies to reduce the costs of health insurance and health care services.
Opportunistic Investing Risk. Undervalued securities involve the risk that they may never reach their expected full market value, either because the market fails to recognize the security's intrinsic worth or the expected value was misgauged. Undervalued securities also may decline in price even though the Investment Manager believes they are already undervalued. Turnaround companies may never improve their fundamentals, may take much longer than expected to improve, or may improve much less than expected. Development stage companies could fail to develop and deplete their assets, resulting in large percentage losses.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk ( i.e. , the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might, in the case of prepayment risk, be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity and, in the case of extension risk, the investment might not be called as expected. In the case of prepayment risk, if the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. In the case of mortgage- or other asset-backed securities, as interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the
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risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Quantitative Model Risk. The Fund may use quantitative methods to select investments. Securities or other investments selected using quantitative methods may perform differently from the market as a whole or from their expected performance for many reasons, including factors used in building the quantitative analytical framework, the weights placed on each factor, and changing sources of market returns, among others. Any errors or imperfections in the Fund portfolio manager’s quantitative analyses or models, or in the data on which they are based, could adversely affect the portfolio manager’s effective use of such analyses or models, which in turn could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. It is not possible or practicable for a manager to factor all relevant, available data into quantitative model forecasts and/or trading decisions. Quantitative managers will use their discretion to determine what data to gather with respect to an investment strategy and what data the models will take into account to produce forecasts that may have an impact on ultimate trading decisions. Shareholders should be aware that there is no guarantee that a quantitative manager will use any specific data or type of data in making trading decisions on behalf of the Fund, nor is there any guarantee that the data actually utilized in generating forecasts or making trading decisions on behalf of the Fund will be the most accurate data available or free from errors. There can be no assurance that these methodologies will enable the Fund to achieve its objective.
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subject the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may need to sell portfolio securities to meet redemption requests. The Fund could experience a loss when selling portfolio securities to meet redemption requests if there is (i) significant redemption activity by shareholders, including, for example, when a single investor or few large investors make a significant redemption of Fund shares, (ii) a disruption in the normal operation of the markets in which the Fund buys and sells portfolio securities or (iii) the inability of the Fund to sell portfolio securities because such securities are illiquid. In such events, the Fund could be forced to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices in an effort to generate sufficient cash to pay redeeming shareholders. The Fund may suspend redemptions or the payment of redemption proceeds when permitted by applicable regulations.
Regulatory Risk — Alternative Investments. Legal, tax, and regulatory developments may adversely affect the Fund and its investments. The regulatory environment for the Fund and certain of its investments is evolving, and changes in the regulation of investment funds, their managers, and their trading activities and capital markets, or a regulator’s disagreement with the Fund’s or others’ interpretation of the application of certain regulations, may adversely affect the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment strategy, its ability to obtain leverage and financing, and the value of investments held by the Fund. There has been an increase in governmental, as well as self-regulatory, scrutiny of the investment industry in general and the alternative investment industry in particular. It is impossible to predict what, if any, changes in regulations may occur, but any regulation that restricts the ability of the Fund or any underlying funds or other investments to trade in securities or other instruments or the ability of the Fund or underlying funds to employ, or brokers and other counterparties to extend, credit in their trading (as well as other regulatory changes that result) could have a material adverse impact on the Fund’s performance.
Shareholders should understand that the Fund’s business is dynamic and is expected to change over time. Therefore, the Fund and its underlying investments may be subject to new or additional regulatory constraints in the future. Such regulations may have a significant impact on shareholders or the operations of the Fund, including, without limitation, restricting the types of investments the Fund may make, preventing the Fund from exercising its voting rights with regard to certain financial instruments, requiring the Fund to disclose the identity of its investors or otherwise. To the extent the Fund or its underlying investments are subject to such regulation, such regulations may have a detrimental effect on one or more shareholders. Prospective investors are encouraged to consult their own advisors regarding an investment in the Fund.
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Regulatory Risk — Money Market Funds. Money market funds and the securities they invest in are subject to comprehensive regulations. The enactment of new legislation or regulations, as well as changes in interpretation and enforcement of current laws, may affect the manner of operation, performance and/or yield of money market funds.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Repurchase Agreements Risk. Repurchase agreements are agreements in which the seller of a security to the Fund agrees to repurchase that security from the Fund at a mutually agreed upon price and time. Repurchase agreements carry the risk that the counterparty may not fulfill its obligations under the agreement. This could cause the Fund's income and the value of your investment in the Fund to decline.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk. Reverse repurchase agreements are agreements in which a Fund sells a security to a counterparty, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase that security at a mutually agreed upon price and time. Reverse repurchase agreements carry the risk that the market value of the security sold by the Fund may decline below the price at which the Fund must repurchase the security. Reverse repurchase agreements also may be viewed as a form of borrowing, and borrowed assets used for investment creates leverage risk. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but may also exaggerate the Fund’s volatility and risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that this strategy will be successful.
Rule 144A and Other Exempted Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in privately placed and other securities or instruments exempt from SEC registration (collectively “private placements”), subject to liquidity and other regulatory restrictions. In the U.S. market, private placements are typically sold only to qualified institutional buyers, or qualified purchasers, as applicable. An insufficient number of buyers interested in purchasing private placements at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such investments and the Fund might be unable to dispose of them promptly or at reasonable prices, subjecting the Fund to liquidity risk. The Fund may invest in private placements determined to be liquid as well as those determined to be illiquid. Even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of private placements may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers are unable or unwilling to purchase them at a particular time. The Fund may also have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Additionally, the purchase price and subsequent valuation of private placements typically reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a more liquid market exists. Issuers of Rule 144A eligible securities are required to furnish information to potential investors upon request. However, the required disclosure is much less extensive than that required of public companies and is not publicly available since the offering is not filed with the SEC. Further, issuers of Rule 144A eligible securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. Generally, the more broadly the Fund invests, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
Sector Risk — Consumer Discretionary Sector Investments. To the extent a Fund concentrates its investments in companies in the consumer discretionary sector, it may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in that sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.
Sector Risk — Energy Sector Investments. To the extent a Fund concentrates its investments in companies in the energy sector, it may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in that sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the energy sector are subject to certain risks, including legislative or regulatory changes, adverse market conditions and increased competition. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including, among others, fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, events occurring in nature and local and international politics. In addition, rising interest rates and high inflation may affect the demand for certain natural resources and, therefore, the performance of companies in the energy sector.
Sector Risk — Financial Services Sector Investments. To the extent a Fund concentrates its investments in companies in the financial services sector, it may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in that sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies
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may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses ( e.g. , subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Sector Risk — Health Care Sector Investments. To the extent a Fund concentrates its investments in companies in the health care sector, it may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in that sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the health care sector are subject to certain risks, including restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, government approval of medical products and services, competitive pricing pressures, and the rising cost of medical products and services (especially for companies dependent upon a relatively limited number of products or services). Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including, government regulation, obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so), product liability and other similar litigation as well as product obsolescence.
Sector Risk — Industrials Sector Investments. To the extent a Fund concentrates its investments in companies in the industrials sector, it may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in that sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the industrials sector are subject to certain risks, including changes in supply and demand for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general, including decline in demand for such products due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including government regulation, world events and economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims.
Sector Risk — Technology and Technology-Related Sector Investment Risk. To the extent a Fund concentrates its investments in companies in technology and technology related sectors, it may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in those sectors, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Short Positions Risk. A Fund that establishes short positions introduces more risk to the Fund than a fund that only takes long positions (where the Fund owns the instrument or other asset) because the maximum sustainable loss on an instrument or other asset purchased (held long) is limited to the amount paid for the instrument or other asset plus the transaction costs, whereas there is no maximum price of the shorted instrument or other asset when purchased in the open market. Therefore, in theory, short positions have unlimited risk. The Fund’s use of short positions in effect “leverages” the Fund. Leverage potentially exposes the Fund to greater risks of loss due to unanticipated market movements, which may magnify losses and increase the volatility of returns. To the extent the Fund takes a short position in a derivative instrument or other asset, this involves the risk of a potentially unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument or other asset.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger, more established companies (larger companies) but may also have more risk. For example, small- and mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Small- and mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in small- and mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be prolonged and result in losses to the Fund. In addition, some small- and mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
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With respect to sovereign debt of emerging market issuers, investors should be aware that certain emerging market countries are among the largest debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign debt on a timely basis and that has led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness to the detriment of debtholders. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
Special Situations Risk. Securities of companies that are involved in an initial public offering or a major corporate event, such as a business consolidation or restructuring, may be exposed to heightened risk because of the high degree of uncertainty that can be associated with such events. Securities issued in initial public offerings often are issued by companies that are in the early stages of development, have a history of little or no revenues and may operate at a loss following the offering. It is possible that there will be no active trading market for the securities after the offering, and that the market price of the securities may be subject to significant and unpredictable fluctuations. Initial public offerings are subject to many of the same risks as investing in companies with smaller market capitalizations. To the extent the Fund determines to invest in initial public offerings, it may not be able to invest to the extent desired, because, for example, only a small portion (if any) of the securities being offered in an initial public offering are available to the Fund. The investment performance of the Fund during periods when it is unable to invest significantly or at all in initial public offerings may be lower than during periods when the Fund is able to do so. Securities purchased in initial public offerings which are sold within 12 months after purchase may result in increased short-term capital gains, which will be taxable to the Fund’s shareholders as ordinary income. Certain “special situation” investments are investments in securities or other instruments that are determined to be illiquid or lacking a readily ascertainable fair value. Certain special situation investments prevent ownership interests therein from being withdrawn until the special situation investment, or a portion thereof, is realized or deemed realized, which may negatively impact Fund performance. Investing in special situations may have a magnified effect on the performance of funds with small amounts of assets.
Stripped Securities Risk. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of debt securities. These securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, and therefore subject to greater fluctuations in price than typical interest bearing debt securities. For example, stripped mortgage-backed securities have greater interest rate risk than mortgage-backed securities with like maturities, and stripped treasury securities have greater interest rate risk than traditional government securities with identical credit ratings.
Systems and Technology Risk. The Investment Manager and, as the case may be, any Fund subadvisers, use various technology in managing the Fund, consistent with its investment objective and strategy described in the Fund’s prospectus. For example, proprietary and third-party data and systems may be utilized to support decision making for the Fund. Data imprecision, software or other technology malfunctions, programming inaccuracies and similar circumstances may impair the performance of these systems, which may negatively affect Fund performance.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk ( i.e. , the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or may be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
Valuation Risk. The sales price the Fund (or an underlying fund or other investment vehicle) could receive for any particular investment may differ from the Fund’s (or an underlying fund’s or other investment vehicle’s) valuation of the investment, particularly for securities that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair value methodology that produces an estimate of the fair value of the security/instrument, which may prove to be inaccurate. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is holding securities or other instruments (or holding shares of underlying funds or other investment vehicles that have fair-valued securities or other instruments in their portfolios) may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund (or underlying fund or other investment vehicle) had not fair-valued the security or instrument or had used a different valuation methodology. The value of foreign securities, certain fixed-income securities and currencies, as applicable, may be materially affected by events after the close of the market on which they are valued, but before the Fund determines its net asset value.
Zero-Coupon Bonds Risk. Zero-coupon bonds are bonds that do not pay interest in cash on a current basis, but instead accrue interest over the life of the bond. As a result, these securities are issued at a discount and their values may fluctuate more than the values of similar securities that pay interest periodically. Although these securities pay no interest to holders prior to maturity,
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interest accrued on these securities is reported as income to the Fund and affects the amounts distributed to its shareholders, which may cause the Fund to sell investments to obtain cash to make income distributions to shareholders, including at times when it may not be advantageous to do so.
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Borrowings
In general, pursuant to the 1940 Act, a Fund may borrow money only from banks in an amount not exceeding 33  1 3 % of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings). Any borrowings that come to exceed this amount must be reduced within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) to the extent necessary to comply with the 33  1 3 % limitation.
The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has entered into a revolving credit facility agreement (the Credit Agreement) with a syndicate of banks led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. whereby the Funds may borrow for the temporary funding of shareholder redemptions or for other temporary or emergency purposes. Pursuant to a December 9, 2014 amendment, the Credit Agreement, which is a collective agreement between the Funds and certain other funds managed by the Investment Manager (collectively, the Participating Funds), severally and not jointly, permits the Participating Funds to borrow up to an aggregate commitment amount of $550 million (the Commitment Limit) at any time outstanding, subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Credit Agreement. A Fund may borrow up to the maximum amount allowable under its current Prospectus and this SAI, subject to various other legal, regulatory or contractual limits. Borrowing results in interest expense and other fees and expenses for a Fund that may impact that Fund’s expenses, including any net expense ratios. The costs of borrowing may reduce a Fund's return. If a Fund borrows pursuant to the Credit Agreement, that Fund is charged interest at a variable rate. Each Fund also pays a commitment fee equal to its pro rata share of the amount of the credit facility. The availability of assets under the Credit Agreement can be affected by other Participating Funds’ borrowings under the agreement. As such, a Fund may be unable to borrow (or borrow further) under the Credit Agreement if the Commitment Limit has been reached.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
To generate additional income, a Fund may lend up to 33%, or such lower percentage specified by the Fund or Investment Manager, of the value of its total assets (including securities out on loan) to broker-dealers, banks or other institutional borrowers of securities. JPMorgan serves as lending agent (the Lending Agent) to the Funds pursuant to a securities lending agreement (the Securities Lending Agreement) approved by the Board. Under the Securities Lending Agreement, the Lending Agent loans Fund securities to approved borrowers pursuant to borrower agreements in exchange for collateral at least equal in value to the loaned securities, marked to market daily. Collateral may consist of cash, securities issued by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities (collectively, “U.S. Government securities”) or such other collateral as may be approved by the Board. For loans secured by cash, the Fund retains the interest earned on cash collateral, but the Fund is required to pay the borrower a rebate for the use of the cash collateral. For loans secured by U.S. Government securities, the borrower pays a borrower fee to the Lending Agent on behalf of the Fund.
If the market value of the loaned securities goes up, the Fund will require additional collateral from the borrower. If the market value of the loaned securities goes down, the borrower may request that some collateral be returned. During the existence of the loan, the Fund will receive from the borrower amounts equivalent to any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities, as well as interest on such amounts.
Loans are subject to termination by a Fund or a borrower at any time. A Fund may choose to terminate a loan in order to vote in a proxy solicitation, as described in this SAI under Investment Management and Other Services – Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures – General.
Securities lending involves counterparty risk, including the risk that a borrower may not provide sufficient or any collateral when required or may not return the loaned securities, timely or at all. Counterparty risk also includes a potential loss of rights in the collateral if the borrower or the Lending Agent defaults or fails financially. This risk is increased if a Fund’s loans are concentrated with a single borrower or limited number of borrowers. There are no limits on the number of borrowers a Fund may use and a Fund may lend securities to only one or a small group of borrowers. Funds participating in securities lending also bear the risk of loss in connection with investments of cash collateral received from the borrowers. Cash collateral is invested in accordance with investment guidelines contained in the Securities Lending Agreement and approved by the Board. Some or all of the cash collateral received in connection with the securities lending program may be invested in one or more pooled investment vehicles, including, among other vehicles, money market funds managed by the Lending Agent (or its affiliates). The Lending Agent shares in any income resulting from the investment of such cash collateral, and an affiliate of the Lending Agent may receive asset-based fees for the management of such pooled investment vehicles, which may create a conflict of interest between the Lending Agent (or its affiliates) and the Fund with respect to the management of such cash collateral. To the extent that the value or return of a Fund’s investments of the cash collateral declines below the amount owed to a borrower, a Fund may incur losses that exceed the amount it earned on lending the security. The Lending Agent will indemnify a fund from losses resulting from a borrower’s failure to return a loaned security when due, but such indemnification does not extend to losses associated with declines in the value of cash collateral investments. The Investment Manager is not responsible for any loss incurred by the Funds in connection with the securities lending program.
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The Funds currently do not participate in the securities lending program, but the Board may determine to renew participation in the future.
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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES
The Investment Manager and Subadvisers
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, is the investment manager of the Funds as well as for other funds in the Columbia Fund Family. The Investment Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, which is located at 1099 Ameriprise Financial Center, Minneapolis, MN 55474. Ameriprise Financial is a holding company, which primarily conducts business through its subsidiaries to provide financial planning, products and services that are designed to be utilized as solutions for clients’ cash and liquidity, asset accumulation, income, protection and estate and wealth transfer needs.
The Investment Manager and its investment advisory affiliates (Participating Affiliates) around the world may coordinate in providing services to their clients. Such coordination may include functional leadership of the business (the “Global” business). From time to time the Investment Manager (or any affiliated investment subadviser to the Funds, as the case may be) may engage its Participating Affiliates to provide a variety of services such as investment research, investment monitoring, trading, and discretionary investment management (including portfolio management) to certain accounts managed by the Investment Manager, including the Funds. These Participating Affiliates will provide services to the Investment Manager (or any affiliated investment subadviser to the Funds as the case may be) either pursuant to subadvisory agreements, personnel-sharing agreements or similar inter-company arrangements and the Funds will pay no additional fees and expenses as a result of any such arrangements. These Participating Affiliates, like the Investment Manager, are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Ameriprise and are registered with the appropriate respective regulators in their home jurisdictions and, where required, the SEC and the CFTC in the United States.
Pursuant to some of these arrangements, certain employees of these Participating Affiliates may serve as “associated persons” of the Investment Manager and, in this capacity, subject to the oversight and supervision of the Investment Manager and consistent with the investment objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Funds' prospectuses and this SAI may provide such services to the Funds on behalf of the Investment Manager.
After the close of business on December 13, 2013, International Value Fund converted into a stand-alone fund that invests directly in individual portfolio securities rather than investing in the Master Portfolio. Prior to this date, International Value Fund did not pay advisory fees because advisory services were provided to the Master Portfolio, which was subject to an advisory fee. Upon conversion, International Value Fund became subject to the same advisory fee as the Master Portfolio.
Services Provided
Those Funds included in the Management Agreement Fee Schedule table in the Management Agreement Fee Rates section below have entered into the Management Agreement with the Investment Manager, effective as of the date set forth in such table (the Management Services Fee Effective Date). Under the Management Agreement, the Investment Manager has contracted to furnish each such Fund with investment research and advice and all of the services necessary for, or appropriate to, the business and effective operation of each Fund that are not (a) provided by employees or other agents engaged by the Fund or (b) required to be provided by any person pursuant to any other agreement or arrangement with the Fund. Under the Management Agreement, any liability of the Investment Manager to the Trusts, a Fund and/or its shareholders is limited to situations involving the Investment Manager’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence in the performance of its duties or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties.
The Management Agreement may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time on 60 days’ written notice by the Investment Manager or by the Board or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. The Management Agreement will automatically terminate upon any assignment thereof, will continue in effect for two years from its initial effective date and thereafter will continue from year to year with respect to a Fund only so long as such continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the Board or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund and (ii) by vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Investment Manager or the Trusts, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
The Investment Manager pays all compensation of the Trustees and officers of the Trusts who are employees of the Investment Manager or its affiliates. Except to the extent expressly assumed by the Investment Manager and except to the extent required by law to be paid or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager does not have a duty to pay any Fund operating expenses incurred in the organization and operation of a Fund, including, but not limited to, auditing, legal, custodial, investor servicing and shareholder reporting expenses. The Trust pays the cost of printing and mailing Fund prospectuses to shareholders.
The Investment Manager, at its own expense, provides office space, facilities and supplies, equipment and personnel for the performance of its functions under each Fund’s Management Agreement.
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Management Agreement Fee Rates
Each Fund set forth in the table below, unless otherwise noted, pays the Investment Manager an annual fee for its management services, as set forth in the Management Agreement and the table below, as of the date specified in the Management Services Fee Effective Date column. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of each Fund and is paid monthly. The Investment Manager and/or its affiliates may from time to time waive fees and/or reimburse a Fund’s expenses. See the Funds’ prospectuses for more information.
Management Agreement Fee Schedule
Fund Assets
(millions)
Annual rate at
each asset level
Management Services Fee
Effective Date
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund $0-$250 0.470% 9/1/2015
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund >$250-$500 0.465% 9/1/2015
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund >$500-$1,000 0.415% 9/1/2015
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund >$1,000-$1,500 0.380% 9/1/2015
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund >$1,500-$3,000 0.350% 9/1/2015
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund >$3,000-$6,000 0.330% 9/1/2015
  >$6,000-$12,000 0.320%  
  >$12,000 0.310%  
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund $0-$500 0.480% 12/1/2015
  >$500-$1,000 0.475%  
  >$1,000-$2,000 0.445%  
  >$2,000-$3,000 0.420%  
  >$3,000-$6,000 0.385%  
  >$6,000-$7,500 0.360%  
  >$7,500-$10,000 0.350%  
  >$10,000-$12,000 0.340%  
  >$12,000-$15,000 0.330%  
  >$15,000-$24,000 0.320%  
  >$24,000-$50,000 0.300%  
  >$50,000 0.290%  
AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund $0-$500 0.720% 10/1/2015
Diversified Equity Income Fund >$500-$1,000 0.670% 10/1/2015
Dividend Opportunity Fund >$1,000-$1,500 0.620% 10/1/2015
Global Equity Value Fund >$1,500-$3,000 0.570% 7/1/2015
Global Opportunities Fund (b) >$3,000-$6,000 0.550% 12/1/2015
  >$6,000-$12,000 0.530%  
  >$12,000 0.520%  
Commodity Strategy Fund $0-$500 0.630% 10/1/2015
  >$500-$1,000 0.580%  
  >$1,000-$3,000 0.550%  
  >$3,000-$6,000 0.520%  
  >$6,000-$12,000 0.500%  
  >$12,000 0.490%  
Convertible Securities Fund $0-$500 0.820% 7/1/2015
  >$500-$1,000 0.770%  
  >$1,000-$1,500 0.720%  
  >$1,500 0.670%  
Disciplined Core Fund $0-$500 0.750% 12/1/2015
Disciplined Growth Fund >$500-$1,000 0.700% 12/1/2015
Disciplined Value Fund >$1,000-$1,500 0.650% 12/1/2015
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund >$1,500-$3,000 0.600% 7/1/2015
  >$3,000-$6,000 0.580%  
  >$6,000-$12,000 0.560%  
  >$12,000 0.550%  
Flexible Capital Income Fund $0-$500 0.650% 10/1/2015
  >$500-$1,000 0.630%  
  >$1,000-$3,000 0.610%  
  >$3,000-$6,000 0.570%  
  >$6,000 0.540%  
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Fund Assets
(millions)
Annual rate at
each asset level
Management Services Fee
Effective Date
Floating Rate Fund $0-$250 0.660% 12/1/2015
High Yield Bond Fund >$250-$500 0.645% 10/1/2015
Income Opportunities Fund >$500-$750 0.635% 12/1/2015
  >$750-$1,000 0.625%  
  >$1,000-$2,000 0.610%  
  >$2,000-$3,000 0.600%  
  >$3,000-$6,000 0.565%  
  >$6,000-$7,500 0.540%  
  >$7,500-$9,000 0.525%  
  >$9,000-$10,000 0.500%  
  >$10,000-$12,000 0.485%  
  >$12,000-$15,000 0.475%  
  >$15,000-$20,000 0.465%  
  >$20,000-$24,000 0.440%  
  >$24,000-$50,000 0.425%  
  >$50,000 0.400%  
Global Infrastructure Fund $0-$500 0.710% 9/1/2015
  >$500-$1,000 0.705%  
  >$1,000-$2,000 0.650%  
  >$2,000-$3,000 0.600%  
  >$3,000-$6,000 0.590%  
  >$6,000-$12,000 0.540%  
  >$12,000 0.530%  
Inflation Protected Securities Fund $0-$500 0.510% 12/1/2015
  >$500-$1,000 0.505%  
  >$1,000-$2,000 0.475%  
  >$2,000-$3,000 0.450%  
  >$3,000-$6,000 0.415%  
  >$6,000-$7,500 0.390%  
  >$7,500-$9,000 0.375%  
  >$9,000-$10,000 0.370%  
  >$10,000-$12,000 0.360%  
  >$12,000-$15,000 0.350%  
  >$15,000-$20,000 0.340%  
  >$20,000-$24,000 0.330%  
  >$24,000-$50,000 0.310%  
  >$50,000 0.290%  
International Opportunities Fund $0-$500 0.870% 7/1/2015
International Value Fund >$500-$1,000 0.820% 7/1/2015
Overseas Value Fund >$1,000-$1,500 0.770% 7/1/2015
Select Global Growth Fund >$1,500-$3,000 0.720% 7/1/2015
Select International Equity Fund >$3,000-$6,000 0.700% 7/1/2015
  >$6,000-$12,000 0.680%  
  >$12,000 0.670%  
Large Cap Growth Fund II $0-$500 0.770% 7/1/2015
Large Cap Growth Fund III >$500-$1,000 0.720% 7/1/2015
Large Cap Growth Fund V >$1,000-$1,500 0.670% 7/1/2015
Select Large Cap Equity Fund >$1,500-$3,000 0.620% 7/1/2015
  >$3,000-$6,000 0.600%  
  >$6,000-$12,000 0.580%  
  >$12,000 0.570%  
Large Cap Index Fund (a)
Mid Cap Index Fund
Small Cap Index Fund (a)
All assets
0.200%
7/1/2015
7/1/2015
7/1/2015
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Fund Assets
(millions)
Annual rate at
each asset level
Management Services Fee
Effective Date
Limited Duration Credit Fund $0-$500 0.430% 12/1/2015
Short Term Bond Fund >$500-$1,000 0.425% 8/1/2015
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund >$1,000-$2,000 0.415% 9/1/2015
  >$2,000-$3,000 0.410%  
  >$3,000-$6,000 0.395%  
  >$6,000-$7,500 0.380%  
  >$7,500-$9,000 0.365%  
  >$9,000-$10,000 0.360%  
  >$10,000-$12,000 0.350%  
  >$12,000-$15,000 0.340%  
  >$15,000-$20,000 0.330%  
  >$20,000-$24,000 0.320%  
  >$24,000-$50,000 0.300%  
  >$50,000 0.280%  
Mid Cap Value Fund $0-$500 0.820% 7/1/2015
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund >$500-$1,000 0.770% 10/1/2015
  >$1,000-$1,500 0.720%  
  >$1,500-$3,000 0.670%  
  >$3,000-$12,000 0.660%  
  >$12,000 0.650%  
MN Tax-Exempt Fund $0-$250 0.470% 12/1/2015
  >$250-$500 0.465%  
  >$500-$1,000 0.415%  
  >$1,000-$3,000 0.380%  
  >$3,000-$6,000 0.340%  
  >$6,000-$7,500 0.330%  
  >$7,500-$12,000 0.320%  
  >$12,000 0.310%  
Money Market Fund $0-$500 0.390% 12/1/2015
  >$500-$1,000 0.385%  
  >$1,000-$1,500 0.363%  
  >$1,500-$2,000 0.345%  
  >$2,000-$2,500 0.328%  
  >$2,500-$3,000 0.310%  
  >$3,000-$5,000 0.300%  
  >$5,000-$6,000 0.280%  
  >$6,000-$7,500 0.260%  
  >$7,500-$9,000 0.255%  
  >$9,000-$10,000 0.230%  
  >$10,000-$12,000 0.220%  
  >$12,000-$15,000 0.210%  
  >$15,000-$20,000 0.200%  
  >$20,000-$24,000 0.190%  
  >$24,000 0.180%  
Mortgage Opportunities Fund $0-$500 0.650% 10/1/2015
  >$500-$1,000 0.645%  
  >$1,000-$2,000 0.630%  
  >$2,000-$3,000 0.620%  
  >$3,000-$6,000 0.595%  
  >$6,000-$7,500 0.580%  
  >$7,500-$9,000 0.565%  
  >$9,000-$10,000 0.555%  
  >$10,000-$12,000 0.545%  
  >$12,000 0.535%  
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund $0-$250 1.050% 10/1/2015
  >$250-$500 1.025%  
  >$500-$750 0.995%  
  >$750-$1,000 0.970%  
  >$1,000-$3,000 0.940%  
  >$3,000-$12,000 0.930%  
  >$12,000 0.920%  
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Fund Assets
(millions)
Annual rate at
each asset level
Management Services Fee
Effective Date
Select Large-Cap Value Fund $0-$500 0.770% 10/1/2015
  >$500-$1,000 0.715%  
  >$1,000-$3,000 0.615%  
  >$3,000-$6,000 0.600%  
  >$6,000-$12,000 0.580%  
  >$12,000 0.570%  
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund $0-$500 0.870% 10/1/2015
Small Cap Value Fund II >$500-$1,000 0.820% 7/1/2015
  >$1,000-$3,000 0.770%  
  >$3,000-$12,000 0.760%  
  >$12,000 0.750%  
Seligman Communications and Information Fund $0-$500 0.915% 10/1/2015
  >$500-$1,000 0.910%  
  >$1,000-$3,000 0.905%  
  >$3,000-$4,000 0.865%  
  >$4,000-$6,000 0.815%  
  >$6,000-$12,000 0.765%  
  >$12,000 0.755%  
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund $0-$500 0.500% 10/1/2015
  >$500-$1,000 0.495%  
  >$1,000-$2,000 0.480%  
  >$2,000-$3,000 0.460%  
  >$3,000-$6,000 0.450%  
  >$6,000-$7,500 0.430%  
  >$7,500-$9,000 0.415%  
  >$9,000-$12,000 0.410%  
  >$12,000-$20,000 0.390%  
  >$20,000-$24,000 0.380%  
  >$24,000-$50,000 0.360%  
  >$50,000 0.340%  
(a) The Investment Manager, from the management services fee it receives from the Fund, pays all operating expenses of the Fund, with the exception of brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of Trustees who are not officers, directors or employees of the Investment Manager or its affiliates, distribution (Rule 12b-1) and/or shareholder servicing fees and any extraordinary non-recurring expenses that may arise, including litigation expenses.
(b) This fee applies to assets invested in securities, other than underlying funds (including any exchange-traded funds (ETFs)) that pay an investment advisory services fee to Columbia Management, including other funds advised by the Investment Manager that do not pay an investment advisory services fee, derivatives and individual securities. The Fund does not pay an investment advisory services fee on assets that are invested in underlying funds, including any ETFs, that pay an investment advisory services fee to Columbia Management.
Under the Management Agreement, a Fund also pays taxes, brokerage commissions and nonadvisory expenses, which include custodian fees and charges; fidelity bond premiums; certain legal fees; registration fees for shares; consultants’ fees; compensation of Board members, officers and employees not employed by the Investment Manager or its affiliates; corporate filing fees; organizational expenses; expenses incurred in connection with lending securities; interest and fee expense related to a Fund’s participation in inverse floater structures; and expenses properly payable by a Fund, approved by the Board.
Investment Management Services Agreement
Prior to the Management Services Fee Effective Date listed for each Fund in the Management Agreement Fee Rates section above, each Fund, unless otherwise noted, was party to the Investment Management Services Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement with the Investment Manager for advisory and administrative services, respectively. Each Fund party to these agreements paid the Investment Manager an annual fee for advisory services, as set forth in the Investment Management Services Agreement, and a separate fee for administrative services under the Administrative Services Agreement. See Investment Management and Other Services – The Administrator for information with respect to the Administrative Services Agreement. As of the Management Services Fee Effective Date listed for each Fund, these services have been combined under the Management Agreement as described above. Each Fund, other than those listed in the Management Agreement Fee Schedule table in the Management Agreement Fee Rates section above, continues to be a party to each separate agreement with the Investment Manager.
Services Provided Under the Investment Management Services Agreement
Under the Investment Management Services Agreement, the Investment Manager has contracted to furnish each Fund with investment research and advice. For these services, unless otherwise noted, each Fund pays a monthly fee to the Investment Manager based on the average of the daily closing value of the total net assets of a Fund for such month. Under the Investment
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Management Services Agreement, any liability of the Investment Manager to the Trusts, a Fund and/or its shareholders is limited to situations involving the Investment Manager’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence in the performance of its duties or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties.
The Investment Management Services Agreement may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time on 60 days’ written notice by the Investment Manager or by the Board or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. The Investment Management Services Agreement will automatically terminate upon any assignment thereof, will continue in effect for two years from its initial effective date and thereafter will continue from year to year with respect to a Fund only so long as such continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the Board or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund and (ii) by vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Investment Manager or the Trusts, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
The Investment Manager pays all compensation of the Trustees and officers of the Trusts who are employees of the Investment Manager or its affiliates. Except to the extent expressly assumed by the Investment Manager and except to the extent required by law to be paid or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager does not have a duty to pay any Fund operating expenses incurred in the organization and operation of a Fund, including, but not limited to, auditing, legal, custodial, investor servicing and shareholder reporting expenses. The Trust pays the cost of printing and mailing Fund prospectuses to shareholders.
The Investment Manager, at its own expense, provides office space, facilities and supplies, equipment and personnel for the performance of its functions under each Fund’s Investment Management Services Agreement.
Investment Management Services Agreement Fee Rates
For each Fund indicated below, the Investment Manager continues to receive a separate fee for its investment advisory and administrative services under each separate agreement. The Investment Manager and/or its affiliates may from time to time waive fees and/or reimburse a Fund’s expenses. See the Funds’ prospectuses for more information. The investment advisory services fee is calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of each Fund and is paid monthly at the following annual rates. Income Builder Fund does not pay the Investment Manager a direct fee for these services.
Investment Management Services Agreement Fee Schedule
Fund Assets
(billions)
Annual rate at
each asset level
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund First $1.0 0.890%
  Next $1.0 0.865%
  Next $1.0 0.840%
  Next $3.0 0.815%
  Next $1.5 0.790%
  Next $1.5 0.775%
  Next $1.0 0.770%
  Next $5.0 0.760%
  Next $5.0 0.750%
  Next $4.0 0.740%
  Next $26.0 0.720%
  Over $50.0 0.700%
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund First $0.25 0.800%
  Next $0.25 0.775%
  Next $0.25 0.750%
  Next $0.25 0.725%
  Next $0.5 0.700%
  Next $1.5 0.650%
  Next $3.0 0.640%
  Next $14.0 0.620%
  Next $4.0 0.610%
  Next $26.0 0.600%
  Over $50.0 0.570%
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Fund Assets
(billions)
Annual rate at
each asset level
Emerging Markets Bond Fund First $0.5 0.530%
  Next $0.5 0.525%
  Next $1.0 0.515%
  Next $1.0 0.495%
  Next $3.0 0.480%
  Next $1.5 0.455%
  Next $1.5 0.440%
  Next $1.0 0.431%
  Next $5.0 0.419%
  Next $5.0 0.409%
  Next $4.0 0.393%
  Next $26.0 0.374%
  Over $50.0 0.353%
European Equity Fund First $0.25 0.800%
  Next $0.25 0.775%
  Next $0.25 0.750%
  Next $0.25 0.725%
  Next $0.5 0.700%
  Next $1.5 0.650%
  Next $3.0 0.640%
  Next $14.0 0.620%
  Next $4.0 0.610%
  Next $26.0 0.600%
  Over $50.0 0.570%
Global Bond Fund First $1.0 0.570%
  Next $1.0 0.525%
  Next $1.0 0.520%
  Next $3.0 0.515%
  Next $1.5 0.510%
  Next $4.5 0.500%
  Next $8.0 0.490%
  Next $30.0 0.480%
  Over $50.0 0.470%
Large Cap Growth Fund IV First $0.5 0.710%
Next $0.5 0.665%
Next $0.5 0.620%
Next $1.5 0.570%
Next $3.0 0.560%
  Over $6.0 0.540%
Select Global Equity Fund First $0.25 0.800%
  Next $0.25 0.775%
  Next $0.25 0.750%
  Next $0.25 0.725%
  Next $0.5 0.700%
  Next $1.5 0.650%
  Next $3.0 0.640%
  Next $14.0 0.620%
  Next $4.0 0.610%
  Next $26.0 0.600%
  Over $50.0 0.570%
Seligman Global Technology Fund (a) First $3.0 0.855%
Next $1.0 0.825%
  Next $2.0 0.775%
  Over $6.0 0.725%
(a) Effective June 1, 2013, the investment advisory services fee schedule changed resulting in a fee rate decrease for certain asset levels.
The Investment Manager has implemented a schedule for the Capital Allocation Portfolios’ and Global Strategic Equity Fund’s investment advisory services fees whereby each of the Funds pays (i) 0.00% on assets invested in Columbia proprietary funds (excluding any proprietary fund that does not pay an investment advisory services fee to the Investment Manager), (ii) 0.10% on assets invested in non-exchange-traded third-party advised mutual funds and (iii) 0.55% on assets invested in securities, other than third-party advised mutual funds, and in Columbia proprietary funds that do not pay an investment advisory services fee (including ETFs, derivatives and individual securities).
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Under the Investment Management Services Agreement, a Fund also pays taxes, brokerage commissions and nonadvisory expenses, which include custodian fees and charges; fidelity bond premiums; certain legal fees; registration fees for shares; consultants’ fees; compensation of Board members, officers and employees not employed by the Investment Manager or its affiliates; corporate filing fees; organizational expenses; expenses incurred in connection with lending securities; interest and fee expense related to a Fund’s participation in inverse floater structures; and expenses properly payable by a Fund, approved by the Board.
Investment Advisory Services Fees Paid. The table below shows the total investment advisory services fees paid by each Fund under the Investment Management Services Agreement for the last three fiscal periods. The table is organized by fiscal year end. For amounts waived or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, see Expense Limitations .
Investment Advisory Services Fees
  Investment Advisory Services Fees
  2015 2014 2013
For Funds with fiscal period ending January 31
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio $426,438 $140,922 (a) $0
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio 196,172 90,965 (a) 0
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio 1,471,771 635,791 363,620
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio 367,285 143,455 72,183
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio 843,399 262,273 (a) 0
Global Strategic Equity Fund 1,655 930 976
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Convertible Securities Fund 8,505,776 4,920,665 4,029,231
Global Equity Value Fund 6,781,114 7,096,328 3,883,146
International Opportunities Fund 1,047,963 1,990,750 3,412,658
International Value Fund (b) 1,809,257 463,672 9,074,397
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund 2,073,563 1,486,208 1,466,253
Large Cap Growth Fund II 7,141,978 7,285,317 9,238,502
Large Cap Growth Fund III 7,353,958 8,815,272 12,456,659
Large Cap Growth Fund V 12,189,153 13,233,867 17,356,927
Large Cap Index Fund 3,376,904 2,824,934 2,516,462
Mid Cap Index Fund 3,796,538 3,214,924 2,425,603
Mid Cap Value Fund 25,209,623 25,236,516 24,254,448
Overseas Value Fund 5,794,788 2,394,086 230,197
Select Global Growth Fund 386,626 252,327 98,982
Select International Equity Fund 4,803,237 6,937,792 8,742,256
Select Large Cap Equity Fund 3,624,989 4,073,334 5,618,096
Small Cap Index Fund 2,955,890 2,436,410 1,875,113
Small Cap Value Fund II 13,008,314 12,247,710 11,200,318
For Funds with fiscal period ending March 31
Short Term Bond Fund 8,903,586 9,710,525 9,818,536
For Funds with fiscal period ending April 30
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 1,351,276 1,163,315 1,185,451
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 312,006 337,994 414,216
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 356,411 423,881 567,167
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 712,383 705,293 878,335
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 499,365 527,856 673,220
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 906,282 1,104,819 1,426,979
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  Investment Advisory Services Fees
  2015 2014 2013
Global Infrastructure Fund $2,846,913 $3,794,627 $4,323,624
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund 7,245,916 7,085,231 7,690,029
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
AP – Multi-Manager Value Fund 10,689,157 7,259,435 4,305,942
Commodity Strategy Fund 212,324 329,377 327,809
Diversified Equity Income Fund 15,589,838 16,132,596 16,946,253
Dividend Opportunity Fund 33,119,141 32,346,334 26,498,467
Flexible Capital Income Fund 3,544,285 1,167,007 599,809
High Yield Bond Fund 11,242,538 10,875,206 9,967,625
Mortgage Opportunities Fund 924,415 43,165 (c) N/A
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund 3,577,199 3,651,282 3,169,653
Select Large-Cap Value Fund 6,698,053 4,879,253 3,455,207
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund 3,800,160 3,684,668 2,970,310
Seligman Communications and Information Fund 31,947,356 28,396,766 29,194,759
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund 9,292,293 11,588,133 11,261,420
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund 7,898,784 8,269,387 10,141,134
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund 2,435,643 2,283,062 2,651,030
Disciplined Core Fund 24,409,533 22,537,250 20,595,326
Disciplined Growth Fund 4,427,170 3,631,799 3,701,363
Disciplined Value Fund 6,327,050 4,021,684 1,941,728
Floating Rate Fund 5,574,076 6,369,286 3,709,607
Global Opportunities Fund 4,648,782 5,142,134 5,239,774
Income Opportunities Fund 17,817,834 17,488,842 16,225,334
Inflation Protected Securities Fund 1,038,993 1,192,132 1,657,541
Limited Duration Credit Fund 4,186,864 3,924,329 3,918,794
MN Tax-Exempt Fund 1,815,243 1,690,284 1,873,492
Money Market Fund 5,435,872 5,912,176 6,082,604
  2014 2013 2012
For Funds with fiscal period ending August 31
Large Cap Growth Fund IV 1,484,023 1,115,261 1,514,125
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund 481,124 836,749 989,546
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund 5,197,521 3,835,643 3,339,296
Emerging Markets Bond Fund 4,022,583 4,260,710 2,907,586
European Equity Fund 4,572,257 3,078,576 2,713,806
Global Bond Fund 843,306 1,206,698 1,518,028
Select Global Equity Fund 3,159,681 2,996,496 3,158,337
Seligman Global Technology Fund 4,017,147 3,556,109 4,028,897
(a) The Fund began paying an advisory fee effective March 1, 2013.
(b) The Fund's advisory fees were paid at the Master Portfolio level until December 14, 2013, at which time International Value Fund pays the Fees; amounts shown for the fiscal year ended 2013 and the fiscal period from March 1, 2013 to December 14, 2013, are for the Master Portfolio, which included one additional feeder fund.
(c) For the period from April 30, 2014 (commencement of operations) to May 31, 2014.
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Manager of Managers Exemption
The SEC has issued an order that permits the Investment Manager, subject to the approval of the Board, to appoint an unaffiliated subadviser or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement for a Fund without first obtaining shareholder approval. The order permits a Fund to add or to change unaffiliated subadvisers or to change the fees paid to subadvisers from time to time without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change.
For Seligman Communications and Information Fund and Large Cap Growth Fund V, if the Funds were to seek to rely on the order, holders of a majority of their outstanding voting securities would need to approve operating the Fund in this manner. There is no assurance shareholder approval, if sought, will be received, and no changes will be made without shareholder approval until that time.
The Investment Manager and its affiliates may have other relationships, including significant financial relationships, with current or potential subadvisers or their affiliates, which may create certain conflicts of interest. When making recommendations to the Board to appoint or to change a subadviser, or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement, the Investment Manager does not consider any other relationship it or its affiliates may have with a subadviser, and the Investment Manager discloses to the Board the nature of any material relationships it has with a subadviser or its affiliates.
Subadvisory Agreements
The assets of certain Funds are managed by subadvisers that have been selected by the Investment Manager, subject to the review and approval of the Board. Generally, the Investment Manager recommends a subadviser to the Board based upon its assessment of the skills of the subadvisers in managing other assets in accordance with objectives and investment strategies substantially similar to those of the applicable Fund. The Investment Manager monitors the performance of each subadviser and regularly provides reports to the Board. However, short-term investment performance is not the only factor in selecting or terminating a subadviser, and the Investment Manager does not expect to make frequent changes of subadvisers. Subadvisers affiliated with the Investment Manager must be approved by shareholders.
The Investment Manager allocates the assets of a Fund with multiple subadvisers among the subadvisers. Each subadviser has discretion, subject to oversight by the Board and the Investment Manager, to purchase and sell portfolio assets, consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions. Generally, the services that a subadviser provides to the Fund are limited to asset management and related recordkeeping services.
The Investment Manager has entered into a subadvisory agreement with each subadviser under which the subadviser provides investment advisory assistance and day-to-day management of some or all of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information. A subadviser may also serve as a discretionary or non-discretionary investment adviser to management or advisory accounts that are unrelated in any manner to the Investment Manager or its affiliates.
The following table shows the subadvisory fee schedules for fees paid by the Investment Manager to subadvisers for Funds that have subadvisers. The table is organized by fiscal year end.
Subadvisers and Subadvisory Agreement Fee Schedules
Fund Subadviser Parent
Company/Other
Information
Fee Schedule
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Select International Equity Fund Threadneedle
(effective April 11, 2011)
A 0.35% on the first $150 million declining to 0.20% as assets increase
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Fund Subadviser Parent
Company/Other
Information
Fee Schedule
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund DFA
(effective December 11, 2013)
E 0.20% on the first $100 million, reducing to 0.10% as assets increase
Commodity Strategy Fund Threadneedle
(effective July 28, 2011)
A 0.25% on all assets
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund Barrow Hanley
(effective March 12, 2004)
B 1.00% on the first $10 million, reducing to 0.30% as assets increase (a)
Donald Smith
(effective March 12, 2004)
C 0.60% on the first $175 million, reducing to 0.55% as assets increase (a)
MetWest Capital
(effective April 24, 2006)
D 0.50% on all assets
SBH
(effective August 20, 2014)
F 0.55% on the first $10 million, reducing to 0.40% as assets increase.
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund Threadneedle
(effective July 15, 2009)
A 0.45% on all assets
European Equity Fund Threadneedle
(effective July 9, 2004)
A 0.35% on all assets
Select Global Equity Fund Threadneedle
(effective July 9, 2004)
A 0.35% on all as assets
(a) The fee is calculated based on the combined net assets of Columbia Funds subject to the subadviser’s investment management.
A – Threadneedle is a direct subsidiary of Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings Limited and an affiliate of the Investment Manager, and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. Threadneedle and Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings Limited are located at Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6AG, United Kingdom.
B – Barrow Hanley, located at 2200 Ross Avenue, 31 st Floor, Dallas, TX 75201-2761, is an indirect subsidiary of OM Asset Management plc (“OMAM”), a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. OMAM, in turn, is indirectly majority owned by Old Mutual plc, a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange.
C – Donald Smith, located at 152 West 57th Street 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10019, is an employee-owned registered investment adviser.
D – MetWest Capital, located at 610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1000, Newport Beach, CA 92660, is a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company and operates within its asset management division.
E – Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, located at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746, is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation.
F – SBH, located at 540 West Madison Street, Suite 1900, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2551, is majority owned by Thomas Bravo LLC, a private equity firm, with approximately 55% ownership. The remaining approximately 45% is employee-owned.
The following table shows the subadvisory fees paid by the Investment Manager to subadvisers in the last three fiscal periods or, if shorter, since the Fund’s commencement of operations. The table is organized by fiscal year end.
    Subadvisory Fees Paid
Fund Subadviser 2015 2014 2013
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
International Opportunities Fund Former subadviser: Marsico Capital (through May 1, 2015) $389,732 $719,355 $1,849,457
International Value Fund (a) Former subadviser: Brandes (through May 31, 2013) N/A 767,958 (b) 4,076,922
Large Cap Growth Fund II Former subadviser: Marsico Capital (through November 20, 2015) 3,079,323 3,065,837 5,710,125
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    Subadvisory Fees Paid
Fund Subadviser 2015 2014 2013
Large Cap Growth Fund III Former subadviser: Marsico Capital (through November 20, 2015) $3,182,091 $3,772,906 $7,950,365
Large Cap Growth Fund V Former subadviser: Marsico Capital (through November 20, 2015) 5,570,210 5,952,687 11,526,461
Select Global Growth Fund Former subadviser: Marsico Capital (through November 20, 2015) 144,680 92,472 52,606
Select International Equity Fund Former subadviser: Marsico Capital (through May 31, 2013) N/A 200,979 (c) 988,073
Threadneedle 1,307,322 1,617,462 1,458,495
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
AP – Multi-Manager Value Fund DFA 1,031,416 343,068 (d) N/A
Commodity Strategy Fund Threadneedle 96,596 149,993 148,955
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund Barrow Hanley 440,184 438,607 384,371
Donald Smith 513,212 526,029 469,825
Former subadviser:
Turner Investments, L.P.
(from February 19, 2010 to
August 19, 2014)
76,877 (e) 359,734 319,910
MetWest Capital 489,397 487,077 420,786
SBH 348,341 (f) N/A N/A
Fund Subadviser 2014 2013 2012
For Funds with fiscal period ending August 31
Large Cap Growth Fund IV Former subadviser:
Marsico Capital
(through November 20, 2015)
612,241 495,165 763,971
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund Threadneedle 3,005,644 2,195,943 1,915,462
European Equity Fund Threadneedle 2,046,253 1,363,057 1,199,249
Select Global Equity Fund Threadneedle 1,398,229 1,325,253 1,399,110
(a) Because this Fund's subadvisory fees were paid at the Master Portfolio's level, amounts shown are for the Master Portfolio.
(b) For the period from March 1, 2013 to May 31, 2013.
(c) For the period from March 1, 2013 to May 20, 2013.
(d) For the period from December 11, 2013 to May 31, 2014.
(e) For the period from June 1, 2014 to August 19, 2014.
(f) For the period from August 20, 2014 to May 31, 2015.
Portfolio Managers. The following table provides information about the portfolio managers of each Fund (other than Money Market Fund) as of the end of the applicable Fund’s most recent fiscal period, unless otherwise noted. The table is organized by fiscal year end.
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    Other Accounts Managed (excluding the Fund) Ownership
of Fund
Shares
Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
Structure
of
Compensation
Fund Portfolio Manager Number
and Type
of Account *
Approximate
Total Net
Assets
Performance-
Based
Accounts **
For Funds with fiscal period ending January 31
Capital Allocation
Aggressive Portfolio
Jeffrey Knight 24 RICs
1 PIV
3 other accounts
$66.08 billion
$10.51 million
$1.72 million
None None (1) (10)
Anwiti Bahuguna 9 RICs
21 PIVs
18 other accounts
$6.62 billion
$1.97 billion
$131.57 million
None None
Marie Schofield 6 RICs
4 other accounts
$5.88 billion
$0.22 million
None None
Beth Vanney 7 RICs
1 PIV
4 other accounts
$6.13 billion
$10.51 million
$0.45 million
None None
Toby Nangle 6 RICs
5 PIVs
1 other account
$5.98 billion
$201.91 million
$363.50 million
3 PIVs
($85.4 M)
None (c) (8) (11)
Capital Allocation
Conservative Portfolio
Jeffrey Knight 24 RICs
1 PIV
3 other accounts
$66.44 billion
$10.51 million
$1.72 million
None None (1) (10)
Anwiti Bahuguna 9 RICs
21 PIVs
18 other accounts
$6.98 billion
$1.97 billion
$131.57 million
None None
Marie Schofield 6 RICs
4 other accounts
$6.24 billion
$0.22 million
None None
Beth Vanney 7 RICs
1 PIV
4 other accounts
$6.49 billion
$10.51 million
$0.45 million
None None
Toby Nangle 6 RICs
5 PIVs
1 other account
$6.34 billion
$201.91 million
$363.50 million
3 PIVs
($85.4 M)
None (c) (8) (11)
Capital Allocation
Moderate Portfolio
Jeffrey Knight 24 RICs
1 PIV
3 other accounts
$65.07 billion
$10.51 million
$1.72 million
None None (1) (10)
Anwiti Bahuguna 9 RICs
21 PIVs
18 other accounts
$5.61 billion
$1.97 billion
$131.57 million
None None
Marie Schofield 6 RICs
4 other accounts
$4.87 billion
$0.22 million
None None
Beth Vanney 7 RICs
1 PIV
4 other accounts
$5.12 billion
$10.51 million
$0.45 million
None None
Toby Nangle 6 RICs
5 PIVs
1 other account
$4.97 billion
$201.91 million
$363.50 million
3 PIVs
($85.4 M)
None (c) (8) (11)
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    Other Accounts Managed (excluding the Fund) Ownership
of Fund
Shares
Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
Structure
of
Compensation
Fund Portfolio Manager Number
and Type
of Account *
Approximate
Total Net
Assets
Performance-
Based
Accounts **
Capital Allocation
Moderate Aggressive
Portfolio
Jeffrey Knight 24 RICs
1 PIV
3 other accounts
$64.42 billion
$10.51 million
$1.72 million
None None (1) (10)
Anwiti Bahuguna 9 RICs
21 PIVs
18 other accounts
$4.96 billion
$1.97 billion
$131.57 million
None None
Marie Schofield 6 RICs
4 other accounts
$4.22 billion
$0.22 million
None None
Beth Vanney 7 RICs
1 PIV
4 other accounts
$4.47 billion
$10.51 million
$0.45 million
None None
Toby Nangle 6 RICs
5 PIVs
1 other account
$4.32 billion
$201.91 million
$363.50 million
3 PIVs
($85.4 M)
None (c) (8) (11)
Capital Allocation
Moderate Conservative
Portfolio
Jeffrey Knight 24 RICs
1 PIV
3 other accounts
$66.06 billion
$10.51 million
$1.72 million
None None (1) (10)
Anwiti Bahuguna 9 RICs
21 PIVs
18 other accounts
$6.60 billion
$1.97 billion
$131.57 million
None $1-
$10,000 (b)
Marie Schofield 6 RICs
4 other accounts
$5.86 billion
$0.22 million
None $10,001-
$50,000 (b)
Beth Vanney 7 RICs
1 PIV
4 other accounts
$6.11 billion
$10.51 million
$0.45 million
None None
Toby Nangle 6 RICs
5 PIVs
1 other account
$5.96 billion
$201.91 million
$363.50 million
3 PIVs
($85.4 M)
None (c) (8) (11)
Global Strategic Equity Fund Robert
McConnaughey
2 RICs
6 other accounts
$36.70 million
$3.40 million
None $50,001-
$100,000 (b)
(1) (10)
Mark Burgess 3 PIVs
12 other accounts
$3.02 billion
$28,079.30
None None (c) (8) (11)
Income Builder Fund Colin Lundgren 2 RICs
53 other accounts
$2.94 billion
$25.54 million
None Over $1,000,000 (a)
$100,001-
$500,000 (b)
(4) (10)
Gene Tannuzzo 5 RICs
63 other accounts
$3.82 billion
$1.31 billion
None $100,001-
$500,000 (a)
$10,001-
$50,000 (b)
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Convertible Securities
Fund
David L. King 6 RICs
6 other accounts
$2.32 billion
$19.62 million
None Over
$1,000,000 (a)
$50,001-
$100,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Yan Jin 6 RICs
4 other accounts
$2.32 billion
$1.56 million
None $10,001-
$50,000 (b)
$50,001-$100,000 (a)
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 97


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
    Other Accounts Managed (excluding the Fund) Ownership
of Fund
Shares
Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
Structure
of
Compensation
Fund Portfolio Manager Number
and Type
of Account *
Approximate
Total Net
Assets
Performance-
Based
Accounts **
Global Equity
Value Fund
Steven Schroll 4 RICs
1 PIV
344 other accounts
$11.66 billion
$7.99 million
$136.50 million
None $50,001-
$100,000 (b)
$50,001-
$100,000 (a)
(2) (10)
Paul Stocking 4 RICs
1 PIV
349 other accounts
$11.66 billion
$7.99 million
$148.36 million
None $100,001-
$500,000 (a)
Dean Ramos 4 RICs
1 PIV
344 other accounts
$11.66 billion
$7.99 million
$134.72 million
None None
International
Opportunities Fund
Simon Haines 1 RIC
1 other account
$365.01 million
$340.00 million
None None (c) (8) (11)
William Davies 1 RIC
1 PIV
2 other accounts
$365.01 million
$1.30 billion
$699.41 million
None
David Dudding 1 RIC
3 PIVs
1 other account
$41.50 million
$3.57 billion
$1.05 billion
2 PIVs ($48 M)
International Value
Fund
Daisuke Nomoto 3 RICs
1 PIV
3 other accounts
$1.12 billion
$146.39 million
$0.68 million
None None (2) (10)
Fred Copper 4 RICs
1 PIV
7 other accounts
$2.16 billion
$146.39 million
$51.31 million
None None
Large Cap
Enhanced Core
Fund
Brian M. Condon 13 RICs
2 PIVs
24 other accounts
$10.83 billion
$146.82 million
$5.17 billion
None $100,001-
$500,000 (a)
$50,001-
$100,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Peter Albanese 6 RICs
2 PIVs
18 other accounts
$10.73 billion
$146.82 million
$5.02 billion
None $1-
$10,000 (b)
Large Cap Growth Fund II Peter Deininger (i)
3 RICs
8 other accounts

$5.16 billion
$156.56 million
None None (2) (10)
John Wilson (i) 3 RICs
8 other accounts
$5.16 billion
$168.73 million
None None
Tchintcia S. Barros (i) 3 RICs
8 other accounts
$5.16 billion
$156.40 million
None None
Large Cap Growth Fund III Peter Deininger (i)
3 RICs
8 other accounts

$5.16 billion
$156.56 million
None None (2) (10)
John Wilson (i) 3 RICs
8 other accounts
$5.16 billion
$168.73 million
None None
Tchintcia S. Barros (i) 3 RICs
8 other accounts
$5.16 billion
$156.40 million
None None
Large Cap Growth Fund V Peter Deininger (i)
3 RICs
8 other accounts

$5.16 billion
$156.56 million
None None (2) (10)
John Wilson (i) 3 RICs
8 other accounts
$5.16 billion
$168.73 million
None None
Tchintcia S. Barros (i) 3 RICs
8 other accounts
$5.16 billion
$156.40 million
None None
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 98


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
    Other Accounts Managed (excluding the Fund) Ownership
of Fund
Shares
Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
Structure
of
Compensation
Fund Portfolio Manager Number
and Type
of Account *
Approximate
Total Net
Assets
Performance-
Based
Accounts **
Large Cap
Index
Fund
Christopher Lo 3 RICs
1 PIV
160 other accounts
$7.52 billion
$226.76 million
$1.35 billion
None $100,001-
$500,000 (a)
$50,001-
$100,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Vadim Shteyn 3 RICs
1 PIV
7 other accounts
$7.52 billion
$226.76 million
$685.27 million
None $1-
$10,000 (a)
Mid Cap Index
Fund
Christopher Lo 3 RICs
1 PIV
160 other accounts
$7.24 billion
$226.76 million
$1.35 billion
None $1-
$10,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Vadim Shteyn 3 RICs
1 PIV
7 other accounts
$7.24 billion
$226.76 million
$685.27 million
None None
Mid Cap Value
Fund
David Hoffman 3 RICs
1 PIV
7 other accounts
$1.70 billion
$310.91 million
$61.57 million
None $100,001-
$500,000 (a)
(2) (10)
Jonas Patrikson 1 RIC
1 PIV
8 other accounts
$501.89 million
$310.91 million
$13.70 million
None $50,001-
$100,000 (b)
Diane Sobin 2 RICs
8 PIVs
13 other accounts
$527.88 million
$6.40 billion
$5.00 billion
2 PIVs
($178 M)
2 other
accounts
($494.5 M)
None (c) (8) (11)
Nicolas Janvier (i) None None None None (c)
Overseas Value
Fund
Fred Copper 4 RICs
1 PIV
7 other accounts
$1.65 billion
$146.39 million
$51.31 million
None $50,001-
$100,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Daisuke Nomoto 3 RICs
1 PIV
3 other accounts
$610.87 million
$146.39 million
$0.68 million
None None
Select Global Growth Fund Thomas Galvin (j) 7 RICs
1 PIV
2,718 other accounts
$8.76 billion
$46.91 million
$5.17 billion
None None (2) (10)
Richard Carter (j) 7 RICs
1 PIV
2,717 other accounts
$8.76 billion
$46.91 million
$5.15 billion
3 other accounts
($1.1 B)
None
Todd Herget (j) 7 RICs
1 PIV
2,722 other accounts
$8.76 billion
$46.91 million
$5.15 billion
None None
Select
International Equity
Fund
Threadneedle:
Simon Haines

1 RIC
1 other account

$365.01 million
$340.00 million
None None (c) (8) (11)
William Davies 1 RIC
1 PIV
2 other accounts
$365.01 million
$1.30 billion
$699.41 million
None
David Dudding 1 RIC
3 PIVs
1 other account
$41.5 million
$3.57 billion
$1.05 billion
2 PIVs ($48 M)
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 99


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
    Other Accounts Managed (excluding the Fund) Ownership
of Fund
Shares
Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
Structure
of
Compensation
Fund Portfolio Manager Number
and Type
of Account *
Approximate
Total Net
Assets
Performance-
Based
Accounts **
Select Large
Cap Equity
Fund
Peter Santoro 8 RICs
1 PIV
76 other accounts
$9.93 billion
$982.33 million
$1.60 billion
None $10,001-
$50,000 (b)
$100,001-
$500,000 (a)
(2) (10)
Melda Mergen 4 RICs
7 other accounts
$17.79 billion
$261.94 million
None $1-
$10,000 (a)
Small Cap
Index Fund
Christopher Lo 3 RICs
1 PIV
160 other accounts
$8.01 billion
$226.76 million
$1.35 billion
None None (2) (10)
Vadim Shteyn 3 RICs
1 PIV
7 other accounts
$8.01 billion
$226.76 million
$685.27 million
None None
Small Cap
Value Fund II
Christian K.
Stadlinger
3 RICs
14 other accounts
$1.59 billion
$52.07 million
None $500,001-
$1,000,000 (a)
(2) (10)
Jarl Ginsberg 3 RICs
13 other accounts
$1.59 billion
$46.86 million
None $100,001-
$500,000 (a)
For funds with fiscal period ending March 31
Short Term
Bond Fund
Leonard Aplet 6 RICs
15 PIVs
71 other accounts
$15.12 billion
$2.48 billion
$7.45 billion
None Over
$1,000,000 (a)
$100,001-
$500,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Gregory Liechty 2 RICs
15 PIVs
50 other accounts
$1.13 billion
$4.13 billion
$6.18 billion
None $10,001-
$50,000 (b)
Ronald Stahl 2 RICs
15 PIVs
52 other accounts
$1.32 billion
$2.48 billion
$6.36 billion
None $1-
$10,000 (b)
For Funds with fiscal period ending April 30
AMT-Free CA
Intermediate
Muni Bond Fund
Brian McGreevy 11 RICs
6 other accounts
$4.09 billion
$352.40 million
None None (2) (10)
Paul Fuchs 4 RICs
3 PIVs
4 other accounts
$2.76 billion
$833.61 million
$0.52 million
None None
AMT-Free GA
Intermediate
Muni Bond Fund
Brian McGreevy 11 RICs
6 other accounts
$4.40 billion
$352.40 million
None None (2) (10)
AMT-Free MD
Intermediate
Muni Bond Fund
Brian McGreevy 11 RICs
6 other accounts
$4.39 billion
$352.40 million
None None (2) (10)
AMT-Free NC
Intermediate
Muni Bond Fund
Brian McGreevy 11 RICs
6 other accounts
$4.30 billion
$352.40 million
None None (2) (10)
AMT-Free SC
Intermediate
Muni Bond Fund
Brian McGreevy 11 RICs
6 other accounts
$4.35 billion
$352.40 million
None None (2) (10)
AMT-Free VA
Intermediate
Muni Bond Fund
Brian McGreevy 11 RICs
6 other accounts
$4.26 billion
$352.40 million
None None (2) (10)
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 100


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
    Other Accounts Managed (excluding the Fund) Ownership
of Fund
Shares
Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
Structure
of
Compensation
Fund Portfolio Manager Number
and Type
of Account *
Approximate
Total Net
Assets
Performance-
Based
Accounts **
Global Infrastructure
Fund
Peter Santoro 4 RICs
2 PIVs
77 other accounts
$9.63 billion
$964.43 million
$1.61 billion
None $100,001-
$500,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Craig Leopold 12 other accounts $79.40 million None $100,001-
$500,000 (b)
Tom West 1 RIC
12 other accounts
$10.45 million
$8.31 million
None $100,001-
$500,000 (a)
Kirk Moore 3 other accounts $1.84 million None $50,001-
$100,000 (b)
Short Term
Municipal Bond
Fund
Catherine
Stienstra
4 RICs
3 PIVs
6 other accounts
$1.73 billion
$1.68 billion
$15.62 million
None None (2) (10)
Anders Myhran 3 PIVs
3 other accounts
$1.68 billion
$16.30 million
None $1-
$10,000 (b)
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
AP - Multi-Manager
Value Fund
Columbia Management:
Steve Schroll


5 RICs
1 PIV
11 other accounts


$10.25 billion
$6.70 million
$71.25 million
None None (2) (10)
Paul Stocking 5 RICs
1 PIV
16 other accounts
$10.25 billion
$6.70 million
$82.08 million
None None
Dean Ramos 5 RICs
1 PIV
11 other accounts
$10.25 billion
$6.70 million
$68.84 million
None None
DFA:
Joseph Chi

112 RICs
21 PIVs
88 other accounts


$271.44 billion
$12.40 billion
$24.81 billion

1 PIV
($179.26 M);
3 other
accounts
($1.18 B)
None (9) (12)
Jed Fogdall None
Henry Gray 101 RICs
15 PIVs
87 other accounts
$248.10 billion
$10.61 billion
$24.79 billion
1 PIV
($179.26 M);
2 other accounts
($1.03 B)
None
Lukas Smart (h) 11 RICs
1 PIV
5 other accounts
$26.26 billion
$75.60 million
$3.65 billion
1 other account
($21.86 M)
None
Commodity
Strategy Fund
Threadneedle:
David Donora

1 RIC
2 PIVs

$57.70 million
$447.60 million

2 PIVs
(447.60 M)
None (c) (8) (11)
Nicolas Robin None (c)
Diversified Equity
Income Fund
Hugh H. Mullin 1 PIV
5 other accounts
$10.00
$1.60 million
None $10,001 –
$50,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Russell
Bloomfield
1 PIV
10 other accounts
$10.00
$1.46 million
None $50,001 –
$100,000 (b)
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 101


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
    Other Accounts Managed (excluding the Fund) Ownership
of Fund
Shares
Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
Structure
of
Compensation
Fund Portfolio Manager Number
and Type
of Account *
Approximate
Total Net
Assets
Performance-
Based
Accounts **
Dividend
Opportunity Fund
Steve Schroll 5 RICs
1 PIV
11 other accounts
$5.49 billion
$6.70 million
$71.25 million
None $100,001 –
$500,000 (a)
$10,001 –
$50,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Paul Stocking 5 RICs
1 PIV
16 other accounts
$5.49 billion
$6.70 million
$82.08 million
None $500,001 –
$1,000,000 (a)
$50,001 –
$100,000 (b)
Dean Ramos 5 RICs
1 PIV
11 other accounts
$6.35 billion
$6.70 million
$68.84 million
None $10,001-
$50,000 (b)
Flexible Capital
Income Fund
David King 4 RICs
6 other accounts
$3.00 billion
$20.93 million
None Over
$1,000,000 (a)
$100,001 –
$500,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Yan Jin 4 RICs
4 other accounts
$3.00 billion
$1.67 million
None $50,001-
$100,000 (a)
$50,001-$100,000 (b)
High Yield Bond
Fund
Jennifer Ponce
de Leon
3 RICs
3 PIVs
41 other accounts
$560.07 million
$431.88 million
$6.69 billion
None $100,001 –
$500,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Brian Lavin 13 RICs
2 PIVs
5 other accounts
$18.92 billion
$122.96 million
$3.99 million
None None
Mortgage
Opportunities Fund
Jason Callan 3 RICs
6 PIVs
4 other accounts
$3.55 billion
$15.56 billion
$1.62 million
None $500,001 –
$1,000,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Tom Heuer 3 RICs
4 other accounts
$3.55 billion
$1.57 million
None $50,001-$100,000 (b)
$50,001-
$100,000 (a)
Multi-Advisor Small
Cap Value Fund
Donald Smith:
Donald G. Smith

2 RICs
1 PIV
41 other accounts

$2.56 billion
$54.0 million
$3.20 billion

1 RIC
($2.30 B);
1 other
account
($138 M)
None (5) (13)
Richard L.
Greenberg
None
Barrow Hanley:
James S. McClure

5 RICs
17 other accounts

$1.78 billion
$1.31 billion
None None (6) (14)
John P. Harloe None None
MetWest Capital: Samir Sikka
3 RICs
2 PIVs
24 other accounts

$603.64 million
$64.58 million
$1.85 billion

2 other
accounts
($288.7 M)
None (7) (15)
SBH:
Mark Dickherber

1 RIC
1 PIV
74 other accounts

$30.50 million
$28.72 million
$1.12 billion
None None (3) (16)
Shaun Nicholson None None
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 102


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
    Other Accounts Managed (excluding the Fund) Ownership
of Fund
Shares
Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
Structure
of
Compensation
Fund Portfolio Manager Number
and Type
of Account *
Approximate
Total Net
Assets
Performance-
Based
Accounts **
Select Large-Cap
Value Fund
Richard Rosen 4 RICs
1 PIV
809 other accounts
$1.65 billion
$51.51 million
$2.67 billion
None $50,001-
$100,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Kari Montanus 4 RICs
1 PIV
802 other accounts
$1.65 billion
$51.51 million
$2.66 billion
None $10,001-
$50,000 (b)
Select Smaller-Cap
Value Fund
Richard Rosen 4 RICs
1 PIV
809 other accounts
$2.17 billion
$51.51 million
$2.67 billion
None $50,001-
$100,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Kari Montanus 4 RICs
1 PIV
802 other accounts
$2.17 billion
$51.51 million
$2.66 billion
None $1 –
$10,000 (b)
Seligman Communications
and Information
Fund
Paul Wick 4 RICs
2 PIVs
3 other accounts
$1.09 billion
$406.14 million
$6.69 million
None Over
$1,000,000 (a)
(2) (17)
Sanjay Devgan 3 RICs
1 PIV
2 other accounts
$801.51 million
$29.86 million
$0.39 million
None None
Shekhar
Pramanick
3 RICs
1 PIV
5 other accounts
$801.51 million
$29.86 million
$2.35 million
None $100,001 –
$500,000 (a)
Clark
Westmont
3 other accounts $4.37 million None None
Jeetil
Patel
4 other accounts $1.11 million None None
Small/Mid Cap
Value Fund
Jarl Ginsberg 4 RICs
14 other accounts
$2.17 billion
$48.19 million
None $50,001-
$100,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Christian
Stadlinger
4 RICs
11 other accounts
$2.17 billion
$52.20 million
None None
David Hoffman 3 RICs
2 PIVs
9 other accounts
$4.08 billion
$304.96 million
$62.82 million
None $50,001-
$100,000 (b)
U.S. Government
Mortgage Fund
Jason J. Callan 3 RICs
6 PIVs
4 other accounts
$1.85 billion
$15.56 billion
$1.62 million
None $50,001-
$100,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Tom Heuer 3 RICs
4 other accounts
$1.85 billion
$1.57 million
None $10,001 –
$50,000 (b)
$10,001 –
$50,000 (a)
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt
Bond Fund
Catherine
Stienstra
4 RICs
3 PIVs
4 other accounts
$3.01 billion
$1.68 billion
$14.84 million
None $100,001 –
$500,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Disciplined Core Fund Brian M. Condon 21 RICs
2 PIVs
22 other accounts
$9.90 billion
$145.95 million
$5.11 billion
None $100,001 –
$500,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Peter Albanese 6 RICs
2 PIVs
17 other accounts
$8.29 billion
$145.95 million
$4.96 billion
None $1 –
$10,000 (b)
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 103


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
    Other Accounts Managed (excluding the Fund) Ownership
of Fund
Shares
Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
Structure
of
Compensation
Fund Portfolio Manager Number
and Type
of Account *
Approximate
Total Net
Assets
Performance-
Based
Accounts **
Disciplined Growth Fund Brian M. Condon 21 RICs
2 PIVs
22 other accounts
$13.53 billion
$145.95 million
$5.11 billion
None $50,001 –
$100,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Peter Albanese 6 RICs
2 PIVs
17 other accounts
$11.92 billion
$145.95 million
$4.96 billion
None $1 –
$10,000 (b)
Disciplined Value Fund Brian M. Condon 21 RICs
2 PIVs
22 other accounts
$13.17 billion
$145.95 million
$5.11 billion
None $1 –
$10,000 (a)
$100,001 –
$500,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Peter Albanese 6 RICs
2 PIVs
17 other accounts
$11.56 billion
$145.95 million
$4.96 billion
None $1 –
$10,000 (b)
Floating Rate
Fund
Lynn Hopton 18 PIVs
12 other accounts
$19.95 billion
$2.03 billion
None None (2) (18)
Yvonne Stevens 18 PIVs
16 other accounts
$19.95 billion
$2.04 billion
None None
Steve Staver 2 other accounts $1.03 million None None
Ronald
Launsbach
7 other accounts $2.02 million None None
Global Opportunities
Fund
Anwiti Bahuguna 18 RICs
21 PIVs
17 other accounts
$66.76 billion
$2.14 billion
$128.22 million
None $1 –
$10,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Fred Copper 2 RICs
1 PIV
7 other accounts
$883.46 million
$145.99 million
$52.17 million
None $10,001 –
$50,000 (b)
Jeffrey Knight 24 RICs
1 PIV
6 other accounts
$67.90 billion
$12.50 million
$12.05 million
None $100,001 –
$500,000 (b)
Over
$1,000,000 (a)
Orhan Imer 17 RICs
2 PIVs
10 other accounts
$1.15 billion
$16.02 million
$6.11 million
None $10,001 –
$50,000 (b)
Toby Nangle 7 RICs
5 PIVs
1 other account
$6.18 billion
$191.50 million
$5.11 million
3 PIVs ($50 M) None (c) (8) (11)
Income Opportunities Fund Brian Lavin 13 RICs
2 PIVs
5 other accounts
$17.52 billion
$121.38 million
$3.86 million
None $100,001 –
$500,000 (a)
$100,001 –
$500,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Inflation Protected
Securities Fund
Orhan Imer 17 RICs
2 PIVs
10 other accounts
$1.67 billion
$16.02 million
$6.11 million
None None (2) (10)
David Kennedy (h) 18 other accounts $227.57 million None None
Limited Duration
Credit Fund
Tom Murphy 12 RICs
28 PIVs
39 other accounts
$2.66 billion
$34.43 billion
$5.29 billion
None Over
$1,000,000 (a)
$500,001 –
$1,000,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Timothy J. Doubek 10 RICs
35 other accounts
$2.64 billion
$3.82 billion
None $10,001 –
$50,000 (b)
Royce Wilson 1 RIC
2 other accounts
$950.32 million
$525,423
None $10,001 –
$50,000 (a)
$50,001 –
$100,000 (b)
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 104


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
    Other Accounts Managed (excluding the Fund) Ownership
of Fund
Shares
Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
Structure
of
Compensation
Fund Portfolio Manager Number
and Type
of Account *
Approximate
Total Net
Assets
Performance-
Based
Accounts **
MN Tax-Exempt
Fund
Catherine
Stienstra
4 RICs
3 PIVs
4 other accounts
$3.16 billion
$1.68 billion
$14.84 million
None None (2) (10)
For Funds with fiscal period ending August 31
Large Cap Growth Fund IV Peter Deininger (i)
3 RICs
8 other accounts

$5.16 billion
$156.56 million
None None (2) (10)
John Wilson (i) 3 RICs
8 other accounts
$5.16 billion
$168.73 million
None None
Tchintcia S. Barros (i) 3 RICs
8 other accounts
$5.16 billion
$156.40 million
None None
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31
Absolute Return
Currency and
Income Fund
Nicholas Pifer 9 RICs
7 other
accounts
$4.56 million
$3.75 million
None $10,001–
$50,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Asia Pacific
ex-Japan Fund
Threadneedle:
Vanessa
Donegan

4 PIVs
1 other account

$1.41 billion
$1.52 billion
None None (c) (8) (11)
George Gosden 1 PIV
2 other accounts
$27.8 million
$1.11 billion
Emerging Markets
Bond Fund
Jim Carlen 3 RICs
4 PIVs
8 other accounts
$389.74 million
$12.08 billion
$197.03 million
None $100,001–
$500,000 (a)
$50,001 –
$100,000 (b)
(2) (10)
Henry Stipp 2 RICs
4 PIVs
3 other accounts
$343.41 million
$693.80 million
$387.01 million
3 PIVs
($325.4 M)
None (c) (8) (11)
European Equity
Fund
Threadneedle:
Dan Ison

1 RIC
2 PIVs
3 other accounts

$401.6 million
$345.3 million
$4.66 billion
1 PIV
($116.8 M)
None (c) (8) (11)
Ann Steele 1 PIV
4 other accounts
$428.6 million
$2.90 billion
None
Global Bond
Fund
Gene Tannuzzo 6 RICs
61 other accounts
$6.14 billion
$1.28 billion
None None (2) (10)
Jim Cielinski 3 RICs
4 PIVs
14 other accounts
$912.75 million
$943.70 million
$3.74 billion
None None (c) (8) (11)
Matthew Cobon 3 RICs
2 PIVs
1 other account
$912.75 million
$451.30 million
$47.70 million
2 PIVs
($451.3 M)
None (c)
Select Global Equity
Fund
Threadneedle:
David Dudding (f)

3 PIVs
1 other account

$3.33 billion
$1.01 billion
2 PIVs (48.5 M) None (c) (8) (11)
Pauline Grange 1 PIV $57.8 million None
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    Other Accounts Managed (excluding the Fund) Ownership
of Fund
Shares
Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
Structure
of
Compensation
Fund Portfolio Manager Number
and Type
of Account *
Approximate
Total Net
Assets
Performance-
Based
Accounts **
Seligman Global
Technology Fund
Paul Wick 4 RICs
2 PIVs
4 other
accounts
$4.08 billion
$158.22 million
$5.64 million
None None (2) (17)
Clark
Westmont (g)
3 other accounts $4.37 million None
Shekhar
Pramanick
3 RICs
1 PIV
5 other accounts
$3.81 billion
$22.59 million
$2.33 million
None
Sanjay Devgan 3 RICs
1 PIV
2 other accounts
$3.81 billion
$22.59 million
$357,495
None
Jeetil
Patel (g)
4 other accounts $1.11 million None
Rahul Narang 4 RICs
8 other accounts
$1.26 billion
$64.54 million
None (2) (10)
* RIC refers to a Registered Investment Company; PIV refers to a Pooled Investment Vehicle.
** Number and type of accounts for which the advisory fee paid is based in part or wholly on performance and the aggregate net assets in those accounts.
(a) Excludes any notional investments.
(b) Notional investments through a deferred compensation account.
(c) The Fund is available for sale only in the U.S. The portfolio managers do not reside in the U.S. and therefore do not hold any shares of the Fund.
(d) The ‘other account’ is a wrap fee platform which includes approximately 180 underlying clients for total assets of approximately $63 million.
(e) One of the ‘other accounts’ is a wrap fee platform which includes approximately 2,121 underlying clients for total assets of approximately $818 million and two of the ‘other accounts’ represent model portfolios for total assets of approximately $1.18 billion, which also have a number of underlying client accounts.
(f) The portfolio manager began managing the Fund after its last fiscal year end; reporting information is provided as of November 30, 2014.
(g) The portfolio manager began managing the Fund after its last fiscal year end; reporting information is provided as of May 31, 2015.
(h) The portfolio manager began managing the Fund after its last fiscal year end; reporting information is provided as of August 31, 2015.
(i) The portfolio manager began managing the Fund after its last fiscal year end; reporting information is provided as of July 31, 2015.
(j) The portfolio manager began managing the Fund after its last fiscal year end; reporting information is provided as of September 30, 2015.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
(1) Columbia Management: Management of funds-of-funds differs from that of the other Funds. The portfolio management process is set forth generally below and in more detail in the Funds’ prospectus.
  Portfolio managers of the fund-of-funds may be involved in determining each funds-of-fund’s allocation among the three main asset classes (equity, fixed income and cash) and the allocation among investment categories within each asset class, as well as each funds-of-fund’s allocation among the underlying funds.
Because of the structure of the funds-of-funds, the potential conflicts of interest for the portfolio managers may be different than the potential conflicts of interest for portfolio managers who manage other Funds.
The Investment Manager and its affiliates may receive higher compensation as a result of allocations to underlying funds with higher fees.
In addition to the accounts above, portfolio managers may manage accounts in a personal capacity that may include holdings that are similar to, or the same as, those of the Fund. The Investment Manager has in place a Code of Ethics that is designed to address conflicts and that, among other things, imposes restrictions on the ability of the portfolio managers and other “investment access persons” to invest in securities that may be recommended or traded in the Fund and other client accounts.
To the extent a fund-of-funds invest in securities and instruments other than other Funds, the portfolio manager is subject to the potential conflicts of interest described in (2) below.
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A Fund’s portfolio manager(s) also may have other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the description above is not a complete description of every conflict that could exist in managing the fund and other accounts. Many of the potential conflicts of interest to which the Investment Manager’s portfolio managers are subject are essentially the same or similar to the potential conflicts of interest related to the Investment Management activities of the Investment Manager and its affiliates.
(2) Columbia Management: Like other investment professionals with multiple clients, a Fund’s portfolio manager(s) may face certain potential conflicts of interest in connection with managing both the Fund and other accounts at the same time. The Investment Manager and the Funds have adopted compliance policies and procedures that attempt to address certain of the potential conflicts that portfolio managers face in this regard. Certain of these conflicts of interest are summarized below.
  The management of accounts with different advisory fee rates and/or fee structures, including accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (performance fee accounts), may raise potential conflicts of interest for a portfolio manager by creating an incentive to favor higher fee accounts.
  Potential conflicts of interest also may arise when a portfolio manager has personal investments in other accounts that may create an incentive to favor those accounts. As a general matter and subject to the Investment Manager’s Code of Ethics and certain limited exceptions, the Investment Manager’s investment professionals do not have the opportunity to invest in client accounts, other than the funds.
  A portfolio manager who is responsible for managing multiple funds and/or accounts may devote unequal time and attention to the management of those Funds and/or accounts. The effects of this potential conflict may be more pronounced where Funds and/or accounts managed by a particular portfolio manager have different investment strategies.
  A portfolio manager may be able to select or influence the selection of the broker/dealers that are used to execute securities transactions for the Funds. A portfolio manager’s decision as to the selection of broker/dealers could produce disproportionate costs and benefits among the Funds and the other accounts the portfolio manager manages.
  A potential conflict of interest may arise when a portfolio manager buys or sells the same securities for a Fund and other accounts. On occasions when a portfolio manager considers the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of a Fund as well as other accounts, the Investment Manager’s trading desk may, to the extent consistent with applicable laws and regulations, aggregate the securities to be sold or bought in order to obtain the best execution and lower brokerage commissions, if any. Aggregation of trades may create the potential for unfairness to a Fund or another account if a portfolio manager favors one account over another in allocating the securities bought or sold. In addition, although the Investment Manager has entered into a personnel sharing arrangement with Threadneedle, the Investment Manager and Threadneedle maintain separate trading operations for their clients. By maintaining separate trading operations in this manner, the Funds may forego certain opportunities including the aggregation of trades across certain accounts managed by Threadneedle. This could result in the Funds competing in the market with one or more accounts managed by Threadneedle for similar trades. In addition, it is possible that the separate trading desks of the Investment Manager and Threadneedle may be on opposite sides of a trade execution for a Fund at the same time.
  “Cross trades,” in which a portfolio manager sells a particular security held by a Fund to another account (potentially saving transaction costs for both accounts), could involve a potential conflict of interest if, for example, a portfolio manager is permitted to sell a security from one account to another account at a higher price than an independent third party would pay. The Investment Manager and the Funds have adopted compliance procedures that provide that any transactions between a Fund and another account managed by the Investment Manager are to be made at a current market price, consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
  Another potential conflict of interest may arise based on the different investment objectives and strategies of a Fund and other accounts managed by its portfolio manager(s). Depending on another account’s objectives and other factors, a portfolio manager may give advice to and make decisions for a Fund that may differ from advice given, or the timing or nature of decisions made, with respect to another account. A portfolio manager’s investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular account involved. Thus, a portfolio manager may buy or sell a particular security for certain accounts, and not for a Fund, even though it could have been bought or sold for the Fund at the same time. A portfolio manager also may buy a particular security for one or more accounts when one or more other accounts are selling the security (including short sales). There may be circumstances when a portfolio manager’s purchases or sales of portfolio securities for one or more accounts may have an adverse effect on other accounts, including the Funds.
  To the extent a Fund invests in underlying Funds, a portfolio manager will be subject to the potential conflicts of interest described in (1) above.
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  A Fund’s portfolio manager(s) also may have other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the description above is not a complete description of every conflict that could exist in managing the Fund and other accounts. Many of the potential conflicts of interest to which the Investment Manager’s portfolio managers are subject are essentially the same or similar to the potential conflicts of interest related to the Investment Management activities of the Investment Manager and its affiliates.
(3) SBH: The Code of Ethics and the Compliance Manual detail the requirements that each employee must disclose all potential conflicts of interest to the Chief Compliance Officer. Where warranted issuers (securities) may be placed on a watchlist to prevent any real or perceived conflict.
(4) Columbia Management: Management of the Income Builder Fund-of-Funds differs from that of the other funds. The portfolio management process is set forth generally below and in more detail in the Fund’s prospectus.
  The Investment Manager uses quantitative models combined with qualitative factors to determine the Funds’ allocations to the underlying funds. Using these methodologies, a group of the Investment Manager’s investment professionals allocates the Fund’s assets within and across different asset classes in an effort to achieve the Fund’s objective of providing a high level of current income and growth of capital. The Fund will typically be rebalanced monthly in an effort to maximize the level of income and capital growth, incorporating various measures of relative value subject to constraints that set minimum or maximum exposure within asset classes, as set forth in the prospectus. Within the equity and fixed income asset classes, the Investment Manager establishes allocations for the Funds, seeking to achieve each Fund’s objective by investing in defined investment categories. The target allocation range constraints are intended, in part, to promote diversification within the asset classes.
  Because of the structure of funds-of-funds, the potential conflicts of interest for the portfolio managers may be different than the potential conflicts of interest for portfolio managers who manage other funds. These potential conflicts of interest include:
In certain cases, the portfolio managers of the underlying funds are the same as the portfolio managers of the Income Builder Fund-of-Funds, and could influence the allocation of fund-of-funds assets to or away from the underlying funds that they manage.
The Investment Manager and its affiliates may receive higher compensation as a result of allocations to underlying funds with higher fees.
The Investment Manager monitors the performance of the underlying funds and may, from time to time, recommend to the Board of Trustees of the funds a change in portfolio management or fund strategy or the closure or merger of an underlying fund. In addition, the Investment Manager may believe that certain funds may benefit from additional assets or could be harmed by redemptions. All of these factors may also influence decisions in connection with the allocation of funds-of-funds assets to or away from certain underlying funds.
In addition to the accounts above, portfolio managers may manage accounts in a personal capacity that may include holdings that are similar to, or the same as, those of the Fund. The Investment Manager has in place a Code of Ethics that is designed to address conflicts and that, among other things, imposes restrictions on the ability of the portfolio managers and other “investment access persons” to invest in securities that may be recommended or traded in the Fund and other client accounts.
(5) Donald Smith: Donald Smith & Co., Inc. is very sensitive to conflicts of interest that could possibly arise in its capacity of serving as an investment adviser. It remains committed to resolving any and all conflicts in the best interest of its clients.
  Donald Smith & Co., Inc. is an independent investment advisor with no parent or subsidiary organizations. Additionally, it has no brokerage or investment banking activities.
  Clients include mutual funds, public and corporate pension plans, endowments and foundations, and other separate accounts. Donald Smith & Co., Inc. has put in place systems, policies and procedures, which have been designed to maintain fairness in portfolio management across all clients. Potential conflicts between funds or with other types of accounts are managed via allocation policies and procedures, internal review processes, and direct oversight by Donald G. Smith, President.
(6) Barrow Hanley: Actual or potential conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has management responsibilities to more than one account (including the Fund). Barrow Hanley manages potential conflicts between funds or with other types of accounts through allocation policies and procedures, internal review processes and oversight by directors and independent third parties to ensure that no client, regardless of type or fee structure, is intentionally favored at the expense of another. Allocation policies are designed to address potential conflicts in situations where two or more funds or accounts participate in investment decisions involving the same securities.
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(7) MetWest Capital: MetWest Capital portfolio managers face inherent conflicts of interest in their day-to-day management of funds and other accounts because the funds may have different investment objectives, strategies and risk profiles than the other accounts managed by the portfolio managers. For instance, to the extent that the portfolio managers manage accounts with different investment strategies than the funds, they may from time to time be inclined to purchase securities, including initial public offerings, for one account but not for a fund. Additionally, some of the accounts managed by the portfolio managers may have different fee structures, including performance fees, which are or have the potential to be higher or lower, in some cases significantly higher or lower, than the fees paid by the funds. The differences in fee structures may provide an incentive to the portfolio managers to allocate more favorable trades to the higher-paying accounts.
  To minimize the effects of these inherent conflicts of interest, MetWest Capital has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, that it believes address the potential conflicts associated with managing portfolios for multiple clients and ensure that all clients are treated fairly and equitably. Additionally, MetWest Capital minimizes inherent conflicts of interest by assigning the portfolio managers to accounts having similar objectives. Accordingly, security block purchases are allocated to all accounts with similar objectives in proportionate weightings. Furthermore, MetWest Capital has adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to address potential conflicts associated with managing the funds and any personal accounts the portfolio managers may maintain.
  The portfolio managers often provide investment management for separate accounts advised in the same or similar investment style as that provided to mutual funds. While management of multiple accounts could potentially lead to conflicts of interest over various issues such as trade allocation, fee disparities and research acquisition, MetWest Capital has implemented policies and procedures for the express purpose of ensuring that clients are treated fairly and that potential conflicts of interest are minimized.
(8) Threadneedle: Threadneedle portfolio managers may manage one or more mutual funds as well as other types of accounts, including proprietary accounts, separate accounts for institutions, and other pooled investment vehicles. Portfolio managers make investment decisions for an account or portfolio based on its investment objectives and policies, and other relevant investment considerations. A portfolio manager may manage a separate account or other pooled investment vehicle whose fees may be materially greater than the management fees paid by the Fund and may include a performance-based fee. Management of multiple funds and accounts may create potential conflicts of interest relating to the allocation of investment opportunities, and the aggregation and allocation of trades. In addition, a portfolio manager’s responsibilities at Threadneedle include working as a securities analyst. This dual role may give rise to conflicts with respect to making investment decisions for accounts that he/she manages versus communicating his/her analyses to other portfolio managers concerning securities that he/she follows as an analyst.
  Threadneedle has a fiduciary responsibility to all of the clients for which it manages accounts. Threadneedle seeks to provide best execution of all securities transactions and to aggregate securities transactions and then allocate securities to client accounts in a fair and timely manner. Threadneedle has developed policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, designed to mitigate and manage the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from the management of multiple types of accounts for multiple clients.
(9) DFA: Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has the primary day-to-day responsibilities with respect to a mutual fund, such as the Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund (“Fund”), and other accounts. Other accounts include registered mutual funds (including proprietary mutual funds advised by DFA or its affiliates), other unregistered pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals (“Accounts”). An Account may have similar investment objectives to the Fund, or may purchase, sell or hold securities that are eligible to be purchased, sold or held by a fund. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest include:
Time Management. The management of the Fund and other Accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of the fund and/or Accounts. DFA seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most Accounts managed by a portfolio manager within an investment discipline are managed using the same investment approach.
Investment Opportunities. It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by the Fund and one or more Accounts. However, positions in the same security may vary and the length of time that the Fund may hold investments in the same security may likewise vary. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for the Fund and one or more Accounts, the Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible Accounts. To address these situations, DFA has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple Accounts.
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Broker Selection. With respect to securities transactions for the Fund, DFA determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain Accounts (such as separate accounts), DFA may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, DFA or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for the Fund and another Account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Fund or the Account.
Performance-Based Fees. For some Accounts, DFA may be compensated based on the profitability of the Account, such as by a performance-based management fee. These incentive compensation structures may create a conflict of interest for DFA with regard to Accounts where DFA is paid based on a percentage of assets because the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate securities preferentially to the Accounts where DFA might share in investment gains.
Investment in an Account. A portfolio manager or his/her relatives may invest in an Account that he or she manages and a conflict may arise where he or she may therefore have an incentive to treat the Account in which the portfolio manager or his/her relatives invest preferentially as compared to other Accounts for which he or she has portfolio management responsibilities.
DFA has adopted certain compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.
Structure of Compensation
(10) Columbia Management: Direct compensation is typically comprised of a base salary, and an annual incentive award that is paid either in the form of a cash bonus if the size of the award is under a specified threshold, or, if the size of the award is over a specified threshold, the award is paid in a combination of a cash bonus, an equity incentive award, and deferred compensation. Equity incentive awards are made in the form of Ameriprise Financial restricted stock, or for more senior employees both Ameriprise Financial restricted stock and stock options. The investment return credited on deferred compensation is based on the performance of specified Columbia Funds, in most cases including the Columbia Funds the portfolio manager manages.
  Base salary is typically determined based on market data relevant to the employee’s position, as well as other factors including internal equity. Base salaries are reviewed annually, and increases are typically given as promotional increases, internal equity adjustments, or market adjustments.
  Annual incentive awards are variable and are based on (1) an evaluation of the employee’s investment performance and (2) the results of a peer and/or management review of the employee, which takes into account skills and attributes such as team participation, investment process, communication, and professionalism. Scorecards are used to measure performance of Columbia Funds and other accounts managed by the employee versus benchmarks and peer groups. Performance versus benchmark and peer group is generally weighted for the rolling one, three, and five year periods. One year performance is weighted 10%, three year performance is weighted 60%, and five year performance is weighted 30%. Relative asset size is a key determinant for fund weighting on a scorecard. Typically, weighting would be proportional to actual assets. Consideration may also be given to performance in managing client assets in sectors and industries assigned to the employee as part of his/her investment team responsibilities, where applicable. For leaders who also have group management responsibilities, another factor in their evaluation is an assessment of the group’s overall investment performance.
  Equity incentive awards are designed to align participants’ interests with those of the shareholders of Ameriprise Financial. Equity incentive awards vest over multiple years, so they help retain employees.
  Deferred compensation awards are designed to align participants’ interests with the investors in the Columbia Funds and other accounts they manage. The value of the deferral account is based on the performance of Columbia Funds. Employees have the option of selecting from various Columbia Funds for their deferral account, however portfolio managers must allocate a minimum of 25% of their incentive awarded through the deferral program to the Columbia Fund(s) they manage. Deferrals vest over multiple years, so they help retain employees.
  In addition to the annual incentive award described above, top performing portfolio managers may also receive additional equity awards with extended vesting terms.
  Exceptions to this general approach to bonuses exist for certain teams and individuals. Funding for the bonus pool is determined by management and depends on, among other factors, the levels of compensation generally in the investment management industry taking into account investment performance (based on market compensation data) and both Ameriprise Financial and Columbia Management profitability for the year, which is largely determined by assets under management.
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  For all employees the benefit programs generally are the same, and are competitive within the Financial Services Industry. Employees participate in a wide variety of plans, including options in Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Care and Dependent Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance, 401(k), and a cash balance pension plan.
(11) Threadneedle: To align the interests of its investment staff with those of Threadneedle’s clients, the remuneration plan for senior individuals comprises basic salary and an annual profit share scheme (linked to individual performance and the profitability of the company) delivered partly as a cash incentive, and partly as a deferred long-term incentive which Threadneedle believes encourages longevity of service, split equally between Restricted Stock Units in Ameriprise Financial and reinvestment into a suite of Threadneedle’s own funds. Investment performance is a major factor within that performance appraisal, judged relative to each fund’s targets on a 1- and 3-year basis, with a bias towards 3-year performance in order to incentivize delivery of longer-term performance. Threadneedle Fund Deferral program, through which the deferral is notionally invested in a number of Threadneedle funds, vesting in three equal parts over three years, provides a strong tie for Threadneedle’s investment professionals to client interests.
  The split between each component within the remuneration package varies between investment professionals and will be dependent upon performance and the type of funds they manage.
  Incentives are devised to reward:
investment performance and Threadneedle client requirements, in particular the alignment with Threadneedle clients through a mandatory deferral into Threadneedle’s own products; and
team cooperation and values.
The split of the incentive pool focuses on the:
performance of the individual’s own funds and research recommendations;
performance of all portfolios in the individual’s team;
overall contribution to the wider thinking and success of the investment team, for example, idea generation, interaction with colleagues and commitment to assist with the sales effort; and
Threadneedle performance.
Consideration of the individual’s overall performance is designed to incentivise fund managers to think beyond personal portfolio performance and reflects contributions made in:
inter-team discussions, including asset allocation, global sector themes and weekly investment meetings;
intra-team discussions, stock research and investment insights; and
a fund manager’s demonstration of Threadneedle values, as part of Threadneedle’s team-based investment philosophy.
It is important to appreciate that for individuals to maximize their rating and hence their incentive remuneration they need to contribute in all areas. Importance is placed not only on producing strong fund performance but also contributing effectively to the team and the wider Investment department and on the Manager’s demonstration of Threadneedle’s corporate values. This structure is closely aligned with Threadneedle’s investment principles of sharing ideas and effective communication.
Investment professionals are formally reviewed once a year, and the performance year runs from January to December. However, Threadneedle also takes into consideration longer-term performance (rolling three and five years) together with a manager’s contribution to the investment dialogue and desk success and their control of and adherence to Threadneedle’s risk controls.
(12) DFA: Portfolio managers receive a base salary and bonus. Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of DFA and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts and other subjective factors. The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the mutual funds or other accounts that the portfolio managers manage. DFA reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as it deems necessary to reflect changes in the market. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following:
Base salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. DFA considers the factors described above to determine each portfolio manager’s base salary.
Semi-Annual Bonus. Each portfolio manager may receive a semi-annual bonus. The amount of the bonus paid to each portfolio manager is based upon the factors described above.
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Portfolio managers may be awarded the right to purchase restricted shares of the stock of DFA as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of DFA or its delegees. Portfolio managers also participate in benefit and retirement plans and other programs available generally to all employees.
In addition, portfolio managers may be given the option of participating in DFA’s Long Term Incentive Plan. The level of participation for eligible employees may be dependent on overall level of compensation, among other considerations. Participation in this program is not based on or related to the performance of any individual strategies or any particular client accounts.
(13) Donald Smith: All employees at Donald Smith & Co., Inc. are compensated on incentive plans. The compensation for portfolio managers, analysts and traders at Donald Smith consists of a base salary, a partnership interest in the firm’s profits, and possibly an additional, discretionary bonus. This discretionary bonus can exceed 100% of the base salary if performance for clients exceeds established benchmarks. The current benchmark utilized is the Russell 2000 Value Index. Additional distribution of firm ownership is a strong motivation for continued employment at Donald Smith & Co., Inc. Administrative personnel are also given a bonus as a function of their contribution and the profitability of the firm.
(14) Barrow Hanley: In addition to base salary, all portfolio managers and analysts at Barrow Hanley share in a bonus pool that is distributed semi-annually. Portfolio managers and analysts are rated on their value added to the team-oriented investment process. Overall compensation applies with respect to all accounts managed and compensation does not differ with respect to distinct accounts managed by a portfolio manager. Compensation is not tied to a published or private benchmark. It is important to understand that contributions to the overall investment process may include not recommending securities in an analyst’s sector if there are no compelling opportunities in the industries covered by that analyst.
  The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly tied to fund performance or growth in assets for any fund or other account managed by a portfolio manager and portfolio managers are not compensated for bringing in new business. Of course, growth in assets from the appreciation of existing assets and/or growth in new assets will increase revenues and profit. The consistent, long-term growth in assets at any investment firm is to a great extent, dependent upon the success of the portfolio management team. The compensation of the portfolio management team at Barrow Hanley will increase over time, if and when assets continue to grow through competitive performance. Lastly, many of our key investment personnel have a longer-term incentive compensation plan in the form of an equity interest in Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC.
(15) MetWest Capital: Compensation for investment professionals consists of a base salary and revenue-sharing bonus. A material portion of each professional’s annual compensation is in the form of a bonus tied to MetWest Capital’s Pelican Value Equity team revenues, results relative to clients’ benchmarks, overall client satisfaction and individual contribution.
  MetWest Capital’s compensation system is not determined on an account-specific basis. Rather, bonuses are tied to overall MetWest Capital’s Pelican Value Equity team revenues and composite performance relative to the benchmark. To reinforce long-term focus, performance is measured over longer time periods (typically three to five years). Portfolio Managers and Analysts are encouraged to maintain a long-term focus and are not compensated for the number of their recommendations that are purchased in the portfolio. Rather, their bonuses are tied to overall strategy performance.
  Long-term retention agreements have been put in place for eligible members of MetWest Capital’s investment team. These agreements augment those incentive opportunities already in place.
(16) SBH: Members of the Small Cap team are paid a salary that is competitive with industry standards and an incentive bonus based on a combination of individual and strategy performance. Marketers and client service personnel receive base salary and commission.
(17) Columbia Management: Portfolio manager compensation is typically comprised of (i) a base salary and (ii) an annual cash bonus. The annual cash bonus, and in some instances the base salary, are paid from a team bonus pool that is based on fees and performance of the accounts managed by the portfolio management team, which might include mutual funds, wrap accounts, institutional portfolios and hedge funds.
  The percentage of management fees on mutual funds and long-only institutional portfolios that fund the bonus pool is based on the short term (typically one-year) and long-term (typically three-year and five-year) performance of those accounts in relation to the relevant peer group universe.
  A fixed percentage of management fees on hedge funds and separately managed accounts that follow a hedge fund mandate fund the bonus pool.
  The percentage of performance fees on hedge funds and separately managed accounts that follow a hedge fund mandate that fund the bonus pool is based on the absolute level of each hedge fund’s current year investment return.
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  For all employees the benefit programs generally are the same, and are competitive within the Financial Services Industry. Employees participate in a wide variety of plans, including options in Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Care and Dependent Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance, 401(k), and a cash balance pension plan.
(18) Columbia Management: Portfolio manager compensation is typically comprised of (i) a base salary, and (ii) an annual cash bonus. The annual cash bonus is paid from team bonus pools. Funding for two of the bonus pools is based upon a percentage of profits or revenue generated by the institutional portfolios they manage. The portfolio managers may also be paid from a separate bonus pool based upon the performance of the mutual fund(s) they manage. Funding for this bonus pool is determined by a percentage of the aggregate assets under management in the mutual fund(s) they manage, and by the one, three and five year performance of the mutual fund(s) in relation to the relevant peer group universe.
  Senior management of Columbia Management has the discretion to increase or decrease the size of the bonus pool related to mutual funds and to determine the exact amount of each portfolio manager’s bonus paid from this portion of the bonus pool based on his/her performance as an employee. Senior management of Columbia Management does not have discretion over the size of the bonus pool related to institutional portfolios.
  For all employees the benefit programs generally are the same, and are competitive within the Financial Services Industry. Employees participate in a wide variety of plans, including options in Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Care and Dependent Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance, 401(k), and a cash balance pension plan.
The Administrator
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (which is also the Investment Manager) serves as administrator of the Funds.
Administrative Services Agreement
Prior to the Management Services Fee Effective Date listed for each Fund in the Management Agreement Fee Rates section above, each Fund, unless otherwise noted, was party to the Investment Management Services Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement with the Investment Manager for advisory and administrative services, respectively. Each Fund party to these agreements paid the Investment Manager an annual fee for advisory services, as set forth in the Investment Management Services Agreement, and a separate fee for administrative services under the Administrative Services Agreement. See Investment Management and Other Services – The Investment Manager and Subadvisers for information with respect to the Investment Management Services Agreement. As of the Management Services Fee Effective Date listed for each Fund, these services have been combined under the Management Agreement as described in the Investment Management and Other Services – The Investment Manager and Subadvisers section. Each Fund, other than those Funds listed in the Management Agreement Fee Schedule table in the Management Agreement Fee Rates section above, continues to be a party to each separate agreement with the Investment Manager.
Services Provided Under the Administrative Services Agreement
Pursuant to the terms of the Administrative Services Agreement, the Investment Manager has agreed to provide all of the services necessary for, or appropriate to, the business and effective operation of each Fund that are not (a) provided by employees or other agents engaged by the Fund or (b) required to be provided by any person pursuant to any other agreement or arrangement with the Fund.
Administrative Services Agreement Fee Rates
For each Fund indicated below, the Investment Manager continues to receive a separate fee for its investment advisory and administrative services. The administrative services fee is calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of each Fund and is paid monthly at the annual rates as set forth in the Administrative Services Agreement, and shown in the table below.
Administrative Services Agreement Fee Schedule
Funds Asset Levels
(in Millions)
Applicable
Fee Rate
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund; Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund; European Equity Fund; Global Bond Fund; Select Global Equity Fund $0-$500 0.080%
>$500-$1,000 0.075%
>$1,000-$3,000 0.070%
>$3,000-$12,000 0.060%
>$12,000 0.050%
Emerging Markets Bond Fund $0-$500 0.070%
>$500-$1,000 0.065%
>$1,000-$3,000 0.060%
>$3,000-$12,000 0.050%
>$12,000 0.040%
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Funds Asset Levels
(in Millions)
Applicable
Fee Rate
Capital Allocation Portfolios; Income Builder Fund; Global Strategic Equity Fund All Assets 0.020%
Large Cap Growth Fund IV; Seligman Global Technology Fund $0-$500 0.060%
>$500-$1,000 0.055%
>$1,000-$3,000 0.050%
>$3,000-$12,000 0.040%
>$12,000 0.030%
Administrative Services Fees Paid. The table below shows the total administrative services fees paid by each Fund under the Administrative Services Agreement for the last three fiscal periods. The table is organized by fiscal year end.
Administrative Services Fees
  Administrative Services Fees
  2015 2014 2013
For Funds with fiscal period ending January 31
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio $133,066 $121,626 $111,051
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio 62,651 69,740 65,589
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio 473,854 433,518 213,998
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio 138,522 128,628 25,851
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio 338,662 324,687 298,998
Global Strategic Equity Fund 165,097 157,611 150,091
Income Builder Fund 266,133 222,085 172,633
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Convertible Securities Fund 659,319 386,205 317,615
Global Equity Value Fund 610,580 637,659 352,140
International Opportunities Fund 106,123 201,595 885,760
International Value Fund (a) 183,216 358,512 1,734,302
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund 198,742 155,643 168,003
Large Cap Growth Fund II 596,455 608,088 2,715,082
Large Cap Growth Fund III 613,569 733,158 3,771,874
Large Cap Growth Fund V 1,019,361 1,110,866 5,475,810
Large Cap Index Fund 3,376,904 2,824,934 2,516,462
Mid Cap Index Fund 3,796,538 3,214,924 2,425,603
Mid Cap Value Fund 1,908,716 1,911,227 1,847,219
Overseas Value Fund 585,710 242,402 23,311
Select Global Growth Fund 39,152 25,552 24,657
Select International Equity Fund 485,890 700,784 882,560
Select Large Cap Equity Fund 306,109 343,281 470,848
Small Cap Index Fund 2,955,890 2,436,410 1,875,113
Small Cap Value Fund II 1,308,311 1,232,271 1,127,515
For Funds with fiscal period ending March 31
Short Term Bond Fund 1,575,615 1,714,352 1,732,091
For Funds with fiscal period ending April 30
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 232,082 201,539 205,113
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 54,601 59,149 72,488
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 62,372 74,179 99,254
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 124,667 123,426 153,709
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  Administrative Services Fees
  2015 2014 2013
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund $87,389 $92,375 $117,813
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 158,599 191,743 244,361
Global Infrastructure Fund 262,792 345,541 390,799
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund 1,291,573 1,264,155 1,367,486
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
AP – Multi-Manager Value Fund 965,954 654,474 389,955
Commodity Strategy Fund 30,884 47,910 47,681
Diversified Equity Income Fund 1,437,174 1,488,857 1,565,210
Dividend Opportunity Fund 2,839,743 2,777,270 2,317,635
Flexible Capital Income Fund 356,044 118,679 60,988
High Yield Bond Fund 1,275,724 1,235,345 1,136,506
Mortgage Opportunities Fund 129,742 6,058 (b) N/A
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund 297,555 303,827 263,048
Select Large-Cap Value Fund 562,728 410,760 291,937
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund 384,818 373,131 300,791
Seligman Communications and Information Fund 1,879,754 1,707,269 1,746,336
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund 718,042 894,822 868,332
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund 1,188,946 1,243,886 1,521,599
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund 411,139 386,949 445,257
Disciplined Core Fund 2,055,336 1,916,648 1,772,519
Disciplined Growth Fund 383,325 315,368 321,329
Disciplined Value Fund 545,298 348,109 168,846
Floating Rate Fund 655,573 743,819 441,027
Global Opportunities Fund 420,623 464,744 473,470
Income Opportunities Fund 1,989,596 1,957,561 1,820,985
Inflation Protected Securities Fund 165,294 189,657 263,695
Limited Duration Credit Fund 774,188 729,816 728,804
MN Tax-Exempt Fund 307,477 287,171 316,928
Money Market Fund 921,758 1,002,488 1,031,373
  2014 2013 2012
For Funds with fiscal period ending August 31
Large Cap Growth Fund IV 125,410 86,382 102,076
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund 43,247 75,213 88,948
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund 526,126 388,921 338,241
Emerging Markets Bond Fund 519,939 549,411 381,281
European Equity Fund 463,460 311,340 273,680
Global Bond Fund 118,359 169,361 213,057
Select Global Equity Fund 319,709 302,867 319,567
Seligman Global Technology Fund 281,879 249,552 282,500
(a) The administrative services fees were paid prior to December 14, 2013 at both the Master Portfolio-and Feeder Fund-levels; amounts shown above for the fiscal year ended 2013 and the fiscal period from March 1, 2013 to December 14, 2013, include only the portion paid at the Feeder Fund-level.
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(b) For the period from April 30, 2014 (commencement of operations) to May 31, 2014.
The Distributor
Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor), 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial and an affiliate of the Investment Manager, serves as the principal underwriter and distributor for the continuous offering of shares of the Funds pursuant to a Distribution Agreement. The Distribution Agreement obligates the Distributor to use reasonable efforts to find purchasers for the shares of the Funds.
Distribution Obligations
Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor, as agent, sells shares of the Funds on a continuous basis and transmits purchase and redemption orders that it receives to the Trusts or the Transfer Agent, or their designated agents. Additionally, the Distributor has agreed to use reasonable efforts to solicit orders for the sale of shares and to undertake advertising and promotion as it believes appropriate in connection with such solicitation. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor, at its own expense, finances those activities as it deems reasonable and which are primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the Funds, including, but not limited to, advertising, compensation of underwriters, dealers and sales personnel, the printing and mailing of prospectuses to other than existing shareholders, and the printing and mailing of sales literature. The Distributor, however, may be compensated or reimbursed for all or a portion of such expenses to the extent permitted by a Distribution Plan adopted by the Trusts pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. See Investment Management and Other Services – Distribution and/or Servicing Plans for more information about the share classes for which the Trusts has adopted a Distribution Plan.
See Investment Management and Other Services – Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates – Certain Conflicts of Interest for more information about conflicts of interest, including those that relate to the Investment Manager and its affiliates.
The Distribution Agreement became effective with respect to each Fund after approval by its Board, and, after an initial two-year period, continues from year to year, provided that such continuation of the Distribution Agreement is specifically approved at least annually by the Board, including its Independent Trustees. The Distribution Agreement terminates automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable with respect to each Fund at any time without penalty by the Trusts (by vote of the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund) or by the Distributor on 60 days’ written notice.
Underwriting Commissions Paid by the Funds
The Distributor received commissions and other compensation for its services as reflected in the following charts, which show amounts paid to the Distributor, as well as amounts the Distributor retained, after paying commissions, for the three most recently completed fiscal years.
Sales Charges Paid to, and Retained by, Distributor
  Sales Charges Paid to Distributor Amount Retained by Distributor
After Paying Commissions
Fund 2015 2014 2013 2015 2014 2013
For Funds with fiscal period ending January 31
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio $1,251,527 $1,269,205 $1,179,422 $174,839 $178,765 $163,689
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio 232,662 325,677 452,383 33,800 49,250 70,230
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio 2,774,382 2,593,126 504,862 389,403 361,669 64,900
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio 633,768 717,987 107,544 88,324 100,785 14,341
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio 2,394,670 2,608,927 2,849,144 337,660 367,543 400,801
Global Strategic Equity Fund 760,289 824,671 917,200 106,507 114,629 123,076
Income Builder Fund 1,813,825 2,362,519 1,583,948 269,884 360,279 241,261
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Convertible Securities Fund 597,387 245,133 59,849 83,945 34,761 7,826
Global Equity Value Fund 225,103 232,934 146,966 31,598 32,164 20,274
International Opportunities Fund 11,535 20,494 27,190 1,461 2,563 2,659
International Value Fund 46,197 61,829 67,408 6,554 8,545 9,328
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund 0 0 0 0 0 0
Large Cap Growth Fund II 164,771 182,982 305,214 22,091 20,212 22,336
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  Sales Charges Paid to Distributor Amount Retained by Distributor
After Paying Commissions
Fund 2015 2014 2013 2015 2014 2013
Large Cap Growth Fund III $176,881 $233,542 $203,572 $24,053 $32,143 $25,057
Large Cap Growth Fund V 174,722 244,434 236,184 22,785 33,086 29,675
Large Cap Index Fund 0 0 289 0 0 0
Mid Cap Index Fund 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mid Cap Value Fund 530,859 266,769 175,442 74,010 36,677 21,486
Overseas Value Fund 116,875 108,431 0 16,743 15,303 0
Select Global Growth Fund 153,868 77,832 42,683 21,723 11,062 6,132
Select International Equity Fund 77,136 85,904 91,719 10,766 11,856 12,794
Select Large Cap Equity Fund 35,837 44,943 43,543 4,996 5,837 6,072
Small Cap Index Fund 990 1,721 2,669 0 0 0
Small Cap Value Fund II 5,053 3,511 7,407 583 458 428
For Funds with fiscal period ending March 31
Short Term Bond Fund 107,718 112,580 176,680 25,651 25,042 35,020
For Funds with fiscal period ending April 30
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 74,559 62,171 58,551 8,148 8,824 7,900
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 7,401 7,774 18,069 1,072 915 2,400
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 16,836 5,688 20,855 2,221 702 2,823
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 18,812 23,471 31,198 2,740 2,625 4,507
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 48,795 35,555 102,192 7,049 4,727 14,363
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 20,647 13,357 23,369 3,226 1,665 3,356
Global Infrastructure Fund 258,854 266,567 192,177 34,996 36,715 26,036
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund 36,287 44,450 48,724 5,388 6,331 6,477
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
AP – Multi-Manager Value Fund 0 0 0 0 0 0
Commodity Strategy Fund 19,788 4,927 10,829 2,840 700 1,611
Diversified Equity Income Fund 1,221,109 1,362,341 1,333,200 171,657 191,022 184,526
Dividend Opportunity Fund 2,989,496 4,164,771 4,479,371 411,957 584,271 633,597
Flexible Capital Income Fund 2,138,279 636,096 17,374 299,274 90,166 2,507
High Yield Bond Fund 658,433 890,213 1,204,924 101,926 137,786 185,026
Mortgage Opportunities Fund 3,202 0 (a) N/A 537 0 (a) N/A
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund 121,259 177,273 132,857 16,886 25,045 18,637
Select Large-Cap Value Fund 418,169 480,587 103,537 57,868 66,488 14,265
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund 189,052 211,623 101,880 26,619 29,656 13,888
Seligman Communications and Information Fund 1,412,778 755,972 1,225,388 195,079 99,144 159,833
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund 301,838 447,309 349,017 42,157 63,337 48,388
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund 252,555 295,618 919,054 35,079 38,884 129,362
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund 344,257 284,174 553,197 47,186 40,583 81,614
Disciplined Core Fund 1,678,963 1,414,908 1,316,521 236,842 197,475 183,151
Disciplined Growth Fund 159,176 60,744 55,040 22,405 8,501 8,055
Disciplined Value Fund 345,446 85,224 35,127 48,653 12,031 5,012
Floating Rate Fund 283,396 712,818 608,203 37,635 100,867 88,974
Global Opportunities Fund 404,059 550,066 662,066 56,880 77,655 92,310
Income Opportunities Fund 354,290 394,249 849,522 52,041 54,872 125,206
Inflation Protected Securities Fund 37,397 60,697 114,383 5,231 8,904 16,099
Limited Duration Credit Fund 272,173 339,388 535,048 36,933 45,559 76,033
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  Sales Charges Paid to Distributor Amount Retained by Distributor
After Paying Commissions
Fund 2015 2014 2013 2015 2014 2013
Minnesota Tax-Exempt Fund $392,198 $372,153 $628,019 $53,343 $53,187 $85,803
Money Market Fund 7,497 18,434 12,458 0 0 0
  2014 2013 2012 2014 2013 2012
For Funds with fiscal period ending August 31
Large Cap Growth Fund IV 181,085 103,713 59,425 25,348 14,161 7,736
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund 2,864 14,779 9,253 332 951 1,257
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund 735 2,206 518 103 255 63
Emerging Markets Bond Fund 270,936 673,523 614,265 38,369 102,103 96,104
European Equity Fund 586,471 324,565 54,053 82,976 46,750 7,445
Global Bond Fund 57,856 146,679 178,419 8,362 21,614 26,728
Select Global Equity Fund 182,484 167,567 169,550 25,921 23,731 23,243
Seligman Global Technology Fund 201,212 166,638 271,011 27,933 22,533 36,780
(a) For the period from April 30, 2014 (commencement of operations) to May 31, 2014.
Part of the sales charge may be paid to selling dealers who have agreements with the Distributor. The Distributor will retain the balance of the sales charge. At times the entire sales charge may be paid to selling dealers. See the prospectus for amounts retained by Selling Agents as a percentage of the offering price.
Distribution and/or Servicing Plans
The Trustees have adopted distribution and/or shareholder servicing plans for certain share classes. See the cover of this SAI for the share classes offered by the Funds.
The table below shows the annual distribution and/or services fees (payable monthly and calculated based on an annual percentage of average daily net assets) and the combined amount of such fees applicable to each share class. The Trust is not aware as to what amount, if any, of the distribution and service fees paid to the Distributor were, on a Fund-by-Fund basis, used for advertising, printing and mailing of prospectuses to other than current shareholders, compensation to broker-dealers, compensation to sales personnel, or interest, carrying or other financing charges.
  Distribution Fee Service Fee Combined Total
Class A (Series of CFST) 0.25% (a)
Class A (Series of CFST II) up to 0.25% up to 0.25% 0.25% (b)
Class B 0.75% (c) 0.25% 1.00% (d)
Class C 0.75% (c) 0.25% 1.00% (b)
Class I None None None
Class K None None (e) None
Class R (Series of CFST) 0.50% (f) 0.50%
Class R (Series of CFST II) up to 0.50% (b) up to 0.25% 0.50% (f)
Class R4 None None None
Class R5 None None None
Class T None 0.50% (g) 0.50% (g)
Class W up to 0.25% up to 0.25% 0.25% (b)
Class Y None None None
Class Z None None None
(a) Series of CFST pay a combined distribution and service fee pursuant to their combined shareholder servicing and distribution plan for Class A shares.
(b) Fee amounts noted apply to all Funds other than Money Market Fund, which, for each of Class A and Class W shares, pays distribution and service fees of 0.10%, and for Class C shares pays distribution fees of 0.75%. The Distributor has currently agreed not to be reimbursed by
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  the Fund for 0.25% of the 0.50% fee for Class R shares of Columbia Money Market Fund. The Distributor has voluntarily agreed to waive the 12b-1 fees it receives from Class A, Class C, Class R and Class W shares of Money Market Fund. Compensation paid to selling agents may be suspended to the extent of the Distributor’s waiver of the 12b-1 fees on these specific share classes of these Funds.
(c) For Short Term Bond Fund, the Distributor has voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of the distribution fee for Class B and Class C shares so that the distribution fee does not exceed 0.30% and 0.60%, respectively, annually.
(d) Fee amounts noted apply to all Funds other than Money Market Fund, which pays distribution fees of up to 0.75% and service fees of up to 0.10% for a combined total of 0.85%. The Distributor has currently agreed not to be reimbursed by the Fund for 0.10% of the 0.85% fee for Class B shares of Money Market Fund. Class B shares are closed to new and existing investors.
(e) Under a Plan Administration Services Agreement, the Funds’ Class K shares pay for plan administration services, including services such as implementation and conversion services, account set-up and maintenance, reconciliation and account recordkeeping, education services and administration to various plan types, including 529 plans, retirement plans and health savings accounts. Shareholder services fees for Class K shares are not paid pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan.
(f) Class R shares of series of CFST pay a distribution fee pursuant to a Fund’s distribution (Rule 12b-1) plan for Class R shares and do not have a shareholder service plan for Class R shares. Series of CFST II have a distribution and shareholder service plan for Class R shares pursuant to which the maximum fee under the plan reimbursed for distribution expenses is equal on an annual basis to 0.50% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class R shares of the Funds, of which amount, up to 0.25% may be reimbursed for shareholder service expense.
(g) The shareholder servicing fees for Class T shares are up to 0.50% of average daily net assets attributable to Class T shares for equity Funds and 0.40% for fixed income Funds. In general, the Funds currently limit such fees to a maximum of 0.25% for equity Funds and 0.15% for fixed income Funds. See Class T Shares Shareholder Service Fees below for more information.
If you maintain shares of a Fund directly with the Fund, without working directly with a financial advisor or Selling Agent, distribution and service fees, as applicable, are retained by the Distributor as payment or reimbursement for incurring certain distribution and shareholder service related expenses.
Over time, these distribution and/or shareholder service fees will reduce the return on your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The Fund will pay these fees to the Distributor and/or to eligible Selling Agents for as long as the distribution and/or shareholder servicing plans continue in effect. The Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time. Your Selling Agent may also charge you other additional fees for providing services to your account, which may be different from those described here.
Plans for Series of CFST. The shareholder servicing plans permit the Funds to compensate or reimburse servicing agents for the shareholder services they have provided. The Distribution Plans permit the Funds to compensate or reimburse the Distributor and/or Selling Agents for activities or expenses primarily intended to result in the sale of the classes’ shares. Payments are made at an annual rate and paid monthly, as a percentage of average daily net assets, set from time to time by the Board, and are charged as expenses of each Fund directly to the applicable share class. A substantial portion of the expenses incurred pursuant to these plans may be paid to affiliates of the Distributor and Ameriprise Financial.
Under the shareholder servicing plan, the Board must review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts paid under the servicing agreements and the purposes for which those expenditures were made. The initial term of the shareholder servicing plan is one year and it will continue in effect from year to year provided that its continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the shareholder servicing plan or in any agreement related to it. Any material amendment to the shareholder servicing plan must be approved in the same manner. The shareholder servicing plan is terminable at any time with respect to the Funds by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees.
The Trustees believe the Distribution Plans could be a significant factor in the growth and retention of a Fund’s assets resulting in more advantageous expense ratios and increased investment flexibility which could benefit each class of Fund shareholders. The Distribution Plans will continue in effect from year to year so long as continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees. The Distribution Plans may not be amended to increase the fee materially without approval by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant class of shares, and all material amendments of the Distribution Plans must be approved by the Trustees in the manner provided in the foregoing sentence. The Distribution Plans may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant class of shares.
Class T Shares Shareholder Service Fees
The Funds that offer Class T shares have adopted a shareholder services plan that permits them to pay for certain services provided to Class T shareholders by their Selling Agents. Equity Funds may pay shareholder servicing fees up to an aggregate annual rate of 0.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class T shares (comprised of up to 0.25% for shareholder liaison services and up to 0.25% for administrative support services). Fixed income Funds may pay shareholder servicing fees up to an aggregate annual rate of 0.40% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class T shares (comprised of an annual rate of up to 0.20% for shareholder liaison services and up to 0.20% for administrative support services). These fees are currently limited to an aggregate annual rate of not more than 0.25% for equity Funds and not more than 0.15% for fixed income Funds. With respect to those Funds that declare dividends on a daily basis, the shareholder servicing fee shall be waived by the selling and/or servicing agents to the extent necessary to prevent net investment income
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from falling below 0.00% on a daily basis. The Funds consider “administrative support services” to include, without limitation, (i) aggregating and processing purchase and redemption orders, (ii) providing beneficial owners with statements showing their positions in the Funds, (iii) processing dividend payments, (iv) providing sub-accounting services for Fund shares held beneficially, (v) forwarding shareholder communications, such as proxies, shareholder reports, dividend and tax notices, and updating prospectuses to beneficial owners, (vi) receiving, tabulating and transmitting proxies executed by the beneficial owners, (vii) sub-transfer agent services for beneficial owners of Fund shares and (viii) other similar services. If you maintain shares of a Fund directly with the Fund, without working directly with a financial advisor or other intermediary, shareholder services fees may be retained by the Distributor as payment or reimbursement for incurring certain shareholder service related expenses.
Plans for Series of CFST II . The distribution and/or shareholder service fees for Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R and Class W shares, as applicable, are to reimburse the Distributor for certain expenses it incurs in connection with distributing the Fund’s shares or directly or indirectly providing services to Fund shareholders. These payments or expenses include providing distribution and/or shareholder service fees to Selling Agents that sell shares of the Fund or provide services to Fund shareholders. The Distributor may retain these fees otherwise payable to Selling Agents if the amounts due are below an amount determined by the Distributor in its discretion. The maximum fee for services under the plan for series of CFST II is the lesser of the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement (including any unreimbursed expenses) and the rate set forth in the table above. If a share class of a series of CFST II has no distribution or shareholder servicing expenses eligible for reimbursement, the share class will not pay a distribution or service fee, as applicable. Class B shares of Columbia Seligman Communications and Information Fund and each of Class B and Class C shares of Columbia Global Infrastructure Fund have suspended distribution payments but may initiate such payments in the event these share classes have expenses eligible for reimbursement in the future.
For Class A, Class B and Class W shares of the Series of CFST II, the Distributor begins to pay these fees immediately after purchase. For Class C shares, the Distributor pays these fees in advance for the first 12 months. Selling and/or servicing agents also receive distribution fees up to 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares sold and held through them, which the Distributor begins to pay 12 months after purchase. For Class B shares, and, for the first 12 months following the sale of Class C shares, the Distributor retains the distribution fee of up to 0.75% in order to finance the payment of sales commissions to Selling Agents and to pay for other distribution related expenses. Selling Agents may compensate their financial advisors with the shareholder service and distribution fees paid to them by the Distributor.
Prior to October 27, 2012, Class R4 shares were subject to a distribution fee of 0.25% and a service fee that is not paid pursuant to a 12b-1 plan of 0.25%.
Fees Paid
For its most recent fiscal period, each Fund paid distribution and/or service fees as shown in the following table. The table is organized by fiscal year end.
12b-1 Fees
Fund Class A Class B Class C Class R Class T Class W
For Funds with fiscal period ending January 31
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio $1,444,845 $271,760 $575,575 $4,222 N/A N/A
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio 631,389 99,181 473,131 960 N/A N/A
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio 4,609,457 769,492 2,108,150 24,137 $270,449 N/A
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio 1,382,528 220,159 885,333 10,854 N/A N/A
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio 3,635,852 597,081 1,743,652 7,288 N/A N/A
Global Strategic Equity Fund 1,578,093 363,580 998,435 13,455 N/A N/A
Income Builder Fund 2,573,924 236,021 2,212,651 6,056 N/A $15 (a)
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Convertible Securities Fund 899,677 8,338 449,799 12,188 N/A 11,510
Global Equity Value Fund 2,273,875 125,665 305,083 5,164 N/A 35
International Opportunities Fund 145,357 25,378 128,761 4,050 N/A N/A
International Value Fund 243,787 3,548 239,951 1,131 N/A N/A
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund 108,603 N/A N/A 70,888 N/A N/A
Large Cap Growth Fund II 1,271,798 391,434 2,502,528 105,353 N/A N/A
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Fund Class A Class B Class C Class R Class T Class W
Large Cap Growth Fund III $1,365,131 $80,005 $2,288,914 N/A N/A N/A
Large Cap Growth Fund V 1,309,539 71,675 2,953,928 $112,657 N/A $7
Large Cap Index Fund 2,317,373 2,433 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Mid Cap Index Fund 2,492,055 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Mid Cap Value Fund 2,762,503 119,812 1,359,121 341,024 N/A 1,350
Overseas Value Fund 499,002 70,618 46,237 N/A N/A 677,121
Select Global Growth Fund 65,743 N/A 79,623 6,744 N/A N/A
Select International Equity Fund 714,511 31,351 112,490 7,400 N/A 248,567
Select Large Cap Equity Fund 332,638 4,190 48,958 N/A N/A 6
Small Cap Index Fund 2,861,728 71,139 N/A N/A N/A 52,368
Small Cap Value Fund II 695,595 14,695 157,710 78,022 N/A N/A
For Funds with fiscal period ending March 31
Short Term Bond Fund 1,134,280 25,753 612,817 19,186 N/A 16,977
For Funds with fiscal period ending April 30
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 97,250 206 99,732 N/A N/A N/A
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 44,187 1,963 40,880 N/A N/A N/A
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 51,518 513 28,315 N/A N/A N/A
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 66,929 944 71,691 N/A N/A N/A
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 57,714 223 145,789 N/A N/A N/A
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 118,485 159 40,606 N/A N/A N/A
Global Infrastructure Fund 738,805 27,927 406,231 3,755 N/A N/A
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund 378,887 1,275 240,930 N/A N/A N/A
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
AP – Multi-Manager Value Fund 4,455,798 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Commodity Strategy Fund 7,852 N/A 1,969 612 N/A 5
Diversified Equity Income Fund 6,113,794 569,340 712,071 39,083 N/A 7
Dividend Opportunity Fund 9,831,719 325,649 4,658,507 172,343 N/A 364
Flexible Capital Income Fund 746,919 N/A 1,161,853 3,717 N/A 33
High Yield Bond Fund 3,151,612 121,048 833,607 91,254 N/A 168,296
Mortgage Opportunities Fund 872 N/A 210 N/A N/A 25
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund 712,357 65,490 109,386 30,855 N/A N/A
Select Large-Cap Value Fund 898,901 20,464 896,018 106,700 N/A 103,309
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund 953,486 47,591 425,465 57,115 N/A N/A
Seligman Communications and Information Fund 6,640,950 61,914 7,260,471 238,137 N/A N/A
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund 2,276,871 187,382 349,312 52,375 N/A 6
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund 1,395,014 22,115 365,456 N/A N/A 43,367
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund 1,392,314 8,077 165,170 N/A N/A N/A
Disciplined Core Fund 8,870,289 538,924 447,435 16,854 N/A 226,062
Disciplined Growth Fund 648,515 7,344 75,316 292 N/A 274,656
Disciplined Value Fund 185,773 5,612 127,225 5,039 $231,991 591,308
Floating Rate Fund 1,474,640 46,461 1,104,336 18,565 N/A 6
Global Opportunities Fund 1,756,494 198,409 314,199 16 N/A 6
Income Opportunities Fund 4,228,829 92,929 1,110,386 4,857 N/A 26,131
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Fund Class A Class B Class C Class R Class T Class W
Inflation Protected Securities Fund $207,684 $9,663 $120,171 $28,126 N/A $82,373
Limited Duration Credit Fund 1,512,839 22,442 751,066 N/A N/A 375,085
MN Tax-Exempt Fund 1,000,988 6,342 462,818 N/A N/A N/A
Money Market Fund 0 31,034 0 0 N/A 0
For Funds with fiscal period ending August 31
Large Cap Growth Fund IV 241,138 N/A 239,693 3,769 N/A N/A
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund 36,885 1,087 16,389 N/A N/A 250
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund 2,054 N/A 2,499 1,569 N/A N/A
Emerging Markets Bond Fund 507,858 14,980 547,345 35,429 N/A 151,915
European Equity Fund 416,629 18,228 262,079 N/A N/A 7
Global Bond Fund 342,768 21,417 52,519 94 N/A 254
Select Global Equity Fund 911,784 76,325 174,597 671 N/A 7
Seligman Global Technology Fund 904,541 54,063 745,616 37,731 N/A N/A
(a) For the period from June 25, 2014 (commencement of operations) to January 31, 2015.
For Series of CFST II Funds with Class B and Class C shares:
The following table provides the amount of distribution expenses, as a dollar amount and as a percentage of net assets, incurred by the Distributor and not yet reimbursed (“unreimbursed expense”) for Class B and Class C shares of series of CFST II. These amounts are based on the most recent information available as of June 30, 2015 and may be recovered from future payments under the distribution plan or CDSC. To the extent the unreimbursed expense has been fully recovered, the distribution fee is reduced.
Unreimbursed Distribution Expenses
Fund Class B Percentage
of Class B
net assets
Class C Percentage
of Class C
net assets
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund $29,000 85.84% $15,000 0.83%
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund 244,000 48.21% 62,000 0.37%
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund N/A N/A 2,000 0.58%
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio 1,383,000 7.96% 113,000 0.16%
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio 1,618,000 29.67% 142,000 0.30%
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio 5,136,000 14.41% 1,136,000 0.61%
Commodity Strategy Fund N/A N/A 1,000 0.36%
Disciplined Core Fund 5,810,000 13.07% 1,234,000 2.42%
Disciplined Growth Fund 110,000 18.46% 44,000 0.39%
Disciplined Value Fund 50,000 11.73% 55,000 0.33%
Diversified Equity Income Fund 7,747,000 20.72% 584,000 0.83%
Dividend Opportunity Fund 3,219,000 16.18% 740,000 0.16%
Emerging Markets Bond Fund 122,000 17.02% 275,000 0.73%
European Equity Fund 239,000 19.60% 151,000 0.54%
Flexible Capital Income Fund N/A N/A 272,000 0.17%
Floating Rate Fund 1,117,000 41.50% 513,000 0.51%
Global Bond Fund 545,000 53.37% 54,000 1.58%
Global Equity Value Fund 1,532,000 21.48% 35,000 0.13%
Global Infrastructure Fund 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
Global Opportunities Fund 3,260,000 25.03% 304,000 1.04%
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Fund Class B Percentage
of Class B
net assets
Class C Percentage
of Class C
net assets
High Yield Bond Fund $2,489,000 31.58% $6,873,000 8.48%
Income Builder Fund 4,463,000 42.59% 481,000 0.20%
Income Opportunities Fund 1,816,000 25.01% 1,181,000 1.12%
Inflation Protected Securities Fund 432,000 95.14% 134,000 1.23%
Large Cap Growth Fund IV N/A N/A 0 0.00%
Limited Duration Credit Fund 590,000 41.65% 459,000 0.67%
MN Tax-Exempt Fund 107,000 24.05% 183,000 0.37%
Money Market Fund 3,403,000 120.37% 1,102,000 4.40%
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund 932,000 21.19% 103,000 1.01%
Select Global Equity Fund 724,000 19.34% 1,322,000 8.28%
Select Large-Cap Value Fund 23,000 1.64% 2,796,000 3.11%
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund 611,000 16.40% 2,451,000 5.57%
Seligman Communications and Information Fund 0 0.00% 18,106,000 2.31%
Seligman Global Technology Fund 151,000 3.96% 4,279,000 4.67%
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund 1,631,000 13.72% 300,000 0.86%
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund 723,000 48.61% 163,000 0.45%
Other Services Provided
The Transfer Agent
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. is the transfer agent for the Funds. The Transfer Agent is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110. Under the Transfer Agency Agreement, the Transfer Agent provides transfer agency, dividend disbursing agency and shareholder servicing agency services to the Funds. Class I shares and Class Y shares do not pay transfer agency fees. For all other share classes, the Funds pay the Transfer Agent an annual fee payable monthly that varies by account type. For accounts established directly with the Fund (other than certain networked or omnibus accounts), the annual transfer agency fee is $36.40 per account; for certain accounts that are established or maintained directly with the Fund pursuant to the networking system of the NSCC and certain other similar “networked” accounts, the annual transfer agency fee is $8.50 per account; and for other omnibus accounts, the transfer agency fee is paid at an annual rate of 0.0125% of the value of such accounts. Prior to July 1, 2015, the Funds paid an annual transfer agency fee, payable monthly, of $34.25 for accounts established directly with the Fund (other than certain networked or omnibus accounts), $11.00 per account for certain accounts established or maintained directly with the Fund pursuant to the networking system of the NSCC and certain other similar “networked” accounts, and for other omnibus accounts, the transfer agency fee was paid at an annual rate of 0.014% of the value of such accounts; prior to November 1, 2014, the Funds paid an annual transfer agency fee of $19.25 per account, payable monthly for all share classes except for Class I shares and Class Y shares; and prior to July 1, 2013, the Funds paid an annual transfer agency fee of $21.00 per account, payable monthly.
In addition to the per-account fee, the Funds pay the Transfer Agent a fee with respect to (a) Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R, Class R4, Class T, Class W and Class Z at the annual rate of 0.19% (0.20% prior to October 1, 2015) of the average aggregate value of shares maintained in omnibus accounts (other than omnibus accounts for which American Enterprise Investment Services Inc. is the broker of record or accounts where the beneficial owner is a customer of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., for which the transfer agent is reimbursed $16 annually, calculated monthly based on the total number of positions in which accounts at the end of such month) and (b) Class K and Class R5 shares of 0.05% of the average aggregate value of shares maintained in omnibus accounts, provided that total transfer agency fees for Class K and Class R5 shares, including reimbursements, shall not exceed 0.05%. (Neither Class I shares nor Class Y shares are subject to these fees relating to omnibus accounts.)
The Funds also pay certain reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses of the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent also may retain as additional compensation for its services revenues for fees for wire, telephone and redemption orders, IRA trustee agent fees and account transcripts due the Transfer Agent from Fund shareholders and credits (net of bank charges) earned with respect to balances in accounts the Transfer Agent maintains in connection with its services to the Funds. Transfer agency costs for each Fund are calculated separately for each of (i) Class K and Class R5 shares and (ii) all other share classes (except Class I and Class Y shares, which pay no transfer agency fees).
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The fees paid to the Transfer Agent may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.
The Transfer Agent retains BFDS/DST, 2000 Crown Colony Drive, Quincy, MA 02169 as the Funds’ sub-transfer agent. BFDS/DST assists the Transfer Agent in carrying out its duties.
Plan Administration Services
The Funds that offer Class K shares have a Plan Administration Services Agreement with the Transfer Agent. Under the agreement, the Funds pay an annual plan administration services fee for the provision of various administrative, recordkeeping, communication and educational services, including services such as implementation and conversion services, account set-up and maintenance, reconciliation and account recordkeeping, education services and administration to various plan types, including 529 plans, retirement plans and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). The fee for services is equal on an annual basis to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each Fund attributable to Class K shares. Prior to October 27, 2012, Class R4 shares were also subject to the Plan Administration Services Agreement and related fee.
The Custodian
The Funds' securities and cash are held pursuant to a custodian agreement with JPMorgan, 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10005. JPMorgan is responsible for safeguarding the Funds' cash and securities, receiving and delivering securities and collecting the Funds' interest and dividends. The custodian is permitted to deposit some or all of its securities in central depository systems as allowed by federal law. For its services, each Fund pays its custodian a maintenance charge and a charge per transaction in addition to reimbursing the custodian’s out-of-pocket expenses.
As part of this arrangement, securities purchased outside the United States are maintained in the custody of various foreign branches of JPMorgan or in other financial institutions as permitted by law and by the Funds' custodian agreement.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which is located at 225 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402, is the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm. The financial statements for series of CFST II for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012 or later, and for the series of CFST for the last five fiscal periods contained in each Fund’s Annual Report were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The financial statements for the series of CFST II for fiscal periods ended on or before July 31, 2012 were audited by the Funds’ former independent registered public accounting firm. The Board has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Funds' books and review their tax returns for their respective fiscal years.
The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and the audited financial statements are included in the annual report to shareholders of each Fund, and are incorporated herein by reference. No other parts of the annual or semi-annual reports to shareholders are incorporated by reference herein. The audited financial statements incorporated by reference into the Funds' prospectuses and this SAI have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, given on its authority as an expert in auditing and accounting.
Counsel
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP serves as counsel to the Independent Trustees of the Trusts. Its address is 1177 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036. Goodwin Procter LLP serves as legal counsel to the Trusts. Its address is 901 New York Avenue N.W., Washington, DC, 20001.
Board Services Corporation
The Funds have an agreement with Board Services located at 901 S. Marquette Avenue, Suite 2810, Minneapolis, MN 55402. This agreement sets forth the terms of Board Services’ responsibility to serve as an agent of the Funds for purposes of administering the payment of compensation to each Independent Trustee, to provide office space for use by the Funds and their Board, and to provide any other services to the Board or the Independent Trustees, as may be reasonably requested.
Expense Limitations
The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates have agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse certain expenses, subject to certain exclusions, so that certain Funds’ net operating expenses, after giving effect to fees waived/expenses reimbursed and any balance credits and/or overdraft charges from the Fund’s custodian, do not exceed specified rates for specified time periods, also as described in a Fund’s prospectus.
The tables below show the expenses reimbursed and fees waived by Investment Manager and its affiliates for the last three fiscal periods. The table is organized by fiscal year end.
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Expenses Reimbursed
  Amounts Reimbursed
  2015 2014 2013
For Funds with fiscal period ending January 31
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio $0 $2 $42,247
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio 0 0 0
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio 0 0 0
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio 0 0 172,293
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio 0 0 0
Global Strategic Equity Fund 0 0 376,520
Income Builder Fund 0 0 17,281
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Convertible Securities Fund 2,214,261 1,386,820 1,123,957
Global Equity Value Fund 0 46,438 586,764
International Opportunities Fund 23,439 0 0
International Value Fund (a) 89,781 274,239 1,437,231
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund 995,829 639,263 620,644
Large Cap Growth Fund II 0 0 131,463
Large Cap Growth Fund III 53,706 0 1,025,662
Large Cap Growth Fund V 0 0 2,313,639
Large Cap Index Fund 77,734 90,356 345,458
Mid Cap Index Fund 7,188,619 6,337,793 5,049,926
Mid Cap Value Fund 0 0 4
Overseas Value Fund 0 783,102 76,755
Select Global Growth Fund 101,593 90,302 78,204
Select International Equity Fund 69,562 0 68,963
Select Large Cap Equity Fund 279,840 278,009 284,624
Small Cap Index Fund 70,146 80,248 67,196
Small Cap Value Fund II 0 0 355,517
For Funds with fiscal period ending March 31
Short Term Bond Fund 1,925,395 2,030,139 2,911,218
For Funds with fiscal period ending April 30
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 711,618 651,807 683,493
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 196,116 221,483 226,902
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 207,608 244,382 282,544
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 308,313 321,351 370,983
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 239,755 265,033 283,518
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 355,377 431,935 523,516
Global Infrastructure Fund 0 0 0
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund 3,264,887 3,155,193 3,478,062
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
AP – Multi-Manager Value Fund 293,476 1,386,107 1,092,172
Commodity Strategy Fund 85,471 104,298 149,155
Diversified Equity Income Fund 1 156,136 1,515,231
Dividend Opportunity Fund 0 0 0
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  Amounts Reimbursed
  2015 2014 2013
Flexible Capital Income Fund $80,230 $227,197 $209,792
High Yield Bond Fund 147,188 0 115,435
Mortgage Opportunities Fund 348,741 42,035 (b) N/A
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund 770,888 842,083 896,928
Select Large-Cap Value Fund 189,566 402,411 369,622
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund 0 52,609 428,854
Seligman Communications and Information Fund 0 0 0
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund 0 59,768 990,435
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund 1,130,943 1,244,781 1,366,274
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund 207,506 191,952 195,063
Disciplined Core Fund 0 0 640,310
Disciplined Growth Fund 0 1,070 137,896
Disciplined Value Fund 65,160 146,833 410,400
Floating Rate Fund 162,326 97,497 72,956
Global Opportunities Fund 0 0 385,551
Income Opportunities Fund 1,138,782 1,157,436 695,144
Inflation Protected Securities Fund 799,875 729,928 755,565
Limited Duration Credit Fund 295,544 288,780 90,524
MN Tax-Exempt Fund 0 0 52,762
Money Market Fund 10,270,185 12,790,488 12,993,538
  2014 2013 2012
For Funds with fiscal period ending August 31
Large Cap Growth Fund IV 113 56,396 2,865
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund 42,771 135,327 253,058
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund 0 0 0
Emerging Markets Bond Fund 0 0 0
European Equity Fund 0 0 25,194
Global Bond Fund 412,555 497,635 483,448
Select Global Equity Fund 1 240,279 578,988
Seligman Global Technology Fund 0 210,904 442,372
(a) The expenses were reimbursed prior to December 14, 2013 at both the Master Portfolio- and Feeder Fund-levels; amounts shown above for the fiscal year ended 2013 and the fiscal period from March 1, 2013 to December 14, 2013, only include the portion paid at the Feeder Fund-level.
(b) For the period from April 30, 2014 (commencement of operations) to May 31, 2014.
Fees Waived
If a Fund is not shown, there were no fees waived for the relevant fiscal periods.
  Fees Waived
  2015 2014 2013
For Funds with fiscal period ending January 31
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio $25,362 N/A N/A
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund 211,973 $303,692 $465,755
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  Fees Waived
  2015 2014 2013
For Funds with fiscal period ending March 31
Short Term Bond Fund $226,913 $475,404 $542,582
For Funds with fiscal period ending April 30
Global Infrastructure Fund N/A 60,494 N/A
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
High Yield Bond Fund 47,055 141,329 15,861
Seligman Communications and Information Fund N/A 238,977 120,922
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31
Income Opportunities Fund 0 62,997 204,334
Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and Its Affiliates —
Certain Conflicts of Interest
As described above in the Investment Management and Other Services section of this SAI, and in the More Information About the Fund – Primary Service Providers section of each Fund's prospectus, the Investment Manager, Distributor and Transfer Agent, all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, receive compensation from the Funds for the various services they provide to the Funds. Additional information as to the specific terms regarding such compensation is set forth in these affiliated service providers’ contracts with the Funds, each of which typically is included as an exhibit to Part C of each Fund's registration statement.
In many instances, the compensation paid to the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates for the services they provide to the Funds is based, in some manner, on the size of the Funds' assets under management. As the size of the Funds' assets under management grows, so does the amount of compensation paid to the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates for providing services to the Funds. This relationship between Fund assets and affiliated service provider compensation may create economic and other conflicts of interests of which Fund investors should be aware. These potential conflicts of interest, as well as additional ones, are discussed in detail below and also are addressed in other disclosure materials, including the Funds' prospectuses. These conflicts of interest also are highlighted in account documentation and other disclosure materials of Ameriprise Financial affiliates that make available or offer the Columbia Funds as investments in connection with their respective products and services. In addition, Part 1A of the Investment Manager’s Form ADV, which it must file with the SEC as an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, provides information about the Investment Manager’s business, assets under management, affiliates and potential conflicts of interest. Parts 1A and 2 of the Investment Manager’s Form ADV are available online through the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Additional actual or potential conflicts of interest and certain investment activity limitations that could affect the Funds may arise from the financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including, for example, the investment advisory/management services provided for clients and customers other than the Funds. In this regard, Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company. Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates are engaged in a wide range of financial activities beyond the fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including, among others, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management, insurance and other financial activities. The broad range of financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates may involve multiple advisory, transactional, lending, financial and other interests in securities and other instruments, and in companies, that may be bought, sold or held by the Funds. The following describes certain actual and potential conflicts of interest that may be presented.
Actual and Potential Conflicts of Interest Related to the Investment Advisory/Management Activities of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates in Connection With Other Advised/Managed Funds and Accounts
The Investment Manager, Ameriprise Financial and other affiliates of Ameriprise Financial may advise or manage funds and accounts other than the Funds. In this regard, Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates may provide investment advisory/management and other services to other advised/managed funds and accounts that are similar to those provided to the Funds. The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial’s other investment adviser affiliates (including, for example, Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC) will give investment advice to and make investment decisions for advised/managed funds and accounts, including the Funds, as they believe to be in that fund’s and/or account’s best interests, consistent with their fiduciary duties. The Funds and the other advised/managed funds and accounts of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates are separately and potentially divergently managed, and there is no assurance that any investment advice Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates give to other advised/managed funds and accounts will also be given simultaneously or otherwise to the Funds.
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A variety of other actual and potential conflicts of interest may arise from the advisory relationships of the Investment Manager, Ameriprise Financial and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates with other clients and customers. Advice given to the Funds and/or investment decisions made for the Funds by the Investment Manager or other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may differ from, or may conflict with, advice given to and/or investment decisions made by the Investment Manager, Ameriprise Financial and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates for other advised/managed funds and accounts. As a result, the performance of the Funds may differ from the performance of other funds or accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager, Ameriprise Financial or other Ameriprise Financial affiliates. Similarly, a position taken by Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, on behalf of other funds or accounts may be contrary to a position taken on behalf of the Funds. Moreover, Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, may take a position on behalf of other advised/managed funds and accounts, or for their own proprietary accounts, that is adverse to companies or other issuers in which the Funds are invested. For example, the Funds may hold equity securities of a company while another advised/managed fund or account may hold debt securities of the same company. If the portfolio company were to experience financial difficulties, it might be in the best interest of the Funds for the company to reorganize while the interests of the other advised/managed fund or account might be better served by the liquidation of the company. This type of conflict of interest could arise as the result of circumstances that cannot be generally foreseen within the broad range of investment advisory/management activities in which Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates engage.
Investment transactions made on behalf of other funds or accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager, Ameriprise Financial or other Ameriprise Financial affiliates also may have a negative effect on the value, price or investment strategies of the Funds. For example, this could occur if another advised/managed fund or account implements an investment decision ahead of, or at the same time as, the Funds and causes the Funds to experience less favorable trading results than they otherwise would have experienced based on market liquidity factors. In addition, the other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager, Ameriprise Financial and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, including the other Columbia Funds and accounts of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, may have the same or very similar investment objective and strategies as the Funds. In this situation, the allocation of, and competition for, investment opportunities among the Funds and other funds and/or accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager, Ameriprise Financial or other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may create conflicts of interest especially where, for example, limited investment availability is involved. The Investment Manager has adopted policies and procedures designed to address the allocation of investment opportunities among the Funds and other funds and accounts advised by the Investment Manager, Ameriprise Financial and other affiliates of Ameriprise Financial. For more information, see Investment Management and Other Services – The Investment Manager and Subadvisers – Portfolio Managers – Potential Conflicts of Interest .
Sharing of Information among Advised/Managed Accounts
Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, also may possess information that could be material to the management of a Fund and may not be able to, or may determine not to, share that information with the Fund, even though the information might be beneficial to the Fund. This information may include actual knowledge regarding the particular investments and transactions of other advised/managed funds and accounts, as well as proprietary investment, trading and other market research, analytical and technical models, and new investment techniques, strategies and opportunities. Depending on the context, Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates generally will have no obligation to share any such information with the Funds. In general, employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the portfolio managers of the Investment Manager, will make investment decisions without regard to information otherwise known by other employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, and generally will have no obligation to access any such information and may, in some instances, not be able to access such information because of legal and regulatory constraints or the internal policies and procedures of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. For example, if the Investment Manager or another Ameriprise Financial affiliate, or their respective employees, come into possession of non-public information regarding another advised/managed fund or account, they may be prohibited by legal and regulatory constraints, or internal policies and procedures, from using that information in connection with transactions made on behalf of the Funds. For more information, see Investment Management and Other Services – The Investment Manager and Subadvisers – Portfolio Managers – Potential Conflicts of Interest .
Soft Dollar Benefits
Certain products and services, commonly referred to as “soft dollar services” (including, to the extent permitted by law, research reports, economic and financial data, financial publications, proxy analysis, computer databases and other research-oriented materials), that the Investment Manager may receive in connection with brokerage services provided to a Fund may have the inadvertent effect of disproportionately benefiting other advised/managed funds or accounts. This could happen because of the relative amount of brokerage services provided to a Fund as compared to other advised/managed funds or accounts, as well as the relative compensation paid by a Fund.
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Services Provided to Other Advised/Managed Accounts
Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, Distributor and Transfer Agent, also may act as an investment adviser, investment manager, administrator, transfer agent, custodian, trustee, broker-dealer, agent, or in another capacity, for advised/managed funds and accounts other than the Funds, and may receive compensation for acting in such capacity. This compensation that the Investment Manager, Distributor and Transfer Agent, and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates receive could be greater than the compensation Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates receive for acting in the same or similar capacity for the Funds. In addition, the Investment Manager, Distributor and Transfer Agent, and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may receive other benefits, including enhancement of new or existing business relationships. This compensation and/or the benefits that Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates may receive from other advised/managed funds and accounts and other relationships could potentially create incentives to favor other advised/managed funds and accounts over the Funds. Trades made by Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates for the Funds may be, but are not required to be, aggregated with trades made for other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates. If trades are aggregated among the Funds and those other funds and accounts, the various prices of the securities being traded may be averaged, which could have the potential effect of disadvantaging the Funds as compared to the other funds and accounts with which trades were aggregated.
Proxy Voting
The Investment Manager has adopted proxy voting policies and procedures that are designed to provide that all proxy voting is done in the best interests of its clients, including the Funds, without any resulting benefit or detriment to the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Although the Investment Manager endeavors to make all proxy voting decisions with respect to the interests of the Funds for which it is responsible in accordance with its proxy voting policies and procedures, the Investment Manager’s proxy voting decisions with respect to a Fund’s portfolio securities may or may not benefit other advised/managed funds and accounts, and/or clients, of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. For more information about the Funds' proxy voting policies and procedures, see Investment Management and Other Services – Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures .
Certain Trading Activities
The directors/trustees, officers and employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts, and in doing so may take a position that is adverse to the Funds. In order to reduce the possibility that such personal investment activities of the directors/trustees, officers and employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates will materially adversely affect the Funds, Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates have adopted policies and procedures, and the Funds, the Board, the Investment Manager and the Distributor have each adopted a Code of Ethics that addresses such personal investment activities. For more information, see Investment Management and Other Services – Codes of Ethics .
Affiliate Transactions
Subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements, a Fund may enter into transactions in which Ameriprise Financial and/or its affiliates, or companies that are deemed to be affiliates of a Fund because of, among other factors, their or their affiliates’ ownership or control of shares of the Fund, may have an interest that potentially conflicts with the interests of the Fund. For example, an affiliate of Ameriprise Financial may sell securities to a Fund from an offering in which it is an underwriter or that it owns as a dealer, subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Applicable legal and regulatory requirements also may prevent a Fund from engaging in transactions with an affiliate of the Fund, which may include Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, or from participating in an investment opportunity in which an affiliate of a Fund participates.
Certain Investment Limitations
Regulatory and other restrictions may limit a Fund’s investment activities in various ways. For example, certain securities may be subject to ownership limitations due to regulatory limits on investments in certain industries (such as, for example, banking and insurance) and markets (such as emerging or international markets), or certain transactions (such as those involving certain derivatives or other instruments) or mechanisms imposed by certain issuers (such as, among others, poison pills). Certain of these restrictions may impose limits on the aggregate amount of investments that may be made by affiliated investors in the aggregate or in individual issuers. In these circumstances, the Investment Manager may be prevented from acquiring securities for a Fund (that it might otherwise prefer to acquire) if the acquisition would cause the Fund and its affiliated investors to exceed an applicable limit. These types of regulatory and other applicable limits are complex and vary significantly in different contexts including, among others, from country to country, industry to industry and issuer to issuer. The Investment Manager has policies and procedures designed to monitor and interpret these limits. Nonetheless, given the complexity of these limits, the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates may inadvertently breach these limits, and a Fund may therefore be required to sell securities that it might otherwise prefer to hold in order to comply with such limits. In addition, aggregate ownership limitations could cause performance dispersion among funds and accounts managed by the Investment Manager with similar investment objectives and
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strategies and portfolio management teams. For example, if further purchases in an issuer are restricted due to regulatory or other reasons, a portfolio manager would not be able to acquire securities or other assets of an issuer for a new Fund that may already be held by other funds and accounts with the same/similar investment objectives and strategies that are managed by the same portfolio management team. The Investment Manager may also choose to limit purchases in an issuer to a certain threshold for risk management purposes. If the holdings of the Investment Manager’s affiliates are included in that limitation, a Fund may be more limited in its ability to purchase a particular security or other asset than if the holdings of the Investment Manager’s affiliates had been excluded from the limitation. At certain times, a Fund may be restricted in its investment activities because of relationships that an affiliate of the Fund, which may include Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, may have with the issuers of securities. This could happen, for example, if a Fund desired to buy a security issued by a company for which Ameriprise Financial or an affiliate serves as underwriter. In any of these scenarios, a Fund’s inability to participate (or participate further) in a particular investment, despite a portfolio manager’s desire to so participate, may negatively impact Fund performance. The internal policies and procedures of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates covering these types of restrictions and addressing similar issues also may at times restrict a Fund’s investment activities. See also About Fund Investments – Certain Investment Activity Limits .
Actual and Potential Conflicts of Interest Related to Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates’ Non-Advisory Relationships with Clients and Customers other than the Funds
The financial relationships that Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates may have with companies and other entities in which a Fund may invest can give rise to actual and potential conflicts of interest. Subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements, a Fund may invest (a) in the securities of Ameriprise Financial and/or its affiliates and/or in companies in which Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates have an equity, debt or other interest, and/or (b) in the securities of companies held by other Columbia Funds. The purchase, holding and sale of such securities by a Fund may enhance the profitability and the business interests of Ameriprise Financial and/or its affiliates and/or other Columbia Funds. There also may be limitations as to the sharing with the Investment Manager of information derived from the non-investment advisory/management activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates because of legal and regulatory constraints and internal policies and procedures (such as information barriers and ethical walls). Because of these limitations, Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates generally will not share information derived from its non-investment advisory/management activities with the Investment Manager.
Actual and Potential Conflicts of Interest Related to Ameriprise Financial Affiliates’ Marketing and Use of the Columbia Funds as Investment Options
Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates also provide a variety of products and services that, in some manner, may utilize the Columbia Funds as investment options. For example, the Columbia Funds may be offered as investments in connection with brokerage and other securities products offered by Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, and may be utilized as investments in connection with fiduciary, investment management and other accounts offered by affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, as well as for other Columbia Funds structured as “funds-of-funds.” The use of the Columbia Funds in connection with other products and services offered by Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates may introduce economic and other conflicts of interest. These conflicts of interest are highlighted in account documentation and other disclosure materials for the other products and services offered by Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates.
Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, may, subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements, make payments to their affiliates in connection with the promotion and sale of the Funds' shares, in addition to the sales-related and other compensation that these parties may receive from the Funds, if any. As a general matter, personnel of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates do not receive compensation in connection with their sales or use of the Funds that is greater than that paid in connection with their sales of other comparable products and services. Nonetheless, because the compensation that the Investment Manager and other affiliates of Ameriprise Financial may receive for providing services to the Funds is generally based on the Funds' assets under management and those assets will grow as shares of the Funds are sold, potential conflicts of interest may exist. See Other Practices – Additional Shareholder Servicing Payments and Additional Selling Agent Payments for more information.
Codes of Ethics
The Funds, the Investment Manager, the subadvisers and the Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to the requirements of the 1940 Act, including Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. These Codes of Ethics permit personnel subject to the Codes of Ethics to invest in securities, including securities that may be bought or held by the Funds. These Codes of Ethics are included as exhibits to Part C of the Funds' registration statement. These Codes of Ethics can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room and may be obtained by calling the SEC at 202.551.8090; they also are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request to publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
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Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
General. The Funds have delegated to the Investment Manager the responsibility to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Funds, including Funds managed by subadvisers.
The Investment Manager votes proxies relating to portfolio securities in accordance with a proxy voting policy and pre-determined proxy voting guidelines adopted by the Board. The Funds endeavor to vote all proxies of which they become aware prior to the vote deadline; provided, however, that in certain circumstances the Funds may refrain from voting securities. For instance, the Funds may refrain from voting foreign securities if the costs of voting outweigh the expected benefits of voting and typically will not vote securities if voting would impose trading restrictions.
Board Oversight and Retention of Proxy Voting Authority. The Board may, in its discretion, vote proxies for the Funds. For instance, the Board may determine to vote on matters that may present a material conflict of interest to the Investment Manager.
The Board reviews on an annual basis, or more frequently as determined appropriate, the Investment Manager’s administration of the proxy voting process and its adherence to the approved guidelines.
Voting Guidelines. The Investment Manager and Board will generally vote in accordance with pre-determined voting guidelines adopted by the Board. The voting guidelines indicate whether to vote for, against or abstain from particular proposals, or whether the matter should be considered on a case-by-case basis. A committee within the Investment Manager (the Proxy Voting Committee), which is composed of representatives of the Investment Manager’s equity investments, equity research, compliance, legal and operations functions, may determine to vote differently from the guidelines on particular proposals in the event it determines that doing so is in the clients’ best economic interests. The Board may also determine to vote differently from the guidelines on particular proposals in the event it determines that doing so is appropriate and in the Funds’ interests. The Investment Manager and the Board may also consider the voting recommendations of analysts, portfolio managers, subadvisers and information obtained from outside resources, including one or more third party research providers. When proposals are not covered by the voting guidelines or a voting determination must be made on a case-by-case basis, a portfolio manager, subadviser or analyst will make the voting determination based on his or her determination of the clients’ best economic interests. In addition, the Proxy Voting Committee or Board may determine proxy votes when proposals require special consideration.
On an annual basis, or more frequently as determined necessary, the Board reviews recommendations to revise the existing guidelines or add new guidelines. Recommendations are based on, among other things, industry trends and the frequency that similar proposals appear on company ballots.
Addressing Conflicts of Interest. If the Investment Manager is subject to a potential material conflict of interest with respect to a proxy vote, the Board will vote the proxy by administering the guidelines or determining the vote on a case-by-case basis. If the Board determines that its members may be subject to a potential material conflict of interest with respect to a proxy vote, the member is asked to recuse himself or herself from the determination.
Voting Proxies of Affiliated Underlying Funds. Certain Funds may invest in shares of other Columbia Funds (referred to in this context as “underlying funds”) and may own substantial portions of these underlying funds. If such Funds are in a master-feeder structure, the feeder fund will either seek instructions from its shareholders with regard to the voting of proxies with respect to the master fund’s shares and vote such proxies in accordance with such instructions or vote the shares held by it in the same proportion as the vote of all other master fund shareholders. With respect to Funds that hold shares of underlying funds other than in a master-feeder structure, the proxy policy of the Funds is, in general, to ensure that direct public shareholders of underlying funds control the outcome of any shareholder vote. To help manage this potential conflict of interest, the policy of the Funds is to vote proxies of the underlying funds in the same proportion as the vote of the direct public shareholders; provided, however, that if there are no direct public shareholders of an underlying fund or if direct public shareholders represent only a minority interest in an underlying fund, the Fund may cast votes in accordance with instructions from the independent members of the Board.
Proxy Voting Agents. The Investment Manager has retained Institutional Shareholder Services Inc., a third party vendor, as its proxy voting administrator to implement the Funds’ proxy voting process and to provide recordkeeping and vote disclosure services. The Investment Manager has retained both Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. and Glass-Lewis & Co. to provide proxy research services.
Additional Information. Information regarding how the Columbia Funds (except certain Columbia Funds that do not invest in voting securities) voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve month period ended June 30 will be available by August 31 of this year free of charge: (i) through the Columbia Funds’ website at www.columbiathreadneedle.com/us and (ii) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. For a copy of the voting guidelines in effect on the date of this SAI, see Appendix B to this SAI.
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Organization and Management of Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries
Commodity Strategy Fund (for purposes of this section, referred to as a “Fund”) may invest a portion of its assets, within the limitations of Subchapter M and Section 817(h) of the Code, as applicable, in one or more of its wholly-owned subsidiaries (previously defined collectively as the “Subsidiary”). The Subsidiary is a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, whose registered office is located at P.O. Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman Islands.
The Subsidiary is overseen by its own board of directors and is not registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund, as the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary, does not have all of the protections offered by the 1940 Act to shareholders of investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. However, the Fund’s Board maintains oversight responsibility for investment activities of the Subsidiary generally as if the Subsidiary’s investments were held directly by the Fund. The Investment Manager and the Fund’s subadvisers are responsible for the Subsidiary’s day-to-day business pursuant to their separate agreements with, or in respect of, the Subsidiary. The following individuals serve as a director of the Subsidiary:
Name, address, year of birth Position held with Subsidiary
and length of service
Principal occupation during past five years
Anthony P. Haugen
807 Ameriprise
Financial Center,
Minneapolis, MN 55474-2405
Born 1964
Director since
November 2013
Vice President – Finance, Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
since June 2004
Amy K. Johnson
5228 Ameriprise
Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474-2405
Born 1965
Director since
November 2013
See Fund Governance – Fund Officers .
Christopher O. Petersen
5228 Ameriprise
Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474-2405
Born 1970
Director since
January 2015
See Fund Governance – Fund Officers .
The Subsidiary has entered into separate contracts for the provision of advisory, administrative and custody services with the same service providers who provide those services to the Fund. Threadneedle selects the Subsidiary’s investments pursuant to an addendum to the subadvisory agreement with the Investment Manager. The Subsidiary has also entered into arrangements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as the Subsidiary’s independent registered public accounting firm. Financial statements prior to August 31, 2012 were audited by the Subsidiary’s former independent registered public accounting firm. Each Subsidiary will bear the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the services that it receives pursuant to those agreements and arrangements. The Fund expects that the expenses borne by the Subsidiary will not be material in relation of the value of the Fund’s assets.
For purposes of adhering to the Fund’s compliance policies and procedures, the Investment Manager will treat the assets of the Subsidiary generally as if the assets were held directly by the Fund. The Chief Compliance Officer makes periodic reports to the Fund’s Board regarding the management and operations of the Subsidiary.
The financial information of the Subsidiary is consolidated into the Fund’s financial statements, as contained within the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports provided to shareholders.
Please refer to the section titled “ Taxation – The Subsidiary ” for information about certain tax considerations relating to the Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary.
Changes in U.S. laws and/or the laws of the Cayman Islands could prevent the Fund and/or the Subsidiary from operating as described in the Fund’s prospectus and this SAI, and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders. For example, Cayman Islands laws currently do not impose certain taxes on the Subsidiary, including any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax. If Cayman Islands laws were changed to require the Subsidiary to pay Cayman Islands taxes, the investment returns of the Fund would likely decrease.
By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The derivatives and other investments held by the Subsidiary are subject to the same risks that would apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund. The Subsidiary is subject to the same principal risk that the Fund is subject to (which are described in the Fund’s prospectus). There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act and, except as otherwise noted, is not subject to the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Fund and the Subsidiary are both managed by the
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Investment Manager, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund’s Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Fund’s role as sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. In managing the Subsidiary’s investment portfolio, the Investment Manager will manage the Subsidiary’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the applicable prospectus and this SAI and could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. For example, the Cayman Islands laws currently do not impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law were changed and the Subsidiary was required to pay Cayman Islands taxes, the investment returns of the Fund would likely decrease.
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FUND GOVERNANCE
Board of Trustees and Officers
Shareholders elect the Board that oversees the Funds' operations. The Board appoints officers who are responsible for day-to-day business decisions based on policies set by the Board. The following table provides basic biographical information about the Funds' Trustees as of the date of this SAI, including their principal occupations during the past five years, although specific titles for individuals may have varied over the period. Under current Board policy, members may serve through the end of the calendar year in which he or she reaches either the mandatory retirement age established by the Board or the fifteenth anniversary of the first Board meeting they attended as a member of the Board.
Trustees
Independent Trustees
Name, address,
year of birth
Position held
with Funds and
length of service
Principal occupation(s)
during past five years
and other relevant
professional experience
Number
of funds
in the
Fund
Family
overseen
by Board
member
Other present or past
directorships/trusteeships
(within past 5 years)
Committee
memberships
Kathleen Blatz
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
1954
Board member since 1/06 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds Attorney, specializing in arbitration and mediation; Chief Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, 1998-2006; Associate Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, 1996-1998; Fourth Judicial District Court Judge, Hennepin County, 1994-1996; Attorney in private practice and public service, 1984-1993; State Representative, Minnesota House of Representatives, 1979-1993, which included service on the Tax and Financial Institutions and Insurance Committees 127 Trustee, BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota (Chair of the Business Development Committee) since 2009; Chair of the Robina Foundation since August 2013 Board Governance, Compliance, Contracts, Executive, Investment Review
Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
1944
Board member since 6/11 for RiverSource Funds and since 1/05 for Nations Funds Managing Director, E.J. Boudreau & Associates (consulting) since 2000; FINRA Industry Arbitrator, 2002 – present; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John Hancock Funds (asset management), Chairman and Interested Trustee for open-end and closed-end funds offered by John Hancock, 1989-2000; John Hancock Life Insurance Company, including SVP and Treasurer and SVP Information Technology, 1968-1988 125 Former Trustee, BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds), 2005-2011; Trustee, Boston Museum of Science (Chair of Finance Committee), 1985-2013 Audit, Compliance, Executive, Investment Review
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Name, address,
year of birth
Position held
with Funds and
length of service
Principal occupation(s)
during past five years
and other relevant
professional experience
Number
of funds
in the
Fund
Family
overseen
by Board
member
Other present or past
directorships/trusteeships
(within past 5 years)
Committee
memberships
Pamela G. Carlton
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
1954
Board member since 7/07 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds President, Springboard- Partners in Cross Cultural Leadership (consulting company) since 2003; Managing Director of US Equity Research, JP Morgan Chase, 1999-2003; Director of US Equity Research, Chase Asset Management, 1996- 1999; Co-Director Latin America Research, 1993-1996, COO Global Research, 1992-1996, Co-Director of US Research, 1991-1992, Investment Banker, Morgan Stanley, 1982-1991 127 None Audit, Investment Review
William P. Carmichael
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
1943
Board member since 6/11 for RiverSource Funds and since 2003 for Nations Funds, Chair of the Board from 1/14-11/15 Retired; Co-founder, The Succession Fund (provides exit strategies to owners of privately held companies), 1998-2007; Adjunct Professor of Finance, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, 1993-2007; Senior Vice President, Sara Lee Corporation, 1991-1993; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Beatrice Foods Company, 1984-1990; Vice President, Esmark, Inc., 1973-1984; Associate, Price Waterhouse, 1968-1972 127 Director, Cobra Electronics Corporation (electronic equipment manufacturer), 1994-August 2014; Director, The Finish Line (athletic shoes and apparel) since July 2003; Director, International Textile Corp. since 2012; former Director, McMoRan Exploration Company (oil and gas exploration and development) 2010-2013; former Trustee, BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds) 2009-2011; Director, Spectrum Brands, Inc. (consumer products), 2002-2009; Director, Simmons Company (bedding), 2004-2010 Board Governance, Compliance, Contracts, Executive, Investment Review
Patricia M. Flynn
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
1950
Board member since 11/04 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds Trustee Professor of Economics and Management, Bentley University since 1976 (also teaches and conducts research on corporate governance); Dean, McCallum Graduate School of Business, Bentley University, 1992-2002 127 Trustee, MA Taxpayers Foundation since 1997; Board of Governors, Innovation Institute, MA Technology Collaborative since 2010 Audit, Compliance, Investment Review
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Name, address,
year of birth
Position held
with Funds and
length of service
Principal occupation(s)
during past five years
and other relevant
professional experience
Number
of funds
in the
Fund
Family
overseen
by Board
member
Other present or past
directorships/trusteeships
(within past 5 years)
Committee
memberships
William A. Hawkins
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
1942
Chair of the Board since 11/15, Board member since 6/11 for RiverSource Funds and since 1/05 for Nations Funds Managing Director, Overton Partners (financial consulting), since August 2010; President and Chief Executive Officer, California General Bank, N.A., January 2008-August 2010; Operation Hope, COO, 2004-2007; IndyMac Bancorp, President, CBG, 1999-2003; American General Bank, President, 1997-1999; Griffin Financial Services, CEO, 1981-1997; The Griffin Funds, CEO, 1992-1998 127 Trustee, BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds) Audit, Executive, Compliance, Investment Review
R. Glenn Hilliard
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
1943
Board member since 6/11 for RiverSource Funds and since 1/05 for Nations Funds Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hilliard Group LLC (investing and consulting) since April 2003; Non-Executive Director & Chairman, CNO Financial Group, Inc. (insurance), 2003 – 2011; Chair & CEO, ING Americas, 1996-2003 125 Chairman, BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds); former Director, CNO Financial Group, Inc. (insurance) 2003-2011 Board Governance, Contracts, Investment Review
Catherine James Paglia
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
1952
Board member since 11/04 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds Director, Enterprise Asset Management, Inc. (private real estate and asset management company) since September 1998; Managing Director and Partner, Interlaken Capital, Inc., 1989-1997; Managing Director, Morgan Stanley, 1982-1989; Vice President, Investment Banking, 1980-1982, Associate, Investment Banking, 1976-1980, Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc. 127 Director, Valmont Industries, Inc. (irrigation systems manufacturer) since 2012; Trustee, Carleton College (on the Investment Committee); Trustee, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (on the Investment Committee) Board Governance, Contracts, Executive, Investment Review
Leroy C. Richie
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
1941
Board member since 2000 for Seligman Funds, since 11/08 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds Counsel, Lewis & Munday, P.C. (law firm) since 2004; Vice President and General Counsel, Automotive Legal Affairs, Chrysler Corporation, 1993-1997 127 Lead Outside Director, Digital Ally, Inc. (digital imaging) since September 2005; Lead Outside Director, Infinity Resources, Inc. (oil and gas exploration and production) since 1994; Director, OGE Energy Corp. (energy and energy services), 2007-2014; Trustee, Marygrove College (Chair of Finance Committee), since 2007 Contracts, Compliance, Investment Review
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Name, address,
year of birth
Position held
with Funds and
length of service
Principal occupation(s)
during past five years
and other relevant
professional experience
Number
of funds
in the
Fund
Family
overseen
by Board
member
Other present or past
directorships/trusteeships
(within past 5 years)
Committee
memberships
Minor M. Shaw
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
1947
Board member since 6/11 for RiverSource Funds and since 2003 for Nations Funds President, Micco LLC (private investments) since 2011; President, Micco Corp. (family investment business), 1998-2011 125 Director, Piedmont Natural Gas; Director, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina since April 2008; Chair of the Duke Endowment; Director, National Association of Corporate Directors, Carolinas Chapter, since 2013; Chair of Greenville – Spartanburg Airport Commission; former Trustee, BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds), 2003-2011 Board Governance, Contracts, Investment Review
Alison Taunton-Rigby
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
1944
Board member since 11/02 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds Managing Director, Forester Biotech (consulting), 2001 - 2003; Chief Executive Officer and Director, RiboNovix, Inc., (biotechnology), 2003-2010; President and Chief Executive Officer of CMT Inc., 2001-2003; Aquila Biopharmaceuticals Inc., 1996-2000; Cambridge Biotech Corporation, 1995-1996, Mitotix Inc., 1993-1994 127 Director, Healthways, Inc. (health and well-being solutions) since 2005; Director, ICI Mutual Insurance Company, since 2011; Director, Abt Associates (government contractor) since 2001; Director, Boston Children’s Hospital since 2002 Board Governance, Audit, Investment Review
Interested Trustee Not Affiliated with Investment Manager*
Name, address,
year of birth
Position held
with funds and
length of service
Principal occupation(s)
during past five years
and other relevant
professional experience
Number of
funds in the
Fund Family
overseen by
Board member
Other present or past
directorships/trusteeships
(within past 5 years)
Committee
memberships
Anthony M. Santomero
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
1946
Board member since 6/11 for RiverSource Funds and since 1/08 for Nations Funds Richard K. Mellon Professor Emeritus of Finance, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, since 2002; Senior Advisor, McKinsey & Company (consulting), 2006-2008; President, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, 2000-2006, Professor of Finance, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 1972-2002 125 Director, Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. since May 2008; Trustee, Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company since March 2008; Director, Citigroup Inc. since 2009; Director, Citibank, N.A. since 2009; former Trustee, BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds), 2008-2011 Compliance, Executive, Investment Review
* Dr. Santomero is not an affiliated person of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial. However, he is currently deemed by the Funds to be an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds because he serves as a Director of Citigroup Inc. and Citibank, N.A., companies that may directly or through subsidiaries and affiliates engage from time-to-time in brokerage execution, principal transactions and lending relationships with the Funds or accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager.
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Interested Trustee Affiliated with Investment Manager*
Name, address,
year of birth
Position held
with funds and
length of service
Principal occupation
during past five years
Number of
funds in the
Fund Family
overseen by
Board member
Other present or past
directorships/trusteeships
(within past 5 years)
Committee
memberships
William F. Truscott
53600 Ameriprise
Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474
1960
Board member since 11/01 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds; Senior Vice President since 2002 for RiverSource Funds and since 5/10 for Nations Funds Chairman of the Board and President, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC since May 2010 and February 2012, respectively (previously President and Chief Investment Officer, 2001 - April 2010); Chief Executive Officer, Global Asset Management, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since September 2012 (previously Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Asset Management & President, Annuities, May 2010 - September 2012 and President – U.S. Asset Management and Chief Investment Officer, 2005 - April 2010); Director and Chief Executive Officer, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. since May 2010 and February 2012, respectively (previously Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, 2006 - April 2010); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, RiverSource Distributors, Inc. since 2006; Director, Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings, SARL since 2014; President and Chief Executive Officer, Ameriprise Certificate Company, 2006 - August 2012. 187 Former Director, Ameriprise Certificate Company, 2006 - January 2013 None
* Interested person (as defined under the 1940 Act) by reason of being an officer, director, security holder and/or employee of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial.
The Officers
The Board has appointed officers who are responsible for day-to-day business decisions based on policies it has established. The officers serve at the pleasure of the Board. The following table provides basic information about the Officers or the Trust as of the date of this SAI, including principal occupations during the past five years, although their specific titles may have varied over the period. In addition to Mr. Truscott, who is Senior Vice President, the Funds' other officers are:
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Fund Officers
Name, Address
and Year of Birth
Position and Year
First Appointed to
Position for any Fund in the
Columbia Funds Complex
or a Predecessor Thereof
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
Christopher O. Petersen
5228 Ameriprise Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474
Born 1970
President and Principal Executive Officer (2015) Vice President and Lead Chief Counsel, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since January 2015 (previously, Vice President and Chief Counsel January 2010 – December 2014; and Vice President and Group Counsel or Counsel 2004 - January 2010); officer of Columbia Funds and affiliated funds since 2007.
Michael G. Clarke
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Born 1969
Treasurer (2011), Chief Financial Officer (2009) and Chief Accounting Officer (2015) Vice President – Mutual Fund Administration, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, since May 2010; Managing Director of Fund Administration, Columbia Management Advisors, LLC, September 2004 - April 2010; senior officer of Columbia Funds and affiliated funds since 2002.
Paul B. Goucher
100 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Born 1968
Senior Vice President (2011), Chief Legal Officer (2015) and Assistant Secretary (2008) Vice President and Lead Chief Counsel, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since November 2008 and January 2013, respectively (previously Chief Counsel, January 2010 - January 2013 and Group Counsel, November 2008 - January 2010).
Thomas P. McGuire
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Born 1972
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer (2012) Vice President – Asset Management Compliance, Ameriprise Financial, Inc., since May 2010; Chief Compliance Officer, Ameriprise Certificate Company since September 2010; Compliance Executive, Bank of America, 2005 - April 2010.
Colin Moore
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Born 1958
Senior Vice President (2010) Executive Vice President and Global Chief Investment Officer, Ameriprise Financial, Inc., since July 2013; Director and Global Chief Investment Officer, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC since May 2010; Manager, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Columbia Management Advisors, LLC, 2007 - April 2010.
Michael E. DeFao
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Born 1968
Vice President (2011) and Assistant Secretary (2010) Vice President and Chief Counsel, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since May 2010; Associate General Counsel, Bank of America, 2005 - April 2010.
Amy Johnson
5228 Ameriprise Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474
Born 1965
Vice President (2006) Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC since May 2010 (previously Chief Administrative Officer, 2009 - April 2010, and Vice President – Asset Management and Trust Company Services, 2006 - 2009).
Lyn Kephart-Strong
5228 Ameriprise Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474
Born 1960
Vice President (2015) President, Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. since October 2014; Vice President & Resolution Officer, Ameriprise Trust Company since August 2009; President, RiverSource Service Corporation 2004-2010.
Ryan C. Larrenaga
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Born 1970
Vice President and Secretary (2015) Vice President and Group Counsel, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since August 2011 (previously, Counsel from May 2010 to August 2011); Assistant General Counsel, Bank of America, 2005 - April 2010; officer of Columbia Funds and affiliated funds since 2005.
Responsibilities of Board with respect to Fund management
The Board is chaired by an Independent Trustee who has significant additional responsibilities compared to the other Board members, including, among other things: setting the agenda for Board meetings, communicating and meeting regularly with Board members between Board and committee meetings on Fund-related matters with the Funds' Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), counsel to the Independent Trustees, and representatives of the Funds' service providers and overseeing Board Services.
The Board initially approves an investment management services agreement and other contracts with the Investment Manager and its affiliates, and other service providers. Once the contracts are approved, the Board monitors the level and quality of services including commitments of service providers to achieve expected levels of investment performance and shareholder services. Annually, the Board evaluates the services received under the contracts by reviewing, among other things, reports
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covering investment performance, shareholder services, marketing, and the Investment Manager’s profitability in order to determine whether to continue existing contracts or negotiate new contracts. The Investment Manager is responsible for day-to-day management and administration of the Funds and management of the risks that arise from the Funds' investments and operations. The Board’s oversight of the Investment Manager and other service providers in the operation of the Funds includes oversight with respect to various risk management functions. The Funds are subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational, and valuation risks, among others. Day-to-day risk management functions are subsumed within the responsibilities of the Investment Manager, the subadvisers and other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) who carry out the Funds' investment management and business affairs. Each of the Investment Manager, the subadvisers and other service providers has its own, independent interest in risk management, and its policies and methods of carrying out risk management functions will depend, in part, on its analysis of the risks, functions and business models.
Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Funds and is addressed as part of various Board and Committee activities. As part of its regular oversight of the trusts, the Board, directly or through a committee, interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, the Investment Manager, subadvisers, the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds, and internal auditors for the Investment Manager or its affiliates, as appropriate, regarding risks faced by the Funds and relevant risk functions. The Board also meets periodically with the Funds' CCO, to receive reports regarding the compliance of the Funds and their principal service providers with the federal securities laws and their internal compliance policies and procedures. The Board, with the assistance of the Investment Review Committee, reviews investment policies in connection with its review of the Funds' performance, and meets periodically with the portfolio managers of the Funds to receive reports regarding the management of the Funds, including various investment risks. As part of the Board’s periodic review of the Funds' advisory, subadvisory and other service provider agreements, as applicable, the Board may consider risk management aspects of their operations and the functions for which they are responsible. In addition, the Board oversees processes that are in place to assure compliance with applicable rules, regulations and investment policies and addresses possible conflicts of interest.
The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified in advance; that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks; that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as various investment-related risks) in seeking to achieve the Funds' investment objectives; and that the processes and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to substantial limitations.
Trustee Biographical Information and Qualifications
The following provides an overview of the considerations that led the Board to conclude that each individual serving as a Trustee should so serve. Generally, no one factor was decisive in the selection of an individual to join the Board. Among the factors the Board considered when concluding that an individual should serve on the Board were the following: (i) the individual’s business and professional experience and accomplishments; (ii) the individual’s ability to work effectively with the other Trustees; (iii) the individual’s prior experience, if any, serving on the boards of public companies (including, where relevant, other investment companies) and other enterprises and organizations; and (iv) how the individual’s skills, experience and attributes would contribute to an appropriate mix of relevant skills and experience on the Board.
In respect of each current Trustee, the individual’s substantial professional accomplishments and experience were a significant factor in the determination that, in light of the business and structure of the Funds, the individual should serve as a Trustee. Following is a summary of each Trustee’s particular professional experience and additional considerations that contributed to or support the Board’s conclusion that an individual should serve as a Trustee:
Kathleen Blatz – Ms. Blatz has had a successful legal and judicial career, including serving for eight years as Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Prior to being a judge, she practiced law and also served in the Minnesota House of Representatives having been elected to eight terms. While in the legislature she served on various committees, including the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee and the Tax Committee. Since retiring from the Bench, she has been appointed as an arbitrator on many cases involving business to business disputes, including some pertaining to shareholder rights issues. She also has been appointed to two Special Litigation Committees by boards of Fortune 500 Companies to investigate issues relating to cyber-security and stock options. She serves on the boards of directors of BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota as well as several non-profit organizations.
Edward J. Boudreau, Jr. – Prior to the establishment of E. J. Boudreau & Associates, Mr. Boudreau left a successful 32-year career at John Hancock Financial Services, the last 11 years of which he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the John Hancock Funds. He spent the first 18 years of his career at John Hancock in its treasury and financial management areas, progressing to Senior Vice President and Treasurer. During his time as CEO of John Hancock, Mr. Boudreau also served on the Investment Company Institute’s Board of Governors. He also has experience on other boards of directors of other companies. He is currently a member of the Advisory Board to the Mutual Fund Directors Forum and serves as a FINRA Industry Arbitrator.
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Pamela G. Carlton – Ms. Carlton has over 20 years’ experience in the investment banking industry, as a former Managing Director of JP Morgan Chase and a 14-year veteran of Morgan Stanley Investment Banking and Equity Research. She is currently the President of Springboard Partners in Cross Cultural Leadership, a consulting firm that she founded. She also has experience on other boards of directors of non-profit organizations.
William P. Carmichael – Prior to forming The Succession Fund more than 15 years ago, Mr. Carmichael, a Certified Public Accountant and attorney, had 4 years of experience with Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP) and 21 years of experience in various financial positions with global consumer product companies, including: Senior Vice President of Sara Lee Corporation and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Beatrice Foods Company. He has been Treasurer and Chairman of the Investment Committee for the Indiana University Foundation, and has been an adjunct professor of finance for the I.U. Kelley School of Business. Mr. Carmichael has also been a member of the board and the Investment Committee of the Virginia Law School Foundation, and has served on numerous public company boards. His experience covers strategic planning, corporate governance and multiple financial functions, including investments.
Patricia M. Flynn – Dr. Flynn is a Trustee Professor of Economics and Management at Bentley University, where she previously served as Dean of the McCallum Graduate School of Business. Her research and teaching focus on technology-based economic development, corporate governance and women in business, which she has also written on extensively. She has served on numerous corporate and non-profit boards, including Boston Fed Bancorp Inc., U.S. Trust and The Federal Savings Bank.
William A. Hawkins – Mr. Hawkins has been a Managing Director of Overton Partners, a financial consulting firm for over 15 years. He has over thirty years of executive level experience in the banking and financial services industry, including serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of California General Bank, N.A., President of IndyMac Bancorp and President and Chief Operating Officer of American General Bank, FSB. He also served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Griffin Financial Services of America Inc., an asset management firm. He also has experience on other boards of directors, including boards of other investment companies. He is a Certified Financial Planner and a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter.
R. Glenn Hilliard – Mr. Hilliard has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hilliard Group, LLC, an investment and consulting firm, for over 10 years. He previously served as Chairman of CNO Financial, Inc., an insurance holding company, and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ING Americas, where he served in a wide-range of senior operating and board roles with responsibilities including insurance, mutual funds, investment and retail banking operations in North America and South America. Following law school graduation, including two years working on the floor of the US House of Representatives, he began his career in the life insurance industry as an attorney with Liberty Life Insurance Company where he rose to President and Chief Executive Officer. He also has served on numerous public and non-profit boards, including the boards of other investment companies.
Catherine James Paglia – Ms. Paglia has been a Director of Enterprise Asset Management, Inc., a real estate and asset management company, for over 15 years. She previously spent eight years as a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, 10 years as a Managing Director of Interlaken Capital and served as Chief Financial Officer of two public companies. She also has experience on other boards of directors of public and non-profit organizations.
Leroy C. Richie – Mr. Riche began his career in private law practice for the law firm of White & Case LLP. He then entered government service when he was appointed to serve as the Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s New York office. He later became Vice President and General Counsel, Automotive Legal Affairs of the Chrysler Corporation. He later served as General Counsel to the Executive Committee of the U.S. Golf Association. He also has experience on other boards of directors of other public companies.
Anthony M. Santomero – Dr. Santomero is the former President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. He holds the title of Richard K. Mellon Professor Emeritus of Finance at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and serves on the boards of several public companies, including the Board of Citigroup, Inc., Citibank N.A., Renaissance Reinsurance Company Ltd and the Penn Mutual. He previously served as Senior Advisor at McKinsey & Company and was the Richard K. Mellon Professor of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. During his 30-year tenure at Wharton, he held a number of academic and managerial positions, including Deputy Dean of the School. He has written approximately 150 articles, books and monographs on financial sector regulation and economic performance. The Board has concluded that, despite his lack of technical independence (as an “interested person”) of the Funds under the 1940 Act arising solely due to his board service for Citigroup, Inc. and Citibank N.A., he could serve with “substantive independence” primarily since he has no financial interest or relationship with the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial. The Board also took into account Dr. Santomero’s broad array of experiences from management consulting to academia to public service, which complements the mix of experiences represented by the other Board members.
Minor M. Shaw – Ms. Shaw is President of Micco, LLC, a private investment company, and past president of Micco Corporation and Mickel Investment Group. She is chairman of the Daniel-Mickel Foundation and The Duke Endowment. She currently serves as chairman of the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport Commission. She holds numerous civic and business board
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memberships and is a past chair of Wofford College Board of Trustees. Ms. Shaw serves on the boards of Piedmont Natural Gas and Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina. She has also served on the boards of Citizens & Southern Bank of SC and Interstate Johnson Lane.
Alison Taunton-Rigby – Dr. Taunton-Rigby has been a senior executive in the healthcare industry for over 30 years. She was Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of RiboNovix, Inc. and President and Chief Executive Officer of Acquila Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge Biotech Corporation and Miotix Inc. Prior to this, she served in senior management positions at Genzyme Corporation, Arthur D. Little Inc., Vivotech Inc., Biogen, Inc. and Collaborative Research, Inc. She has been awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II for her work as a leader in the research, development and promotion of biotechnology. She currently serves as a director of ICI Mutual Insurance Company, Healthways, Inc., Abt Associates and Boston Children’s Hospital, and serves on a number of Advisory Boards.
William F. Truscott – Mr. Truscott has served on the Board of Trustees of various Columbia funds since 2001. He has served as Chairman of the Board of the Investment Manager since May 2010 and since February 2012 has served as its President. From 2001 to April 2010, Mr. Truscott served as the President, Chairman of the Board and Chief Investment Officer of the Investment Manager. He has served as Director of the Distributor since May 2010 and since February 2012 has served as its Chief Executive Officer. The Board has concluded that having a senior member of the Investment Manager serve on the Board can facilitate increased access to information regarding the Funds’ Investment Manager for the Independent Trustees, which is the Funds’ most significant service provider.
Committees of the Board
The Board has organized the following standing committees to facilitate its work: Board Governance Committee, Compliance Committee, Contracts Committee, Executive Committee, Investment Review Committee and Audit Committee. These Committees are comprised solely of Independent Trustees (for these purposes, persons who are not affiliated persons of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial). The table above describing each Trustee also includes their respective committee memberships. The duties of these committees are described below.
Mr. Hawkins, as Chair of the Board, acts as a point of contact between the Independent Trustees and the Investment Manager between Board meetings in respect of general matters.
Board Governance Committee. Recommends to the Board the size, structure and composition of the Board and its committees; the compensation to be paid to members of the Board; and a process for evaluating the Board’s performance. The committee also reviews candidates for Board membership, including candidates recommended by shareholders. The committee also makes recommendations to the Board regarding responsibilities and duties of the Board, oversees proxy voting and supports the work of the Board Chair in relation to furthering the interests of the Funds and other funds in the Columbia Family of Funds overseen by the Board and their shareholders on external matters.
To be considered as a candidate for Trustee, recommendations must include a curriculum vitae and be mailed to the Chair of the Board, Columbia Family of Funds, 901 Marquette Avenue South, Suite 2810, Minneapolis, MN 55402-3268. To be timely for consideration by the committee, the submission, including all required information, must be submitted in writing not less than 120 days before the date of the proxy statement for the previous year’s annual meeting of shareholders, if such a meeting is held. The committee will consider only one candidate submitted by such a shareholder or group for nomination for election at a meeting of shareholders. The committee will not consider self-nominated candidates or candidates nominated by members of a candidate’s family, including such candidate’s spouse, children, parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents, nieces and nephews.
The committee will consider and evaluate candidates submitted by the nominating shareholder or group on the basis of the same criteria as those used to consider and evaluate candidates submitted from other sources. The committee may take into account a wide variety of factors in considering trustee candidates, including (but not limited to): (i) the candidate’s knowledge in matters relating to the investment company industry; (ii) any experience possessed by the candidate as a director or senior officer of other public or private companies; (iii) the candidate’s educational background; (iv) the candidate’s reputation for high ethical standards and personal and professional integrity; (v) any specific financial, technical or other expertise possessed by the candidate, and the extent to which such expertise would complement the Board’s existing mix of skills and qualifications; (vi) the candidate’s perceived ability to contribute to the ongoing functions of the Board, including the candidate’s ability and commitment to attend meetings regularly, work collaboratively with other members of the Board and carry out his or her duties in the best interests of the Funds; (vii) the candidate’s ability to qualify as an independent trustee; and (viii) such other criteria as the committee determines to be relevant in light of the existing composition of the Board and any anticipated vacancies or other factors.
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Members of the committee (and/or the Board) also meet personally with each nominee to evaluate the candidate’s ability to work effectively with other members of the Board, while also exercising independent judgment. Although the Board does not have a formal diversity policy, the Board endeavors to comprise itself of members with a broad mix of professional and personal backgrounds. Thus, the committee and the Board accorded particular weight to the individual professional background of each Independent Trustee.
Compliance Committee. Supports the Funds' maintenance of a strong compliance program by providing a forum for Independent Trustees to consider compliance matters impacting the Funds or their key service providers; developing and implementing, in coordination with the CCO, a process for the review and consideration of compliance reports that are provided to the Board; and providing a designated forum for the Funds' CCO to meet with Independent Trustees on a regular basis to discuss compliance matters.
Contracts Committee. Reviews and oversees the contractual relationships with service providers. Receives and analyzes reports covering the level and quality of services provided under contracts with the Funds and advises the Board regarding actions taken on these contracts during the annual review process. Reviews and considers, on behalf of all Trustees, the Funds' investment advisory, subadvisory (if any), administrative services and principal underwriting contracts to assists the Trustees in fulfilling their responsibilities relating to the Board’s evaluation and consideration of these arrangements.
Executive Committee. Acts, as needed, for the Board between meetings of the Board.
Investment Review Committee. Reviews and oversees the management of the Funds' assets. Considers investment management policies and strategies; investment performance; risk management techniques; and securities trading practices and reports areas of concern to the Board.
Audit Committee. Oversees the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Funds and internal controls over financial reporting. Oversees the quality and integrity of the Funds' financial statements and independent audits as well as the Funds' compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to the Funds' accounting and financial reporting, internal controls over financial reporting and independent audits. The committee also makes recommendations regarding the selection of the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm ( i.e. , independent auditors) and reviews and evaluates the qualifications, independence and performance of the auditor. The committee oversees the Funds' risks by, among other things, meeting with the Funds' internal auditors, establishing procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns about accounting or audit matters, and overseeing the Funds' Disclosure Controls and Procedures. This committee acts as a liaison between the independent auditors and the full Board and must prepare an audit committee report.
The table below shows the number of times each committee met during each Fund’s most recent fiscal period. The Table is organized by fiscal year end.
Committee Meetings
Fiscal Period Audit
Committee
Compliance
Committee
Contracts
Committee
Executive
Committee
Governance
Committee
Investment
Review
Committee
For Funds with fiscal period
ending January 31
5 5 6 0 6 6
For Funds with fiscal period
ending February 28/29
5 5 6 0 6 6
For Funds with fiscal period
ending March 31
5 5 5 0 6 6
For Funds with fiscal period
ending April 30
5 5 6 0 6 6
For Funds with fiscal period
ending May 31
5 5 6 0 6 6
For Funds with fiscal period
ending July 31
5 5 6 0 6 6
For Funds with fiscal period
ending August 31
6 5 6 1 5 6
For Funds with fiscal period
ending October 31
5 5 6 1 5 6
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Beneficial Equity Ownership
The tables below show, for each Trustee, the amount of Fund equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustee and the aggregate value of all investments in equity securities of all Funds in the Columbia Funds Complex overseen by the Trustee, including notional amounts through the Deferred Compensation Plan, where noted, stated as one of the following ranges: A = $0; B = $1-$10,000; C = $10,001-$50,000; D = $50,001-$100,000; and E = over $100,000. The information is provided as of December 31, 2014.
The tables only include ownership of Columbia Funds overseen by the Trustees; the Trustees and Officers may own shares of other Columbia Funds they do not oversee. The tables do not include ownership of Columbia Funds overseen by other boards of trustees/directors.
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Independent Trustee Ownership
  Blatz Boudreau Carlton Carmichael Flynn Hawkins Hilliard Paglia Richie Shaw Taunton-
Rigby
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund A A A E (a) A A A A A A A
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio A C (a) A A A A A A A A A
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio A A A A A A A A A A A
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio A C A A A A A A A A A
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio A E (a) A A A A A A A A A
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio A D (a) A A A A A A A A A
Commodity Strategy Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
Convertible Securities Fund A C (a) B A A A A A A C (b) A
Disciplined Core Fund A A E (a) A A A A A A A A
Disciplined Growth Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
Disciplined Value Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
Diversified Equity Income Fund A A A A A C A A A A A
Dividend Opportunity Fund E A C A A A A A A E (a) E
Emerging Markets Bond Fund A A A A A A A A A C (b) A
European Equity Fund A A C (a) A A A A A A D (b) A
Flexible Capital Income Fund A A A E (a) A A A E (a) A A A
Floating Rate Fund A A A A E (a) A A A A A A
Global Bond Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
Global Equity Value Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
Global Infrastructure Fund C A A A A A A A A A A
Global Opportunities Fund A A C (a) E (a) C A A A A A A
Global Strategic Equity Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
High Yield Bond Fund A A C A A A A A A A A
Income Builder Fund A A A A A A A A A A E
Income Opportunities Fund A A C A A C A A A C (b) A
Inflation Protected Securities Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
International Opportunities Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
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  Blatz Boudreau Carlton Carmichael Flynn Hawkins Hilliard Paglia Richie Shaw Taunton-
Rigby
International Value Fund A A A E A E (a) A A A A A
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund A C (a) D A E (a) A A A A A A
Large Cap Growth Fund II A A A A A A A A A A A
Large Cap Growth Fund III A A A A A A E (a) A A E (a) A
Large Cap Growth Fund IV A A A A A A A A A A A
Large Cap Growth Fund V A A A A A A A A A A A
Large Cap Index Fund A A A A E (a) A A A E C (b) E (a)
Limited Duration Credit Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
Mid Cap Index Fund A A A E (a) A E (a) A A A E (a) E (a)
Mid Cap Value Fund A A C A A A A A A A A
MN Tax-Exempt Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
Money Market Fund A B (a) C (a) B (a) C (a) B (a) B (a) C (a) A C (a) C (a)
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund A A A A A A A A A A D
Overseas Value Fund A A C (a) A A A A A A A A
Select Global Equity Fund E A C (a) A A A D (a) A A A A
Select Global Growth Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
Select International Equity Fund E A C (a) A C (a) A A A A A A
Select Large Cap Equity Fund A D (a) A A A A A A A A A
Select Large-Cap Value Fund A A E (a) A A A A A A A A
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund A A A A E (a) A A E (a) A A A
Seligman Communications and Information Fund D A A A D (a) A A A A A A
Seligman Global Technology Fund B C A A A A A A A A A
Short Term Bond Fund A E (a) A A A A A A A A A
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund A A A A A A A A A A A
Small Cap Index Fund A A A E (a) E (a) A A A A E (a) E (a)
Small Cap Value Fund II A A A A A A A A A A A
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund A A A A A A A A A A E
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund C A A A A A A A A C (b) A
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in all Funds in the Columbia Funds Complex Overseen by the Trustee E E (a) E (a) E (a) E (a) E (a) E (a) E (a) E E (a) E (a)
(a) Includes the value of compensation payable under a Deferred Compensation Plan that is determined as if the amounts deferred had been invested, as of the date of deferral, in shares of one or more funds in the Columbia Funds Family overseen by the Trustee as specified by the Trustee.
(b) Ms. Shaw invests in a Section 529 Plan managed by the Investment Manager that allocates assets to various mutual funds, including Columbia Funds. The amount shown in the table includes the value of her interest in this plan determined as if her investment in the plan were invested directly in the Columbia Fund pursuant to the plan’s target allocations.
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Interested Trustee Ownership
  Santomero Truscott
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund A A
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A A
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A A
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A A
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A A
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A A
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund A A
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund A A
AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund A A
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund A E (b)
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio A A
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio A A
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio A A
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio A A
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio A A
Commodity Strategy Fund A E
Convertible Securities Fund A E
Disciplined Core Fund A D
Disciplined Growth Fund A D
Disciplined Value Fund A E
Diversified Equity Income Fund A A
Dividend Opportunity Fund A E
Emerging Markets Bond Fund A B
European Equity Fund A E
Flexible Capital Income Fund A E
Floating Rate Fund A E
Global Bond Fund A A
Global Equity Value Fund A A
Global Infrastructure Fund A A
Global Opportunities Fund A E
Global Strategic Equity Fund A A
High Yield Bond Fund A C
Income Builder Fund A A
Income Opportunities Fund A E (b)
Inflation Protected Securities Fund A B
International Opportunities Fund A A
International Value Fund A A
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund A A
Large Cap Growth Fund II A A
Large Cap Growth Fund III A A
Large Cap Growth Fund IV A A
Large Cap Growth Fund V A A
Large Cap Index Fund A E
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 147


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  Santomero Truscott
Limited Duration Credit Fund E (a) E
Mid Cap Index Fund A A
Mid Cap Value Fund A A
MN Tax-Exempt Fund A A
Money Market Fund B (a) A
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund A A
Overseas Value Fund A E
Select Global Equity Fund A D
Select Global Growth Fund A A
Select International Equity Fund A D
Select Large-Cap Value Fund A E
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund A E
Seligman Communications and Information Fund A D
Seligman Global Technology Fund A D
Short Term Bond Fund E (a) A
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund A A
Small Cap Index Fund A C
Small Cap Value Fund II A A
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund A E
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund A A
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in all Funds in the
Columbia Funds Family Overseen by the Trustee
E (a) E (b)
(a) Includes the value of compensation payable under a Deferred Compensation Plan that is determined as if the amounts deferred had been invested, as of the date of deferral, in shares of one or more funds in the Columbia Funds Family overseen by the Trustee as specified by the Trustee.
(b) Includes notional investments through a deferred compensation account. Mr. Truscott’s deferred compensation plan is separate from that of the Independent Trustees (for these purposes, persons who are not affiliated persons of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial).
Compensation
Total compensation. The following table shows the total compensation paid to Independent Trustees (for these purposes, persons who are not affiliated persons of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial) for their services from all the Funds in the Columbia Funds Complex overseen by the Trustee for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2015.
Mr. Truscott is not compensated for his services on the Board.
Trustees (a) Total Cash Compensation
from the Columbia
Funds
Complex
Paid to Trustee (b)
Amount Deferred
from Total
Compensation (c)
Kathleen Blatz $298,333 $0
Edward Boudreau $272,583 $90,250
Pamela Carlton $272,708 $24,875
William Carmichael $403,750 $41,146
Patricia Flynn $278,333 $278,333
William Hawkins $277,583 $86,500
R. Glenn Hilliard $273,333 $0
Stephen Lewis (d) $112,500 $78,750
Catherine Paglia $280,417 $149,167
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 148


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Trustees (a) Total Cash Compensation
from the Columbia
Funds
Complex
Paid to Trustee (b)
Amount Deferred
from Total
Compensation (c)
Leroy Richie $280,833 $0
Anthony Santomero $263,333 $10,000
Minor Shaw $262,917 $136,667
Alison Taunton-Rigby $278,333 $278,333
(a) Trustee compensation is paid by the Funds and is comprised of a combination of a base fee and meeting fees, with the exception of the Chair of the Board, who receives a base annual compensation. Payment of compensation is administered by a company providing limited administrative services to the Funds and to the Board.
(b) Includes any portion of cash compensation Trustees elected to defer during the fiscal period.
(c) The Trustees may elect to defer a portion of the total cash compensation payable. Additional information regarding the Deferred Compensation Plan is described below.
(d) Mr. Lewis served as Trustee until December 31, 2014.
In addition to the above compensation, all Trustees receive reimbursements for reasonable expenses related to their attendance at meetings of the Board or standing committees, which are not included in the amounts shown.
Trustees did not accrue any pension or retirement benefits as part of Fund expenses, nor will they receive any annual benefits upon retirement.
Deferred Compensation Plan . The Independent Trustees (for these purposes, persons who are not affiliated persons of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial) may elect to defer payment of up to 100% of the compensation they receive in accordance with a Deferred Compensation Plan (the Deferred Plan). Under the Deferred Plan, a Trustee may elect to have his or her deferred compensation treated as if they had been invested in shares of one or more Fund and the amount paid to the Trustee under the Deferred Plan will be determined based on the performance of such investments. Distributions may be taken in a lump sum or over a period of years. The Deferred Plan will remain unfunded for federal income tax purposes under the Code, and all amounts payable under the Deferred Plan constitute a general unsecured obligation of the Funds. It is anticipated that deferral of Trustee compensation in accordance with the Deferred Plan will have, at most, a negligible impact on Fund assets and liabilities.
The Independent Trustees have a policy that each Trustee invests in shares of one or more of the Funds (including the Closed-End Funds) overseen by the Trustee (including shares held in the Deferred Compensation Plan) in an aggregate amount that is at least equal to the annual total compensation received by the Trustee from the Columbia Fund Complex. All Independent Trustees meet this standard.
Compensation from each Fund . The following table shows the compensation paid to Independent Trustees from each Fund during its last fiscal period, as well as the amount deferred from each Fund, which is included in the total.
Fund Aggregate Compensation from Fund
Independent Trustees
Blatz Boudreau Carlton Carmichael Flynn Hawkins Hilliard Lewis (a) Paglia Richie Santomero Shaw Taunton-Rigby
For Funds with fiscal period ending January 31
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio $1,299 $1,347 $1,275 $1,853 $1,275 $1,347 $1,299 $1,223 $1,371 $1,287 $1,323 $1,299 $1,275
Amount Deferred $0 $464 $22 $423 $1,275 $404 $0 $856 $686 $0 $117 $650 $1,275
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio $1,030 $1,064 $1,010 $1,469 $1,010 $1,064 $1,030 $973 $1,084 $1,021 $1,046 $1,030 $1,010
Amount Deferred $0 $367 $17 $337 $1,010 $319 $0 $681 $542 $0 $94 $515 $1,010
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio $2,852 $2,957 $2,799 $4,068 $2,799 $2,957 $2,852 $2,688 $3,010 $2,826 $2,905 $2,852 $2,799
Amount Deferred $0 $1,019 $48 $930 $2,799 $887 $0 $1,881 $1,505 $0 $258 $1,426 $2,799
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio $1,327 $1,376 $1,303 $1,893 $1,303 $1,376 $1,327 $1,251 $1,401 $1,315 $1,352 $1,327 $1,303
Amount Deferred $0 $474 $22 $433 $1,303 $413 $0 $876 $700 $0 $120 $664 $1,303
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio $2,236 $2,319 $2,195 $3,189 $2,195 $2,319 $2,236 $2,107 $2,360 $2,215 $2,278 $2,236 $2,195
Amount Deferred $0 $799 $38 $729 $2,195 $696 $0 $1,475 $1,180 $0 $202 $1,118 $2,195
Global Strategic Equity Fund $1,446 $1,500 $1,419 $2,063 $1,419 $1,500 $1,446 $1,363 $1,526 $1,433 $1,473 $1,446 $1,419
Amount Deferred $0 $517 $25 $472 $1,419 $450 $0 $954 $763 $0 $131 $723 $1,419
Income Builder Fund $1,898 $1,968 $1,863 $2,703 $1,863 $1,968 $1,898 $1,784 $2,003 $1,880 $1,933 $1,898 $1,863
Amount Deferred $0 $678 $33 $617 $1,863 $591 $0 $1,249 $1,002 $0 $171 $949 $1,863
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 149


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Fund Aggregate Compensation from Fund
Independent Trustees
Blatz Boudreau Carlton Carmichael Flynn Hawkins Hilliard Lewis (a) Paglia Richie Santomero Shaw Taunton-Rigby
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Convertible Securities Fund $1,729 $1,791 $1,697 $2,469 $1,697 $1,791 $1,729 $1,495 $1,822 $1,711 $1,756 $1,729 $1,697
Amount Deferred $0 $611 $49 $500 $1,697 $537 $0 $1,047 $911 $0 $143 $864 $1,697
Global Equity Value Fund $1,677 $1,739 $1,646 $2,394 $1,646 $1,739 $1,677 $1,487 $1,770 $1,662 $1,709 $1,677 $1,646
Amount Deferred $0 $595 $43 $497 $1,646 $522 $0 $1,041 $885 $0 $143 $839 $1,646
International Opportunities Fund $828 $859 $813 $1,180 $813 $859 $828 $739 $875 $821 $845 $828 $813
Amount Deferred $0 $294 $20 $246 $813 $258 $0 $517 $437 $0 $71 $414 $813
International Value Fund $877 $913 $861 $1,258 $861 $913 $877 $776 $928 $868 $897 $877 $861
Amount Deferred $0 $312 $23 $260 $861 $274 $0 $543 $464 $0 $75 $438 $861
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund $989 $1,023 $970 $1,411 $970 $1,023 $989 $858 $1,042 $979 $1,004 $989 $970
Amount Deferred $0 $349 $27 $287 $970 $307 $0 $601 $521 $0 $82 $494 $970
Large Cap Growth Fund II $1,659 $1,720 $1,628 $2,365 $1,628 $1,720 $1,659 $1,472 $1,751 $1,644 $1,690 $1,659 $1,628
Amount Deferred $0 $588 $42 $491 $1,628 $516 $0 $1,030 $876 $0 $141 $830 $1,628
Large Cap Growth Fund III $1,687 $1,747 $1,655 $2,404 $1,655 $1,747 $1,687 $1,491 $1,779 $1,671 $1,717 $1,687 $1,655
Amount Deferred $0 $597 $43 $498 $1,655 $524 $0 $1,043 $889 $0 $143 $843 $1,655
Large Cap Growth Fund V $2,453 $2,546 $2,408 $3,498 $2,408 $2,546 $2,453 $2,215 $2,592 $2,432 $2,506 $2,453 $2,408
Amount Deferred $0 $872 $56 $740 $2,408 $764 $0 $1,551 $1,296 $0 $213 $1,227 $2,408
Large Cap Index Fund $3,737 $3,875 $3,669 $5,335 $3,669 $3,875 $3,737 $3,274 $3,943 $3,702 $3,804 $3,737 $3,669
Amount Deferred $0 $1,323 $100 $1,094 $3,669 $1,163 $0 $2,292 $1,972 $0 $313 $1,869 $3,669
Mid Cap Index Fund $4,134 $4,289 $4,058 $5,903 $4,058 $4,289 $4,134 $3,650 $4,365 $4,095 $4,213 $4,134 $4,058
Amount Deferred $0 $1,466 $107 $1,220 $4,058 $1,287 $0 $2,555 $2,182 $0 $350 $2,067 $4,058
Mid Cap Value Fund $4,192 $4,349 $4,115 $5,981 $4,115 $4,349 $4,192 $3,714 $4,426 $4,153 $4,273 $4,192 $4,115
Amount Deferred $0 $1,487 $107 $1,241 $4,115 $1,305 $0 $2,600 $2,213 $0 $356 $2,096 $4,115
Overseas Value Fund $1,370 $1,424 $1,345 $1,960 $1,345 $1,424 $1,370 $1,219 $1,449 $1,357 $1,400 $1,370 $1,345
Amount Deferred $0 $487 $34 $408 $1,345 $427 $0 $854 $724 $0 $117 $685 $1,345
Select Global Growth Fund $743 $771 $730 $1,061 $730 $771 $743 $656 $784 $736 $757 $743 $730
Amount Deferred $0 $263 $19 $219 $730 $231 $0 $459 $392 $0 $63 $372 $730
Select International Equity Fund $1,267 $1,313 $1,243 $1,806 $1,243 $1,313 $1,267 $1,125 $1,336 $1,256 $1,290 $1,267 $1,243
Amount Deferred $0 $449 $32 $376 $1,243 $394 $0 $787 $668 $0 $108 $633 $1,243
Select Large Cap Equity Fund $1,169 $1,213 $1,148 $1,669 $1,148 $1,213 $1,169 $1,039 $1,235 $1,159 $1,192 $1,169 $1,148
Amount Deferred $0 $415 $29 $347 $1,148 $364 $0 $727 $617 $0 $100 $585 $1,148
Small Cap Index Fund $3,361 $3,483 $3,300 $4,799 $3,300 $3,483 $3,361 $2,944 $3,545 $3,329 $3,419 $3,361 $3,300
Amount Deferred $0 $1,189 $90 $985 $3,300 $1,045 $0 $2,061 $1,772 $0 $282 $1,681 $3,300
Small Cap Value Fund II $2,305 $2,394 $2,263 $3,291 $2,263 $2,394 $2,305 $2,051 $2,436 $2,285 $2,352 $2,305 $2,263
Amount Deferred $0 $819 $58 $685 $2,263 $718 $0 $1,436 $1,218 $0 $197 $1,153 $2,263
For Funds with fiscal period ending March 31
Short Term Bond Fund $2,977 $3,088 $2,896 $4,280 $2,923 $3,088 $2,977 $2,410 $3,141 $2,950 $3,033 $2,977 $2,923
Amount Deferred $0 $1,045 $102 $799 $2,923 $926 $0 $1,687 $1,571 $0 $233 $1,488 $2,923
For Funds with fiscal period ending April 30
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund $1,001 $1,036 $972 $1,438 $982 $1,036 $1,001 $678 $1,054 $992 $959 $1,001 $982
Amount Deferred $0 $344 $54 $232 $982 $311 $0 $475 $527 $0 $65 $500 $982
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund $771 $799 $749 $1,110 $757 $799 $771 $530 $813 $764 $741 $771 $757
Amount Deferred $0 $266 $40 $181 $757 $240 $0 $371 $407 $0 $51 $385 $757
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund $781 $809 $759 $1,124 $766 $809 $781 $536 $824 $774 $750 $781 $766
Amount Deferred $0 $269 $41 $183 $766 $243 $0 $375 $412 $0 $51 $390 $766
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund $860 $891 $836 $1,237 $844 $891 $860 $588 $907 $852 $825 $860 $844
Amount Deferred $0 $296 $45 $201 $844 $267 $0 $411 $453 $0 $56 $430 $844
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund $813 $842 $790 $1,170 $798 $842 $813 $557 $857 $805 $781 $813 $798
Amount Deferred $0 $280 $43 $191 $798 $253 $0 $390 $429 $0 $54 $406 $798
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund $905 $939 $880 $1,304 $889 $939 $905 $624 $955 $897 $871 $905 $889
Amount Deferred $0 $312 $47 $213 $889 $282 $0 $437 $478 $0 $60 $453 $889
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 150


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Fund Aggregate Compensation from Fund
Independent Trustees
Blatz Boudreau Carlton Carmichael Flynn Hawkins Hilliard Lewis (a) Paglia Richie Santomero Shaw Taunton-Rigby
Global Infrastructure Fund $1,099 $1,141 $1,069 $1,585 $1,079 $1,141 $1,099 $768 $1,161 $1,089 $1,061 $1,099 $1,079
Amount Deferred $0 $380 $56 $263 $1,079 $342 $0 $538 $580 $0 $74 $549 $1,079
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund $2,540 $2,633 $2,471 $3,658 $2,494 $2,633 $2,540 $1,774 $2,680 $2,516 $2,451 $2,540 $2,494
Amount Deferred $0 $878 $129 $607 $2,494 $790 $0 $1,242 $1,340 $0 $170 $1,270 $2,494
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund $2,301 $2,385 $1,839 $3,317 $2,258 $2,385 $2,301 $1,454 $2,427 $2,279 $2,215 $2,301 $2,258
Amount Deferred $0 $787 $140 $474 $2,258 $715 $0 $1,018 $1,214 $0 $139 $1,150 $2,258
Commodity Strategy Fund $739 $767 $589 $1,066 $725 $767 $739 $471 $780 $732 $712 $739 $725
Amount Deferred $0 $253 $44 $153 $725 $230 $0 $330 $390 $0 $45 $369 $725
Diversified Equity Income Fund $3,171 $2,390 $2,545 $4,569 $3,113 $3,290 $3,171 $2,020 $3,348 $3,142 $3,058 $3,171 $3,113
Amount Deferred $0 $1,087 $191 $658 $3,113 $987 $0 $1,414 $1,674 $0 $193 $1,586 $3,113
Dividend Opportunity Fund $6,295 $6,528 $5,080 $9,068 $6,178 $6,528 $6,295 $4,030 $6,645 $6,236 $6,075 $6,295 $6,178
Amount Deferred $0 $2,157 $375 $1,313 $6,178 $1,958 $0 $2,821 $3,323 $0 $385 $3,148 $6,178
Flexible Capital Income Fund $1,220 $1,253 $949 $1,761 $1,196 $1,253 $1,220 $713 $1,278 $1,209 $1,154 $1,220 $1,196
Amount Deferred $0 $411 $81 $234 $1,196 $376 $0 $499 $639 $0 $68 $610 $1,196
High Yield Bond Fund $2,510 $2,602 $1,998 $3,618 $2,463 $2,602 $2,510 $1,588 $2,648 $2,487 $2,414 $2,510 $2,463
Amount Deferred $0 $859 $152 $517 $2,463 $780 $0 $1,111 $1,324 $0 $152 $1,255 $2,463
Mortgage Opportunities Fund $841 $868 $660 $1,212 $825 $868 $841 $514 $884 $833 $803 $841 $825
Amount Deferred $0 $286 $53 $167 $825 $261 $0 $359 $442 $0 $49 $420 $825
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund $1,041 $1,080 $830 $1,501 $1,022 $1,080 $1,041 $659 $1,099 $1,032 $1,002 $1,041 $1,022
Amount Deferred $0 $356 $63 $214 $1,022 $324 $0 $461 $550 $0 $63 $521 $1,022
Select Large-Cap Value Fund $1,578 $1,632 $1,251 $2,274 $1,548 $1,632 $1,578 $976 $1,662 $1,563 $1,511 $1,578 $1,548
Amount Deferred $0 $538 $98 $318 $1,548 $490 $0 $683 $831 $0 $93 $789 $1,548
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund $1,137 $1,179 $904 $1,640 $1,116 $1,179 $1,137 $716 $1,200 $1,126 $1,094 $1,137 $1,116
Amount Deferred $0 $389 $69 $233 $1,116 $354 $0 $501 $600 $0 $69 $568 $1,116
Seligman Communications and Information Fund $4,051 $4,191 $3,197 $5,845 $3,975 $4,191 $4,051 $2,492 $4,267 $4,014 $3,877 $4,051 $3,975
Amount Deferred $0 $1,380 $255 $814 $3,975 $1,257 $0 $1,745 $2,134 $0 $238 $2,026 $3,975
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund $1,891 $1,970 $1,538 $2,724 $1,857 $1,970 $1,891 $1,255 $2,004 $1,874 $1,840 $1,891 $1,857
Amount Deferred $0 $653 $107 $408 $1,857 $591 $0 $879 $1,002 $0 $120 $945 $1,857
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund $2,381 $2,468 $1,901 $3,428 $2,338 $2,468 $2,381 $1,503 $2,512 $2,360 $2,292 $2,381 $2,338
Amount Deferred $0 $815 $145 $488 $2,338 $741 $0 $1,052 $1,256 $0 $144 $1,191 $2,338
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund $1,319 $1,247 $1,204 $1,800 $1,227 $1,254 $1,250 $483 $1,248 $1,239 $1,204 $1,202 $1,227
Amount Deferred $0 $413 $112 $180 $1,227 $389 $0 $338 $660 $0 $45 $625 $1,227
Disciplined Core Fund $4,758 $4,495 $4,342 $6,484 $4,424 $4,520 $4,507 $1,731 $4,500 $4,466 $4,340 $4,332 $4,424
Amount Deferred $0 $1,487 $404 $644 $4,424 $1,402 $0 $1,211 $2,379 $0 $161 $2,253 $4,424
Disciplined Growth Fund $1,374 $1,298 $1,253 $1,872 $1,277 $1,305 $1,301 $489 $1,299 $1,289 $1,251 $1,251 $1,277
Amount Deferred $0 $429 $118 $182 $1,277 $405 $0 $343 $687 $0 $45 $651 $1,277
Disciplined Value Fund $1,651 $1,558 $1,504 $2,246 $1,532 $1,567 $1,561 $582 $1,559 $1,547 $1,505 $1,499 $1,532
Amount Deferred $0 $515 $142 $217 $1,532 $487 $0 $408 $826 $0 $54 $781 $1,532
Floating Rate Fund $1,689 $1,598 $1,545 $2,312 $1,573 $1,607 $1,602 $650 $1,600 $1,588 $1,545 $1,542 $1,573
Amount Deferred $0 $530 $139 $243 $1,573 $498 $0 $455 $844 $0 $61 $801 $1,573
Global Opportunities Fund $1,485 $1,405 $1,358 $2,032 $1,383 $1,412 $1,409 $563 $1,407 $1,396 $1,357 $1,356 $1,383
Amount Deferred $0 $465 $123 $210 $1,383 $438 $0 $394 $742 $0 $53 $704 $1,383
Income Opportunities Fund $3,837 $3,627 $3,505 $5,241 $3,570 $3,647 $3,638 $1,413 $3,633 $3,604 $3,499 $3,500 $3,570
Amount Deferred $0 $1,200 $324 $526 $3,570 $1,131 $0 $989 $1,919 $0 $131 $1,819 $3,570
Inflation Protected Securities Fund $984 $931 $901 $1,347 $917 $936 $934 $370 $933 $926 $897 $900 $917
Amount Deferred $0 $308 $82 $138 $917 $290 $0 $259 $492 $0 $34 $467 $917
Limited Duration Credit Fund $1,867 $1,766 $1,708 $2,552 $1,739 $1,776 $1,772 $700 $1,770 $1,755 $1,706 $1,706 $1,739
Amount Deferred $0 $585 $156 $260 $1,739 $550 $0 $490 $934 $0 $65 $886 $1,739
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 151


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Fund Aggregate Compensation from Fund
Independent Trustees
Blatz Boudreau Carlton Carmichael Flynn Hawkins Hilliard Lewis (a) Paglia Richie Santomero Shaw Taunton-Rigby
MN Tax-Exempt Fund $1,186 $1,120 $1,082 $1,617 $1,103 $1,127 $1,123 $434 $1,121 $1,113 $1,082 $1,079 $1,103
Amount Deferred $0 $371 $100 $161 $1,103 $350 $0 $303 $593 $0 $40 $562 $1,103
Money Market Fund $2,377 $2,250 $2,177 $3,253 $2,217 $2,262 $2,258 $911 $2,255 $2,237 $2,172 $2,175 $2,217
Amount Deferred $0 $745 $196 $339 $2,217 $701 $0 $638 $1,189 $0 $85 $1,129 $2,217
For Funds with fiscal period ending August 31
Large Cap Growth Fund IV $908 $949 $900 $1,169 $900 $949 $908 $1,087 $958 $908 $949 $908 $900
Amount Deferred $0 $332 $129 $212 $900 $285 $0 $770 $479 $0 $224 $454 $835
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund $757 $791 $750 $1,039 $750 $791 $757 $841 $797 $757 $791 $757 $750
Amount Deferred $0 $277 $64 $220 $750 $237 $0 $593 $399 $0 $143 $378 $718
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund $1,296 $1,356 $1,285 $1,793 $1,285 $1,356 $1,296 $1,439 $1,368 $1,296 $1,356 $1,296 $1,285
Amount Deferred $0 $475 $104 $383 $1,285 $407 $0 $1,014 $684 $0 $240 $648 $1,233
Emerging Markets Bond Fund $1,406 $1,471 $1,393 $1,937 $1,393 $1,471 $1,406 $1,562 $1,484 $1,406 $1,471 $1,406 $1,393
Amount Deferred $0 $515 $115 $412 $1,393 $441 $0 $1,101 $742 $0 $262 $703 $1,336
European Equity Fund $1,224 $1,283 $1,212 $1,698 $1,212 $1,283 $1,224 $1,358 $1,295 $1,224 $1,283 $1,224 $1,212
Amount Deferred $0 $449 $92 $367 $1,212 $385 $0 $957 $647 $0 $220 $612 $1,166
Global Bond Fund $842 $880 $834 $1,158 $834 $880 $842 $935 $888 $842 $880 $842 $834
Amount Deferred $0 $308 $70 $246 $834 $264 $0 $659 $444 $0 $158 $421 $800
Select Global Equity Fund $1,069 $1,118 $1,059 $1,474 $1,059 $1,118 $1,069 $1,187 $1,128 $1,069 $1,118 $1,069 $1,059
Amount Deferred $0 $391 $86 $314 $1,059 $335 $0 $836 $564 $0 $198 $535 $1,016
Seligman Global Technology Fund $1,126 $1,178 $1,116 $1,556 $1,116 $1,178 $1,126 $1,250 $1,188 $1,126 $1,178 $1,126 $1,116
Amount Deferred $0 $412 $90 $333 $1,116 $353 $0 $880 $594 $0 $207 $563 $1,071
(a) Mr. Lewis served as Trustee until December 31, 2014.
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 152


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BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND RELATED PRACTICES
General Brokerage Policy, Brokerage Transactions and Broker Selection
Subject to policies established by the Board, as well as the terms of the Investment Management Services Agreement, Management Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement, as applicable, the Investment Manager (and/or the investment subadviser(s) who makes the day-to-day investment decisions for a Fund) is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for a Fund, for the selection of broker-dealers, for the execution of a Fund’s securities transactions and for the allocation of brokerage commissions in connection with such transactions. The Investment Manager effects security transactions for the Fund consistent with its duty to seek the best execution of client (including the Funds) orders under the circumstances of the particular transaction. Purchases and sales of securities on a securities exchange are effected through broker-dealers who charge negotiated commissions for their services. Orders may be directed to any broker-dealer to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law and by the policies and procedures of the Investment Manager and/or any investment subadvisers.
In the over-the-counter market, securities generally are traded on a “net” basis with dealers acting as principals for their own accounts without stated commissions, although the price of a security usually includes a profit to the dealer. In underwritten offerings, securities are bought at a fixed price that includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter’s “concession” or “discount.” On occasion, certain money market instruments may be bought directly from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid.
The Investment Manager effects security transactions for the Funds consistent with its duty to seek the best execution of client (including the Funds) orders under the circumstances of the particular transaction. In seeking such execution, the Investment Manager will use its best judgment in evaluating the terms of a transaction, and will give consideration to various relevant factors, including, without limitation, the size and type of the transaction, the nature and character of the market for the security, the confidentiality, speed and certainty of effective execution required for the transaction, the general execution and operational capabilities of the broker-dealer, the reputation, reliability, experience and financial condition of the broker-dealer, the value and quality of the services rendered by the broker-dealer in this instance and other transactions and the reasonableness of the spread or commission, if any. Research services received from broker-dealers supplement the Investment Manager’s own research and may include the following types of information: statistical and background information on industry groups and individual companies; forecasts and interpretations with respect to U.S. and foreign economies, securities, markets, specific industry groups and individual companies; information on political developments; Fund management strategies; performance information on securities and information concerning prices of securities; and information supplied by specialized services to the Investment Manager and to the Board with respect to the performance, investment activities and fees and expenses of other funds. Such information may be communicated electronically, orally or in written form.
Broker-dealers may, from time to time, arrange meetings with management of companies and the provide access to consultants who supply research information. The outside research is useful to the Investment Manager since, in certain instances, the broker-dealers utilized by the Investment Manager may follow a different universe of securities issuers and other matters than those that the Investment Manager’s staff follow. In addition, this research provides the Investment Manager with a different perspective on investment matters, even if the securities research obtained relates to issuers followed by the Investment Manager.
Research services that are provided to the Investment Manager by broker-dealers are available for the benefit of all accounts managed or advised by the Investment Manager. In some cases, the research services are available only from the broker-dealer providing such services. In other cases, the research services may be obtainable from alternative sources. Broker-dealer research typically supplements rather than replaces the Investment Manager’s own research, tending to improve the quality of its investment advice. However, to the extent that the Investment Manager would have bought any such research services had such services not been provided by broker-dealers, the expenses of such services to the Investment Manager could be considered to have been reduced accordingly. Certain research services furnished by broker-dealers may be useful to the clients of the Investment Manager other than the Funds. Conversely, any research services received by the Investment Manager through the placement of transactions of other clients may be of value to the Investment Manager in fulfilling its obligations to the Funds. The Investment Manager is of the opinion that this material is beneficial in supplementing its research and analysis; and, therefore, it may benefit the Funds by improving the quality of the Investment Manager’s investment advice. The advisory fees paid by the Funds are not reduced because the Investment Manager receives such services.
Under Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, the Investment Manager shall not be “deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached its fiduciary duty” solely because under certain circumstances it has caused the account to pay a higher commission than the lowest available. To obtain the benefit of Section 28(e), the Investment Manager must make a good faith determination that the commissions paid are “reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such member, broker, or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or his overall responsibilities with respect to the accounts as to which he exercises investment discretion.” Accordingly, the price to a Fund in any transaction may be less favorable than
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that available from another broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably justified by other aspects of the portfolio execution services offered. Some broker-dealers may indicate that the provision of research services is dependent upon the generation of certain specified levels of commissions and underwriting concessions by the Investment Manager’s clients, including the Funds.
The Investment Manager does not consider sales of shares of the Funds as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers through which to execute securities transactions on behalf of the Funds.
Commission rates are established pursuant to negotiations with broker-dealers based on the quality and quantity of execution services provided by broker-dealers in light of generally prevailing rates. On exchanges on which commissions are negotiated, the cost of transactions may vary among different broker-dealers. Transactions on foreign stock exchanges involve payment of brokerage commissions that generally are fixed. Transactions in both foreign and domestic over-the-counter markets generally are principal transactions with dealers, and the costs of such transactions involve dealer spreads rather than brokerage commissions. With respect to over-the-counter transactions, the Investment Manager, where possible, will deal directly with dealers who make a market in the securities involved, except in those circumstances in which better prices and execution are available elsewhere.
The Investment Manager or a subadviser, if applicable, may use step-out transactions. A “step-out” is an arrangement in which the Investment Manager or subadviser executes a trade through one broker-dealer but instructs that broker-dealer to step-out all or a part of the trade to another broker-dealer. The second broker-dealer will clear and settle, and receive commissions for, the stepped-out portion. The Investment Manager or subadviser may receive research products and services in connection with step-out transactions.
Use of Fund commissions may create potential conflicts of interest between the Investment Manager or subadviser and a Fund. However, the Investment Manager and each subadviser has policies and procedures in place intended to mitigate these conflicts and ensure that the use of fund commissions falls within the “safe harbor” of Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act. Some products and services may be used for both investment decision-making and non-investment decision-making purposes (“mixed use” items). The Investment Manager and each subadviser, to the extent it has mixed use items, has procedures in place to assure that fund commissions pay only for the investment decision-making portion of a mixed-use item.
Some broker-dealers with whom the Investment Manager’s Fixed Income Department executes trades provide the Fixed Income Department with proprietary research products and services, though the Fixed Income Department does not put in place any client commission arrangements with such broker-dealers. However, such research may be considered by the Fixed Income Department when determining which broker-dealers to include on its approved broker-dealer list. It is the Investment Manager’s policy not to execute a fixed income trade with a broker-dealer at a lower bid/higher offer than that provided by another broker-dealer in consideration of the value of research products and services received by the Fixed Income Department.
In certain instances, there may be securities that are suitable for a Fund as well as for one or more of the other clients of the Investment Manager. Investment decisions for the Funds and for the Investment Manager’s other clients are made with the goal of achieving their respective investment objectives. A particular security may be bought or sold for only one client even though it may be held by, or bought or sold for, other clients. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling that same security. Some simultaneous transactions are inevitable when a number of accounts receive investment advice from the same investment adviser, particularly when the same security is suitable for the investment objectives of more than one client. When two or more clients are engaged simultaneously in the purchase or sale of the same security, the securities are allocated among clients in a manner believed to be equitable to each. In some cases, this policy could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security in a particular transaction that may affect the Funds.
The Investment Manager operates several separate trading desks in different geographic locations in the United States. The trading desks support different portfolio management teams managing a variety of accounts and products. Nevertheless, the equity desks are functionally and operationally integrated so as to operate as one virtual desk. The fixed income desks, however, function and operate separately but can provide support to each other to assure the continuation of services if necessary. By operating the fixed income trading desks in this manner, the Funds may forego certain opportunities including the aggregation of trades across accounts that trade on different trading desks, which could result in one trading desk competing with another in the market for similar trades. In addition, it is possible that the separate fixed income trading desks may be on opposite sides of a trade at the same time. While the trading desks operate in several locations, the desks do have linkages in oversight and reporting lines and are generally conducted under similar policies and procedures. In addition, certain fixed income portfolio managers currently have the authority to execute trades themselves.
As the Investment Manager seeks to enhance its investment capabilities and services to its clients, including the Funds, the Investment Manager may engage certain of its non-U.S. investment advisory affiliates (“Advisory Affiliates”) around the world to provide a variety of services. For example, the Investment Manager may engage Advisory Affiliates and their personnel to provide (jointly or in coordination with the Investment Manager) services relating to client relations, investment monitoring, account administration, trading and discretionary investment management (including portfolio management and risk
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management) to certain accounts the Investment Manager manages, including the Funds, other pooled vehicles and separately managed accounts. In some circumstances, an Advisory Affiliate may delegate responsibility for providing those services to another Advisory Affiliate. In addition, the Investment Manager may provide certain similar services to its Advisory Affiliates for accounts they manage.
The Investment Manager believes that harnessing the collective expertise of the firm and its Advisory Affiliates will benefit its clients. In this regard, the Investment Manager has certain portfolio management and client servicing teams at both the firm and at Advisory Affiliates (through subadvisory or other intercompany arrangements) operating jointly to provide a better client experience. These joint teams use expanded and shared capabilities that the Investment Manager and its Advisory Affiliates provide, including the sharing of research and other information by investment personnel ( e.g. , portfolio managers and analysts) across the firm and at its Advisory Affiliates relating to economic perspectives, market analysis and equity and fixed income securities analysis.
Advisory Affiliates may provide certain advisory and trading-related services to certain of the Investment Manager’s accounts, including the Funds. The Investment Manager may also provide similar services to certain accounts of Advisory Affiliates. The Investment Manager believes that local trading in certain local markets will benefit its clients, including the Funds. However, such services may result in potential conflicts of interest to such accounts.
The Investment Manager has portfolio management teams in its multiple geographic locations that may share research information regarding leveraged loans. The Investment Manager operates separate and independent trading desks in these locations for the purpose of purchasing and selling leveraged loans. As a result, the Investment Manager does not aggregate orders in leveraged loans across portfolio management teams. For example, funds and other client accounts being managed by these portfolio management teams may purchase and sell the same leveraged loan in the secondary market on the same day at different times and at different prices. There is also the potential for a particular account or group of accounts, including a Fund, to forego an opportunity or to receive a different allocation (either larger or smaller) than might otherwise be obtained if the Investment Manager were to aggregate trades in leveraged loans across the portfolio management teams. Although the Investment Manager does not aggregate orders in leveraged loans across its portfolio management teams in the multiple geographic locations, it operates in this structure subject to its duty to seek best execution.
The Funds may participate, if and when practicable, in bidding for the purchase of portfolio securities directly from an issuer in order to take advantage of the lower purchase price available to members of a bidding group. A Fund will engage in this practice, however, only when the Investment Manager, in its sole discretion, believes such practice to be otherwise in such Fund’s interests.
The Funds will not execute portfolio transactions through, or buy or sell portfolio securities from or to, the Distributor, the Investment Manager or their affiliates acting as principal (including repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements), except to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation or order. However, the Investment Manager is authorized to allocate buy and sell orders for portfolio securities to certain broker-dealers and financial institutions, including, in the case of agency transactions, broker-dealers and financial institutions that are affiliated with Ameriprise Financial. To the extent that a Fund executes any securities trades with an affiliate of Ameriprise Financial, such Fund does so in conformity with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act and the procedures that such Fund has adopted pursuant to the rule. In this regard, for each transaction, the Board will determine that the transaction is effected in accordance with the Funds’ Rule 17e-1 procedures, which require: (i) the transaction resulted in prices for and execution of securities transactions at least as favorable to the particular Fund as those likely to be derived from a non-affiliated qualified broker-dealer; (ii) the affiliated broker-dealer charged the Fund commission rates consistent with those charged by the affiliated broker-dealer in similar transactions to clients comparable to the Fund and that are not affiliated with the broker-dealer in question; and (iii) the fees, commissions or other remuneration paid by the Fund did not exceed 2% of the sales price of the securities if the sale was effected in connection with a secondary distribution, or 1% of the purchase or sale price of such securities if effected in other than a secondary distribution.
Certain affiliates of Ameriprise Financial may have deposit, loan or commercial banking relationships with the corporate users of facilities financed by industrial development revenue bonds or private activity bonds bought by certain of the Funds. Ameriprise Financial or certain of its affiliates may serve as trustee, custodian, tender agent, guarantor, placement agent, underwriter, or in some other capacity, with respect to certain issues of securities. Under certain circumstances, a Fund may buy securities from a member of an underwriting syndicate in which an affiliate of Ameriprise Financial is a member. The Funds have adopted procedures pursuant to Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act, and intend to comply with the requirements of Rule 10f-3, in connection with any purchases of securities that may be subject to Rule 10f-3.
Given the breadth of the Investment Manager’s investment management activities, investment decisions for the Funds are not always made independently from those other investment companies and accounts advised or managed by the Investment Manager. To the extent permitted by law, when a purchase or sale of the same security is made at substantially the same time on behalf of one or more of the Funds and another investment portfolio, investment company or account, the Investment Manager may aggregate the securities to be sold or bought for the Funds with those to be sold or bought for other investment portfolios,
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investment companies or accounts in executing transactions, and such transactions will be averaged as to price and available investments allocated as to amount in a manner which the Investment Manager believes to be equitable to the Funds and such other investment portfolio, investment company or account. In some instances, this investment procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by a Fund or the size of the position obtained or sold by the Fund. Further, in some cases, the Funds will implement their portfolio changes before similar changes are made for ETFs or other accounts advised or managed by the Investment Manager.
See Investment Management and Other Services – Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates – Certain Conflicts of Interest for more information about these and other conflicts of interest.
Brokerage Commissions
The following charts reflect the amounts of brokerage commissions paid by the Funds for the three most recently completed fiscal years. In certain instances, the Funds may pay brokerage commissions to broker-dealers that are affiliates of Ameriprise Financial. As indicated above, all such transactions involving the payment of brokerage commissions to affiliates are done in compliance with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act.
Aggregate Brokerage Commissions Paid by the Funds
The following chart reflects the aggregate amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Funds for the three most recently completed fiscal years. Differences, year to year, in the amount of brokerage commissions paid by a Fund were primarily the result of increased market volatility as well as shareholder purchase and redemption activity in the Fund. The table is organized by fiscal year end.
Total Brokerage Commissions
  Total Brokerage Commissions
Fund 2015 2014 2013
For Funds with fiscal period ending January 31
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio $15,275 $23,981 $2,601
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio 10,514 7,619 3,434
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio 126,734 128,295 7,398
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio 29,332 29,097 1,520
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio 73,686 49,261 12,772
Global Strategic Equity Fund 0 0 0
Income Builder Fund 0 0 0
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Convertible Securities Fund 105,952 73,168 67,317
Global Equity Value Fund 1,067,198 1,076,394 428,626
International Opportunities Fund 457,834 741,637 841,381
International Value Fund (a) 427,753 1,006,612 781,245
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund 161,985 86,352 124,984
Large Cap Growth Fund II 715,869 1,140,014 1,303,523
Large Cap Growth Fund III 437,297 1,105,991 1,375,426
Large Cap Growth Fund V 1,027,882 1,992,355 3,082,928
Large Cap Index Fund 33,530 22,212 42,941
Mid Cap Index Fund 105,163 186,412 92,408
Mid Cap Value Fund 1,435,664 2,825,497 3,282,641
Overseas Value Fund 1,317,080 725,680 46,885
Select Global Growth Fund 65,069 75,119 20,543
Select International Equity Fund 1,843,097 3,786,564 3,415,590
Select Large Cap Equity Fund 864,717 1,223,814 1,634,499
Small Cap Index Fund 160,181 117,229 81,216
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  Total Brokerage Commissions
Fund 2015 2014 2013
Small Cap Value Fund II $1,828,228 $1,900,817 $2,555,711
For Funds with fiscal period ending March 31
Short Term Bond Fund 26,279 19,065 49,235
For Funds with fiscal period ending April 30
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0 0 0
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0 0 0
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0 0 0
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0 0 0
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0 0 0
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0 0 0
Global Infrastructure Fund 318,292 963,149 560,938
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund 0 0 0
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
AP – Multi-Manager Value Fund 1,765,744 1,483,445 486,313
Commodity Strategy Fund 0 0 0
Diversified Equity Income Fund 1,476,755 2,617,037 2,173,281
Dividend Opportunity Fund 4,730,277 4,891,708 4,483,217
Flexible Capital Income Fund 313,300 119,064 0
High Yield Bond Fund 2,626 1,571 2,367
Mortgage Opportunities Fund 240,318 0 (b) N/A
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund 561,093 516,580 455,357
Select Large-Cap Value Fund 525,703 205,143 226,081
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund 0 346,290 131,763
Seligman Communications and Information Fund 4,035,260 3,165,386 5,124,242
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund 1,616,600 3,773,751 1,696,261
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund 375,293 86,591 142,442
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund 0 0 0
Disciplined Core Fund 1,189,786 1,973,260 1,232,331
Disciplined Growth Fund 514,195 246,044 196,926
Disciplined Value Fund 831,852 377,759 134,359
Floating Rate Fund 28,166 33,087 0
Global Opportunities Fund 1,572,579 1,628,742 10,312
Income Opportunities Fund 6,042 8,271 0
Inflation Protected Securities Fund 65,209 32,547 26,718
Limited Duration Credit Fund 43,400 22,382 70,962
MN Tax-Exempt Fund 0 0 0
Money Market Fund 0 0 0
Fund 2014 2013 2012
For Funds with fiscal period ending August 31
Large Cap Growth Fund IV 316,884 231,954 324,649
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund 0 0 0
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  Total Brokerage Commissions
Fund 2014 2013 2012
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund $1,074,549 $893,911 $622,494
Emerging Markets Bond Fund 6,239 0 207
European Equity Fund 834,231 604,819 747,555
Global Bond Fund 33,637 15,503 15,758
Select Global Equity Fund 581,437 457,459 499,796
Seligman Global Technology Fund 749,468 745,143 944,043
(a) Because the Fund's brokerage commissions were paid at the Master Portfolio level until December 14, 2013, amounts shown for the fiscal year ended 2013 and the fiscal period from March 1, 2013 to December 14, 2013, are for the Master Portfolio.
(b) For the period from April 30, 2014 (commencement of operations) to May 31, 2014.
Brokerage Commissions Paid to Brokers Affiliated with the Investment Manager
Affiliates of the Investment Manager may engage in brokerage and other securities transactions on behalf of a Fund according to procedures adopted by the Board and to the extent consistent with applicable provisions of the federal securities laws. Subject to approval by the Board, the same conditions apply to transactions with broker-dealer affiliates of any Fund subadviser. The Investment Manager will use an affiliate only if (i) the Investment Manager determines that the Fund will receive prices and executions at least as favorable as those offered by qualified independent brokers performing similar brokerage and other services for the Fund and (ii) the affiliate charges the Fund commission rates consistent with those the affiliate charges comparable unaffiliated customers in similar transactions and if such use is consistent with terms of the Investment Management Services Agreement or Management Agreement, as applicable.
No brokerage commissions were paid by the Funds in the last three fiscal periods to brokers affiliated with the Funds' Investment Manager or any subadvisers, unless otherwise shown in the following table. The table is organized by fiscal year end.
  Broker Nature of
Affiliation
Aggregate
dollar
amount of
commissions
paid to
broker
Percent of
aggregate
brokerage
commissions
Percent of
aggregate
dollar
amount of
transactions
involving
payment of
commissions
Aggregate
dollar
amount of
commissions
paid to
broker
Aggregate
dollar
amount of
commissions
paid to
broker
Fund 2015 2014 2013
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Convertible Securities Fund Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith (MLPFS) (1) $2,076 2% 3% $1,380 $0
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
Flexible Capital Income Fund MLPFS (1) $0 0% 0% $1,695 $0
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31
Global Opportunities Fund MLPFS (1) $0 0% 1% $47 $0
(1) Prior to May 1, 2010, MLPFS (as of January 1, 2009) and other broker-dealers affiliated with BANA were affiliated broker-dealers of the Fund by virtue of being under common control with the Previous Adviser. The affiliation created by this relationship ended on May 1, 2010, when the investment advisory agreement with the Previous Adviser was terminated and the Fund entered into a new investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager. However, BANA, on behalf of its fiduciary accounts, continues to have investments in certain of the Columbia Funds. The amounts shown include any brokerage commissions paid to MLPFS after May 1, 2010.
Directed Brokerage
The Funds or the Investment Manager, through an agreement or understanding with a broker-dealer, or otherwise through an internal allocation procedure, may direct, subject to applicable legal requirements, the Funds' brokerage transactions to a broker-dealer because of the research services it provides the Funds or the Investment Manager.
Reported numbers include third party soft dollar commissions and portfolio manager directed commissions directed for research. The Investment Manager also receives proprietary research from brokers, but these amounts have not been included in the table.
During each Fund’s most recent applicable fiscal year (or period), the Funds directed certain brokerage transactions and paid related commissions in the amounts as follows:
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Brokerage Directed for Research
  Brokerage directed for research
Fund Amount of Transactions Amount of Commissions Imputed or Paid
For Funds with fiscal period ending January 31
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio $0 (a) $0 (a)
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio 0 (a) 0 (a)
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio 0 (a) 0 (a)
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio 0 (a) 0 (a)
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio 0 (a) 0 (a)
Global Strategic Equity Fund 0 (a) 0 (a)
Income Builder Fund 0 (a) 0 (a)
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Convertible Securities Fund 10,351,023 2,865
Global Equity Value Fund 686,455,883 431,388
International Opportunities Fund 298,862,364 191,917
International Value Fund 59,722,287 34,178
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund 87,360,260 32,355
Large Cap Growth Fund II 1,260,049,072 335,722
Large Cap Growth Fund III 765,635,560 159,294
Large Cap Growth Fund V 2,016,467,577 458,290
Large Cap Index Fund 689,225 614
Mid Cap Index Fund 0 0
Mid Cap Value Fund 1,123,832,640 647,131
Overseas Value Fund 119,659,456 87,831
Select Global Growth Fund 54,167,850 28,656
Select International Equity Fund 316,912,513 448,853
Select Large Cap Equity Fund 1,122,583,609 551,972
Small Cap Index Fund 0 0
Small Cap Value Fund II 609,123,529 740,360
For Funds with fiscal period ending March 31
Short Term Bond Fund 0 0
For Funds with fiscal period ending April 30
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0 0
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0 0
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0 0
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0 0
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0 0
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0 0
Global Infrastructure Fund 272,167,888 165,799
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund 0 0
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
AP – Multi-Manager Value Fund 441,844,817 252,343
Commodity Strategy Fund 0 0
Diversified Equity Income Fund 1,687,571,242 946,220
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  Brokerage directed for research
Fund Amount of Transactions Amount of Commissions Imputed or Paid
Dividend Opportunity Fund $2,399,750,927 $1,426,768
Flexible Capital Income Fund 140,811,878 73,067
High Yield Bond Fund 0 0
Mortgage Opportunities Fund 0 0
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund 83,945,038 108,024
Select Large-Cap Value Fund 4,030,870 3,672
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund 0 0
Seligman Communications and Information Fund 305,853,220 229,184
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund 697,510,203 694,887
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund 8,542,461 3,629
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund 0 0
Disciplined Core Fund 1,040,641,585 407,863
Disciplined Growth Fund 470,350,978 189,799
Disciplined Value Fund 627,191,495 319,516
Floating Rate Fund 59,641 61
Global Opportunities Fund 326,305,384 188,889
Income Opportunities Fund 0 0
Inflation Protected Securities Fund 0 0
Limited Duration Credit Fund 0 0
MN Tax-Exempt Fund 0 0
Money Market Fund 0 0
For Funds with fiscal period ending August 31
Large Cap Growth Fund IV 262,052,256 115,405
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund 0 0
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund 416,756,207 940,326
Emerging Markets Bond Fund 0 0
European Equity Fund 403,091,777 566,567
Global Bond Fund 0 0
Select Global Equity Fund 292,929,252 432,312
Seligman Global Technology Fund 34,942,786 29,009
(a) The underlying funds may have directed transactions to firms in exchange for research services.
Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers
In certain cases, the Funds, as part of their principal investment strategies, or otherwise as a permissible investment, will invest in the common stock or debt obligations of the regular broker-dealers that the Investment Manager uses to transact brokerage for the Funds.
As of each Fund’s most recent applicable fiscal year (or period) end, the Funds owned securities of their “regular brokers or dealers” or their parents, as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act, as shown in the table below:
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Investments in Securities of Regular Brokers or Dealers
Fund Issuer Value of securities owned
at end of fiscal period
For Funds with fiscal period ending January 31, 2015
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio None N/A
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio None N/A
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio None N/A
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio None N/A
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio None N/A
Global Strategic Equity Fund None N/A
Income Builder Fund None N/A
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29, 2015
Convertible Securities Fund None N/A
Global Equity Value Fund Citigroup, Inc. $10,748,983
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. $13,839,297
JPMorgan Chase & Co. $17,136,646
Morgan Stanley $6,520,795
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) $4,935,493
International Opportunities Fund None N/A
International Value Fund None N/A
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund Citigroup, Inc. $6,809,358
JPMorgan Chase & Co. $8,554,688
Large Cap Growth Fund II Morgan Stanley $16,834,184
The Charles Schwab Corp. $16,493,012
Large Cap Growth Fund III The Charles Schwab Corp. $30,977,935
Large Cap Growth Fund V The Charles Schwab Corp. $36,176,102
Large Cap Index Fund Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. $2,271,328
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. $4,655,135
Citigroup, Inc. $29,980,623
E*TRADE Financial Corp. $1,419,402
Franklin Resources, Inc. $3,984,227
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. $14,513,431
JPMorgan Chase & Co. $43,247,563
Legg Mason, Inc. (subsidiary) $1,085,496
Morgan Stanley $10,316,110
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) $9,136,686
The Charles Schwab Corp. $6,365,166
Mid Cap Index Fund Eaton Vance Corp. $11,324,984
Primerica Corp. $6,374,948
Raymond James Financial, Inc. (subsidiary) $16,371,516
Stifel Financial Corp. $8,223,716
Mid Cap Value Fund TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. $33,820,868
Raymond James Financial, Inc. (subsidiary) $62,128,875
Overseas Value Fund None N/A
Select Global Growth Fund None N/A
Select International Equity Fund None N/A
Select Large Cap Equity Fund Citigroup, Inc. $12,697,172
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. $8,513,980
JPMorgan Chase & Co. $13,139,106
Small Cap Index Fund Investment Technology Group, Inc. $3,499,676
Piper Jaffray Companies $3,982,953
Small Cap Value Fund II None N/A
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Fund Issuer Value of securities owned
at end of fiscal period
For Funds with fiscal period ending March 31, 2015
Short Term Bond Fund Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust $5,997,426
Citigroup, Inc. $13,440,544
Citigroup/Deutsche Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust $10,917,371
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. $496,908
Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates $4,640,775
Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp. $6,799,544
GS Mortgage Securities Trust $12,185,363
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. $11,913,008
JPMorgan Chase & Co. $12,311,460
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust $32,822,237
JPMorgan Resecuritization Trust $10,723,865
LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust $9,212,498
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust $4,438,776
Morgan Stanley $10,957,913
Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust $27,776,861
Morgan Stanley Re-Remic Trust $28,237,511
PNC Bank NA $9,535,944
For Funds with fiscal period ending April 30, 2015
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund None N/A
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund None N/A
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund None N/A
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund None N/A
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund None N/A
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund None N/A
Global Infrastructure Fund None N/A
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund None N/A
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31, 2015
AP – Multi-Manager Value Fund Citigroup, Inc. $9,150,011
E*TRADE Financial Corp. $1,003,673
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. $61,375,256
JPMorgan Chase & Co. $45,169,047
Morgan Stanley $2,849,835
Commodity Strategy Fund None N/A
Diversified Equity Income Fund Citigroup, Inc. $69,183,408
JPMorgan Chase & Co. $75,151,413
Morgan Stanley $54,403,371
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.(The) $37,336,229
Dividend Opportunity Fund The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. $273,531,553
JPMorgan Chase & Co. $66,420,704
Flexible Capital Income Fund Citigroup Capital XIII $7,537,100
JPMorgan Chase & Co. $8,222,500
High Yield Bond Fund E*TRADE Financial Corp. $8,749,260
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Fund Issuer Value of securities owned
at end of fiscal period
Mortgage Opportunities Fund Citigroup/Deutsche Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust $1,041,157
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. $19,777,339
Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates $15,123,371
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC $7,322,298
GS Mortgage Securities Trust $2,043,556
Jefferies Resecuritization Trust $2,321,102
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust $6,215,394
Banc of America Merrill Lynch Re-Remic Trust $5,631,060
Morgan Stanley Re-Remic Trust $8,012,534
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund None N/A
Select Large-Cap Value Fund Citigroup, Inc. $36,774,400
JPMorgan Chase & Co. $35,521,200
Morgan Stanley $36,672,000
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund None N/A
Seligman Communications and Information Fund None N/A
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. $11,898,712
E*TRADE Financial Corp. $10,019,346
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund Citigroup/Deutsche Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust $8,537,487
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. $27,298,592
Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates $46,481,503
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC $28,730,411
GS Mortgage Securities Trust $10,422,135
Jefferies Resecuritization Trust $4,303,696
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust $2,071,798
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust $4,924
Banc of America Merrill Lynch Commercial Mortgage, Inc. $6,924,328
Banc of America Merrill Lynch Re-Remic Trust $11,855,349
Morgan Stanley Re-Remic Trust $4,938,045
Morgan Stanley Resecuritization Trust $30,951
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31, 2015
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund None N/A
Disciplined Core Fund Citigroup, Inc. $108,735,600
JPMorgan Chase & Co. $74,170,019
Disciplined Growth Fund None N/A
Disciplined Value Fund Citigroup, Inc. $26,686,990
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. $10,827,696
JPMorgan Chase & Co. $36,067,339
Floating Rate Fund Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund $379,734
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Fund Issuer Value of securities owned
at end of fiscal period
Global Opportunities Fund Citigroup, Inc. $4,413,730
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. $676,000
E*TRADE Financial Corp. $192,762
Arlington Asset Investment Corp. $214,015
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. $3,617,640
GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Resecuritization Trust $313,541
Investment Technology Group, Inc. $101,648
JPMorgan Chase & Co. $5,510,703
Piper Jaffray Companies $49,335
Income Opportunities Fund E*TRADE Financial Corp. $14,167,778
Inflation Protected Securities Fund None N/A
Limited Duration Credit Fund None N/A
Minnesota Tax-Exempt Fund None N/A
Money Market Fund Chase Bank USA NA $38,000,000
For Funds with fiscal period ending August 31, 2014
Large Cap Growth Fund IV Citigroup, Inc. $4,413,234
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31, 2014
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund None N/A
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund None N/A
Emerging Markets Bond Fund None N/A
European Equity Fund None N/A
Global Bond Fund E*TRADE Financial Corp. $41,584
Select Global Equity Fund JPMorgan Chase & Co. $7,184,359
Seligman Global Technology Fund None N/A
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OTHER PRACTICES
Performance Disclosure
Effective beginning with performance reporting for the December 31, 2011 year end, in presenting performance information for newer share classes, if any, of a Fund, the Fund typically includes, for periods prior to the offering of such share classes, the performance of the Fund’s oldest share class (except as otherwise disclosed), adjusted to reflect any higher class-related operating expenses of the newer share classes, as applicable, based on the expense ratios of those share classes for the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year for which data was available at December 31, 2011 or, for Funds and classes first offered after January 1, 2011, the expected expense differential at the time the newer share class is first offered. Actual expense differentials across classes will vary over time. The performance of the Fund’s newer share classes would have been substantially similar to the performance of the Fund’s oldest share class because all share classes of a Fund are invested in the same portfolio of securities, and would have differed only to the extent that the classes do not have the same sales charges and/or expenses (and any differences in expenses between share classes may change over time).
Prior to December 31, 2011, in presenting performance information for a newer share class of a Fund, series of CFST would typically include, for periods prior to the offering of such newer share class, the performance of an older share class, the class-related operating expense structure of which was most similar to that of the newer share class, and for periods prior to the initial offering of such older share class, would include the performance of successively older share classes with successively less similar expense structures. Such performance information was not restated to reflect any differences in expenses between share classes and if such differences had been reflected, the performance shown might have been lower. Because, prior to December 31, 2011, series of CFST used a different methodology for presenting performance information for a newer share class, such performance information published before December 31, 2011 may differ from corresponding performance information published after December 31, 2011.
Portfolio Turnover
A change in the securities held by a Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater expenses to the Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestments in other securities. Such sales may also result in adverse tax consequences to a Fund’s shareholders. The trading costs and tax effects associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect a Fund’s performance. For each Fund’s portfolio turnover rate, see the Fees and Expenses of the Fund — Portfolio Turnover section in the prospectuses for that Fund.
In any particular year, market conditions may result in greater rates than are presently anticipated. The rate of a Fund’s turnover may vary significantly from time to time depending on, among other factors, economic, market and other conditions.
See below for an explanation of any significant variation in a Fund’s portfolio turnover rates over the two most recently completed fiscal years:
The variation in portfolio turnover rates for Mortgage Opportunities Fund was due to the fact that the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015 was the Fund’s first full fiscal year end, and can also be attributed to the inclusion of mortgage dollar rolls.
Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information
The Board and the Investment Manager believe that the investment ideas of the Investment Manager and any subadviser with respect to portfolio management of a Fund should seek to benefit the Fund and its shareholders, and do not want to afford speculators an opportunity to profit by anticipating Fund trading strategies. However, the Board also believes that selective disclosure of a Fund’s portfolio holdings can, under appropriate circumstances, be made for purposes beneficial to the Fund and its shareholders or for other purposes under conditions that are designed to protect the interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
The Board has therefore adopted policies and procedures relating to disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio securities. These policies and procedures are intended to protect the confidentiality of Fund portfolio holdings information and generally prohibit the release of such information until such information is made available to the general public, unless such persons have been authorized to receive such information on a selective basis, as described below. It is the policy of the Fund not to provide or permit others to provide portfolio holdings on a selective basis, and the Investment Manager does not intend to selectively disclose portfolio holdings or expect that such holdings information will be selectively disclosed, except where necessary for the Fund’s operation or where there are other legitimate business purposes for doing so and, in any case, where conditions are met that are designed to protect the interests of the Funds and their shareholders.
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Although the Investment Manager seeks to limit the selective disclosure of portfolio holdings information and such selective disclosure is monitored under the Fund’s compliance program for conformity with the policies and procedures, there can be no assurance that these policies will protect the Fund from the potential misuse of holdings information by individuals or firms in possession of that information. Under no circumstances may the Investment Manager, its affiliates or any employee thereof receive any consideration or compensation for disclosing such holdings information.
Public Disclosures
The Funds’ portfolio holdings are currently disclosed to the public through filings with the SEC and postings on the Funds’ website. The information is available on the Funds’ website as described below.
For equity, alternative and flexible funds (other than the equity funds identified below) and funds-of-funds (equity and fixed income), a complete list of Fund portfolio holdings as of month-end is posted approximately, but no earlier than, 15 calendar days after such month-end.
For Funds formerly subadvised by Marsico Capital, Columbia Small Cap Growth Fund I and Columbia Variable Portfolio – Small Company Growth Fund, a complete list of Fund portfolio holdings as of month-end is posted approximately, but no earlier than, 30 calendar days after such month-end.
For fixed-income Funds (other than money market funds), a complete list of Fund portfolio holdings as of calendar quarter-end is posted approximately, but no earlier than, 30 calendar days after such quarter-end.
For money market Funds, a complete list of Fund portfolio holdings as of month-end is posted no later than five business days after such month-end. Such month-end holdings are continuously available on the website for at least six months, together with a link to an SEC webpage where a user of the website may obtain access to the Fund’s most recent 12 months of publicly available filings on Form N-MFP. Money market Fund portfolio holdings information posted on the website, at minimum, includes with respect to each holding, the name of the issuer, the category of investment ( e.g. , Treasury debt, government agency debt, asset backed commercial paper, structured investment vehicle note), the CUSIP number (if any), the principal amount, the maturity date (as determined under Rule 2a-7 for purposes of calculating weighted average maturity), the final maturity date (if different from the maturity date previously described), coupon or yield and the amortized cost value. The money market Funds will also disclose on the website the overall weighted average maturity and weighted average life maturity of a holding.
Portfolio holdings of Funds owned solely by the Investment Manager or its affiliates are not disclosed on the website. A complete schedule of each Fund’s portfolio holdings is available semiannually and annually in shareholder reports filed on Form N-CSR and, after the first and third fiscal quarters, in regulatory filings on Form N-Q. These shareholder reports and regulatory filings are filed with the SEC in accordance with federal securities laws. Shareholders may obtain each Fund’s Form N-CSR and N-Q filings on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, each Fund’s Form N-CSR and N-Q filings may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. You may call the SEC at 202.551.8090 for information about the SEC’s website or the operation of the public reference room.
In addition, the Investment Manager makes publicly available information regarding certain Fund’s largest five to fifteen holdings, as a percentage of the market value of the Funds’ portfolios as of a month-end. This holdings information is made publicly available through the website columbiathreadneedle.com/us, approximately 15 calendar days following the month-end. The scope of the information that is made available on the Funds’ websites pursuant to the Funds’ policies may change from time to time without prior notice. This information may not be available on the website for all Funds included in this SAI.
The Investment Manager may also disclose more current portfolio holdings information as of specified dates on the Funds’ website.
The Funds, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may include portfolio holdings information that already has been made public through a website posting or SEC filing in marketing literature and other communications to shareholders, advisors or other parties, provided that the information is disclosed no earlier than when the information is disclosed publicly on the funds’ website or no earlier than the time a fund files such information in a publicly available SEC filing required to include such information.
Other Disclosures
The Funds’ policies and procedures provide that no disclosures of the Funds’ portfolio holdings may be made prior to the portfolio holdings information being made available to the general public unless (i) the Funds have a legitimate business purpose for making such disclosure, (ii) the Funds or their authorized agents authorize such non-public disclosure of information, and (iii) the party receiving the non-public information enters into an appropriate confidentiality agreement or is otherwise subject to a confidentiality obligation.
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In determining the existence of a legitimate business purpose for making portfolio disclosures, the following factors, among others, are considered: (i) any prior disclosure must be consistent with the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the fiduciary duties of the Investment Manager; (ii) any conflicts of interest between the interests of Fund shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Investment Manager, the Funds’ Distributor or any affiliated person of a Fund, the Investment Manager or Distributor on the other; and (iii) any prior disclosure to a third party, although subject to a confidentiality agreement, would not make conduct lawful that is otherwise unlawful.
Fund complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed between and among the following persons (collectively, Affiliates and Agents) for legitimate business purposes within the scope of their official duties and responsibilities, subject to Fund policies and procedures designed to prevent the misuse of inside information, by agreement, or under applicable laws, rules, and regulations: (1) persons who are subject to the Code of Ethics or policies and procedures designed to prevent the misuse of inside information; (2) an investment adviser, distributor, administrator, transfer agent, or custodian to the Fund; (3) an accounting firm, an auditing firm, or outside legal counsel retained by the Investment Manager or its affiliates, or the Fund; (4) an investment adviser to whom complete portfolio holdings are disclosed for due diligence purposes when the adviser is in merger or acquisition talks with a the Investment Manager or its parent company; and (5) a newly hired subadviser to whom complete portfolio holdings are disclosed prior to the time it commences its duties.
The frequency with which complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed between and among Affiliates and Agents, and the length of the lag, if any, between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed between and among the Affiliates and Agents, is determined by such Affiliates and Agents based on the facts and circumstances, including, without limitation, the nature of the portfolio holdings information to be disclosed, the risk of harm to the Funds and their shareholders, and the legitimate business purposes served by such disclosure. The frequency of disclosure between and among Affiliates and Agents varies and may be as frequent as daily, with no lag. Any disclosure of Fund complete portfolio holdings to any Affiliates and Agents as previously described may also include a list of the other investment positions that make up the Fund, such as cash investments and derivatives.
The Funds also disclose portfolio holdings information as required by federal, state or international securities laws, and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities, or in connection with litigation or potential litigation, a restructuring of a holding, where such disclosure is necessary to participate or explore participation in a restructuring of the holding ( e.g. , as part of a bondholder group), or to the issuer of a holding, pursuant to a request of the issuer or any other party who is duly authorized by the issuer.
In certain limited situations, the Funds may provide portfolio holdings to an institutional client (or its custodian or other agent) when the client is effecting a redemption in-kind from a Fund and the Investment Manager believes that such disclosure will not be harmful to the Fund. In these situations, the Investment Manager makes it clear through non-disclosure agreements or other means that the recipient must ensure that the confidential information is used only as necessary to effect the redemption-in-kind and will maintain the information in a manner designed to protect against unauthorized access or misuse.
The Board has adopted policies to ensure that the Fund’s portfolio holdings information is only disclosed in accordance with these policies. Before any selective disclosure of portfolio holdings information is permitted, the person seeking to disclose such holdings information must submit a written request to the Portfolio Holdings Committee (“PHC”). The PHC, which is chaired by the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer, is comprised of members from the Investment Manager’s legal department and compliance department, and the Funds’ President. The PHC is authorized by the Board to perform an initial review of requests for disclosure of holdings information to evaluate whether there is a legitimate business purpose for selective disclosure, whether selective disclosure is in the best interests of a Fund and its shareholders, to consider any potential conflicts of interest between the Fund, the Investment Manager, and its affiliates, and to safeguard against improper use of holdings information. Factors considered in this analysis are whether the recipient has agreed to or has a duty to keep the holdings information confidential and whether risks have been mitigated such that the recipient has agreed or has a duty to use the holdings information only as necessary to effectuate the purpose for which selective disclosure may be authorized. Before portfolio holdings may be selectively disclosed, requests approved by the PHC must also be authorized by the Funds’ President, Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer or their respective designees. On at least an annual basis, the PHC reviews the approved recipients of selective disclosure and may require a resubmission of the request, in order to re-authorize certain ongoing arrangements. These procedures are intended to be reasonably designed to protect the confidentiality of Fund holdings information and to prohibit their release to individual investors, institutional investors, intermediaries that distribute the Fund’s shares, and other parties, until such holdings information is made public or unless such persons have been authorized to receive such holdings information on a selective basis, as set forth above.
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Ongoing Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Arrangements:
The Funds currently have ongoing arrangements with certain approved recipients with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings information prior to such information being made public. Portfolio holdings information disclosed to such recipients is current as of the time of its disclosure, is disclosed to each recipient solely for purposes consistent with the services described below and has been authorized in accordance with the policy. No compensation or consideration is received in exchange for this information. In addition to the daily information provided to a Fund’s custodians, subcustodians, Investment Manager and subadvisers, the following disclosure arrangements are in place:
Identity of Recipient   Conditions/restrictions on use of information   Frequency of
Disclosure
Recipients under arrangements with the Funds or Investment Manager:    
Barclays Capital   Used for analytics including risk and attribution assessment.   Daily
BlackRock   Used for fixed income trading and decision support.   Daily
Bloomberg   Used for portfolio analytics, statistical analysis and independent research.   Daily, Monthly and Quarterly
Boston Investors Communications Group, LLC (BICG)   Used for writing services that require disclosing portfolio holdings in advance of their dissemination to the general public.   Monthly
Capital Markets Services (CMS) Group   Used for intraday post-trade information when equity exposures (either via futures or options trades) are modified beyond certain limits for CVP – Managed Volatility Funds.   As Needed
Catapult   Used to print Columbia Fund factsheets.   As Needed
Citigroup   Used for mortgage decision support.   Daily
Equifax   Used to ensure that Columbia does not violate the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanction requirements.   Daily
Ernst & Young, LLP   Used to analyze PFIC investments.   Monthly
Eva Dimensions   Used as a research service for small cap stock.   As Needed
Eze Software Group   Used to facilitate the evaluation of commission rates and to provide flexible commission reporting.   Daily
FactSet Research Systems, Inc.   Used for provision of quantitative analytics, charting and fundamental data and for portfolio analytics. Used also to cover product and marketing developments related to index funds, ETFs, index derivatives, and other sophisticated investment strategies.   Daily or Monthly
Fundtech Financial Messaging   Used to send trade messages via SWIFT, to custodians.   Daily
Harte-Hanks   Used for printing of prospectuses, factsheets, annual and semi-annual reports.   As Needed
Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS)   Used for proxy voting administration and research on proxy matters.   Daily
Intex Solutions Inc.   Used to provide mortgage analytics.   Periodic
Investment Technology Group, Inc.   Used to evaluate and assess trading activity, execution and practices.   Quarterly
Investor Tools   Used for municipal bond analytics, research and decision support.   As Needed
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Identity of Recipient   Conditions/restrictions on use of information   Frequency of
Disclosure
JDP Marketing Services   Used to write or edit Columbia Fund shareholder reports, quarterly fund commentaries, and communications, including shareholder letters and management’s discussion of Columbia Fund performance.   Monthly, as needed
Kynex   Used to provide portfolio attribution reports for the Columbia Convertible Securities Fund. Used also for portfolio analytics.   Daily
         
Malaspina Communications   Used to facilitate writing management’s discussion of Columbia Fund performance for Columbia Fund shareholder reports and periodic marketing communications.   Monthly
Markit   Used for an asset database for analytics and investor reporting.   As Needed
Merrill Corporation   Used to provide Edgar filing and typesetting services, as well as printing of prospectuses, factsheets, annual and semi-annual reports.   As Needed
MoneyMate   Used to report returns and analytics to client facing materials.   Monthly
Morningstar   Used for independent research and ranking of funds, and to fulfill role as investment consultant for fund-of-funds product. Used also for statistical analysis.   Monthly, Quarterly or As Needed
MSCI Inc.   Used as a hosted portfolio management platform designed for research, reporting, strategy development, portfolio construction and performance and risk attribution, and used for risk analysis and reporting.   Daily
Print Craft   Used to assemble kits and mailing that include the fact sheets.   As Needed
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company   Used to provide Edgar filing and typesetting services, and printing of prospectuses, factsheets, annual and semi-annual reports.   As Needed
SEI Investment Company   Used for trading wrap accounts and to reconcile wrap accounts.   Daily
StoneRiver RegEd, Inc.   Used to review external and certain internal communications prior to dissemination.   Daily
SunGard Investment Systems LLC   Used as portfolio accounting system.   Daily
Sustainalytics US Inc.   Used to support the investment process for Columbia U.S. Social Bond Fund.   At least Monthly
Thomson Reuters   Used for statistical analysis.   Monthly
Threadneedle Investments   Used by portfolio managers and research analysts in supporting certain management strategies, and by shared support partners (legal, operations, compliance, risk, etc.) to provide Fund maintenance and development.   As Needed
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Identity of Recipient   Conditions/restrictions on use of information   Frequency of
Disclosure
Universal Wilde   Used to provide printing and mailing services for prospectuses, annual and semi-annual reports, and supplements.   As Needed
Wilshire Associates, Inc.   Used to provide daily performance attribution reporting based on daily holdings to the investment and investment analytics teams.   Daily
Wolters Kluwer   Used to perform tax calculations specific to wash sales and used to analyze tax straddles (diminution of risk).   Monthly
    
Identity of Recipient   Conditions/restrictions on use of information   Frequency of
Disclosure
Recipients under arrangements with subadvisers:    
Advent Software Inc.   Used by certain subadvisers for portfolio accounting.   Quarterly
Bloomberg   Used by certain subadvisers for financial analytical information.   Daily
FactSet Research Systems, Inc.   Used by certain subadvisers for analytical information and research, for financial analytical information and research reports and for portfolio characteristics data, attribution and research.   Daily
ITG Macgregor/XIP   Used by certain subadvisers for trade order management.   Daily
In addition, portfolio holdings information may be provided from time to time to the Funds’ counsel, counsel to the independent trustees and the Funds’ independent auditors in connection with the services they provide to the Funds or the trustees. Portfolio holdings information may also be provided to affiliates of the Investment Manager to monitor risks and various holdings limitations that must be aggregated with affiliated funds and accounts, among other purposes. The Investment Manager and the subadvisers use a variety of broker-dealers and other agents to effect securities transactions on behalf of the Funds. These broker-dealers may become aware of the Funds’ intentions, transactions and positions in performing their functions.
Additional Shareholder Servicing Payments
The Funds, along with the Transfer Agent, the Distributor and the Investment Manager, may pay significant amounts to Selling Agents, including other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for providing the types of services that would typically be provided directly by a mutual fund’s transfer agent. The level of payments made to Selling Agents may vary. A number of factors may be considered in determining payments to a Selling Agent, including, without limitation, the nature of the services provided to shareholders or retirement plan participants that invest in the Funds through retirement plans. These services may include sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency or similar recordkeeping services, shareholder or participant reporting, shareholder or participant transaction processing, and/or the provision of call center support (additional shareholder services). These payments for shareholder servicing support vary by Selling Agent but generally are not expected, with certain limited exceptions, to exceed 0.40% of the average aggregate value of each Fund’s shares on an annual basis.
The Board has authorized each Fund to pay up to 0.20% of the average aggregate value of each Fund’s shares. Such payments will be made by a Fund to the Transfer Agent who will in turn make payments to the Selling Agent for the provision of such additional shareholder services. The Funds’ Transfer Agent, Distributor and/or their affiliates will pay, from its or their own resources, amounts in excess of the amount paid by the Funds to Selling Agents in connection with the provision of these additional shareholder services and other services.
The Funds also may make additional payments to Selling Agents that charge networking fees for certain services provided in connection with the maintenance of shareholder accounts through the NSCC.
In addition, the Distributor and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may make lump sum payments to selected Selling Agents receiving shareholder servicing payments in reimbursement of printing costs for literature for participants, account maintenance fees or fees for establishment of the Funds on the Selling Agent’s system or other similar services.
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As of April 2015, the Distributor and/or other Ameriprise Financial affiliates had agreed to make shareholder servicing payments with respect to the Funds to the Selling Agents or their affiliates shown below.
Recipients of Shareholder Servicing Payments with Respect to the Funds from the Transfer Agent and/or other Ameriprise Financial Affiliates
ADP Broker-Dealer, Inc.
American Enterprise Investment Services Inc.*
American United Life Insurance Co.
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.*
Ascensus, Inc.
AXA Advisors
AXA Equitable Life Insurance
Bank of America, N.A.
Benefit Plan Administrators
Benefit Trust
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Charles Schwab Trust Co.
Davenport & Company City National Bank
Daily Access Concepts, Inc.
Digital Retirement Solutions
Edward D. Jones & Co., LP
ExpertPlan
Fidelity Brokerage Services, Inc.
Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Co.
First Clearing, LLC
First Mercantile Trust Co.
Guardian Insurance and Annuity Company Inc.
Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Company
Genworth Life Insurance Co. of New York
GWFS Equities, Inc.
Hartford Life Insurance Company
HD Vest
Hewitt Associates LLC
ICMA Retirement Corporation
Janney Montgomery Scott, Inc.
JJB Hilliard Lyons
JP Morgan Chase Bank
John Hancock Life Insurance Company (USA)
John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York
JP Morgan Retirement Plan Services LLC
Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York
Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
Lincoln Retirement Services
LPL Financial Corporation
BMO Harris Bank (f/k/a Marshall & Illsley Trust Company)
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
Mercer HR Services, LLC
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation
Minnesota Life Insurance Co.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
MSCS Financial Services Division of Broadridge Business Process Outsourcing LLC
National Financial Services
Nationwide Investment Services
Newport Retirement Services, Inc.
New York State Deferred Compensation Plan
NYLife Distributors LLC
Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.
Plan Administrators, Inc.
PNC Bank
Principal Life Insurance Company of America
Prudential Insurance Company of America
Prudential Retirement Insurance & Annuity Company
Pershing LLC
Raymond James & Associates
RBC Capital Markets
Reliance Trust
Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc.
Sammons Retirement Solutions
SEI Private Trust Company
Standard Insurance Company
Stifel Nicolaus & Co.
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.
TD Ameritrade Trust Company
The Retirement Plan Company
Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America
Transamerica Advisors Life Insurance Company
Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Unified Trust Company, N.A.
Upromise Investments, Inc.
US Bank NA
Vanguard Group, Inc.
VALIC Retirement Services Company
Voya Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company
Voya Institutional Plan Services, LLP
Voya Investments Distributors, LLC
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Wilmington Trust Retirement & Institutional Services Company
Xerox HR Solutions

* Ameriprise Financial affiliate
The Transfer Agent and/or other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may enter into similar arrangements with other Selling Agents from time to time. Therefore, the preceding list is subject to change at any time without notice.
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Additional Selling Agent Payments
Selling Agents may receive different commissions, sales charge reallowances and other payments with respect to sales of different classes of shares of the Funds. These other payments may include servicing payments to retirement plan administrators and other institutions at rates up to those described above under Other Practices — Additional Shareholder Servicing Payments.
The Distributor and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may pay additional compensation to selected Selling Agents, including other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, under the categories described below. These categories are not mutually exclusive, and a single Selling Agent may receive payments under all categories. A Selling Agent also may receive payments described above under Other Practices — Additional Shareholder Servicing Payments . These payments may create an incentive for a Selling Agent or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of a Fund to its customers. The amount of payments made to Selling Agents may vary. In determining the amount of payments to be made, the Distributor and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may consider a number of factors, including, without limitation, asset mix and length of relationship with the Selling Agent, the size of the customer/shareholder base of the Selling Agent, the manner in which customers of the Selling Agent make investments in the Funds, the nature and scope of marketing support or services provided by the Selling Agent (as described more fully below) and the costs incurred by the Selling Agent in connection with maintaining the infrastructure necessary or desirable to support investments in the Funds.
These additional payments by the Distributor and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates are made pursuant to agreements between the Distributor and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates and Selling Agents, and do not change the price paid by investors for the purchase of a share, the amount a Fund will receive as proceeds from such sales or the distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund as shown under the heading Fees and Expenses of the Fund in the Fund’s prospectuses.
Marketing/Sales Support Payments
The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may make payments, from their own resources, to certain Selling Agents, including other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for marketing/sales support services relating to the Funds, including, but not limited to, business planning assistance, educating financial intermediary personnel about the Funds and shareholder financial planning needs, placement on the financial intermediary’s preferred or recommended fund list or otherwise identifying the Funds as being part of a complex to be accorded a higher degree of marketing support than complexes not making such payments, access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the financial intermediary, client servicing, systems infrastructure support and data analytics. These payments are generally based upon one or more of the following factors: average net assets of the Funds distributed by the Distributor attributable to that Selling Agent, gross sales of the Columbia Funds distributed by the Distributor attributable to that Selling Agent, reimbursement of ticket charges (fees that a Selling Agent firm charges its representatives for effecting transactions in Fund shares) or a negotiated lump sum payment.
While the financial arrangements may vary for each Selling Agent, the marketing support payments to each Selling Agent generally are expected to be between 0.05% and 0.40% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Funds attributable to the Selling Agent, and between 0.05% and 0.25% on an annual basis for firms receiving a payment based on gross sales of the Funds attributable to the Selling Agent. The Distributor and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may make payments in materially larger amounts or on a basis materially different from those described above when dealing with certain Selling Agents. Such increased payments may enable the Selling Agents to offset credits that they may provide to their customers.
As of April 2015, the Distributor, the Investment Manager or their affiliates had agreed to make marketing support payments with respect to the Funds to the Selling Agents or their affiliates shown below.
Recipients of Marketing Support Payments with Respect to the Funds from the Distributor and/or other Ameriprise Financial Affiliates
AIG Advisor Group
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.*
AXA Advisors, LLC
Bank of America, N.A.
Cetera Financial Group, Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc./Citibank
Commonwealth Financial Network
First Clearing, LLC
Great West
Investacorp
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc.
Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp.
Linsco/Private Ledger Corp.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC
Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.
PNC Investments
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
RBC Capital Markets
Securities America, Inc.
Triad Advisors
UBS Financial Services Inc.
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US Bancorp Investments, Inc.
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC
Vanguard Marketing Corp

* Ameriprise Financial affiliate
The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may enter into similar arrangements with other Selling Agents from time to time. Therefore, the preceding list is subject to change at any time without notice.
Other Payments
From time to time, the Distributor, from its own resources, may provide additional compensation to certain Selling Agents that sell or arrange for the sale of shares of the Funds to the extent not prohibited by laws or the rules of any self-regulatory agency, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Such compensation provided by the Distributor may include financial assistance to Selling Agents that enable the Distributor to participate in and/or present at Selling Agent-sponsored conferences or seminars, sales or training programs for invited registered representatives and other Selling Agent employees, financial intermediary entertainment and other sponsored events, and travel expenses, including lodging incurred by registered representatives and other employees in connection with prospecting, retention and due diligence trips. The Distributor makes payments for entertainment events it deems appropriate, subject to the Distributor’s internal guidelines and applicable law. These payments may vary depending upon the nature of the event. Your Selling Agent may charge you fees or commissions in addition to those disclosed in this SAI. You should consult with your financial intermediary and review carefully any disclosure your Selling Agent provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a Selling Agent and its financial consultants may have a financial incentive for recommending a particular fund or a particular share class over other funds or share classes. See Investment Management and Other Services — Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest for more information.
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CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES
Description of the Trusts' Shares
The Trusts may issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest of each Fund, without par value, and to divide or combine the shares of any series into a greater or lesser number of shares of that Fund without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests in that Fund and to divide such shares into classes. Most of the Funds are authorized to issue multiple classes of shares. Such classes are designated as Class A, Class B, Class C, Class I, Class K, Class R, Class R4, Class R5, Class T, Class W, Class Y and Class Z. A Fund offers only those classes of shares listed on the cover of its prospectuses. Each share of a class of a Fund represents an equal proportional interest in that Fund with each other share in the same class and is entitled to such distributions out of the income earned on the assets belonging to that Fund as are declared in the discretion of the Board. However, different share classes of a Fund pay different distribution amounts because each share class has different expenses. Each time a distribution is made, the net asset value per share of the share class is reduced by the amount of the distribution.
Subject to certain limited exceptions discussed in each Fund’s prospectuses and in this SAI, a Fund may no longer be accepting new investments from current shareholders or prospective investors in general or with respect to one or more classes of shares. The Funds, however, may at any time and without notice, accept new investments in general or with respect to one or more previously closed classes of shares.
Restrictions on Holding or Disposing of Shares
There are no restrictions on the right of shareholders to retain or dispose of the Funds' shares, other than the possible future termination of the Funds or the relevant class. The Funds or any class of shares of the Funds may be terminated by reorganization into another mutual fund or by liquidation and distribution of their assets. Unless terminated by reorganization or liquidation, the Funds and classes will continue indefinitely.
Shareholder Liability
CFST. The Trust is organized under Delaware law. The Trust Instrument of the Trust disclaims liability of the shareholders or the officers of the Trust for acts or obligations of the Trust which are binding only on the assets and property of the Trust. The Trust Instrument provides for indemnification out of a Fund’s property for all loss and expense of a Fund’s shareholders being held personally liable solely by reason of his or her being or having been a shareholder and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other reason. The risk of a Trust shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which a Fund itself would not be able to meet the Trust’s obligations and this risk should be considered remote.
CFST II. The Trust is organized as a business trust under Massachusetts law. Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. However, the Trust’s Declaration of Trust disclaims any shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Funds and the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation, or instrument entered into or executed by a Fund or the Trustees. The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of Fund property for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of a Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances (which are considered remote) in which a Fund would be unable to meet its obligations and the disclaimer was inoperative. The risk of a Fund incurring financial loss on account of another series of the Trust also is believed to be remote, because it would be limited to circumstances in which the disclaimer was inoperative and the other series of the Trust was unable to meet its obligations.
Dividend Rights
The shareholders of a Fund are entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions declared for the Fund. No shares have priority or preference over any other shares of the Funds with respect to distributions. Distributions will be made from the assets of the Funds, and will be paid pro rata to all shareholders of each Fund (or class) according to the number of shares of each Fund (or class) held by shareholders on the record date. The amount of income dividends per share may vary between separate share classes of the Funds based upon differences in the way that expenses are allocated between share classes pursuant to a multiple class plan.
Voting Rights and Shareholder Meetings
Shareholders have the power to vote only as expressly granted under the 1940 Act or under Delaware statutory trust law (in the case of CFST) or Massachusetts business trust law (in the case of CFST II). Each whole share (or fractional share) outstanding on the record date shall be entitled to (for CFST) one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote, and each fractional share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote; and (for CFST II) a number of votes on any matter on which it is entitled to vote equal to the net asset value of the share (or fractional share) in U.S. dollars determined at the close of business on the record date (for example, a share having a net asset value of $10.50 would be entitled to 10.5 votes).
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Shareholders have no independent right to vote on any matter, including the creation, operation, dissolution or termination of the Trust. Shareholders have the right to vote on other matters only as the Board authorizes. Currently, the 1940 Act requires that shareholders have the right to vote, under certain circumstances, to: (i) elect Trustees; (ii) approve investment advisory agreements; (iii) approve a change in subclassification of a Fund; (iv) approve any change in fundamental investment policies; (v) approve a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; and (vi) to terminate the independent accountant. With respect to matters that affect one class but not another, shareholders vote as a class; for example, the approval of a distribution plan applicable to that class is voted on by holders of that class of shares. Subject to the foregoing, all shares of a Trust have equal voting rights and will be voted in the aggregate, and not by Fund, except where voting by Fund is required by law or where the matter involved only affects one Fund. For example, a change in a Fund’s fundamental investment policy affects only one Fund and would be voted upon only by shareholders of the Fund involved. Additionally, approval of an investment advisory agreement or, if shareholder approval is required under exemptive relief, investment subadvisory agreement, since it only affects one Fund, is a matter to be determined separately by each Fund. Approval by the shareholders of one Fund is effective as to that Fund whether or not sufficient votes are received from the shareholders of the other series to approve the proposal as to those Funds. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each whole share held and a proportional fractional vote for each fractional vote held, on matters on which they are entitled to vote. Fund shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights. The Trust is not required to hold, and has no present intention of holding, annual meetings of shareholders. Special meetings may be called for certain purposes.
Previously, CFST had voluntarily undertaken to adhere to certain governance measures contemplated by an SEC settlement order with respect to CFST’s prior investment adviser in 2005. Over the past several years, the SEC has adopted many rules under the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to strengthen fund governance and compliance oversight of funds and their investment advisers. Accordingly, although CFST may continue to follow certain governance practices noted in the 2005 settlement order, it will do so as the Board deems appropriate and not pursuant to any voluntary undertakings. In this regard, the Board has determined that it is unnecessary to commit to holding a meeting of shareholders to elect trustees at least every five years. Instead, the Board will convene meetings of shareholders to elect trustees as required by the 1940 Act or as deemed appropriate by the Board.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of the Trust or a Fund, all shares have equal rights and shareholders of a Fund are entitled to a proportionate share of the assets of the Fund that are available for distribution and to a distribution of any general assets not attributable to a particular Fund that are available for distribution in such manner and on such basis as the Board may determine.
Preemptive Rights
There are no preemptive rights associated with Fund shares.
Conversion Rights
Conversion features and exchange privileges, if applicable, are described in the Funds’ prospectuses and Appendix S to this SAI.
Redemptions
Each Fund’s dividend, distribution and redemption policies can be found in its prospectuses. However, the Board may suspend the right of shareholders to sell shares when permitted or required to do so by law or compel sales of shares in certain cases.
Sinking Fund Provisions
The Trust has no sinking fund provisions.
Calls or Assessment
All Fund shares are issued in uncertificated form only and when issued will be fully paid and non-assessable by its Trust.
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Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares
Purchase and Redemption
An investor may buy, sell and transfer shares in the Funds utilizing the methods, and subject to the restrictions, described in the Funds’ prospectuses. The following information supplements information in the Funds’ prospectuses.
Purchases of shares of the Funds may be effected on days on which the NYSE is open for business (a “Business Day”). The Trust and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase order. The issuance of shares is recorded on the books of the Trust, and share certificates are not issued. Purchase orders for shares in the Funds that are received by the Distributor or by the Transfer Agent before the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on any Business Day are priced according to the net asset value determined on that day but are not executed until 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the Business Day on which immediately available funds in payment of the purchase price are received by the Fund’s Custodian.
The Funds have authorized one or more broker-dealers to accept buy and sell orders on the Funds’ behalf. These broker-dealers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept buy and sell orders on the Funds’ behalf. The Funds will be deemed to have received a buy or sell order when an authorized broker-dealer, or, if applicable, a broker-dealer’s authorized designee, accepts the order. Customer orders will be priced at each Fund’s net asset value next computed after they are accepted by an authorized broker-dealer or the broker’s authorized designee.
Should a Fund stop selling shares, the Board may make a deduction from the value of the assets held by the Fund to cover the cost of future liquidations of the assets so as to distribute these costs fairly among all shareholders.
The Trusts also may make payment for sales in readily marketable securities or other property if it is appropriate to do so in light of the Trust’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.
Under the 1940 Act, the Funds may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment for shares during any period when (i) trading on the NYSE is restricted by applicable rules and regulations of the SEC; (ii) the NYSE is closed for other than customary weekend and holiday closings; (iii) the SEC has by order permitted such suspension; (iv) an emergency exists as determined by the SEC. (The Funds may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of their shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions).
The Trusts have elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, as a result of which each Fund is obligated to redeem shares, subject to the exceptions listed above, with respect to any one shareholder during any 90-day period, solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of each Fund at the beginning of the period. Although redemptions in excess of this limitation would normally be paid in cash, the Fund reserves the right to make these payments in whole or in part in securities or other assets in case of an emergency, or if the payment of a redemption in cash would be detrimental to the existing shareholders of the Fund as determined by the Board. In these circumstances, the securities distributed would be valued as set forth in this SAI. Should a Fund distribute securities, a shareholder may incur brokerage fees or other transaction costs in converting the securities to cash.
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent a Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to investors redeeming Fund shares could require large ready reserves of uninvested cash to meet shareholder redemptions. Either situation could adversely impact a Fund’s performance.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
The Funds are required to comply with various anti-money laundering laws and regulations. Consequently, the Funds may request additional required information from you to verify your identity. Your application will be rejected if it does not contain your name, social security number, date of birth and permanent street address. If at any time the Funds believe a shareholder may be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of suspicious persons, the Funds may choose not to establish a new account or may be required to “freeze” a shareholder’s account. The Funds also may be required to provide a governmental agency with information about transactions that have occurred in a shareholder’s account or to transfer monies received to establish a new account, transfer an existing account or transfer the proceeds of an existing account to a governmental agency. In some circumstances, the law may not permit the Funds to inform the shareholder that it has taken the actions described above.
Pay-out Plans
You can use any of several pay-out plans to redeem your investment in regular installments. If you redeem shares, you may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge as discussed in the prospectus. While the plans differ on how the pay-out is figured, they all are based on the redemption of your investment. Net investment income dividends and any capital gain distributions will
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automatically be reinvested, unless you elect to receive them in cash. If you redeem an IRA or a qualified retirement account, certain restrictions, federal tax penalties, and special federal income tax reporting requirements may apply. You should consult your tax advisor about this complex area of the tax law.
Applications for a systematic investment in a class of a Fund subject to a sales charge normally will not be accepted while a pay-out plan for any of those Funds is in effect. Occasional investments, however, may be accepted.
To start any of these plans, please consult your financial intermediary. Your authorization must be received at least five days before the date you want your payments to begin. Payments will be made on a monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual basis. Your choice is effective until you change or cancel it.
Offering Price
The share price of each Fund is based on each Fund’s net asset value (NAV) per share, which is calculated separately for each class of shares as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (which is usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time unless the NYSE closes earlier for scheduled or for unforeseen reasons) on each day the Fund is open for business, unless the Board determines otherwise. The Funds do not value their shares on days that the NYSE is closed.
For Funds Other than Money Market Funds. The value of each Fund’s portfolio securities is determined in accordance with the Trust’s valuation procedures, which are approved by the Board. Except as described below under “Fair Valuation of Portfolio Securities,” the Fund’s portfolio securities are typically valued using the following methodologies:
Equity Securities. Equity securities (including common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, warrants and ETFs) listed on an exchange are valued at the closing price on their primary exchange (which, in the case of foreign securities, may be a foreign exchange) or, if a closing price is not readily available, at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. Over-the-counter equity securities not listed on any national exchange but included in the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price or, if the official closing price is not readily available, at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices. Equity securities and ETFs that are not listed on any national exchange and are not included in the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices. Shares of other open-end investment companies (other than ETFs) are valued at the latest net asset value reported by those companies as of the valuation time.
Fixed Income Securities. Debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued at their amortized cost value if such value is approximately the same as market value or at market value (based on market-based prices); or, if market value is not available, fair value. Amortized cost is determined by systematically increasing the carrying value of a security if acquired at a discount, or reducing the carrying value if acquired at a premium, so that the carrying value is equal to maturity value on the maturity date. The value of debt securities with remaining maturities in excess of 60 days is the market price, which may be obtained from a pricing service or, if a market-based price is not available from a pricing service, a bid quote from a broker-dealer. Short-term variable rate demand notes are typically valued at their par value. Other debt securities are typically valued using an evaluated bid provided by a pricing service. If pricing information is unavailable from a pricing service or is not believed to be reflective of market value, then a bid quote from a broker-dealer may be used to value the securities. Newly issued debt securities may be valued at purchase price for up to two days following purchase or at fair value if the purchase price is not believed to be reflective of market value.
Futures, Options and Other Derivatives. Futures and options on futures are valued based on the settle price at the close of regular trading on their principal exchange or, in the absence of transactions, they are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices closest to the last reported sale price. Listed options are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. If market quotations are not readily available, futures and options are valued using quotations from broker-dealers. Customized derivative products are valued at a price provided by a pricing service or, if such a price is unavailable, a broker quote or at a price derived from an internal valuation model.
Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are generally valued at a price equal to the amount of cash invested in the repurchase agreement, or borrowed in the reverse repurchase agreement, respectively, at the time of valuation.
Bank Loans. Bank loans purchased in the primary market are typically valued at acquisition cost for up to two days, and are then valued using a market quotation from a pricing service or quote from a broker-dealer, or if such quotes are unavailable, fair value. For bank loans trading in the secondary market, prices are obtained from a pricing service and are based upon the average of one or more indicative bids from broker-dealers.
Private Placement Securities. Private placement securities requiring fair valuation are typically valued utilizing prices from broker-dealers or using internal analysis and any issuer-provided financial information.
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Foreign Currencies. Foreign currencies, securities denominated in foreign currencies and payables/receivables denominated in foreign currencies are valued in U.S. dollars utilizing spot exchange rates at the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Forward foreign currency contracts are valued in U.S. dollars utilizing the applicable forward currency exchange rate as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE.
For Money Market Funds. In accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, the securities in the portfolio of a money market fund are generally valued at amortized cost if such value is approximately the same as market value or at market value (based on market-based prices); or, if market value is not available, fair value. The amortized cost method of valuation is an approximation of market value determined by systematically increasing the carrying value of a security if acquired at a discount, or reducing the carrying value if acquired at a premium, so that the carrying value is equal to maturity value on the maturity date. Amortized cost does not take into consideration unrealized capital gains or losses.
The Board has established procedures designed to stabilize the Fund’s price per share for purposes of sales and redemptions at $1.00, to the extent that it is reasonably possible to do so. These procedures include review of the Fund’s securities by the Board, at intervals deemed appropriate by it, to determine whether the Fund’s net asset value per share computed by using available market quotations deviates from a share value of $1.00 as computed using the amortized cost method. Deviations are reported to the Board periodically and, if any such deviation exceeds 0.5%, the Board must determine what action, if any, needs to be taken. If the Board determines that a deviation exists that may result in a material dilution or other unfair results for shareholders or investors, the Board must cause the Fund to undertake such remedial action as the Board deems appropriate to eliminate or reduce to the extent reasonably practicable such dilution or unfair results.
Such action may include withholding dividends, calculating net asset value per share for purposes of sales and redemptions using available market quotations, making redemptions in kind, and/or selling securities before maturity in order to realize capital gains or losses or to shorten average portfolio maturity.
While the amortized cost method provides certainty and consistency in portfolio valuation, it may result in valuations of securities that are either somewhat higher or lower than the prices at which the securities could be sold. This means that during times of declining interest rates the yield on the Fund’s shares may be higher than if valuations of securities were made based on actual market prices and estimates of market prices. Accordingly, if using the amortized cost method were to result in a lower portfolio value, a prospective investor in the Fund would be able to obtain a somewhat higher yield than the investor would receive if portfolio valuations were based on actual market values. Existing shareholders, on the other hand, would receive a somewhat lower yield than they would otherwise receive. The opposite would happen during a period of rising interest rates.
Fair Valuation of Portfolio Securities. In the event that (i) market quotations or valuations from other sources are not readily available, such as when trading is halted or securities are not actively traded; (ii) market quotations or valuations from other sources are not reflective of market value (i.e., such prices or values are deemed unreliable in the judgment of the Investment Manager); or (iii) a significant event has been recognized in relation to a security or class of securities that is not reflected in market quotations or valuations from other sources, such as when an event impacting a foreign security occurs after the closing of the security’s foreign exchange but before the closing of the NYSE, a fair value for each such security is determined in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The fair value of a security is likely to be different from the quoted or published price and fair value determinations often require significant judgment.
In general, any relevant factors may be taken into account in determining fair value, including but not limited to the following, among others: the fundamental analytical data relating to the security; the value of other financial instruments, including derivative securities traded on other markets or among dealers; trading volumes on markets, exchanges, or among dealers; values of baskets of securities traded on other markets, exchanges, or among dealers; changes in interest rates; observations from financial institutions; government actions or pronouncements; other news events; information as to any transactions or offers with respect to the security; price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable companies; nature and expected duration of the event, if any, giving rise to the valuation issue; pricing history; the relative size of the position in the portfolio; internal models; and other relevant information.
With respect to securities traded on foreign markets, relevant factors may include, but not be limited to, the following: the value of foreign securities traded on other foreign markets; ADR and/or GDR trading; closed-end fund trading; foreign currency exchange activity and prices; and the trading of financial products that are tied to baskets of foreign securities, such as certain exchange-traded index funds. A systematic independent fair value pricing service assists in the fair valuation process for foreign securities in order to adjust for possible changes in value that may occur between the close of the foreign exchange and the time at which a Fund’s NAV is determined. Although the use of this service is intended to decrease opportunities for time zone arbitrage transactions, there can be no assurance that it will successfully decrease arbitrage opportunities.
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TAXATION
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Funds’ prospectuses entitled Distributions and Taxes . The prospectuses generally describe the U.S. federal income tax treatment of distributions by the Funds. This section of the SAI provides additional information concerning U.S. federal income taxes. It is based on the Code, applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations, judicial authority, and administrative rulings and practice, all as in effect as of the date of this SAI and all of which are subject to change, including changes with retroactive effect. Except as specifically set forth below, the following discussion does not address any state, local or foreign tax matters.
A shareholder’s tax treatment may vary depending upon his or her particular situation. This discussion applies only to shareholders holding Fund shares as capital assets within the meaning of the Code. Except as otherwise noted, it may not apply to certain types of shareholders who may be subject to special rules, such as insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, shareholders holding Fund shares through tax-advantaged accounts (such as 401(k) Plan Accounts or Individual Retirement Accounts, variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance contracts), financial institutions, broker-dealers, entities that are not organized under the laws of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, persons who are neither citizens nor residents of the United States, shareholders holding Fund shares as part of a hedge, straddle, or conversion transaction, and shareholders who are subject to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax.
The Trusts have not requested and will not request an advance ruling from the IRS as to the U.S. federal income tax matters described below. The IRS could adopt positions contrary to those discussed below and such positions could be sustained. In addition, the following discussion and the discussions in the prospectuses address only some of the U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting investments in the Funds. Prospective shareholders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors and financial planners regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in a Fund, the application of state, local, or foreign laws, and the effect of any possible changes in applicable tax laws on their investment in the Funds.
Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company
It is intended that each Fund qualify as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1 of the Code. Each Fund will be treated as a separate entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Thus, the provisions of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies generally will apply separately to each Fund, even though each Fund is a series of a Trust. Furthermore, each Fund will separately determine its income, gains, losses, and expenses for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders under the Code, each Fund must, among other things, derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year generally from (i) dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income attributable to its business of investing in such stock, securities or foreign currencies (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) and (ii) net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership, as defined below. In general, for purposes of this 90% gross income requirement, income derived from a partnership (other than a qualified publicly traded partnership) will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized directly by the regulated investment company. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (generally, defined as a partnership (x) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market or readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, and (y) that derives less than 90% of its gross income from the qualifying income described in clause (i) above) will be treated as qualifying income. In general, such entities will be treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes if they meet the passive income requirement under Code Section 7704(c)(2). Certain of a Fund’s investments in master limited partnerships (MLPs) and ETFs, if any, may qualify as interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules do not apply to a regulated investment company, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.
Each Fund must also diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year: (i) at least 50% of the fair market value of its total assets consists of (A) cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, and (B) other securities, of any one issuer (other than those described in clause (A)) to the extent such securities do not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and are not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets consists of the securities of any one issuer (other than those described in clause (i)(A)), the securities (other than securities of other regulated investment companies) of two or more issuers the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.
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In addition, for purposes of meeting this diversification requirement, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” includes the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership and in the case of a Fund’s investments in loan participations, the Fund shall treat both the financial intermediary and the issuer of the underlying loan as an issuer. The qualifying income and diversification requirements described above may limit the extent to which a Fund can engage in certain derivative transactions, as well as the extent to which it can invest in MLPs and certain commodity-linked ETFs.
In addition, each Fund generally must distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its investment company taxable income for the taxable year, which generally includes its ordinary income and the excess of any net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss, and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income (if any) for the taxable year.
If a Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment, it generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any of the investment company taxable income and net capital gain ( i.e. , the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) it distributes to its shareholders. Each Fund generally intends to distribute at least annually substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction) and its net capital gain. However, no assurance can be given that a Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation. Any investment company taxable income or net capital gain retained by a Fund will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates.
If a Fund retains any net capital gain, it will be subject to a tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained, but may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice mailed within 60 days of the close of the Fund’s taxable year to its shareholders, who (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of a Fund will be increased by an amount equal under current law to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income under clause (i) of the preceding sentence and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence.
In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a Capital Gain Dividend (as defined below), its taxable income, and its earnings and profits, a regulated investment company generally may elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to such portion of the taxable year) or late-year ordinary loss (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31, if any, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss attributable to the portion of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.
In order to comply with the distribution requirements described above applicable to regulated investment companies, a Fund generally must make the distributions in the same taxable year that it realizes the income and gain, although in certain circumstances, a Fund may make the distributions in the following taxable year in respect of income and gains from the prior taxable year. Shareholders generally are taxed on any distributions from a Fund in the year they are actually distributed. If a Fund declares a distribution to shareholders of record in October, November or December of one calendar year and pays the distribution in January of the following calendar year, however, the Fund and its shareholders will be treated as if the Fund paid the distribution on December 31 of the earlier year.
If a Fund were to fail to meet the income, diversification or distribution tests described above, the Fund could in some cases cure such failure including by paying a fund-level tax or interest, making additional distributions, or disposing of certain assets. If the Fund were ineligible to or otherwise did not cure such failure for any year, or were otherwise to fail to qualify and be eligible for treatment as a regulated investment company accorded special tax treatment under the Code, it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation without any deduction for its distributions to shareholders. In this case, all distributions from the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (including any distributions of its net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains) to its shareholders would be taxable to shareholders as dividend income. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a regulated investment company.
Excise Tax
If a Fund fails to distribute by December 31 of each calendar year at least the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for that year (excluding capital gains and losses) and 98.2% of its capital gain net income (adjusted for net ordinary losses) for the 1-year period ending on October 31 of that year (or November 30 or December 31 of that year if the Fund is permitted to elect and so elects), and any of its ordinary income and capital gain net income from previous years that were not distributed during such years, the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts. For these purposes, ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of property that would be properly taken into account after October 31 of a calendar year (or November 30 or December 31 if the Fund is permitted to elect and so elects) are generally
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treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. For purposes of the excise tax, a Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it has been subject to corporate income tax in the taxable year ending within the calendar year. Each Fund generally intends to actually distribute or be deemed to have distributed substantially all of its ordinary income and capital gain net income, if any, by the end of each calendar year and, thus, expects not to be subject to the excise tax. However, no assurance can be given that a Fund will not be subject to the excise tax. Moreover, a Fund reserves the right to pay an excise tax rather than make an additional distribution when circumstances warrant (for example, if the amount of excise tax to be paid is deemed de minimis by a Fund).
Capital Loss Carryovers
Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against a Fund’s net investment income. Instead, potentially subject to certain limitations, a Fund is able to carry forward a net capital loss from any taxable year to offset its capital gains, if any, realized during a subsequent taxable year.
If a Fund incurs or has incurred net capital losses in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 (“post-2010 losses”), those losses will be carried forward to one or more subsequent taxable years without expiration; any such carryover losses will retain their character as short-term or long-term. If a Fund incurred net capital losses in a taxable year beginning on or before December 22, 2010 (“pre-2011 losses”), the Fund is permitted to carry such losses forward for eight taxable years; in the year to which they are carried over, such losses are treated as short-term capital losses that first offset short-term capital gains, and then offset any long-term capital gains. The Fund must use any post-2010 losses, which will not expire, before it uses any pre-2011 losses. This increases the likelihood that pre-2011 losses will expire unused at the conclusion of the eight-year carryover period.
Capital gains that are offset by carried forward capital losses are not subject to fund-level U.S. federal income taxation, regardless of whether they are distributed to shareholders. Accordingly, the Funds do not expect to distribute any capital gains so offset. The Funds cannot carry back or carry forward any net operating losses (defined as deductions and ordinary losses in excess of ordinary income).
The total capital loss carryovers below include post-October losses, if applicable.
Capital Loss Carryovers
Fund Total
Capital Loss
Carryovers
Amount Expiring in   Amount not Expiring
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019   Short-term Long-term
For Funds with fiscal period ending January 31
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio $7,841 $0 $0 $0 $7,841 $0   $0 $0
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio $388,505 $0 $388,505 $0 $0 $0   $0 $0
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Global Equity Value Fund $50,228,924 $0 $0 $50,228,924 $0 $0   $0 $0
International Opportunities Fund $581,236,373 $0 $0 $160,687,779 $420,548,594 $0   $0 $0
International Value Fund $545,585,785 $0 $0 $0 $185,725,377 $68,376,538   $0 $291,483,870
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund $10,116,156 $0 $0 $0 $10,116,156 $0   $0 $0
Large Cap Growth Fund II $1,461,784,105 $0 $0 $0 $1,461,784,105 $0   $0 $0
Overseas Value Fund $342,547,025 $0 $0 $321,237,467 $3,000,399 $0   $18,309,159 $0
Select International Equity Fund $782,662,697 $0 $0 $229,141,617 $553,521,080 $0   $0 $0
For Funds with fiscal period ending March 31
Short Term Bond Fund $23,134,245 $0 $4,489,585 $18,644,660 $0 $0   $0 $0
For Funds with fiscal period ending April 30
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund $2,380,049 $0 $0 $10,109 $0 $0   $2,323,351 $46,589
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund $1,936,162 $0 $0 $1,936,162 $0 $0   $0 $0
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund $2,830,025 $0 $0 $2,649,648 $0 $0   $180,377 $0
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund $1,137,158 $0 $0 $0 $602,849 $0   $0 $534,309
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
High Yield Bond Fund $157,390,448 $0 $1,222,449 $101,035,752 $55,132,247 $0   $0 $0
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund $17,068,665 $0 $7,302,356 $9,766,309 $0 $0   $0 $0
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Fund Total
Capital Loss
Carryovers
Amount Expiring in Amount not Expiring
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Short-term Long-term
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31
Disciplined Core Fund $355,833,034 $0 $0 $8,928,904 $328,324,590 $18,579,540 $0 $0
Disciplined Value Fund $20,709,205 $0 $0 $20,709,205 $0 $0 $0 $0
Floating Rate Fund $66,322,573 $0 $0 $28,593,376 $35,398,330 $0 $0 $2,330,867
Global Opportunities Fund $154,927,562 $0 $0 $0 $133,719,540 $21,208,022 $0 $0
Limited Duration Credit Fund $3,527,017 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,105,806 $2,421,211
MN Tax-Exempt Fund $513,933 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $513,933 $0
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund $1,978,293 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $785,233 $1,193,060
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund $32,457,477 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $25,807,474 $6,650,003
European Equity Fund $4,368,227 $0 $0 $4,368,227 $0 $0 $0 $0
Select Global Equity Fund $61,966,241 $0 $1,476,532 $53,446,454 $0 $7,043,255 $0 $0
Equalization Accounting
Each Fund may use the so-called “equalization method” of accounting to allocate a portion of its “accumulated earnings and profits,” which generally equals a Fund’s undistributed net investment income and realized capital gains, with certain adjustments, to redemption proceeds. This method permits a Fund to achieve more balanced distributions for both continuing and redeeming shareholders. Although using this method generally will not affect a Fund’s total returns, it may reduce the amount of income and gains that the Fund would otherwise distribute to continuing shareholders by reducing the effect of redemptions of Fund shares on Fund distributions to shareholders. The IRS has not sanctioned the particular equalization method used by the Funds, and thus a Fund’s use of this method may be subject to IRS scrutiny.
Investment through Master Portfolios
Prior to its conversion to a stand-alone fund after the close of business on December 13, 2013, International Value Fund sought to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by investing its assets through the Master Portfolio. The Master Portfolio will be treated as a non-publicly traded partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes rather than as a regulated investment company or a corporation under the Code. Under the rules applicable to a non-publicly traded partnership, a proportionate share of any interest, dividends, gains and losses of the Master Portfolio will be deemed to have been realized by ( i.e. , “passed through” to) its investors, including the corresponding Fund, regardless of whether any amounts are actually distributed by the Master Portfolio. Each investor in the Master Portfolio will be treated as having realized such share, as determined in accordance with the governing instruments of the particular Master Portfolio, the Code and U.S. Treasury Regulations, in determining such investor’s U.S. federal income tax liability. Therefore, to the extent the Master Portfolio were to accrue but not distribute any income or gains, the corresponding Fund would be deemed to have realized its proportionate share of such income or gains without receipt of any corresponding distribution. However, the Master Portfolio will seek to minimize recognition by its investors (such as a corresponding Fund) of income and gains without a corresponding distribution. Furthermore, the Master Portfolio intends to manage its assets, income and distributions in such a way that an investor in the Master Portfolio will be able to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by investing its assets through the Master Portfolio.
Taxation of Fund Investments
In general, realized gains or losses on the sale of securities held by a Fund will be treated as capital gains or losses, and long-term capital gains or losses if the Fund has held or is deemed to have held the securities for more than one year at the time of disposition.
If a Fund purchases a debt obligation with original issue discount (OID) (generally a debt obligation with an issue price less than its stated principal amount, such as a zero-coupon bond), the Fund may be required to annually include in its income a portion of the OID as ordinary income, even though the Fund will not receive cash payments for such discount until maturity or disposition of the obligation, and depending on market conditions and the credit quality of the bond, might not ever receive cash for such discount. OID on tax-exempt bonds is generally not subject to U.S. federal income tax (but may be subject to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax or "AMT," as that term is defined below).
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Inflation-protected bonds generally can be expected to produce OID income as their principal amounts are adjusted upward for inflation. In general, gains recognized on the disposition of (or the receipt of any partial payment of principal on) a debt obligation (including a municipal obligation) purchased by a Fund at a market discount, generally at a price less than its principal amount, will be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the portion of market discount which accrued, but was not previously recognized pursuant to an available election, during the term that the Fund held the debt obligation.
A Fund generally will be required to make distributions to shareholders representing the OID or market discount (if an election is made by the Fund to include market discount over the holding period of the applicable debt obligation) on debt securities that is currently includible in income, even though the cash representing such income may not have been received by the Fund, and depending on market conditions and the credit quality of the bond, might not ever be received. Cash to pay such distributions may be obtained from borrowing or from sales proceeds of securities held by a Fund which the Fund otherwise might have continued to hold; obtaining such cash might be disadvantageous for the Fund. In addition, payment-in-kind securities similarly will give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though a Fund receives no cash interest payment on the security during the year. A portion of the interest paid or accrued on certain high-yield discount obligations (such as high-yield corporate debt securities) may not (and interest paid on debt obligations owned by a Fund that are considered for tax purposes to be payable in the equity of the issuer or a related party will not) be deductible to the issuer, possibly affecting the cash flow of the issuer.
If a Fund invests in debt obligations that are in the lowest rating categories or are unrated, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or who are in default, special tax issues may exist for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as: (1) whether a Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation and, if so, (2) the amount of market discount the Fund should recognize, (3) when a Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, (4) when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities and (5) how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a Fund when, as and if it invests in such securities, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status and eligibility for treatment as a regulated investment company and does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.
Very generally, when a Fund purchases a bond at a price that exceeds the redemption price at maturity – that is, at a premium – the premium is amortizable over the remaining term of the bond. In the case of a taxable bond, if a Fund makes an election applicable to all such bonds it purchases, which election is irrevocable without consent of the IRS, the Fund reduces the current interest taxable income from the bond by the amortized premium and reduces its tax basis in the bond by the amount of such offset; upon the disposition or maturity of such bonds acquired on or after January 4, 2013, a Fund is permitted to deduct any remaining premium allocable to a prior period. In the case of a tax-exempt bond, tax rules require a Fund to reduce its tax basis and the tax-exempt interest available for exempt-interest dividends to shareholders by the amount of the amortized premium.
If an option granted by a Fund is sold, lapses or is otherwise terminated through a closing transaction, such as a repurchase by the Fund of the option from its holder, the Fund generally will realize a short-term capital gain or loss, depending on whether the premium income is greater or less than the amount paid by the Fund in the closing transaction, unless the option is subject to Section 1256 of the Code, described below. Some capital losses realized by a Fund in the sale, exchange, exercise or other disposition of an option may be deferred if they result from a position that is part of a “straddle,” discussed below. If securities are sold by a Fund pursuant to the exercise of a covered call option granted by it, the Fund generally will add the premium received to the sale price of the securities delivered in determining the amount of gain or loss on the sale. If securities are purchased by a Fund pursuant to the exercise of a put option granted by it, the Fund generally will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the securities purchased.
Some regulated futures contracts, foreign currency contracts, and non-equity, listed options that may be used by a Fund will be deemed “Section 1256 contracts.” A Fund will be required to “mark to market” any such contracts held at the end of the taxable year by treating them as if they had been sold on the last day of that year at market value. Sixty percent of any net gain or loss realized on all dispositions of Section 1256 contracts, including deemed dispositions under the “mark-to-market” rule, generally will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss, and the remaining 40% will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss, although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as entirely ordinary income or loss as described below. These provisions may require a Fund to recognize income or gains without a concurrent receipt of cash. Transactions that qualify as designated hedges are exempt from the mark-to-market rule and the “60%/40%” rule and may require the Fund to defer the recognition of losses on certain futures contracts, foreign currency contracts, and non-equity options.
Foreign exchange gains and losses realized by a Fund in connection with certain transactions involving foreign currency-denominated debt securities, certain options, futures contracts, forward contracts and similar instruments relating to foreign currencies, or payables or receivables denominated in a foreign currency are subject to Section 988 of the Code, which generally causes such gains and losses to be treated as ordinary income or loss and may affect the amount and timing of recognition of the Fund’s income. Under future U.S. Treasury Regulations, any such transactions that are not directly related to a Fund’s
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investments in stock or securities (or its options contracts or futures contracts with respect to stock or securities) may have to be limited in order to enable the Fund to satisfy the 90% qualifying income test described above. If the net foreign exchange loss exceeds a Fund’s net investment company taxable income (computed without regard to such loss) for a taxable year, the resulting ordinary loss for such year will not be available as a carryover and thus cannot be deducted by the Fund or its shareholders in future years.
Offsetting positions held by a Fund involving certain derivative instruments, such as forward, futures and options contracts, may be considered, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to constitute “straddles.” “Straddles” are defined to include “offsetting positions” in actively traded personal property. The tax treatment of “straddles” is governed by Section 1092 of the Code which, in certain circumstances, overrides or modifies the provisions of Section 1256. If a Fund is treated as entering into a “straddle” and at least one (but not all) of the Fund’s positions in derivative contracts comprising a part of such straddle is governed by Section 1256 of the Code, described above, then such straddle could be characterized as a “mixed straddle.” A Fund may make one or more elections with respect to “mixed straddles.” Depending upon which election is made, if any, the results with respect to a Fund may differ. Generally, to the extent the straddle rules apply to positions established by a Fund, losses realized by the Fund may be deferred to the extent of unrealized gain in any offsetting positions. Moreover, as a result of the straddle rules, short-term capital loss on straddle positions may be recharacterized as long-term capital loss, and long-term capital gain may be characterized as short-term capital gain. In addition, the existence of a straddle may affect the holding period of the offsetting positions. As a result, the straddle rules could cause distributions that would otherwise constitute “qualified dividend income” or qualify for the dividends-received deduction to fail to satisfy the applicable holding period requirements (as described below). Furthermore, the Fund may be required to capitalize, rather than deduct currently, any interest expense and carrying charges applicable to a position that is part of a straddle, including any interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry any positions that are part of a straddle. The application of the straddle rules to certain offsetting Fund positions can therefore affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions to shareholders, and may result in significant differences from the amount, timing and character of distributions that would have been made by the Fund if it had not entered into offsetting positions in respect of certain of its portfolio securities.
If a Fund enters into a “constructive sale” of any appreciated financial position in stock, a partnership interest, or certain debt instruments, the Fund will be treated as if it had sold and immediately repurchased the property and must recognize gain (but not loss) with respect to that position. A constructive sale of an appreciated financial position occurs when a Fund enters into certain offsetting transactions with respect to the same or substantially identical property, including, but not limited to: (i) a short sale; (ii) an offsetting notional principal contract; (iii) a futures or forward contract; or (iv) other transactions identified in future U.S. Treasury Regulations. The character of the gain from constructive sales will depend upon a Fund’s holding period in the appreciated financial position. Losses realized from a sale of a position that was previously the subject of a constructive sale will be recognized when the position is subsequently disposed of. The character of such losses will depend upon a Fund’s holding period in the position beginning with the date the constructive sale was deemed to have occurred and the application of various loss deferral provisions in the Code. Constructive sale treatment does not apply to certain closed transactions, including if such a transaction is closed on or before the 30th day after the close of the Fund’s taxable year and the Fund holds the appreciated financial position unhedged throughout the 60-day period beginning with the day such transaction was closed.
The amount of long-term capital gain a Fund may recognize from certain derivative transactions with respect to interests in certain pass-through entities is limited under the Code’s constructive ownership rules. The amount of long-term capital gain is limited to the amount of such gain the Fund would have had if the Fund directly invested in the pass-through entity during the term of the derivative contract. Any gain in excess of this amount is treated as ordinary income. An interest charge is imposed on the amount of gain that is treated as ordinary income.
If a Fund makes a distribution of income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders. Similar consequences may apply to repurchase and other derivative transactions. Similarly, to the extent that a Fund makes distributions of income received by such Fund in lieu of tax-exempt interest with respect to securities on loan, such distributions will not constitute exempt-interest dividends (defined below) to shareholders.
In addition, a Fund’s transactions in securities and certain types of derivatives ( e.g., options, futures contracts, forward contracts and swap agreements) may be subject to other special tax rules, such as the wash sale rules or the short-sale rules, the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains, and/or convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.
Certain of a Fund’s investments in derivative instruments and foreign currency-denominated instruments, as well as any of its foreign currency transactions and hedging activities, are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a Fund’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution (if
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any) of such excess generally will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in its shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If a Fund’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
Rules governing the U.S. federal income tax aspects of derivatives, including swap agreements and certain commodity-linked investments, are in a developing stage and are not entirely clear in certain respects. Accordingly, while each Fund intends to account for such transactions in a manner it deems to be appropriate, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a Fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid fund-level tax. Certain requirements that must be met under the Code in order for a Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company may limit the extent to which a Fund will be able to engage in certain derivatives or commodity-linked transactions.
Certain of the Funds employ a multi-manager approach in which the Investment Manager and one or more investment subadvisers each provide day-to-day portfolio management for a portion (or “sleeve”) of the Fund’s assets. Due to this multi-manager approach, certain of these Funds’ investments may be more likely to be subject to one or more special tax rules (including, but not limited to, wash sale, constructive sale, short sale, and straddle rules) that may affect the timing, character and/or amount of a Fund’s distributions to shareholders.
Any investment by a Fund in equity securities of a REIT may result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Investments in equity securities of a REIT or another regulated investment company also may require a Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income and will not qualify for the dividends-received deduction.
A Fund may invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (TMPs). Under an IRS notice, and U.S. Treasury Regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of a Fund’s income (including income allocated to the Fund from a REIT, a regulated investment company or other pass-through entity) that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest in a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as a Fund, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related interest directly. As a result, the Fund may not be a suitable investment for certain tax-exempt shareholders, as noted under Tax-Exempt Shareholders below.
In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (UBTI) to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or certain other tax-exempt entities) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a foreign shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax.
Some amounts received by a Fund from its investments in MLPs will likely be treated as returns of capital because of accelerated deductions available with respect to the activities of MLPs. On the disposition of an investment in such an MLP, the Fund will likely realize taxable income in excess of economic gain from that asset (or, in later periods, if a Fund does not dispose of the MLP, the Fund will likely realize taxable income in excess of cash flow received by the Fund from the MLP), and the Fund must take such income into account in determining whether the Fund has satisfied its regulated investment company distribution requirements. The Fund may have to borrow or liquidate securities to satisfy its distribution requirements and meet its redemption requests, even though investment considerations might otherwise make it undesirable for the Fund to borrow money or sell securities at the time. In addition, distributions attributable to gain from the sale of MLPs that are characterized as ordinary income under the Code’s recapture provisions will be taxable to Fund shareholders as ordinary income.
As noted above, certain of the ETFs and MLPs in which a Fund may invest qualify as qualified publicly traded partnerships. In such cases, the net income derived from such investments will constitute qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described earlier for qualification as a regulated investment company. If, however, such a vehicle were to fail to qualify as a qualified publicly traded partnership in a particular year, a Fund’s investment in that vehicle would be treated as an investment in a publicly traded partnership subject to taxation as a corporation, which would reduce the amount of income available for distribution by the vehicle to the Fund, and could adversely affect the Fund’s qualification for the asset
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diversification test, and thus could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as a regulated investment company for a particular year. In addition, as described above, the diversification requirement for regulated investment company qualification will limit a Fund’s investments in one or more vehicles that are qualified publicly traded partnerships to 25% of the Fund’s total assets as of the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year.
“Passive foreign investment companies” (PFICs) are generally defined as foreign corporations where at least 75% of their gross income for their taxable year is income from passive sources (such as certain interest, dividends, rents and royalties, or capital gains) or at least 50% of their assets on average produce or are held for the production of such passive income. If a Fund acquires any equity interest in a PFIC, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and interest charges on “excess distributions” received from the PFIC or on gain from the sale of such equity interest in the PFIC, even if all income or gain actually received by the Fund is timely distributed to its shareholders. Excess distributions and gain from the sale of interests in PFICs may be characterized as ordinary income even though, absent the application of PFIC rules, these amounts may otherwise have been classified as capital gain.
A Fund will not be permitted to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for these special taxes and interest charges incurred with respect to a PFIC. Elections may be available that would ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but such elections would require a Fund to include its share of the PFIC’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the PFIC (in the case of a “QEF election”), or to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in its interests in the PFIC “to the market” as though the Fund had sold and repurchased such interests on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year, treating such gains and losses as ordinary income and loss (in the case of a “mark-to-market election”). The QEF and mark-to-market elections may require a Fund to recognize taxable income or gain without the concurrent receipt of cash and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require a Fund to liquidate other investments prematurely to meet the minimum distribution requirements described above, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and adversely affect the Fund’s total return. Each Fund may attempt to limit and/or manage its holdings in PFICs to minimize tax liability and/or maximize returns from these investments but there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so. Moreover, because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, a Fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above in some instances. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income, as defined below.
A U.S. person, including a Fund, who owns (directly or indirectly) 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a foreign corporation is a “U.S. Shareholder” for purposes of the controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”) provisions of the Code. Generally, a CFC is a foreign corporation that is owned (directly, indirectly, or constructively) more than 50% (measured by voting power or value) by U.S. Shareholders.
Each wholly-owned subsidiary of Commodity Strategy Fund is expected to be a CFC in which the Fund owning the Subsidiary will be a U.S. Shareholder. As a U.S. Shareholder, such a Fund is required to include in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes all of a CFC’s “subpart F income,” whether or not such income is actually distributed by the CFC. Subpart F income generally includes net gains from the disposition of stocks or securities, receipts with respect to securities loans, net gains from transactions (including futures, forward, and similar transactions) in commodities, and net payments received with respect to equity swaps and similar derivatives. Subpart F income is treated as ordinary income, regardless of the character of the CFC’s underlying income. Net losses incurred by a CFC during a tax year do not flow through to the Fund and thus will not be available to offset income or capital gain generated from the Fund’s other investments. In addition, net losses incurred by a CFC during a tax year generally cannot be carried forward by the CFC to offset gains realized by it in subsequent taxable years. To the extent the Fund recognizes subpart F income in excess of actual cash distributions from a CFC, the Fund may be required to sell assets (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to generate the cash necessary to distribute as dividends to its shareholders all of its income and gains and therefore to eliminate any tax liability at the Fund level.
In addition, if any income earned by a Subsidiary were treated as “effectively connected” with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States (“effectively connected income” or “ECI”), such income would be subject to both a so-called “branch profits tax” of 30% and a federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. corporations, at the entity level. If, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a Subsidiary were to earn ECI in connection with its direct investment activities, a portion or all of the Subsidiary’s income would be subject to these U.S. taxes. The Fund expects that, in general, the activities of the Subsidiary will be conducted in such a manner that it will not be treated as engaged in a U.S. trade or business, but there can be no assurance that the entity will not recognize any effectively connected income. The imposition of U.S. taxes on ECI could significantly reduce shareholders’ returns on their investments in the Fund. The Fund does not expect that income from any Subsidiary will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. In addition, the Fund does not expect that distributions from any Subsidiary will be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.
In addition to the investments described above, prospective shareholders should be aware that other investments made by a Fund may involve complex tax rules that may result in income or gain recognition by the Fund without corresponding current cash receipts. Although each Fund seeks to avoid significant noncash income, such noncash income could be recognized by a Fund,
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in which case the Fund may distribute cash derived from other sources in order to meet the minimum distribution requirements described above. In this regard, a Fund could be required at times to liquidate investments prematurely in order to satisfy its minimum distribution requirements, which may accelerate the recognition of gain and adversely affect the Fund’s total return.
Taxation of Distributions
Except for exempt-interest dividends (defined below) paid by a Fund, distributions paid out of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in the Fund, generally are deemed to be taxable distributions and must be reported by each shareholder who is required to file a U.S. federal income tax return. Dividends and distributions on a Fund’s shares are generally subject to U.S. federal income tax as described herein to the extent they do not exceed the Fund’s realized income and gains, even though such dividends and distributions may economically represent a return of a particular shareholder’s investment. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of shares purchased at a time when the Fund’s net asset value reflects either unrealized gains, or realized but undistributed income or gains. Such realized income and gains may be required to be distributed even when the Fund’s net asset value also reflects unrealized losses. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a Fund’s earnings and profits, described above, are determined at the end of the Fund’s taxable year. Distributions in excess of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will first be treated as a return of capital up to the amount of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Fund shares and then as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Fund shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of his or her shares. A Fund may make distributions in excess of its earnings and profits to a limited extent, from time to time.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income (except for exempt-interest dividends and qualified dividend income, each defined below) are generally taxable as ordinary income, and distributions of gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income. Distributions properly reported by a Fund as capital gain dividends (Capital Gain Dividends) will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain (to the extent such distributions do not exceed the Fund’s actual net long-term capital gain for the taxable year), regardless of how long a shareholder has held Fund shares, and do not qualify as dividends for purposes of the dividends-received deduction or as qualified dividend income (defined below). Each Fund will report Capital Gain Dividends, if any, in written statements furnished to its shareholders.
Some states will not tax distributions made to individual shareholders that are attributable to interest a Fund earns on direct obligations of the U.S. Government if the Fund meets the state’s minimum investment or reporting requirements, if any. Investments in GNMA or FNMA securities, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities generally do not qualify for tax-free treatment. This exemption may not apply to corporate shareholders.
Sales and Exchanges of Fund Shares
If a shareholder sells or exchanges his or her Fund shares, he or she generally will realize a taxable capital gain or loss on the difference between the amount received for the shares (or deemed received in the case of an exchange) and his or her tax basis in the shares. This gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if he or she has held (or is deemed to have held) such Fund shares for more than one year at the time of the sale or exchange, and short-term capital gain or loss otherwise.
If a shareholder incurs a sales charge in acquiring Fund shares and sells or exchanges those Fund shares within 90 days of having acquired such shares and if, as a result of having initially acquired those shares, he or she subsequently pays a reduced sales charge on a new purchase of shares of the Fund or a different regulated investment company, the sales charge previously incurred in acquiring the Fund’s shares generally shall not be taken into account (to the extent the previous sales charges do not exceed the reduction in sales charges on the new purchase) for the purpose of determining the amount of gain or loss on the disposition, but generally will be treated as having been incurred in the new purchase. This sales charge basis deferral rule shall apply only when a shareholder makes such new acquisition of Fund shares or shares of a different regulated investment company during the period beginning on the date the original Fund shares are disposed of and ending on January 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year the original Fund shares are disposed of. Also, if a shareholder realizes a loss on a disposition of Fund shares, the loss will be disallowed under “wash sale” rules to the extent that he or she purchases (including through the reinvestment of dividends) substantially identical shares within the 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition. Any disallowed loss generally will be reflected in an adjustment to the tax basis of the purchased shares.
If a shareholder receives a Capital Gain Dividend or is deemed to receive a distribution of long-term capital gain with respect to any Fund share and such Fund share is held or treated as held for six months or less, then (unless otherwise disallowed) any loss on the sale or exchange of that Fund share will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the Capital Gain Dividend or deemed long-term capital gain distribution. If Fund shares are sold at a loss after being held for six months or less, the loss will generally be disallowed to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends (defined below) received on those shares. However,
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this loss disallowance does not apply with respect to redemptions of Fund shares with a holding period beginning after December 22, 2010 if such Fund declares substantially all of its net tax-exempt income as exempt-interest dividends on a daily basis, and pays such dividends on at least a monthly basis (as would typically be the case for tax-exempt money market funds).
Cost Basis Reporting
Each Fund generally is required to report to shareholders and the IRS gross proceeds on the sale, redemption or exchange of Fund shares. In addition, for shares purchased, including shares purchased through dividend reinvestment, on or after January 1, 2012 the Funds (or the shareholder’s Selling Agent, if Fund shares are held through a Selling Agent) generally are required to provide the shareholders and the IRS, upon the sale, redemption or exchange of Fund shares, with cost basis information about those shares as well as information about whether any gain or loss is short- or long-term and whether any loss is disallowed under the “wash sale” rules. This reporting is not required for Fund shares held in a retirement or other tax-advantaged account. With respect to Fund shares in accounts held directly with a Fund, each Fund will calculate and report cost basis using the Fund’s default method of average cost, unless the shareholder instructs the Fund to use a different calculation method. A Fund will not report cost basis for shares whose cost basis is uncertain or unknown to the Fund. Please visit the Columbia Funds’ website at www.columbiathreadneedle.com/us or contact the Funds at 800.345.6611 for more information regarding average cost basis reporting and other available methods for cost basis reporting and how to select or change a particular method or to choose specific shares to sell, redeem or exchange. If a shareholder retains Fund shares through a Selling Agent, he or she should contact their Selling Agent to learn about the Fund’s cost basis reporting default method and the reporting elections available to his or her account. The Funds do not recommend any particular method of determining cost basis. The shareholder should consult a tax advisor to determine which available cost basis method is best. When completing U.S. federal and state income tax returns, shareholders should carefully review the cost basis and other information provided and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that may be required.
Foreign Taxes
Amounts realized by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of the value of a Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to file an annual election with the IRS pursuant to which the Fund may pass through to its shareholders on a pro rata basis foreign income and similar taxes paid by the Fund with respect to foreign securities that the Fund has held for at least the minimum holding periods specified in the Code and such taxes may be claimed, subject to certain limitations, either as a tax credit or deduction by the shareholders. In some cases, a Fund may also be eligible to pass through to its shareholders the foreign taxes paid by underlying funds (as defined below) in which it invests that themselves elected to pass through such taxes to their shareholders, see Special Tax Considerations Pertaining to Funds-of-Funds below.

Certain Funds may qualify for and make the election; however, even if a Fund qualifies for the election for any year, it may determine not to make the election for such year. If a Fund does not so qualify or qualifies but does not so elect, then shareholders will not be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by or withheld from payments to the Fund. A Fund will notify its shareholders in written statements if it has elected for the foreign taxes paid by it to “pass through” for that year.
In general, if a Fund makes the election, the Fund itself will not be permitted to claim a credit or deduction for foreign taxes paid in that year, and the Fund’s dividends-paid deduction will be increased by the amount of foreign taxes paid that year. Fund shareholders generally shall include their proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund in their gross income and treat that amount as paid by them for the purpose of the foreign tax credit or deduction, provided that any applicable holding period and other requirements have been met. If a shareholder claims a credit for foreign taxes paid, in general, the credit will be subject to certain limits. A deduction for foreign taxes paid may be claimed only by shareholders that itemize their deductions. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in the Fund through tax-exempt accounts (including those who invest through IRAs or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by the Fund.
Special Tax Considerations Pertaining to Tax-Exempt Funds
If, at the close of each quarter of a regulated investment company’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets consists of obligations the interest on which is exempt from U.S. federal income tax under Section 103(a) of the Code, then the regulated investment company may qualify to pay “exempt-interest dividends” and pass through to its shareholders the tax-exempt character of its income from such obligations. Certain of the Funds intend to so qualify and are designed to provide shareholders with a high level of income in the form of exempt-interest dividends, which are generally exempt from U.S. federal income tax (each such qualifying Fund, a “Tax-Exempt Fund”). In some cases, a Fund may also be eligible to pass through to its shareholders the tax-exempt character of any exempt-interest dividends it receives from underlying funds (as defined below) in which it invests, see Special Tax Considerations Pertaining to Funds-of-Funds below.
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Distributions by a Tax-Exempt Fund, other than those attributable to interest on the Tax-Exempt Fund’s tax-exempt obligations and properly reported as exempt-interest dividends, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income or long-term capital gain or, in some cases, could constitute a return of capital to shareholders. See Taxation of Distributions above. Each Tax-Exempt Fund will notify its shareholders in written statements of the portion of the distributions for the taxable year that constitutes exempt-interest dividends. The percentage of a shareholder’s income reported as tax-exempt for any particular distribution may be substantially different from the percentage of the Tax-Exempt Fund’s income that was tax-exempt during the period covered by the distribution. The deductibility of interest paid or accrued on indebtedness incurred by a shareholder to purchase or carry shares of a Tax-Exempt Fund may be limited. The portion of such interest that is non-deductible generally equals the amount of such interest times the ratio of a Tax-Exempt Fund’s exempt-interest dividends received by the shareholder to all of the Tax-Exempt Fund’s dividends received by the shareholder (excluding Capital Gain Dividends and any capital gains required to be included in the shareholder’s long term capital gains in respect of capital gains retained by the Tax-Exempt Fund, as described earlier).
Although exempt-interest dividends are generally exempt from U.S. federal income tax, there may not be a similar exemption under the laws of a particular state or local taxing jurisdiction. Thus, exempt-interest dividends may be subject to state and local taxes ; however, each state-specific Tax-Exempt Fund generally invests at least 80% of its net assets in municipal bonds that pay interest that is exempt not only from U.S. federal income tax, but also from the applicable state’s personal income tax (but not necessarily local taxes or taxes of other states).
You should consult your tax advisor to discuss the tax consequences of your investment in a Tax-Exempt Fund. Tax-exempt interest on certain “private activity bonds” has been designated as a “tax preference item” and must be added back to taxable income for purposes of calculating U.S. federal alternative minimum tax (“AMT”). To the extent that a Tax-Exempt Fund invests in certain private activity bonds, its shareholders will be required to report that portion of the Tax-Exempt Fund’s distributions attributable to income from the bonds as a tax preference item in determining their U.S. federal AMT, if any. Shareholders will be notified of the tax status of distributions made by a Tax-Exempt Fund. Persons who may be “substantial users” (or “related persons” of substantial users) of facilities financed by private activity bonds should consult their tax advisors before purchasing shares in a Tax-Exempt Fund. In addition, exempt-interest dividends paid by a Tax-Exempt Fund to a corporate shareholder are, with very limited exceptions, included in the shareholder’s “adjusted current earnings” as part of its U.S. federal AMT calculation. As of the date of this SAI, individuals are subject to the U.S. federal AMT at a maximum rate of 28% and corporations at a maximum rate of 20%. Shareholders with questions or concerns about the U.S. federal AMT should consult their own tax advisors.
Ordinarily, a Tax-Exempt Fund relies on an opinion from the issuer’s bond counsel that interest on the issuer’s obligation will be exempt from U.S. federal income taxation. However, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not successfully challenge such exemption, which could cause interest on the obligation to be taxable and could jeopardize a Tax-Exempt Fund’s ability to pay exempt-interest dividends. Similar challenges may occur as to state-specific exemptions. Also, from time to time legislation may be introduced or litigation may arise that would change the treatment of exempt-interest dividends. Such litigation or legislation may have the effect of raising the state or other taxes payable by shareholders on such dividends. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors for the current law on exempt-interest dividends.
A shareholder who receives Social Security or railroad retirement benefits should consult his or her tax advisor to determine what effect, if any, an investment in a Tax-Exempt Fund may have on the federal taxation of such benefits. Exempt-interest dividends are included in income for purposes of determining the amount of benefits that are taxable.
Special Tax Considerations Pertaining to Funds-of-Funds
Certain Funds (each such fund, a Fund-of-Funds) invest their assets primarily in shares of other mutual funds, ETFs or other companies that are regulated investment companies (collectively, underlying funds). Consequently, their income and gains will normally consist primarily of distributions from underlying funds and gains and losses on the disposition of shares of underlying funds. To the extent that an underlying fund realizes net losses on its investments for a given taxable year, a Fund-of-Funds will not be able to benefit from those losses until (i) the underlying fund realizes gains that it can reduce by those losses, or (ii) the Fund-of-Funds recognizes its share of those losses (so as to offset distributions of net income or capital gains from other underlying funds) when it disposes of shares of the underlying fund. Moreover, even when a Fund-of-Funds does make such a disposition, a portion of its loss may be recognized as a long-term capital loss, which will not be treated as favorably for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a short-term capital loss or an ordinary deduction. In particular, a Fund-of-Funds will not be able to offset any capital losses from its dispositions of underlying fund shares against its ordinary income (including distributions of any net short-term capital gains realized by an underlying fund).
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In addition, in certain circumstances, the “wash sale” rules may apply to sales of underlying fund shares by a Fund-of-Funds. As discussed above, a wash sale occurs if shares of an underlying fund are sold by a Fund-of-Funds at a loss and the Fund-of-Funds acquires additional shares of that same underlying fund within the period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of the sale. The wash-sale rules could defer losses of a Fund-of-Funds on sales of underlying fund shares (to the extent such sales are wash sales) for extended (and, in certain cases, potentially indefinite) periods of time.
As a result of the foregoing rules, and certain other special rules, it is possible that the amounts of net investment income and net capital gain that a Fund-of-Funds will be required to distribute to shareholders will be greater than such amounts would have been had the Fund-of-Funds invested directly in the securities held by the underlying funds, rather than investing in shares of the underlying funds. For similar reasons, the character of distributions from a Fund-of-Funds ( e.g., long-term capital gain, exempt interest, eligibility for dividends-received deduction) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Fund-of-Funds invested directly in the securities held by the underlying funds.
Depending on the percentage ownership of a Fund-of-Funds in an underlying fund before and after a redemption of underlying fund shares, the redemption of shares by the Fund-of-Funds of such underlying fund may cause the Fund-of-Funds to be treated as receiving a dividend in the full amount of the redemption proceeds instead of receiving a capital gain or loss on the redemption of shares of the underlying fund. This could be the case where a Fund-of-Funds holds a significant interest in an underlying fund that is not “publicly offered” (as defined in the Code) and redeems only a small portion of such interest. Dividend treatment of a redemption by a Fund-of-Funds would affect the amount and character of income required to be distributed by both the Fund-of-Funds and the underlying fund for the year in which the redemption occurred. It is possible that such a dividend would qualify as “qualified dividend income”; otherwise, it would be taxable as ordinary income and could cause shareholders of a Fund-of-Funds to recognize higher amounts of ordinary income than if the shareholders had held shares of the underlying fund directly.
If a Fund-of-Funds receives dividends from an underlying fund, and the underlying fund reports such dividends as “qualified dividend income,” as discussed below, then the Fund-of-Funds is permitted, in turn, to report a portion of its distributions as “qualified dividend income,” provided the Fund-of-Funds meets the holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the underlying fund. If a Fund-of-Funds receives dividends from an underlying fund, and the underlying fund reports such dividends as eligible for the dividends-received deduction, then the Fund-of-Funds is permitted, in turn, to report a portion of its distributions as eligible for the dividends-received deduction, provided the Fund-of-Funds meets the holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the underlying fund.
If a Fund-of-Funds is a “qualified fund-of-funds” (a regulated investment company that invests at least 50% of its total assets in other regulated investment companies at the close of each quarter of its taxable year), it will be able to distribute exempt-interest dividends and thereby pass through to its shareholders the tax-exempt character of any interest received on tax-exempt obligations in which it directly invests or any exempt-interest dividends it receives from underlying funds in which it invests. For further considerations pertaining to exempt-interest dividends, see Special Tax Considerations Pertaining to Tax-Exempt Funds above.
Further, if a Fund-of-Funds is a qualified fund-of-funds, it will be able to elect to pass through to its shareholders any foreign income and other similar taxes paid by the Fund-of-Funds or paid by an underlying fund in which the Fund-of-Funds invests that itself elected to pass such taxes through to shareholders, so that shareholders of the Fund-of-Funds will be eligible to claim a tax credit or deduction for such taxes, subject to applicable limitations. However, even if a Fund-of-Funds qualifies to make the election for any year, it may determine not to do so. For further considerations pertaining to foreign taxes paid by a Fund, see Foreign Taxes above.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Rates
The maximum stated U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to individuals generally is 39.6% for ordinary income and 20% for net long-term capital gain (in each case, not including the 3.8% net investment income tax described below).
In general, “qualified dividend income” is income attributable to dividends received by a Fund from certain domestic and foreign corporations, as long as certain holding period and other requirements are met by the Fund with respect to the dividend-paying corporation’s stock and by the shareholders with respect to the Fund’s shares. If 95% or more of a Fund’s gross income (excluding net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) constitutes qualified dividend income, all of its distributions (other than Capital Gain Dividends) will be generally treated as qualified dividend income in the hands of individual shareholders, as long as they have owned their Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Fund’s ex-dividend date (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date) and meet certain other requirements specified in the Code. In general, if less than 95% of a Fund’s gross income is attributable to qualified dividend income, then only the portion of the Fund’s distributions that is attributable to qualified dividend income and reported as such in a timely manner will be so treated in the hands of individual shareholders who meet the aforementioned holding period requirements. Qualified dividend income is taxable to individual
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shareholders at tax rates applicable to long-term capital gain. The rules regarding the qualification of Fund distributions as qualified dividend income are complex, including the holding period requirements. Individual Fund shareholders therefore are urged to consult their own tax advisors and financial planners. Fixed income funds typically do not distribute significant amounts of qualified dividend income.
The maximum stated corporate U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income and net capital gain currently is 35%. Actual marginal tax rates may be higher for some shareholders, for example, through reductions in deductions. Naturally, the amount of tax payable by any taxpayer will be affected by a combination of tax laws covering, for example, deductions, credits, deferrals, exemptions, sources of income and other matters. U.S. federal income tax rates are set to increase in future years under various “sunset” provisions of U.S. federal income tax laws.
The Code generally imposes a 3.8% net investment income tax on certain high-income individuals, trusts and estates. For individuals, the 3.8% tax applies to the lesser of (1) the amount (if any) by which the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain threshold amounts or (2) the taxpayer’s “net investment income.” For this purpose, “net investment income” generally includes, among other things, (i) distributions paid by a Fund of net investment income and capital gains (other than exempt-interest dividends) as described above, and (ii) any net gain recognized on the sale, redemption, exchange or other taxable disposition of Fund shares. Certain details of the implementation of the tax remain subject to future guidance. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this additional tax on their investment in a Fund.
Backup Withholding
Each Fund generally is required to withhold, and remit to the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain exemptions, an amount equal to 28% of all distributions and redemption proceeds (including proceeds from exchanges and redemptions in-kind) paid or credited to a Fund shareholder if (1) the shareholder fails to furnish the Fund with a correct “taxpayer identification number” (TIN) or has not certified to the Fund that withholding does not apply or (2) the IRS notifies the Fund that the shareholder’s TIN is incorrect or the shareholder is otherwise subject to backup withholding. These backup withholding rules may also apply to distributions that are properly reported as exempt-interest dividends (defined above). This backup withholding is not an additional tax imposed on the shareholder. The shareholder may apply amounts required to be withheld as a credit against his or her future U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS. If a shareholder fails to furnish a valid TIN upon request, the shareholder can also be subject to IRS penalties.
Tax-Deferred Plans
The shares of a Fund may be available for a variety of tax-deferred retirement and other tax-advantaged plans and accounts. Prospective investors should contact their tax advisors and financial planners regarding the tax consequences to them of holding Fund shares through such plans and/or accounts.
Corporate Shareholders
Subject to limitations and other rules, a corporate shareholder of a Fund may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction on Fund distributions attributable to dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations, which, if received directly by the corporate shareholder, would qualify for such a deduction. For eligible corporate shareholders, the dividends-received deduction may be subject to certain reductions, and a distribution by a Fund attributable to dividends of a domestic corporation will be eligible for the deduction only if certain holding period and other requirements are met. For information regarding eligibility for the dividends-received deduction of dividend income derived by an underlying fund in which a Fund-of-Funds invests, see Special Tax Considerations Pertaining to Funds-of-Funds above. These requirements are complex; therefore, corporate shareholders of the Funds are urged to consult their own tax advisors and financial planners.
As discussed above, a portion of the interest paid or accrued on certain high-yield discount obligations that a Fund may own may not be deductible to the issuer. If a portion of the interest paid or accrued on these obligations is not deductible, that portion will be treated as a dividend. In such cases, if the issuer of the obligation is a domestic corporation, dividend payments by a Fund may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction to the extent of the dividend portion of such interest.
Foreign Shareholders
For purposes of this discussion, “foreign shareholders” generally include: (i) nonresident alien individuals, (ii) foreign trusts ( i.e. , a trust other than a trust with respect to which a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over administration of that trust and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control substantial decisions of that trust), (iii) foreign estates ( i.e. , the income of which is not subject to U.S. tax regardless of source), and (iv) foreign corporations.
Generally, unless an exception applies, dividend distributions made to foreign shareholders other than Capital Gain Dividends and exempt-interest dividends (defined above) will be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be provided under an applicable income tax treaty) even if they are funded by income or gains (such as portfolio interest, short-term capital gains, or foreign-source dividend and interest income) that, if paid to a foreign person
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directly, would not be subject to withholding. However, generally, for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2015, distributions made to foreign shareholders and properly reported by a Fund as “interest-related dividends” are exempt from U.S. federal income tax withholding. The exemption for interest-related dividends does not apply to any distribution to a foreign shareholder (i) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the foreign shareholder is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (ii) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (iii) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the foreign shareholder and the foreign shareholder is a controlled foreign corporation. Interest-related dividends are generally dividends attributable to the Fund’s net U.S.-source interest income of types similar to those not subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign shareholder. In order for a distribution to qualify as an interest-related dividend, the Fund is required to report it as such in a written notice furnished to its shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a distribution described above is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business (or, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment) of the recipient foreign shareholder, neither U.S. federal income tax withholding nor the exemption for interest-related dividends (if otherwise applicable) will apply. Instead, the distribution will be subject to the tax, reporting and withholding requirements generally applicable to U.S. persons, and an additional branch profits tax may apply if the recipient foreign shareholder is a foreign corporation.
In general, a foreign shareholder’s capital gains realized on the disposition of Fund shares and distributions properly reported as Capital Gain Dividends are not subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax, unless: (i) such gains or distributions are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (or, if an income tax treaty applies, are attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment) of the foreign shareholder; (ii) in the case of an individual foreign shareholder, the shareholder is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the disposition of Fund shares or the receipt of Capital Gain Dividends and certain other conditions are met; or (iii) the Fund shares on which the foreign shareholder realized gain constitute U.S. real property interests (USRPIs, defined below) or, in certain cases, the distributions are attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI, as discussed below. If the requirements of clause (i) are met, the tax, reporting and withholding requirements applicable to U.S. persons generally will apply to the foreign shareholder and an additional branch profits tax may apply if the foreign shareholder is a foreign corporation. If the requirements of clause (i) are not met, but the requirements of clause (ii) are met, such gains and distributions will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be provided under an applicable income tax treaty). Please see below for a discussion of the tax implications to foreign shareholders in the event that clause (iii) applies. With respect to taxable years of a Fund beginning before January 1, 2015, a distribution to a foreign shareholder attributable to the Fund’s net short-term capital gain in excess of its net long-term capital loss and reported as such by the Fund in a written statement, furnished to its shareholders (“short-term capital gain dividends”) is generally not subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax unless clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above applies to such distributions.
The exemption from withholding for interest-related and short-term capital gain dividends has expired for distributions with respect to taxable years of a Fund beginning on or after January 1, 2015. It is currently unclear whether Congress will extend this exemption for distributions with respect to taxable years of a Fund beginning on or after January 1, 2015, or what the terms of such an extension would be, including whether such extension would have retroactive effect. Even if permitted to do so, each Fund provides no assurance that it would report any distributions as interest-related dividends or short-term capital gain dividends.
In the case of shares held through an intermediary, even if a Fund reports a payment as exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax (e.g., as a short-term capital gain or interest-related dividend), no assurance can be made that the intermediary will respect such classification, and an intermediary may withhold in spite of such reporting by a Fund. Foreign shareholders should contact their intermediaries regarding the application of these rules to their accounts. Special rules apply to distributions to foreign shareholders from a Fund if it is either a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (USRPHC) or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of certain exceptions from USRPI treatment for interests in domestically controlled REITs (or, prior to January 1, 2015, regulated investment companies) and not-greater-than-5% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in REITs or regulated investment companies. Additionally, special rules apply to the sale of shares in a Fund if it is a USRPHC.
Generally, a USRPHC is a domestic corporation that holds USRPIs — defined generally as any interest in U.S. real property or any equity interest in a USRPHC — the fair market value of which equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market values of the corporation’s USRPIs, interests in real property located outside the United States and other assets. If a Fund holds (directly or indirectly) significant interests in REITs, it may be a USRPHC.
If a Fund is a USRPHC or would be a USRPHC but for certain of the above-mentioned exceptions, under a special “look-through” rule, amounts that are attributable directly or indirectly to distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands generally will retain their character as such in the hands of the Fund’s foreign shareholders. In the hands of a foreign shareholder that holds (or has held in the prior 12 months) more than a 5% interest in any class of the Fund, any such amounts treated as USRPI gains generally will be treated as gains “effectively
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connected” with the conduct of a “U.S. trade or business,” and subject to tax at graduated rates. Moreover, such shareholder generally will be required to file a U.S. income tax return for the year recognized, and the Fund must withhold 35% of the amount of such distribution. Otherwise, in the case of all other foreign shareholders ( i.e. , those whose interest in any class of the Fund did not exceed 5% at any time during the prior 12 months), such amounts generally will be treated as ordinary income (regardless of whether the Fund otherwise reported such distribution as a short-term capital gain dividend or Capital Gain Dividend), and the Fund must withhold 30% (or a lower applicable treaty rate) of the amount of the distribution paid to such shareholders. If a Fund is subject to the rules of this paragraph, its foreign shareholders may also be subject to “wash sale” rules to prevent the avoidance of the foregoing tax-filing and payment obligations through the sale and repurchase of Fund shares.
Prior to January 1, 2015, the special “look-through” rule discussed above for distributions by the Fund to foreign shareholders also applied to distributions attributable to (i) gains realized by on the disposition of USRPIs by the Fund and (ii) distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier RIC that the Fund was required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands. It is currently unclear whether Congress will extend these former “look-through” provisions to distributions made on or after January 1, 2015, and what the terms of any such extension would be, including whether any such extension would have retroactive effect.
In addition, if a Fund is a USRPHC, it generally must withhold 10% of the amount realized in redemption by a greater-than-5% foreign shareholder, and that shareholder must file a U.S. income tax return for the year of the disposition of the USRPI and pay any additional tax due on the gain. Prior to January 1, 2015, such withholding generally was not required with respect to amounts paid in redemption of shares of a Fund if it was a domestically controlled USRPHC, or, in certain limited cases, if the Fund (whether or not domestically controlled) held substantial investments in regulated investment companies that were domestically controlled USRPHCs. The exemption from withholding for redemptions has expired and such withholding is required without regard to whether the Fund or any regulated investment company in which it invests is domestically controlled. It is currently unclear whether Congress will extend this exemption for redemptions made on or after January 1, 2015, and what the terms of any such extension would be, including whether any such extension would have retroactive effect.
In order to qualify for any exemptions from withholding described above or for lower withholding tax rates under income tax treaties, or to establish an exemption from backup withholding, a foreign shareholder must comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its foreign status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or substitute form). Foreign shareholders should consult their tax advisors in this regard.
Special rules (including withholding and reporting requirements) apply to foreign partnerships and those holding Fund shares through foreign partnerships. In addition, additional considerations may apply to foreign trusts and foreign estates. Investors holding Fund shares through foreign entities should consult their tax advisors about their particular situation.
A beneficial holder of shares who is a foreign person may be subject to state and local tax and to the U.S. federal estate tax in addition to the U.S. federal income tax referred to above.
Tax-Exempt Shareholders
Each Fund serves to “block” (that is, prevent the attribution to shareholders of) UBTI from being realized by tax-exempt shareholders. Notwithstanding this “blocking” effect, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in a Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Code Section 514(b).
It is possible that a tax-exempt shareholder will also recognize UBTI if a Fund recognizes excess inclusion income (as described above) derived from direct or indirect investments in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs. Furthermore, any investment in residual interests of a CMO that has elected to be treated as a REMIC can create complex tax consequences, especially if the Fund has state or local governments or other tax-exempt organizations as shareholders.
In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) that invest in regulated investment companies that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs. Under legislation enacted in December 2006, a CRT, as defined in Section 664 of the Code, that realizes UBTI for a taxable year must pay an excise tax annually of an amount equal to such UBTI. Under IRS guidance issued in October 2006, a CRT will not recognize UBTI solely as a result of investing in a Fund to the extent that it recognizes excess inclusion income. Rather, if at any time during any taxable year a CRT (or one of certain other tax-exempt shareholders, such as the United States, a state or political subdivision, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, and certain energy cooperatives) is a record holder of a share in a Fund and the Fund recognizes excess inclusion income, then the Fund will be subject to a tax on that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to such shareholders at the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate. The extent to which the IRS guidance remains applicable in light of the December 2006 legislation is unclear. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, each Fund may elect to specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT, or other shareholder, and thus reduce such shareholder’s distributions for the year by the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholder’s interest in the Fund. Each Fund has not yet determined whether such an election will be made. CRTs are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the consequences of investing in a Fund.
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Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations
Under U.S. Treasury Regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all regulated investment companies. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Shareholder Reporting Obligations With Respect to Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
Shareholders that are U.S. persons and own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of a Fund could be required to report annually their “financial interest” in the Fund’s “foreign financial accounts,” if any, on FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). Shareholders should consult a tax advisor, and persons investing in the Fund through an intermediary should contact their intermediary, regarding the applicability to them of this reporting requirement.
Other Reporting and Withholding Requirements
Sections 1471-1474 of the Code, and the U.S. Treasury Regulations and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “FATCA”), generally require a Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders under FATCA or under an applicable intergovernmental agreement (“IGA”) between the United States and a foreign government, as described more fully below. If a shareholder fails to provide the requested information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA or an IGA, the Fund is generally required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on ordinary dividends it pays, and after December 31, 2018, 30% of certain Capital Gain Dividends and gross proceeds of the sale, redemption or exchange of Fund shares it pays. If a payment by a Fund is subject to FATCA withholding, the Fund is required to withhold even if such payment would otherwise be exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to foreign shareholders described above ( e.g., Capital Gain Dividends and short-term capital gain and interest-related dividends).
Payments to a shareholder will generally not be subject to FATCA withholding, provided the shareholder provides a Fund with such certifications, waivers or other documentation or information as the Fund requires, including, to the extent required, with regard to such shareholder’s direct and indirect owners, to establish the shareholder’s FATCA status and otherwise to comply with these rules. In order to avoid withholding, a shareholder that is a “foreign financial institution” (“FFI”) must either (i) become a “participating FFI” by entering into a valid U.S. tax compliance agreement with the IRS, (ii) qualify for an exception from the requirement to enter into such an agreement, for example by becoming a “deemed-compliant FFI,” or (iii) be covered by an applicable IGA between the United States and a non-U.S. government to implement FATCA and improve international tax compliance. In any of these cases, the investing FFI generally will be required to provide its Fund with appropriate identifiers, certifications or documentation concerning its status.
A Fund may disclose the information that it receives from (or concerning) its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with applicable IGAs or other applicable law or regulation.
Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax adviser regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the prospective investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.
Special Tax Considerations Pertaining to State Tax-Exempt Funds
The following summaries of certain tax considerations relating to the state tax-exempt funds set forth below are only intended as general overviews of these tax considerations. They are not intended as detailed explanations of any state’s income tax treatment of any state tax-exempt fund or its shareholders. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the consequences of your investment in a state tax-exempt fund.
AMT-Free California Intermediate Muni Bond Fund. If, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the total assets of a regulated investment company consists of obligations, which, when held by an individual, the interest therefrom is exempt from income taxation by California (California Exempt Securities), then the regulated investment company will be qualified to make distributions that are exempt from California state individual income tax (California exempt-interest distributions). For this purpose, California Exempt Securities generally are limited to California municipal securities and certain U.S. Government and U.S. Territory obligations. The AMT-Free California Intermediate Muni Bond Fund intends to qualify under the above requirements so that it can pay California exempt-interest distributions.
Within sixty days after the close of its taxable year, the Fund will notify its shareholders of the portion of the distributions paid by the Fund that is exempt from California state individual income tax. The total amount of California exempt-interest distributions paid by the Fund with respect to any taxable year cannot exceed the excess of the amount of interest received by the
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Fund for such year on California Exempt Securities over any amounts that, if the Fund were treated as an individual, would be considered expenses related to tax exempt income or amortizable bond premium that would not be deductible under California state individual income or federal income tax law.
Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued by a shareholder in a taxable year to purchase or carry shares of the AMT-Free California Intermediate Muni Bond Fund is not deductible for California state individual income tax purposes if the Fund distributes California exempt-interest distributions during the shareholder’s taxable year.
The portion of any of the Fund’s distributions constituting California exempt-interest distributions is excludable from income for California state individual income tax purposes only. Any distributions paid to shareholders subject to California state franchise tax or California state corporate income tax may be taxable for such purposes. Accordingly, potential investors in the Fund, including, in particular, corporate investors which may be subject to either California franchise tax or California corporate income tax, should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the application of such taxes to the receipt of the Fund’s distributions and as to their own California state tax situation, in general.
AMT-Free Georgia Intermediate Muni Bond Fund. The portion of the Fund’s exempt-interest distributions paid to residents of Georgia attributable to interest received by the Georgia Funds on tax-exempt obligations of the State of Georgia or its political subdivision or authorities and other Fund distributions attributable to interest received from obligations issued by the U.S. Government or an authority, commission, instrumentality, possession, or territory thereof will be exempt from Georgia individual and corporate income taxes. There is no Georgia intangibles tax or other personal property tax applicable to the shares of the Georgia Funds owned by investors residing in Georgia. Distributions attributable to capital gains realized from the sale of Georgia municipal bonds and U.S. Government obligations will be subject to the State of Georgia short-term or long-term capital gains tax, which follow the federal income tax treatment. Interest received by a Georgia resident from non-Georgia municipal state bonds and distributions received from mutual funds that derive income from non-Georgia municipal or state bonds will be subject to Georgia income tax.
AMT-Free Maryland Intermediate Muni Bond Fund. The portion of the AMT-Free Maryland Intermediate Muni Bond Fund’s exempt-interest distributions attributable to interest received by the Fund on tax-exempt obligations of the state of Maryland or its political subdivisions or authorities, or obligations issued by the U.S. Government or an authority, commission, instrumentality, possession, or territory thereof and distributions attributable to gains from the disposition thereof will be exempt from Maryland individual and corporate income taxes; any other Fund distributions will be subject to Maryland income tax. Fund shareholders will be informed annually regarding the portion of the AMT-Free Maryland Intermediate Muni Bond Fund’s distributions that constitutes income exempt from Maryland income taxes. Maryland presently includes in Maryland taxable income a portion of certain items of tax preference as defined in the Code. Interest paid on certain private activity bonds constitutes such a tax preference if the bonds are not tax-exempt obligations of the state of Maryland, a political subdivision or authority of the state of Maryland, or of any other entity authorized under Maryland law to issue obligations the interest on which is excluded from gross income under Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, up to 50% of any distributions from the AMT-Free Maryland Intermediate Muni Bond Fund attributable to interest on such private activity bonds may not be exempt from Maryland state and local individual income taxes. Shares of the AMT-Free Maryland Intermediate Muni Bond Fund will not be subject to the Maryland personal property tax.
AMT-Free North Carolina Intermediate Muni Bond Fund. The portion of the AMT-Free North Carolina Intermediate Muni Bond Fund’s exempt-interest distributions attributable to interest received by the Fund on tax-exempt obligations of the State of North Carolina or its political subdivisions, commissions, authorities, agencies or non-profit educational institutions organized or chartered under the laws of North Carolina, or obligations issued by the United States or its possessions will be exempt from North Carolina individual and corporate income taxes. Although capital gain distributions generally are subject to tax in North Carolina, individual shareholders of the AMT-Free North Carolina Intermediate Muni Bond Fund may deduct the amount of capital gain distributions (if any) attributable to the sale of certain obligations issued before July 1, 1995 for purposes of determining their North Carolina taxable income.
AMT-Free South Carolina Intermediate Muni Bond Fund. The portion of the AMT-Free South Carolina Intermediate Muni Bond Fund’s exempt-interest distributions attributable to interest received by the Fund on tax-exempt obligations of the State of South Carolina, its political subdivisions or exempt interest upon obligations of the United States will be exempt from South Carolina individual and corporate income taxes. Distributions of capital gains or income not attributable to interest from tax-exempt obligations of the State of South Carolina, its political subdivisions or exempt interest on obligations of the United States may be subject to South Carolina income taxes.
Although distributions of capital gains and the gain recognized with respect to the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund may be subject to the South Carolina state income tax, individuals, estates and trusts are entitled to a deduction for South Carolina taxable income purposes equal to 44% of the net capital gain recognized in South Carolina during a taxable year. The definition
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of net capital gain for federal income tax purposes is utilized for purposes of this deduction. In the case of estates or trusts, the deduction is applicable only to income taxed to the estate or trust or individual beneficiaries and not income passed through to non-individual beneficiaries.
AMT-Free Virginia Intermediate Muni Bond Fund. The portion of the AMT-Free Virginia Intermediate Muni Bond Fund’s distributions attributable to interest on (i) obligations of Virginia or any political subdivisions or instrumentality of Virginia, and (ii) obligations of the United States and any authority, commission or instrumentality of the United States, that are, in each case, backed by the full faith and credit of the borrowing government, will be exempt from Virginia individual and corporate income tax. Furthermore, any of the AMT-Free Virginia Intermediate Muni Bond Fund’s distributions that are attributable to realized gains from dispositions of the foregoing debt obligations may also be exempt from Virginia income tax.
Minnesota Tax-Exempt Fund. The portion of the Minnesota Tax-Exempt Fund’s exempt-interest distributions attributable to interest received by the Fund on tax-exempt obligations of the State of Minnesota, its political or governmental subdivisions, municipalities, governmental agencies or instrumentalities will be exempt from Minnesota personal income tax for shareholders of the Fund who are individuals, estates or trusts so long as the portion of the exempt-interest distributions from Minnesota that are paid equals or exceeds 95% of all exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund. In addition, distributions with respect to interest derived from obligations of any authority, commission, or instrumentality of the United States will not be subject to the Minnesota personal income tax for shareholders who are individuals, estates or trusts. Distributions of income not attributable to distributions described in the preceding sentence or capital gains may be subject to Minnesota personal income taxes. In addition, distributions to a corporation will generally be subject to the Minnesota income tax.
Distributions
Net investment income dividends (other than qualified dividend income) received and distributions from the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses should be treated as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. Corporate shareholders are generally entitled to a deduction equal to 70% of that portion of a fund’s dividend that is attributable to dividends the fund received from domestic (U.S.) securities. If there is debt-financed portfolio stock, that is, bank financing is used to purchase long securities, the 70% dividends received deduction would be reduced by the average amount of portfolio indebtedness divided by the average adjusted basis in the stock. This does not impact the qualified dividend income available to individual shareholders. For the most recent fiscal period, net investment income dividends qualified for the corporate deduction are shown in the following table.
Only certain dividends will be QDI eligible for the 20% maximum tax rate. QDI is dividends earned from domestic corporations and qualified foreign corporations. Qualified foreign corporations are corporations incorporated in a U.S. possession, corporations whose stock is readily tradable on an established U.S. securities market (ADRs), and certain other corporations eligible for relief under an income tax treaty with the U.S. that includes an exchange of information agreement. PFICs are excluded from this treatment. Holding periods for shares must also be met to be eligible for QDI treatment (more than 60 days for common stock and more than 90 days for certain preferred’s dividends).
Dividends declared in October, November or December, payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month and paid in the following January will be treated as having been paid by a Fund and received by each shareholder in December. Under this rule, therefore, shareholders may be taxed in one year on dividends or distributions actually received in January of the following year.
The QDI for individuals for the most recent fiscal period is shown in the table below. The table is organized by fiscal year end.
Corporate Deduction and Qualified Dividend Income
Fund Percent of dividends
qualifying for
corporate deduction
Qualified dividend
income for individuals
For Funds with fiscal period ending January 31
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio 31.75% 51.13%
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio 10.45 17.58
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio 28.71 47.08
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio 15.46 26.18
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio 21.62 35.84
Global Strategic Equity Fund 56.75 77.85
Income Builder Fund 20.59 32.13
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Fund Percent of dividends
qualifying for
corporate deduction
Qualified dividend
income for individuals
For Funds with fiscal period ending February 28/29
Convertible Securities Fund 24.61% 24.72%
Global Equity Value Fund 100.00 100.00
International Opportunities Fund 6.16 100.00
International Value Fund 0.28 100.00
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund 100.00 100.00
Large Cap Growth Fund II 0.00 0.00
Large Cap Growth Fund III 32.40 35.07
Large Cap Growth Fund V 72.33 79.37
Large Cap Index Fund 93.27 95.37
Mid Cap Index Fund 84.35 84.41
Mid Cap Value Fund 55.94 57.68
Overseas Value Fund 0.50 100.00
Select Global Growth Fund 12.87 30.49
Select International Equity Fund 0.00 0.00
Select Large Cap Equity Fund 23.22 24.34
Small Cap Index Fund 60.97 61.02
Small Cap Value Fund II 100.00 100.00
For Funds with fiscal period ending March 31
Short Term Bond Fund 0.00 0.00
For Funds with fiscal period ending April 30
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0.00 0.00
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0.00 0.00
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0.00 0.00
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0.00 0.00
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0.00 0.00
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund 0.00 0.00
Global Infrastructure Fund 62.43 75.56
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund 0.00 0.00
For Funds with fiscal period ending May 31
AP - Multi-Manager Value Fund 60.18 79.39
Commodity Strategy Fund 0.00 0.00
Diversified Equity Income Fund 56.24 74.85
Dividend Opportunity Fund 65.22 92.55
Flexible Capital Income Fund 38.75 42.21
High Yield Bond Fund 0.00 0.00
Mortgage Opportunities Fund 0.00 0.00
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund 47.82 56.48
Select Large-Cap Value Fund 100.00 100.00
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund 0.00 0.00
Seligman Communications and Information Fund 38.85 42.17
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund 0.00 0.00
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund 0.00 0.00
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Fund Percent of dividends
qualifying for
corporate deduction
Qualified dividend
income for individuals
For Funds with fiscal period ending July 31
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund 0.00% 0.00%
Disciplined Core Fund 100.00 100.00
Disciplined Growth Fund 30.65 31.45
Disciplined Value Fund 61.39 62.77
Floating Rate Fund 1.31 2.10
Global Opportunities Fund 0.00 0.00
Income Opportunities Fund 0.00 0.00
Inflation Protected Securities Fund 0.00 0.00
Limited Duration Credit Fund 0.00 0.00
MN Tax-Exempt Fund 0.00 0.00
Money Market Fund 0.00 0.00
For Funds with fiscal period ending August 31
Large Cap Growth Fund IV 13.50 18.01
For Funds with fiscal period ending October 31
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund 0.00 0.00
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund 0.16 97.02
Emerging Markets Bond Fund 0.00 0.00
European Equity Fund 0.00 100.00
Global Bond Fund 0.00 0.00
Select Global Equity Fund 100.00 100.00
Seligman Global Technology Fund 0.00 0.00
The Subsidiary
Commodity Strategy Fund (for purposes of this section, the “Fund”) intends to invest a portion of its assets in one or more of its wholly-owned subsidiaries (previously defined collectively as the “Subsidiary”), which will be classified as a corporation for U.S. federal tax purposes. Foreign corporations, such as the Subsidiary, will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless it is deemed to be engaged in a United States trade or business. The Subsidiary intends to conduct its activities in a manner that is expected to meet the requirements of a safe harbor under Section 864(b)(2) of the Code under which the Subsidiary may engage in trading in stocks or securities or certain commodities for its own account without being deemed to be engaged in a United States trade or business. However, if certain of the Subsidiary’s activities were deemed not to be of the type described in the safe harbor, the activities of the Subsidiary may constitute a United States trade or business.
Even if the Subsidiary is not engaged in a United States trade or business, it may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% on all or a portion of its United States source gross income that is not effectively connected with a United States trade or business.
The Subsidiary will be treated as a CFC. The Fund will be treated as a “U.S. Shareholder” of the Subsidiary. As a result, the Fund will be required to include in its gross income all of the Subsidiary’s “subpart F income”. It is expected that all of the Subsidiary’s income will be “subpart F income”. “Subpart F income” is generally treated as ordinary income. If a net loss is realized by the Subsidiary, such loss is not generally available to offset the income of the Fund. The recognition by the Fund of the Subsidiary’s “subpart F income” will increase the Fund’s tax basis in the Subsidiary. Distributions by the Subsidiary to the Fund will not be taxable to the extent of its previously undistributed “subpart F income”, and will reduce the Fund’s tax basis in the subsidiary.
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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
Management Ownership
As of October 31, 2015, the Trustees and Officers of the Trusts, as a group, beneficially owned less than 1% of each class of shares of each Fund, except as set forth in the table below:
Fund Class Percentage of Class
Beneficially Owned
Commodity Strategy Fund Class A 28.20%
Principal Shareholders and Control Persons
The tables below identify the names, address and ownership percentage of each person who owns of record or is known by the Trusts to own beneficially 5% or more of any class of a Fund’s outstanding shares (Principal Holders) or 25% or more of a Fund’s outstanding shares (Control Persons). A shareholder who beneficially owns more than 25% of a Fund’s shares is presumed to “control” the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, and may have a significant impact on matters submitted to a shareholder vote. A shareholder who beneficially owns more than 50% of a Fund’s outstanding shares may be able to approve proposals, or prevent approval of proposals, without regard to votes by other Fund shareholders. Additional information about Control Persons, if any, is provided following the tables. The information provided for each Fund is as of a date no more than 30 days prior to the date of filing a post-effective amendment to the applicable Trust’s registration statement with respect to such Fund.
Funds with Fiscal Period Ending January 31:
Except as otherwise indicated, the information below is as of April 30, 2015:
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 38.47% 38.98%
Class B 32.10%
Class C 47.31%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
MAGUIRE/MAGUIRE INC 401 K PS PLA
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 13.36% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class Y 100.00% N/A (a)
  GREAT WEST TRUST CO
TRST FBO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CLIENTS
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class K 95.18% N/A
Class R5 90.96%
  HANNAH F HOWE
204 E 83RD ST APT 4
NEW YORK NY 10028-2899
Class Z 5.50% N/A
  HELEN E HOWE
84 SHOREFRONT PARK
NORWALK CT 06854-3753
Class Z 5.60% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 5.34% N/A
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST. FBO
LIFETIME CARE
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 21.77% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class Z 12.72% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 199


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 97.14% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class Z 11.24% N/A
  RAYMOND JAMES
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 5.80% N/A
Class Z 27.90%
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R 5.48% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R 5.22% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R 15.98% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R 15.81% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R 18.58% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 8.94% N/A
Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 46.29% 47.44%
Class B 63.26%
Class C 54.37%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
MAGUIRE/MAGUIRE INC 401 K PS PLA
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 35.80% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class Y 100.00% N/A (a)
  DEBORAH ALEYNE LAPEYRE BARBARA
TOMMIE USDIN FBO
MULBERRY TECHNOLOGIES INC 401 K
17 W JEFFERSON ST STE 207
ROCKVILLE MD 20850-4227
Class K 95.18% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 5.41% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class Z 11.34% N/A
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY CUST. FBO
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class Z 18.59% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 200


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 25.32% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 98.70% N/A
Class R5 96.10%
  STATE STREET CORPORATION
FBO ADP ACCESS
1 LINCOLN ST
BOSTON MA 02111-2901
Class Z 12.25% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R 16.81% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R 8.20% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R 31.51% N/A
Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 29.84% 27.55%
Class B 32.43%
Class C 36.49%
  ASCENSUS TRUST CO FBO
BROWN & JONES REPORTING 401K PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 12.63% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTENTION MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 96.68% N/A
Class R5 20.07%
Class Z 5.31%
  CHARLES SCHWAB BANK CUST
WOODRIDGE CLINIC SC PS & 401K PLAN
2423 E LINCOLN DR
PHOENIX AZ 85016-1215
Class R 13.27% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class Y 100.00% N/A (a)
  DONALD BLASLAND FBO
PW LABORATORIES INC 401K PSP
805 S WHEATLEY ST STE 600
RIDGELAND MS 39157-5005
Class R 13.39% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 13.94% N/A
Class B 14.74%
Class C 17.22%
Class T 20.94%
Class Z 35.32%
  MG TRUST CO CUST FBO
ALBERT FREI & SONS INC 401K PLAN
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 6.60% N/A
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST. FBO
LIFETIME CARE
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 21.02% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 201


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010
Class R4 97.29% N/A
  SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY
C/O JOHNSON TRUST COMPANY
1 FREEDOM VALLEY DR
OAKS PA 19456-9989
Class R5 79.10% N/A
Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 46.35% 45.65%
Class B 51.69%
Class C 55.73%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 5.90% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
MCCALLIN DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES 401
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 6.72% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
PREMIER RETIREMENT PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class Y 67.03% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class K 81.13% N/A (a)
Class Y 32.97%
  COUNSEL TRUST DBA MATC FBO
CONSUMER HEALTH ADVISERS INC
401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN & TRUST
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class K 18.87% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class Z 14.16% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 7.68% N/A
Class B 8.73%
Class C 8.34%
Class R 30.56%
Class Z 56.36%
  MG TRUST CO CUST FBO
MIRAMAR LABS 401K PROFIT-SHARING
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 6.48% N/A
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST. FBO
CHERNIN ENTERTAINMENT, LLC EMPLOYEE
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 13.10% N/A
  MG TRUST COMPANY TRUSTEE
HOGAN & ASSOCIATES CONSTRUCTION 401
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R4 48.12% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010
Class R4 47.43% N/A
  SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY CUST
C/O JOHNSON BANK
ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE
OAKS PA 19456-9989
Class R5 96.95% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 202


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 48.18% 49.37%
Class B 52.39%
Class C 59.06%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
MAGUIRE/MAGUIRE INC 401 K PS PLA
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 7.73% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 61.82% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class R4 8.36% N/A (a)
Class Y 100.00%
  DEBORAH ALEYNE LAPEYRE BARBARA
TOMMIE USDIN FBO
MULBERRY TECHNOLOGIES INC 401 K
PROFIT SHARING PLAN & TRUST
17 W JEFFERSON ST STE 207
ROCKVILLE MD 20850-4227
Class K 32.50% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class Z 6.96% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 30.37% N/A
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST. FBO
LIFETIME CARE
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 33.35% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class Z 27.95% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 91.64% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R5 96.90% N/A
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class Z 8.08% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R 12.33% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R 24.80% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R 8.26% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 203


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
Global Strategic Equity Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 23.54% N/A
Class B 17.19%
Class C 16.53%
  ASCENSUS TRUST CO FBO
BROWN & JONES REPORTING 401K PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 18.18% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST CO FBO
RIVERFRONT STEEL 401K PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 12.14% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 97.20% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class R4 5.43% N/A (a)
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class B 5.27% N/A
Class C 6.58%
Class Z 7.14%
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class C 5.55% N/A
Class Z 6.07%
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY FBO
LCM ARCHITECTS LLC RET PLAN
PO BOX 52129
PHOENIX AZ 85072-2129
Class R 20.50% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 20.72% N/A
Class B 22.31%
Class C 26.73%
Class Z 71.53%
  MG TRUST CO CUST FBO
ALBERT FREI & SONS INC 401K PLAN
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 13.61% N/A
  MG TRUST CO CUST FBO
MIRAMAR LABS 401K PROFIT-SHARING
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 13.58% N/A
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST. FBO
LORTON STONE, LLC RETIREMENT PLAN &
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 10.46% N/A
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
TITAN ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R4 5.20% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class C 5.11% N/A
Class R4 17.79%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 204


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 71.58% N/A
  SEI PRIVATE TRUST CO
C/O JOHNSON TRUST COMPANY
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS ADMIN
1 FREEDOM VALLEY DR
OAKS PA 19456-9989
Class R5 99.23% N/A
Income Builder Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 61.28% 58.35%
Class B 74.56%
Class C 58.09%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 23.06% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
DOUGHERTY AND DOUGHERTY, P.C. PS PL
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 14.80% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
LA MONTANITA 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 9.09% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
PLATINUM BANK 401 K PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 6.46% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
SOUTHERN EYE ASSOCIATES LTD 401K
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 7.20% N/A
  BENEFIT TRUST PRIME PLAN SOLUTION
MORROW FAMILY DAYCARE INC 401K
330 W 9TH ST
KANSAS CITY MO 64105-1514
Class R 6.83% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class K 100.00% N/A (a)
Class W 100.00%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class Z 18.77% N/A
  GREAT-WEST TRUST COMPANY LLC TTEE F
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CLIENTS 401K
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R5 13.22% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class Z 16.27% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 16.67% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class Z 16.10% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 205


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R5 14.15% N/A
Class R4 32.40%
  PAI TRUST COMPANY INC
DR BENJAMIN S HANSON III 401 K
1300 ENTERPRISE DR
DE PERE WI 54115-4934
Class R 9.05% N/A
  PAI TRUST COMPANY, INC.
SOCAL PACIFIC CONSTRUCTION CORP.
1300 ENTERPRISE DR
DE PERE WI 54115-4934
Class R 12.97% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 65.21% N/A
Class R5 29.83%
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class Z 13.71% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 35.04% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 9.72% N/A
Funds with Fiscal Period Ending February 28/29:
Except as otherwise indicated, the information below is as of May 31, 2015:
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
Convertible Securities Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 32.26% N/A
Class B 58.70%
Class C 17.01%
Class W 97.79%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND DEPT
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 19.64% N/A
  FIIOC FBO
DURASAFE INC 401(K) PLAN
100 MAGELLAN WAY (KW1C)
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class R 7.26% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 9.06% N/A
Class Z 5.45%
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA INCOME BUILDER FUND
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 55.15% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 206


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA LIFEGOAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 44.85% N/A
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO
FLAHARTY & ASSOCIATES, LLC 401(K)
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class Y 33.44% N/A
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO
REYNOLDS PARRINO SPANO & SHADWICK
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class Y 35.73% N/A
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO
SAPONARO, INC 401(K) PLAN
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class Y 26.84% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH
FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF IT CUSTOMER
4800 DEER LAKE DR E
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 21.35% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 23.01% N/A
Class B 23.06%
Class C 28.47%
Class R 74.39%
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 11.66% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 12.13% N/A
Class R5 14.05%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010
Class R4 78.24% N/A
  NATIONWIDE TRUST COMPANY/FSB
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
Class R5 10.05% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class C 8.72% N/A
Class R4 14.06%
Class R5 23.03%
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 7.94% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 10.57% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
ATTN HOUSE
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R5 21.00% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 207


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class C 6.43% N/A
Global Equity Value Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 20.07% N/A
Class B 17.24%
Class C 8.73%
Class W 81.96%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class Z 14.02% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
Class R5 10.14%
Class W 18.04%
Class Y 99.49%
  COMMUNITY BANK NA AS CUST
FBO SIMED 1165(E) RETIREMENT PLAN
6 RHOADS DR STE 7
UTICA NY 13502-6317
Class R 37.77% N/A
  DCGT AS TTEE AND/OR CUST
FBO PLIC VARIOUS RETIREMENT PLANS
OMNIBUS
ATTN NPIO TRADE DESK
711 HIGH ST
DES MOINES IA 50392-0001
Class R 25.69% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class Z 5.01% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 18.88% N/A
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST. FBO
PEPOSE VISION INSTITUTE PC EMP
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class K 6.10% N/A
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST CO FBO
GEORGE ELLIOTT INC 401K PSP
& TRUST
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R 10.52% N/A
  MLP FENNER & SMITH INC
FBO SOLE BENEFIT OF ITS CUSTOMERS
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 7.21% N/A
Class B 5.58%
Class C 13.46%
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class R 5.63% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class C 6.08% N/A
Class R4 45.19%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 208


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 40.33% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 89.86% N/A
  WELLS FARGO BANK FBO
1525 W W T HARRIS BLVD
CHARLOTTE NC 28262-8522
Class K 93.75% N/A
Class R4 13.26%
International Opportunities Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 21.93% N/A
Class B 23.78%
Class C 7.32%
  CAPTITAL BANK & TRUST COPMANY
TTEE ANDRE PROST INC 401K PSP
& TRUST
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 23.55% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class B 9.14% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT
FOR BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class Z 8.81% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
  EDWARD D JONES & CO
FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
12555 MANCHESTER RD
SAINT LOUIS MO 63131-3729
Class B 7.54% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class A 5.60% N/A
Class B 11.34%
Class C 9.55%
Class Z 7.10%
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 19.24% N/A
Class B 22.17%
Class C 22.57%
Class Z 21.01%
  MG TRUST CO CUST FBO
MCT INC 401K RETPLAN
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 5.05% N/A
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
PERE MARQUETTE EMERGENCY PHYSI
401 K PROFIT SHARING PLAN & TRUST
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R 6.36% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 13.94% N/A
Class Z 23.92%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 209


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 11.07% N/A
Class C 9.92%
Class R4 9.31%
Class Z 8.64%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class C 6.65% N/A
Class R4 67.72%
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 6.11% N/A
  RELIANCE TRUST CO CUST
FBO MASSMUTUAL OMNIBUS
PO BOX 48529
ATLANTA GA 30362-1529
Class R 32.77% N/A
  T SCHNIEDERMAN & D SPINAK TTEES
FBO RETINA CENTER NORTHWEST 401K
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 8.95% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
C/O HOUSE
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R4 16.55% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class B 6.95% N/A
Class C 6.53%
Class Z 7.52%
International Value Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 13.46% N/A
Class B 19.15%
  CDS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES LLC TTE
CONWAY DEUTH & SCHMIESING PLLP 401K
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 13.92% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT
FOR BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class Z 14.29% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
  EDWARD D JONES & CO
FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
12555 MANCHESTER RD
SAINT LOUIS MO 63131-3729
Class B 15.65% N/A
  FIIOC FBO
AIRTRAN AIRWAYS INC
100 MAGELLAN WAY (KW1C)
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class Z 13.66% N/A
  FIIOC FBO
STEFFEN BOOKBINDERS INC
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
100 MAGELLAN WAY (KW1C)
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class R 25.08% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 210


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class B 32.35% N/A
Class C 10.15%
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class B 13.93% N/A
Class C 5.06%
Class Z 6.86%
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO
ROCHESTER PUB SCH 403(B)
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 6.21% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 25.64% N/A
Class B 7.53%
Class C 33.66%
Class Z 17.83%
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO
ROCHESTER CATHOLIC SCHOOLS 403 B
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 6.69% N/A
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST. FBO
BLANKET PROPERTIES LLC EMPLOYEES SA
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 14.57% N/A
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST. FBO
SILVERBLOCK SYSTEMS, INC.
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 6.61% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 10.37% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 8.18% N/A
Class Z 23.93%
  PAI TRUST COMPANY INC
POPLAR BLUFF REHABILITATION 401 K
1300 ENTERPRISE DR
DE PERE WI 54115-4934
Class R 17.01% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 98.20% N/A
  PIMS/PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT
AS NOMINEE FOR THE TTEE/CUST PL 007
LEASE PLAN U S A , INC 401(K)
5350 KEYSTONE CT
ROLLING MDWS IL 60008-3812
Class R5 93.14% N/A
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 10.98% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class C 7.34% N/A
Class Z 5.50%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 211


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 30.04% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
PROFESSIONAL STAFF CONGRESS OF CUNY
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class Y 9.87% N/A
  COLUMBIA THERMOSTAT FUND
227 W MONROE ST STE 3000
CHICAGO IL 60606-5018
Class I 99.99% N/A
  KENNETH VONA CONSTRUCTION TTEE FBO
KENNETH VONA CONSTRUCTION 401K PLAN
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 5.72% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 9.93% 64.49%
Class R 37.07%
Class Y 87.28%
Class Z 83.19%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 14.03% N/A
Class R 8.27%
  NATIONWIDE TRUST COMPANY/FSB
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
Class R5 55.85% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class A 17.16% N/A
Class R5 11.77%
  STATE STREET CORPORATION
FBO ADP ACCESS
1 LINCOLN ST
BOSTON MA 02111-2901
Class R5 31.74% N/A
Large Cap Growth Fund II AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 31.00% N/A
Class B 17.21%
Class C 5.31%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT
FOR BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class Z 5.74% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class B 20.29% N/A
Class C 9.16%
Class Z 10.60%
  HARTFORD LIFE INS. CO.
ATTN UIT OPERATIONS
PO BOX 2999
HARTFORD CT 06104-2999
Class R 22.31% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class A 5.72% N/A
Class Z 7.21%
Class C 7.75%
  MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH
FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF IT CUSTOMER
4800 DEER LAKE DR E
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 17.41% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 212


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 13.17% N/A
Class B 18.75%
Class C 24.38%
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
NORTHLAND CONTROL SYSTEMS INC 401(K
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R4 6.20% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class B 8.40% N/A
Class C 17.18%
Class Z 10.84%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 5TH FL
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010
Class R5 28.73% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 11.53% N/A
Class B 6.90%
Class C 5.62%
Class R4 22.71%
Class Z 7.61%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class A 6.58% N/A
Class B 10.92%
Class C 5.98%
Class R4 26.90%
  RELIANCE TRUST CO CUST
FBO MASSMUTUAL OMNIBUS
PO BOX 48529
ATLANTA GA 30362-1529
Class R 20.74% N/A
  STATE STREET CORPORATION
FBO ADP ACCESS
1 LINCOLN ST
BOSTON MA 02111-2901
Class R4 40.71% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 68.65% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class C 8.63% N/A
Class Z 24.81%
Large Cap Growth Fund III CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT
FOR BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class A 5.81% N/A
Class Z 9.59%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
  FIIOC FBO
AIRTRAN AIRWAYS INC
100 MAGELLAN WAY (KW1C)
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class Z 13.73% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 213


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  FIIOC FBO
AIRTRAN AIRWAYS INC 401(K) PLAN
100 MAGELLAN WAY (KW1C)
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class R4 48.34% N/A
  FIIOC FBO
AIRTRAN AIRWAYS TECHNICAL
OPERATIONS RETIREMENT SAVINGS
100 MAGELLAN WAY (KW1C)
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class R4 11.02% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class A 5.36% N/A
Class B 13.13%
Class C 5.26%
Class Z 8.02%
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class A 8.72% N/A
Class Z 5.78%
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 31.64% 33.97%
Class B 52.57%
Class C 50.62%
Class Z 24.42%
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 12.53% N/A
Class Z 8.29%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 5TH FL
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010
Class R5 93.26% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 7.08% N/A
Class R4 31.78%
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class A 9.67% N/A
Class C 11.73%
Class Z 6.51%
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class C 6.21% N/A
Class Z 8.00%
Large Cap Growth Fund V AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 17.40% N/A
Class B 5.22%
  CAPITAL BANK & TRUST CO TTEE FBO
SEBAGO TECHNICS INC 401K
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 5.10% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND DEPT
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 33.62% N/A
Class Z 8.76%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 214


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
Class W 100.00%
  FIIOC FBO
COMMONFUND RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
100 MAGELLAN WAY (KW1C)
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class R5 55.02% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class B 5.61% N/A
  HARTFORD LIFE INS. CO.
ATTN UIT OPERATIONS
PO BOX 2999
HARTFORD CT 06104-2999
Class R 56.94% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class A 7.71% N/A
Class Z 25.18%
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class B 5.96% N/A
Class C 11.85%
  MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH
FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF IT CUSTOMER
4800 DEER LAKE DR E
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 14.06% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 23.37% N/A
Class B 48.09%
Class C 47.07%
Class R 7.46%
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class B 5.72% N/A
Class C 13.82%
Class Z 20.38%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 10.61% N/A
Class R4 6.52%
Class Z 6.41%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class A 6.64% N/A
Class B 9.67%
Class R4 86.71%
  RELIANCE TRUST CO CUST
FBO MASSMUTUAL OMNIBUS
PO BOX 48529
ATLANTA GA 30362-1529
Class R 11.24% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 6.66% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class C 5.15% N/A
Class Z 8.65%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 215


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
Large Cap Index Fund CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class B 52.07% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
  EDWARD D JONES & CO
FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
12555 MANCHESTER RD
SAINT LOUIS MO 63131-3729
Class B 11.38% N/A
  GREAT WEST TRUST CO
FBO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CLIENTS
401(K) PLAN
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class A 6.15% N/A
  GREAT WEST TRUST CO. AS TRUSTEE FBO
CULLEN AND DYKMAN SAVINGS PLAN I
11500 OUTLOOK ST
OVERLAND PARK KS 66211-1804
Class R5 5.80% N/A
  GREAT-WEST TRUST CO LLC
FBO RECORDKEEPING FOR VARIOUS BENEF
8525 E ORCHARD RD
C/O MUTUAL FUND TRADING
GREENWOOD VILLAGE CO 80111-5002
Class R5 5.75% N/A
  GREAT-WEST TRUST COMPANY LLC TTEE F
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CLIENTS 401K
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R5 16.25% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 19.72% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 13.17% N/A
Class B 7.32%
Class R5 10.24%
Class Z 8.93%
  NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE CO
(NACO)
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
Class R5 6.09% N/A
  NEW YORK LIFE TRUST COMPANY
690 CANTON ST STE 100
WESTWOOD MA 02090-2344
Class A 9.33% N/A
Class R5 13.24%
Class Z 5.87%
  PIMS/PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT
AS NOMINEE FOR THE TTEE/CUST PL 111
FAURECIA USA HOLDINGS, INC.
2800 HIGH MEADOW CIRCLE
AUBURN HILLS MI 48326-2772
Class R5 8.00% N/A
  STATE STREET BANK & TRUST CO
ESTHER T KREMER
SEP IRA
1148 5TH AVENUE
APT 5B
NEW YORK NY 10128-0807
Class B 7.88% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 216


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  STATE STREET BK & TR ROTH IRA
MATTHEW A MCDONALD
572 S 1200 E
MAPLETON UT 84664-4720
Class B 5.54% N/A
  SUNTRUST BANK FBO
VARIOUS SUNTRUST OMNIBUS ACCOUNTS
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R5 6.71% N/A
  TAYNIK & CO
C/O INVESTORS BANK & TRUST CO
1200 CROWN COLONY DR CC10313
QUINCY MA 02169-0938
Class R5 11.65% N/A
Mid Cap Index Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 5.89% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND DEPT
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 17.34% N/A
Class Z 11.86%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 10.37% N/A
Class Z 34.35%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 5.45% N/A
Class R5 6.96%
Class Z 8.32%
  STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANY
1100 SW 6TH AVE
ATTN: SEP ACCT
PORTLAND OR 97204-1093
Class R5 39.97% N/A
  TAYNIK & CO
C/O INVESTORS BANK & TRUST CO
1200 CROWN COLONY DR
QUINCY MA 02169-0938
Class A 9.84% N/A
Mid Cap Value Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 8.50% N/A
Class B 14.92%
Class C 5.14%
Class W 99.36%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
HERITAGE VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM 403(B
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R5 13.79% N/A
  CAPITAL BANK & TRUST COMPANY TTEE F
SMITHGROUP RA 401K
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R5 5.94% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
CUST A/C FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT
ATTENTION MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 51.62% N/A
Class R5 23.21%
Class Z 8.36%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 217


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
Class K 48.38%
  DCGT AS TTEE AND /OR CUST
FBO PLIC VARIOUS RETIREMENT PLANS
OMNIBUS
ATTN NPIO TRADE DESK
711 HIGH ST
DES MOINES IA 50392-0001
Class R 6.48% N/A
  EDWARD D JONES & CO
FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
12555 MANCHESTER RD
SAINT LOUIS MO 63131-3729
Class Z 27.89% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class B 14.48% N/A
Class C 12.10%
  GREAT WEST LIFE & ANNUITY FUTURE FU
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 11.69% N/A
  GREAT-WEST TRUST COMPANY LLC TTEE F
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CLIENTS 401K
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R4 17.38% N/A
Class Y 5.30%
  HARTFORD LIFE INS. CO.
ATTN UIT OPERATIONS
PO BOX 2999
HARTFORD CT 06104-2999
Class R 22.10% N/A
  ING LIFE INSURANCE & ANNUITY CO
ING FUND OPERATIONS
1 ORANGE WAY
WINDSOR CT 06095-4773
Class A 5.79% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class C 6.78% N/A
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY, FBO
C&D ZODIAC INC 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN
PO BOX 52129
PHOENIX AZ 85072-2129
Class Y 6.28% N/A
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY, FBO
CITY NATIONAL CORPORATION PS PLAN
PO BOX 52129
PHOENIX AZ 85072-2129
Class Y 20.57% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 6.11% N/A
Class B 7.70%
Class C 20.11%
Class Z 17.63%
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class B 7.73% N/A
Class C 11.21%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPARTMENT 4TH FL
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010
Class R4 30.14% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 218


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 13.10% N/A
Class B 7.55%
Class C 6.29%
Class R5 23.66%
Class Y 25.30%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class A 5.91% N/A
Class B 13.21%
Class C 6.80%
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 6.74% N/A
  RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
MUTUAL FUND OMNIBUS PROCESSING
OMNIBUS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND OPS MANAGER
510 MARQUETTE AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-1110
Class C 5.39% N/A
  RELIANCE TRUST CO CUST
FBO MASSMUTUAL OMNIBUS
PO BOX 48529
ATLANTA GA 30362-1529
Class R 10.34% N/A
  STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANY
1100 SW 6TH AVE
ATTN: SEP ACCT
PORTLAND OR 97204-1093
Class R4 34.30% N/A
  STATE STREET CORPORATION
FBO ADP ACCESS
1 LINCOLN ST
BOSTON MA 02111-2901
Class Y 13.11% N/A
  VANGUARD FIDUCIARY TRUST CO
PO BOX 2600
ATTN: OUTSIDE FUNDS
VALLEY FORGE PA 19482-2600
Class Y 14.90% N/A
Overseas Value Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 42.01% 42.81%
Class B 41.18%
Class C 36.69%
Class W 100.00%
  BANK OF AMERICA CUSTODIAN
PO BOX 843869
ATTN MFO
DALLAS TX 75284-3869
Class Z 43.70% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
N/A N/A 38.75% (a)
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
CUST A/C FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT
ATTENTION MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 62.20% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class K 36.36% N/A
Class Z 16.37%
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 15.78% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 219


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Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 44.32% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 10.17% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 26.76% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class Z 11.38% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class Z 5.18% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 12.04% N/A
Select Global Growth Fund ADAM LEWIS FBO
JACKSON NEUROSURGERY CLINIC
401 K PSP
805 S WHEATLEY ST STE 600
RIDGELAND MS 39157-5005
Class R 9.54% N/A
  AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 61.19% 43.80%
Class C 34.24%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
O MEARA FERGUSON WHELAN & CONWAY
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 6.93% N/A
  COYLE MASCHERI SHUE TTEE FBO
CHAPMAN COYLE CHAPMAN & ASSOC
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 60.68% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 10.10% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND OPERATIONS
PO BOX 509046
SAN DIEGO CA 92150-9046
Class Z 23.83% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 11.13% N/A
Class Z 12.73%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 220


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Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  MG TRUST CO CUST FBO
NEVADA ADVANCED PAIN SPECIALISTS
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 5.61% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 5TH FL
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010
Class R4 99.85% N/A
Class R5 44.63%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 8.40% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class C 6.68% N/A
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 20.49% N/A
Class Z 34.38%
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 47.56% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 16.97% N/A
Select International Equity Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 23.05% 43.22%
Class B 26.78%
Class C 8.76%
Class W 100.00%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
FINANCIAL NETWORK AUDIT, LLC 401(K)
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 13.30% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
HOSPICE ADVANTAGE 401 K PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 28.37% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
NORDAAS AMERICAN HOMES OF MN LAKE
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 8.80% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
RHEUMATOLOGY CONSULTANTS
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 13.37% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 55.34% N/A
Class Z 6.42%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
Class R4 100.00%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 221


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class K 34.15% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 9.31% N/A
  MLP FENNER & SMITH INC
FBO SOLE BENEFIT OF ITS CUSTOMERS
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 5.55% N/A
  MLP FENNER & SMITH INC
FBO SOLE BENEFIT OF ITS CUSTOMERS
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 10.09% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH
FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF IT CUSTOMER
4800 DEER LAKE DR E
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 44.27% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class R 8.87% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class K 6.64% N/A
Class R5 36.19%
  STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST CO CUST
FBO NUSCO NON UNION MEDICAL TRUST
56 PROSPECT ST
HARTFORD CT 06103-2818
Class Y 99.98% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 57.16% N/A
Select Large Cap Equity Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class B 31.65% N/A
Class C 20.71%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
BAY STATE MEDICAL 401(K) PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R5 89.13% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT
FOR BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class Z 15.66% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class W 100.00% 29.90% (a)
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 10.77% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 222


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 18.60% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 36.48% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 24.95% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA LIFEGOAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 15.41% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class B 8.21% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 72.85% 41.37%
Class B 41.92%
Class C 22.98%
Class Z 52.97%
  MORGAN STANLEY & CO
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA II, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 20.76% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class Z 5.20% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R5 8.97% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class C 5.12% N/A
Small Cap Index Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 14.73% N/A
Class B 19.77%
Class W 99.99%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND DEPT
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 6.82% N/A
Class Z 6.95%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 223


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  GREAT-WEST TRUST CO LLC
FBO RECORDKEEPING FOR VARIOUS BENEF
8525 E ORCHARD RD
C/O MUTUAL FUND TRADING
GREENWOOD VILLAGE CO 80111-5002
Class R5 5.65% N/A
  GREAT-WEST TRUST COMPANY LLC TTEE F
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CLIENTS 401K
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R5 8.64% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
4800 DEER LAKE DR E
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 31.47% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 8.55% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 5.02% N/A
Class R5 14.23%
Class Z 14.70%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R5 8.33% N/A
  TAYNIK & CO
C/O INVESTORS BANK & TRUST CO
1200 CROWN COLONY DR
QUINCY MA 02169-0938
Class A 5.16% N/A
Class K 5.29%
  WELLS FARGO BANK FBO
1525 W W T HARRIS BLVD
CHARLOTTE NC 28262-8522
Class K 80.94% N/A
Small Cap Value Fund II AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class B 15.52% N/A
  CAPITAL BANK & TRUST CO
TTEE W L HALL CO 401K
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 5.70% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class B 5.68% N/A
Class R5 26.72%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
  DCGT AS TTEE AND/OR CUST
FBO PLIC VARIOUS RETIREMENT PLANS
OMNIBUS
ATTN NPIO TRADE DESK
711 HIGH ST
DES MOINES IA 50392-0001
Class A 5.36% N/A
Class R 20.13%
Class R4 9.16%
  EDWARD D JONES & CO
FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
12555 MANCHESTER RD
SAINT LOUIS MO 63131-3729
Class Z 12.75% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 224


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  FIFTH THIRD BANK TRUSTEE FBO
VARIOUS FASCORP RECORDKEPT PLANS
C/O FASCORP
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 9.15% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class B 21.52% N/A
Class C 12.37%
  GREAT-WEST TRUST CO LLC
FBO RECORDKEEPING FOR VARIOUS BENEF
8525 E ORCHARD RD
C/O MUTUAL FUND TRADING
GREENWOOD VILLAGE CO 80111-5002
Class R4 41.18% N/A
Class Y 33.26%
  HARTFORD LIFE INS. CO.
ATTN UIT OPERATIONS
PO BOX 2999
HARTFORD CT 06104-2999
Class R 23.15% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class C 6.06% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 7.38% N/A
Class C 18.94%
Class Y 8.26%
Class Z 17.42%
  N AMRCN DV CRP F 7TH DY ADVNTST TTE
ADVENTIST RETIREMENT
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R4 23.23% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 5.94% 27.20%
Class B 5.91%
Class C 7.72%
Class R4 20.63%
Class R5 9.22%
Class Y 30.66%
Class Z 32.73%
  NEW YORK LIFE TRUST COMPANY
690 CANTON ST STE 100
WESTWOOD MA 02090-2344
Class R5 10.91% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class B 15.70% N/A
  PIMS/PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT
AS NOMINEE FOR THE TTEE/CUST
WAYNE COUNTY
28 W ADAMS AVE STE 1900
DETROIT MI 48226-1610
Class A 5.16% N/A
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class B 7.48% N/A
Class C 20.16%
  RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
MUTUAL FUND OMNIBUS PROCESSING
OMNIBUS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND OPS MANAGER
510 MARQUETTE AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-1110
Class C 6.97% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 225


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  RELIANCE TRUST CO CUST
FBO MASSMUTUAL OMNIBUS
PO BOX 48529
ATLANTA GA 30362-1529
Class R 20.72% N/A
  SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME TRUST FUND
PO BOX 8338
BOSTON MA 02266-8338
Class A 18.68% N/A
  T ROWE PRICE TRUST CO TTEE
FBO RETIREMENT PLAN CLIENTS
PO BOX 17215
BALTIMORE MD 21297-1215
Class R5 8.10% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 16.39% N/A
  THE CHRSTAN & MSSIONRY ALLIANCE TTE
FBO THE ALLIANCE RET PL
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R5 15.44% N/A
  TIAA-CREF TRUST CO CUST/TTEE FBO
RETIREMENT PLANS FOR WHICH
TIAA ACTS AS RECORDKEEPER
ATTN TRUST OPERATIONS
211 N BROADWAY STE 1000
SAINT LOUIS MO 63102-2748
Class Y 5.54% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class B 7.48% N/A
  VANGUARD FDUCIARY TRUST CO
PO BOX 2600
ATTN: OUTSIDE FUNDS
VALLEY FORGE PA 19482-2600
Class Y 7.41% N/A
  VOYA INSTITUTIONAL TRUST COMPANY
AS TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
FOR CORE 12 RETIREMENT PLANS
30 BRAINTREE HILL OFFICE PARK
BRAINTREE MA 02184-8747
Class Y 6.42% N/A
Funds with Fiscal Period Ending March 31:
Except as otherwise indicated, the information below is as of June 30, 2015:
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
Short Term Bond Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 37.21% N/A
Class B 23.43%
Class C 9.34%
Class W 99.85%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
ANDREINI BROS INC EMPLOYEES PS PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 12.33% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
LITTLE MEADOWS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENT
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 5.07% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
S B I 401 K PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 7.53% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 226


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND DEPT
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 26.78% N/A
  CLISE PROPERTIES INC
1700 7TH AVE STE 1800
SEATTLE WA 98101-1312
Class Y 14.63% N/A
  COLUMBIA THERMOSTAT FUND
C/O PAULA RYAN
227 W MONROE ST STE 3000
CHICAGO IL 60606-5018
Class I 100.00% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 10.44% N/A
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY, FBO
ARNOLD & PORTER LLP PENSION PLAN
& TRUST
PO BOX 52129
PHOENIX AZ 85072-2129
Class Y 55.47% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 3
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 82.76% 49.89%
Class A 9.97%
Class B 34.25%
Class C 26.86%
Class R 59.87%
Class Y 29.84%
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 5.17% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 85.17% N/A
Class R5 34.79%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 10.17% N/A
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 13.16% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 37.88% N/A
  WELLS FARGO BANK FBO
1525 W W T HARRIS BLVD
CHARLOTTE NC 28262-8522
Class K 99.53% N/A
Funds with Fiscal Period Ending April 30:
Except as otherwise indicated, the information below is as of July 31, 2015:
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
AMT-Free CA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 51.81% N/A
Class C 9.22%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 227


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND DEPT
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 69.19% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class B 99.90% N/A (a)
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class A 11.32% N/A
Class C 25.31%
Class Z 9.45%
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class A 5.61% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 3
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 7.28% 71.09%
Class C 27.35%
Class Z 82.17%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 5.64% N/A
Class R4 95.82%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class A 8.91% N/A
Class R5 29.29%
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class C 25.80% N/A
AMT-Free GA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 6.20% N/A
Class C 8.37%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class B 6.77% N/A (a)
  EDWARD D JONES & CO
FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
12555 MANCHESTER RD
SAINT LOUIS MO 63131-3729
Class B 21.86% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class A 9.51% N/A
Class B 34.14%
Class C 42.07%
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class A 30.75% N/A
Class C 5.03%
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 3
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 31.50% 66.68%
Class B 37.24%
Class C 18.97%
Class Z 84.38%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 228


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class A 6.76% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class C 7.46% N/A
Class R4 53.61%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 41.84% N/A
  STIFEL NICOLAUS & CO INC
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
501 N BROADWAY
SAINT LOUIS MO 63102-2188
Class C 5.32% N/A
AMT-Free MD Intermediate Muni Bond Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 7.77% N/A
Class B 44.67%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class B 20.12% N/A (a)
Class R4 100.00%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class A 11.63% N/A
Class C 17.47%
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 3
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 60.94% 81.54%
Class B 35.21%
Class C 15.12%
Class Z 90.52%
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 20.85% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class C 7.15% N/A
  RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
MUTUAL FUND OMNIBUS PROCESSING
OMNIBUS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND OPS MANAGER
510 MARQUETTE AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-1110
Class C 7.48% N/A
  THOMAS MULE &
BRENDA D MULE JT WROS
232 WATERFALL CIR
LITTLE RIVER SC 29566-7465
Class C 7.48% N/A
AMT-Free NC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 13.02% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class B 9.70% N/A (a)
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 229


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  EDWARD D JONES & CO
FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
12555 MANCHESTER RD
SAINT LOUIS MO 63131-3729
Class A 7.37% N/A
Class C 10.70%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class A 21.63% N/A
Class B 72.77%
Class C 32.71%
Class Z 8.80%
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 3
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 19.90% 70.10%
Class B 17.52%
Class C 15.14%
Class Z 83.64%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 19.05% N/A
Class C 16.19%
Class R4 52.12%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 26.99% N/A
  SEI PRIVATE TRUST CO
C/O FRANKLIN STREET
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS ADMIN
1 FREEDOM VALLEY DR
OAKS PA 19456-9989
Class R4 18.68% N/A
AMT-Free SC Intermediate Muni Bond Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 18.29% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class B 33.99% N/A (a)
  EDWARD D JONES & CO
FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
12555 MANCHESTER RD
SAINT LOUIS MO 63131-3729
Class A 12.73% N/A
Class C 7.24%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class A 6.86% N/A
Class B 52.93%
Class C 13.13%
Class Z 5.53%
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class A 6.67% N/A
  MARIL & CO FBO 5A
C/O M&I TRUST CO, NA
11270 W. PARK PLACE – SUITE 400
MILWAUKEE WI 53224-3638
Class Z 5.79% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 3
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 17.98% 61.86%
Class B 11.83%
Class C 25.38%
Class Z 79.20%
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 17.44% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 230


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 43.73% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 54.85% N/A
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class A 8.74% N/A
Class C 21.06%
AMT-Free VA Intermediate Muni Bond Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 28.58% N/A
Class C 19.12%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class B 43.92% N/A (a)
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class A 11.02% N/A
Class B 45.35%
Class C 8.54%
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class B 7.95% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 3
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 37.58% 78.51%
Class C 25.25%
Class Z 91.19%
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 9.11% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 97.49% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class C 16.53% N/A
Global Infrastructure Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 91.90% 72.15%
Class B 91.68%
Class C 74.08%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
BRIAN P. SOMMER 401(K) PROFIT SHARI
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 18.62% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION MUTUAL FUND
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 97.19% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 231


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  EASON HORTICULTURAL RESRCS INC TTEE
EASON HORTICULTURAL RESOURCES INC 4
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 11.45% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 5.36% N/A
Class Z 8.18%
  JANA MARTIN TTEE FBO
AMERICAN INSURANCE TRUST 401K
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 6.17% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA GLOBAL STRATEGIC EQUITY
PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 99.99% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class C 6.23% N/A
Class Z 63.14%
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class R 38.10% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class Z 15.48% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 83.99% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 15.12% N/A
Class R5 43.16%
  R JOHN TANNYHILL III DDS TTEE FBO
R JOHN TANNYHILL DDS MD PC 401K
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R5 11.08% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 43.99% N/A
Short Term Municipal Bond Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 26.54% N/A
Class C 5.74%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND DEPT
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 16.18% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class B 7.37% N/A (a)
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 232


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class A 6.50% N/A
Class C 19.53%
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 3
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 17.70% 85.55%
Class B 87.65%
Class C 46.00%
Class Z 92.51%
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class A 6.20% N/A
Class C 5.43%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 11.79% N/A
Class R4 39.14%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 59.66% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 82.97% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class A 14.96% N/A
Class C 6.56%
Funds with Fiscal Period Ending May 31:
Except as otherwise indicated, the information below is as of August 31, 2015:
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
AP – Multi-Manager Value Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 100.00% 100.00%
Commodity Strategy Fund ADVANCED SERIES TRUST AST COLUMBIA
ADAPATIVE RISK ALLOCATION
707 2ND AVE S # H19/10468
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class Z 55.59% N/A
  AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 64.09% N/A
Class C 26.09%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
J J SUPPLY 401 K PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 28.03% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
SPECTRUM EYE CARE INC 401 K PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 47.80% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class R5 100.00% 83.51% (a)
Class W 100.00%
Class Y 100.00%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 233


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA ADAPATIVE ALTERNATIVES
FUND-COMMODITIES SLEEVE
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 15.08% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA ADAPTIVE RISK ALLOCATION
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 74.51% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 5.93% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class C 11.50% N/A
  PAI TRUST COMPANY, INC
STUDIOPOLIS, INC. 401(K) P/S PLAN
1300 ENTERPRISE DR
DE PERE WI 54115-4934
Class R 17.90% N/A
  PATRICIA & ROBERT THOMPSON LLC
7102 PENINSULA DR
TRAVERSE CITY MI 49686-1748
Class Z 6.30% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class A 22.48% N/A
Class C 34.36%
Class R4 99.74%
  RONALD G & EVELYN K DURSO REVOC TR
RONALD G DURSO & EVELYN K DURSO TTE
PO BOX 201
MARQUAND MO 63655-0201
Class Z 5.72% N/A
  STATE STREET BK & TR IRA
BERNARD G FIRMENICH
8 WARD ST
FRENCHTOWN NJ 08825-1021
Class Z 5.61% N/A
  STATE STREET BK & TR IRA
RONALD G DURSO
PO BOX 201
MARQUAND MO 63655-0201
Class Z 11.16% N/A
  STATE STREET BK & TR IRA
STEPHEN P GILLEN
9 LYNN DR
HAWTHORN WDS IL 60047-9126
Class Z 9.26% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE FBO
ROTH STATE STREET BANK & TRUST AS C
NESTLE USA, INC 401(K)
FBO RYAN MYERS
9436 BOBCAT TRL
LEO IN 46765-9360
Class C 7.90% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE FBO
SAMUEL A MCDONOUGH ROLLOVER IRA
TD AMERITRADE CLEARING INC CUSTODIA
1713 S CRESCENT BLVD
YARDLEY PA 19067-3113
Class C 5.40% N/A
Diversified Equity Income Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 41.04% 38.95%
Class B 30.11%
Class C 41.91%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 234


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  AMERIPRISE TRUST COMPANY AS TR
OF THE VENTUREDYNE LTD SAL DEF
INVEST PL
990 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0009
Class R5 23.22% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
CUST A/C FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT
ATTENTION MUTUAL FUND
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 5.63% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
Class W 100.00%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class Z 14.91% N/A
  GREAT WEST TRUST CO
FBO RETIREMENT PLANS
8515 E ORCHARD RD 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R5 8.18% N/A
  GREAT WEST TRUST CO
TRST FBO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CLIENTS
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R4 25.49% N/A
  GREAT-WEST TRUST COMPANY LLC TTEE F
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CLIENTS 401K
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class Y 71.17% N/A
  HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
ATTN UIT OPERATIONS
PO BOX 2999
HARTFORD CT 06104-2999
Class K 8.54% N/A
Class R 40.65%
Class R4 15.23%
  ING LIFE INSURANCE & ANNUITY CO
ING FUND OPERATIONS
1 ORANGE WAY
WINDSOR CT 06095-4773
Class Y 28.12% N/A
  ING LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY CO
ONE ORANGE WAY
WINDSOR CT 06095-4773
Class K 47.63% N/A
Class R 23.39%
Class R4 13.61%
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 6.24% N/A
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
BELL STATE BANK & TRUST MASTER
ACCOUNT
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class Z 21.29% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class Z 10.90% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R5 6.07% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 235


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  RELIANCE TRUST CO CUST
FBO MASSMUTUAL OMNIBUS PE
PO BOX 48529
ATLANTA GA 30362-1529
Class R 13.64% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 30.91% N/A
  VOYA INSTITUTIONAL TRUST COMPANY
TTEE OR CUST FBO MERCEDES-BENZ
INTER INC RET SAVINGS PLAN
30 BRAINTREE HILL PARK
BRAINTREE MA 02184-8747
Class R5 47.47% N/A
  WELLS FARGO BANK FBO
1525 W W T HARRIS BLVD
CHARLOTTE NC 28262-8522
Class K 10.10% N/A
Class R4 24.61%
  WELLS FARGO BANK NA FBO
GRESHAM, SMITH & PARTNER EE SVGS P
1525 WEST WT HARRIS BLVD
CHARLOTTE NC 28288-1076
Class K 14.35% N/A
Dividend Opportunity Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 49.42% 34.53%
Class B 42.78%
Class C 26.26%
Class W 97.70%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
CUST A/C FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT
ATTENTION MUTUAL FUND
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 5.30% N/A
Class R4 8.92%
Class R5 20.87%
Class Z 8.12%
  DCGT AS TTEE AND/OR CUST
FBO PLIC VARIOUS RETIREMENT PLANS
OMNIBUS
ATTN NPIO TRADE DESK
711 HIGH ST
DES MOINES IA 50392-0001
Class R 11.63% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 6.38% N/A
Class Z 9.70%
  GREAT WEST TRUST CO. AS TRUSTEE FBO
CARTER MACHINERY COMPANY, INC.
EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS P
11500 OUTLOOK ST
OVERLAND PARK KS 66211-1804
Class R5 5.97% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA INCOME BUILDER FUND
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 100.00% N/A
  MARIL & CO FBO
C/O M&I TRUST CO, NA
11270 W. PARK PLACE – SUITE 400
MILWAUKEE WI 53224-3638
Class Z 5.32% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 8.74% N/A
Class Z 6.55%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 236


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  MID-ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY CUST
FBO HEARTLAND FINANCIAL RETIREMENT
PLAN
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class Y 18.00% N/A
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class R 12.97% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 6.27% N/A
Class Z 5.39%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 11.52% N/A
Class C 5.49%
Class R4 18.78%
Class R5 13.54%
Class Y 18.86%
Class Z 10.40%
  NEW YORK LIFE TRUST COMPANY
690 CANTON ST STE 100
WESTWOOD MA 02090-2344
Class Y 16.52% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 24.61% N/A
Class R5 6.73%
  PIMS/PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT
AS NOMINEE FOR THE TTEE/CUST PL
WME IMG PROFIT SHARING &
9601 WILSHIRE BLVD
BEVERLY HILLS CA 90210-5213
Class R5 13.65% N/A
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
HOUSE ACCT FIRM
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 19.15% N/A
Class Z 10.35%
  SAMMONS FINANCIAL NETWORK LLC
4546 CORPORATE DR STE 100
WEST DES MOINES IA 50266-5911
Class R 32.12% N/A
  SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY
C/O BOSTON PRIVATE ID
1 FREEDOM VALLEY DR
OAKS PA 19456-9989
Class R5 11.67% N/A
  SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY
C/O JOHNSON TRUST COMPANY ID
1 FREEDOM VALLEY DR
OAKS PA 19456-9989
Class R4 28.56% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 7.05% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 8.71% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 237


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  VRSCO
FBO AIGFSB CUST TTEE FBO
HAMILTON HEALTHCARE 401A ROTH IRA
ATTN CHRIS BAUMAN
2727-A ALLEN PARKWAY, 4-D1
HOUSTON TX 77019-2107
Class K 6.07% N/A
  VRSCO
FBO AIGFSB CUST TTEE FBO
HAMILTON HEALTHCARE 403B
ROTH IRA
2929 ALLEN PKWY STE A6-20
HOUSTON TX 77019-7117
Class K 63.12% N/A
  VRSCO
FBO AIGFSB CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE FBO
BERGEN COUNTY 457
2929 ALLEN PKWY STE A6-20
HOUSTON TX 77019-7117
Class K 6.71% N/A
  VRSCO
FBO AIGFSB CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE FBO
MASON GENERAL HOSPITAL 457B
2929 ALLEN PKWY STE A6-20
HOUSTON TX 77019-7117
Class K 7.99% N/A
Flexible Capital Income Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 80.61% 51.07%
Class C 37.09%
Class W 73.24%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 11.70% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
Class W 26.76%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 7.32% N/A
Class Z 16.04%
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class C 5.97% N/A
Class Z 16.57%
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 3
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 10.38% N/A
Class Z 20.20%
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 9.45% N/A
Class Z 25.00%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R 63.69% N/A
Class R4 30.71%
Class R5 7.57%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 238


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class C 7.23% N/A
Class R 34.32%
Class R4 44.54%
Class R5 69.40%
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
HOUSE ACCT FIRM
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 11.47% N/A
Class Z 6.84%
  SAXON & CO
FBO
P O BOX 7780-1888
PHILADELPHIA PA 19182-0001
Class R4 24.46% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 11.28% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 9.08% N/A
High Yield Bond Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 42.79% 28.45%
Class B 43.28%
Class C 31.05%
Class W 99.93%
  CAPINCO
C/O US BANK NA
PO BOX 1787
MILWAUKEE WI 53201-1787
Class R5 32.13% N/A
Class Y 5.05%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
CUST A/C FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT
ATTENTION MUTUAL FUND
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R4 5.79% N/A
Class R5 24.06%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 8.08% N/A
  ING LIFE INSURANCE & ANNUITY CO
ING FUND OPERATIONS
1 ORANGE WAY
WINDSOR CT 06095-4773
Class Y 81.81% N/A
  ING LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY CO
ONE ORANGE WAY
WINDSOR CT 06095-4773
Class K 54.04% N/A
Class R 62.59%
Class R4 37.51%
  ING NATIONAL TRUST
ONE ORANGE WAY
WINDSOR CT 06095-4773
Class K 11.99% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 5.63% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 21.70% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 239


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA INCOME BUILDER FUND
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 69.96% N/A
  LINCOLN RETIREMENT SERVICES COMPANY
FBO HEBREW SENIORLIFE EMPLOYEE
PO BOX 7876
FORT WAYNE IN 46801-7876
Class Y 8.69% N/A
  MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INS CO
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0002
Class K 30.95% N/A
  MLP FENNER & SMITH INC
FBO SOLE BENEFIT OF ITS CUSTOMERS
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 9.09% N/A
Class Z 61.42%
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class R 19.30% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class B 5.40% N/A
Class R5 21.11%
Class Z 8.39%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 29.83% N/A
  SAMMONS FINANCIAL NETWORK LLC
4546 CORPORATE DR STE 100
WEST DES MOINES IA 50266-5911
Class R 6.26% N/A
  TAYNIK & CO
C/O STATE STREET BANK & TRUST
1200 CROWN COLONY DR
QUINCY MA 02169-0938
Class R4 8.20% N/A
Mortgage Opportunities Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 17.57% N/A
Class C 44.75%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND DEPT
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class A 6.72% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class R5 100.00% 87.00% (a)
Class W 100.00%
  JPMCB NA CUST
FOR ACTIVE PORTFOLIO
MULTI MANAGER CORE PLUS BOND FUND
14201 DALLAS PKWY FL 10
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 16.12% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 9.99% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 14.77% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 240


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA INCOME BUILDER FUND
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 36.62% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR COLUMBIA CAPITAL
ALLOCATION MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 13.51% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class C 15.05% N/A
Class Z 90.99%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 50.24% N/A
Class R4 96.21%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class A 17.98% N/A
Class C 35.36%
Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 41.49% 32.86%
Class B 24.10%
Class C 30.56%
  BAZACO CLEARY FOLEY GLASS LRSSO TTE
PCCS OF NOVA 401K PROFIT SHARING PL
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD 2T2
GREENWOOD VILLAGE CO 80111-5002
Class R 9.80% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 5.94% N/A
  EQUITABLE LIFE FOR SA
ON BEHALF OF VARIOUS 401K
EXPEDITER PLANS
1290 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK NY 10104-0101
Class R 48.19% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class Z 8.46% N/A
  GREAT WEST TRUST CO. AS TRUSTEE FBO
ALLIANT ENERGY CORPORATION 401(K)
SAVINGS PLAN
11500 OUTLOOK ST
OVERLAND PARK KS 66211-1804
Class R5 57.49% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 30.39% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 69.60% N/A
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY TTEE FBO
ZINPRO CORP 401K PSP
PO BOX 52129
PHOENIX AZ 85072-2129
Class Z 13.33% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 241


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class R 14.83% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class Z 13.97% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 73.46% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class C 9.24% N/A
Class R4 6.44%
  PIMS/PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT
AS NOMINEE FOR THE TTEE/CUST PL
ESECLENDING RETIREMENT SAVINGS
175 FEDERAL ST FL 11 FL 11
BOSTON MA 02110-2221
Class K 47.47% N/A
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
HOUSE ACCT FIRM
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 5.77% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 46.08% N/A
  VANGUARD FDUCIARY TRUST CO
PO BOX 2600
ATTN: OUTSIDE FUNDS
VALLEY FORGE PA 19482-2600
Class R5 5.83% N/A
  VRSCO
FBO AIGFSB CUST TTEE FBO
CITY OF SAN CARLOS 457
ROTH IRA
2929 ALLEN PKWY STE A6-20
HOUSTON TX 77019-7117
Class K 12.35% N/A
  VRSCO
FBO AIGFSB CUST TTEE FBO
COMMONWEALTH OF MA 401A ROTH IRA
ATTN CHRIS BAUMAN
2727-A ALLEN PARKWAY, 4-D1
HOUSTON TX 77019-2107
Class K 18.99% N/A
  VRSCO
FBO AIGFSB CUST TTEE FBO
HARNETT HEALTH SYSTEM 403B
ROTH IRA
2929 ALLEN PKWY STE A6-20
HOUSTON TX 77019-7117
Class K 5.47% N/A
  VRSCO
FBO AIGFSB CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE FBO
JEFFERSON REGIONAL MED CNTR 403B
2929 ALLEN PKWY STE A6-20
HOUSTON TX 77019-7117
Class R5 6.22% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 242


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
Select Large-Cap Value Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 25.63% N/A
Class B 24.66%
Class C 5.18%
Class W 99.99%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
CUST A/C FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT
ATTENTION MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 84.32% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR THE
BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS (ONE SOURCE)
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class A 7.69% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 29.28% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class K 15.68% N/A (a)
Class Y 100.00%
  FIIOC FBO
SHULMAN, ROGERS, GANDAL, PORDY &
ECKER, P.A. RETIREMENT PLAN
100 MAGELLAN WAY (KW1C)
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class R5 5.56% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class B 12.93% N/A
Class C 11.13%
Class Z 7.02%
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 18.75% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 53.19% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 26.24% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 3
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 14.64% N/A
Class R4 27.22%
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND 401K PSP & TR
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R 6.69% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 243


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 16.94% N/A
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 33.56% N/A
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class R 63.64% N/A
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class B 25.32% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class B 9.67% N/A
Class C 11.82%
Class Z 58.61%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 8.46% N/A
Class R4 5.33%
Class R5 43.23%
  NEW YORK LIFE TRUST COMPANY
690 CANTON ST STE 100
WESTWOOD MA 02090-2344
Class R4 64.58% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R5 5.29% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
ATTN HOUSE
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R5 9.29% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class C 8.12% N/A
Class Z 9.61%
Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 29.77% N/A
Class B 20.42%
Class C 10.55%
  AUL
AMERICAN GROUP RETIREMENT ANNUITY
ATTN SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
PO BOX 368
INDIANAPOLIS IN 46206-0368
Class R4 14.96% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 19.41% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class Y 100.00% N/A (a)
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 244


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  DCGT AS TTEE AND/OR CUST
FBO PLIC VARIOUS RETIREMENT PLANS
OMNIBUS
ATTN NPIO TRADE DESK
711 HIGH ST
DES MOINES IA 50392-0001
Class R 13.10% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 9.95% N/A
Class Z 14.04%
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 26.05% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 44.66% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 29.27% N/A
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO
TERWILLIGER DENTAL PC
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R5 10.46% N/A
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class R 47.67% N/A
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 16.01% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class Z 8.75% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class C 5.01% N/A
Class R4 25.61%
Class R5 11.58%
  NATIONWIDE TRUST COMPANY/FSB
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
Class R5 14.92% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 33.08% N/A
Class R5 14.23%
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
HOUSE ACCT FIRM
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 8.16% N/A
Class Z 7.13%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 245


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
MUTUAL FUND OMNIBUS PROCESSING
OMNIBUS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND OPS MANAGER
510 MARQUETTE AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-1110
Class B 10.18% N/A
Class Z 24.77%
  T ROWE PRICE TRUST CO TTEE
FBO RETIREMENT PLAN CLIENTS
PO BOX 17215
BALTIMORE MD 21297-1215
Class Z 11.24% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
C/O HOUSE
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R5 6.57% N/A
  THE TRUST COMPANY OF KNOXILLE 1
4823 OLD KINGSTON PIKE STE 100
KNOXVILLE TN 37919-6499
Class R4 22.26% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 19.73% N/A
  WELLS FARGO BANK FBO
1525 W W T HARRIS BLVD
CHARLOTTE NC 28262-8522
Class K 98.25% N/A
  WELLS FARGO BANK FBO
PERFORMANCE INC 401K PLAN
1525 WEST WT HARRIS BLVD
CHARLOTTE NC 28288-1076
Class R5 9.78% N/A
Seligman Communications and Information Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 8.06% N/A
Class B 12.54%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
CUST A/C FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT
ATTENTION MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 73.57% N/A
Class R5 27.07%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
Class K 7.19%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class A 8.02% N/A
Class B 9.49%
Class C 11.82%
Class Z 20.17%
  GREAT-WEST TRUST COMPANY LLC TTEE F
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CLIENTS 401K
8515 E ORCHARD RD 2T2
GREENWOOD VILLAGE CO 80111-5002
Class K 19.24% N/A
  HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
ATTN UIT OPERATIONS
PO BOX 2999
HARTFORD CT 06104-2999
Class R 26.03% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 3
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 26.00% N/A
Class R4 65.90%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 246


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 8.39% N/A
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class B 18.54% N/A
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class R5 7.96% N/A
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 16.27% N/A
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class R 12.32% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class A 7.15% N/A
Class B 6.60%
Class C 11.90%
Class Z 13.58%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 7.71% N/A
Class B 6.51%
Class C 7.24%
Class R4 17.75%
Class R5 21.46%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class A 6.25% N/A
Class B 9.55%
Class C 6.04%
Class R4 10.39%
  PIMS/PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT
AS NOMINEE FOR THE TTEE/CUST PL
EVEREST REINSURANCE
WESTGATE CORPORATE CENTER
PO BOX 830
LIBERTY COR NJ 07938-0830
Class R5 5.13% N/A
  PIMS/PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT
AS NOMINEE FOR THE TTEE/CUST PL
POWER PROFIT SHARING 401 K PLAN
2041 S COBALT POINT WAY
MERIDIAN ID 83642-4443
Class R5 6.05% N/A
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
HOUSE ACCT FIRM
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class B 8.27% N/A
Class C 7.93%
Class Z 5.78%
  STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST AS
TRUSTEE AND/OR CUSTODIAN FBO
ADP ACCESS PRODUCT
1 LINCOLN ST
BOSTON MA 02111-2901
Class R 33.51% N/A
Class R5 6.43%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 247


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class C 7.95% N/A
Class Z 18.85%
Small/Mid Cap Value Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 47.35% 38.99%
Class B 33.34%
Class C 35.38%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
Class W 100.00%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 10.00% N/A
Class Z 41.16%
  HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
ATTN UIT OPERATIONS
PO BOX 2999
HARTFORD CT 06104-2999
Class R 43.54% N/A
Class R4 27.69%
  ING LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY CO
ONE ORANGE WAY
WINDSOR CT 06095-4773
Class R 17.60% N/A
Class R4 6.60%
  ING LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY CO
ONE ORANGE WAY
WINDSOR CT 06095-4773
Class K 16.07% N/A
  ING NATIONAL TRUST
ONE ORANGE WAY
WINDSOR CT 06095-4773
Class R4 8.76% N/A
  ING NATIONAL TRUST
ONE ORANGE WAY
WINDSOR CT 06095-4773
Class K 27.86% N/A
Class R5 10.57%
  MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INS CO
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0002
Class R 5.29% N/A
  MLP FENNER & SMITH INC
FBO SOLE BENEFIT OF ITS CUSTOMERS
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class R5 28.74% N/A
Class Z 22.18%
  MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class R 8.05% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class Z 7.86% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class K 35.36% N/A
Class R5 35.53%
Class Y 95.76%
  STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST AS
TRUSTEE AND/OR CUSTODIAN FBO
ADP ACCESS PRODUCT
1 LINCOLN ST
BOSTON MA 02111-2901
Class R4 29.64% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 248


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 14.34% N/A
  WELLS FARGO BANK FBO
1525 W W T HARRIS BLVD
CHARLOTTE NC 28262-8522
Class K 6.06% N/A
Class R5 15.86%
U.S. Government Mortgage Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 17.45% N/A
Class B 30.59%
Class C 19.13%
Class W 99.97%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND DEPT
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 20.30% N/A
Class K 9.76%
  COLUMBIA THERMOSTAT FUND
C/O PAULA RYAN
227 W MONROE ST STE 3000
CHICAGO IL 60606-5018
Class I 22.92% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class A 5.16% N/A
Class C 7.34%
  GREAT-WEST TRUST COMPANY LLC TTEE F
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CLIENTS 401K
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class Y 43.72% N/A
  GREAT-WEST TRUST FBO RTC TTEE
FBO CERTAIN RETIREMENT PLANS
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class Y 53.48% N/A
  JPMCB NA AS CUST FOR THE SC529 PLAN
COLUMBIA MODERATE 529 PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PARKWAY
FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class Z 7.42% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 6.25% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 20.61% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 12.24% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 13.28% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 249


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA INCOME BUILDER FUND
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 21.63% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class C 13.00% N/A
Class Z 23.84%
  MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH
FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF
ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 3
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 10.34% N/A
Class B 24.94%
Class C 17.58%
Class R4 32.00%
Class Z 38.98%
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 6.86% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 6.96% N/A
Class R4 19.03%
  NEW YORK LIFE TRUST COMPANY
690 CANTON ST STE 100
WESTWOOD MA 02090-2344
Class K 88.40% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class C 6.27% N/A
Class R4 25.68%
Class R5 8.21%
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 42.10% N/A
Funds with Fiscal Period Ending July 31:
Except as otherwise indicated, the information below is as of October 31, 2015:
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 16.14% N/A
Class B 17.11%
Class C 29.49%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class B 15.72% N/A
Class C 5.65%
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class Z 16.40% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 31.38% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class Z 19.40% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 250


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 41.57% N/A
Class R5 8.28%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 57.65% N/A
Class R5 18.36%
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 72.35% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class B 5.15% N/A
Class C 8.36%
Class Z 19.89%
Disciplined Core Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 22.09% N/A
Class B 13.92%
Class C 30.59%
Class W 100.00%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
FINANCIAL NETWORK AUDIT, LLC 401(K)
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 8.28% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
HOSPICE ADVANTAGE 401(K) PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 10.11% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class Y 100.00% N/A (a)
  FIIOC FBO
WATT COMPANIES INC 401K PLAN
100 MAGELLAN WAY # KW1C
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class R4 50.88% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class Z 71.81% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 12.71% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 41.86% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 8.29% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 20.83% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 251


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA GLOBAL STRATEGIC EQUITY
PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 7.65% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA VP-ASSET ALLOCATION FUND
14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 6.11% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class Z 5.37% N/A
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY AS CUST FBO
SHERRILL HOUSE, INC 403(B) RET PLN
PO BOX 52129
PHOENIX AZ 85072-2129
Class R 21.28% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH
FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF
ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATOR
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 8.14% N/A
Class R 34.29%
Class Z 9.44%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 17.28% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 31.60% N/A
  VOYA INSTITUTIONAL TRUST COMPANY
TTEE OR CUST FBO MERCEDES-BENZ
INTER INC RET SAVINGS PLAN
30 BRAINTREE HILL PARK
BRAINTREE MA 02184-8747
Class R5 84.99% N/A
  WELLS FARGO BANK FBO
1525 W W T HARRIS BLVD
CHARLOTTE NC 28262-8522
Class K 98.53% N/A
  WELLS FARGO BANK FBO
CRENLO RETIREMENT 401K
1525 WEST WT HARRIS BLVD
CHARLOTTE NC 28288-1076
Class R5 7.59% N/A
Disciplined Growth Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 79.03% 47.82%
Class B 25.59%
Class C 38.34%
Class W 100.00%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class K 100.00% 38.41% (a)
Class Y 100.00%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 5.65% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 18.44% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 252


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 38.98% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 9.20% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 28.36% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class B 5.28% N/A
Class Z 50.23%
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO
ASSOCIATED RADIOLOGISTS 401(K)
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R5 98.96% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH
FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF
ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATOR
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 14.76% N/A
Class R 58.14%
Class Z 25.93%
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
ELECTRONIC SYSTEM SERVICES INC 401(
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R 11.29% N/A
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
SENIOR & SHOPMAKER INC 401(K) PROFI
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R 11.96% N/A
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
VANTAGE PARTNERS LLC 401(K) PROFIT
SHARING PLAN & TRUST
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R 16.27% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 95.73% N/A
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
HOUSE ACCT FIRM
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 10.43% N/A
Class Z 6.28%
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 6.89% N/A
Disciplined Value Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 43.88% 28.79%
Class B 36.36%
Class C 18.50%
Class W 100.00%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 253


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
WALTERS CONTROLS, INC 401(K) PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 9.70% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class K 100.00% 45.37% (a)
Class R4 100.00%
Class R5 7.46%
Class Y 100.00%
  FIIOC FBO
EMW INC 401K PROFIT SHARING PLAN
100 MAGELLAN WAY # KW1C
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class R 6.33% N/A
  FIIOC FBO
INSULATIONS INC 401(K) PLAN
100 MAGELLAN WAY #KW1C
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class R 10.71% N/A
  FIIOC FBO
SUBURBAN PEDIATRICS PHYSICIAN'S
GROUP INC 401(K) PROFIT SHARING
100 MAGELLAN WAY (KW1C)
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class R 6.39% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 11.09% N/A
  JPMCB NA AS CUSTO FOR THE SC529 PL
COLUMBIA AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 529 PORT
14201 DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class Z 9.21% N/A
  JPMCB NA AS CUSTODIAN FOR THE SC529
PLAN COLUMBIA GROWTH 529 PORTFOLIO
14201 DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class Z 12.76% N/A
  JPMCB NA AS CUSTODIAN FOR THE SC529
PLAN COLUMBIA MODERAGE 529
PORTFOLIO
14201 DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class Z 9.35% N/A
  JPMCB NA AS CUSTODIAN FOR THE SC529
PLAN COLUMBIA MODERATE GROWTH 529
PORTFOLIO
14201 DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class Z 8.19% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 16.63% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 45.45% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 9.71% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 254


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 25.55% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class A 5.51% N/A
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO
RAMPART ENERGY COMPANY 401(K) PLAN
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 22.54% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 11.62% N/A
Class B 11.87%
Class C 22.14%
Class R 10.09%
Class T 13.28%
Class Z 42.44%
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
C CARUSO EXCAVATING COMPANY INC
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R 10.75% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 8.07% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class B 6.87% N/A
  PAI TRUST COMPANY INC
COLGIN PARTNERS, LLC 401(K) P/S PLA
1300 ENTERPRISE DR
DE PERE WI 54115-4934
Class R 5.45% N/A
  PAI TRUST COMPANY, INC
TERRELL, HUNDLEY & CARROLL RIGHT OF
1300 ENTERPRISE DR
DE PERE WI 54115-4934
Class R 5.56% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class A 5.78% N/A
Class B 12.05%
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
HOUSE ACCT FIRM
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 5.09% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 92.54% N/A
Floating Rate Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 58.77% 37.13%
Class B 47.96%
Class C 32.33%
  CAPITAL BANK & TRUST COMPANY TTEE F
CORNELL & CO INC EE S PS AND 401K R
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 5.86% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 255


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  CBNA AS CUSTODIAN FBO
FRINGE BENEFITS DESIGN RETIREMENT P
6 RHOADS DR STE 7
UTICA NY 13502-6317
Class R 20.18% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
CUST A/C FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT
ATTENTION MUTUAL FUND
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 11.78% N/A
Class R4 36.07%
Class K 85.00%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class K 15.00% N/A (a)
Class W 100.00%
Class Y 100.00%
  EMJAY CORPORATION CUSTODIAN FBO
PLANS OF GREAT WEST FINANCIAL
8515 E ORCHARD RD 2T2
GREENWOOD VILLAGE CO 80111-5002
Class R5 7.41% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class Z 6.54% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA INCOME BUILDER FUND
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 97.17% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class Z 8.86% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 10.01% N/A
Class R 47.12%
Class Z 28.28%
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
SCHAGRIN GAS CO
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R 14.33% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 11.95% N/A
Class Z 25.68%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class C 5.68% N/A
Class R4 6.80%
Class R5 73.94%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 52.59% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 15.96% N/A
Global Opportunities Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 46.07% 45.45%
Class B 40.51%
Class C 46.89%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 256


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 83.01% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class R 32.18% N/A (a)
Class W 100.00%
  DONNA C KNIGHT & JEFFREY L KNIGHT
TTEES DONNA C KNIGHT LIVING TRUST
U/A 07/24/1998
15 SYLVAN LN
WESTON MA 02493-1027
Class Z 45.51% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class K 15.80% N/A
  MATRIX TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO TTEE
FBO BINKLEY & HURST LP 401(K) PLAN
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 5.14% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class R 62.68% N/A
Class Z 36.34%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 95.74% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE TRUST COMPANY
ATTN HOUSE
PO BOX 17748
DENVER CO 80217-0748
Class R5 99.14% N/A
Income Opportunities Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 72.75% 38.23%
Class B 34.18%
Class C 38.56%
Class W 99.84%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
DENNIS F MEYER INC 401 K
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 11.57% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
WOODMARK/RMP LLC 401(K) PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class Y 11.75% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND DEPT
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 20.75% N/A
Class K 11.92%
  COLUMBIA THERMOSTAT FUND
C/O PAULA RYAN
227 W MONROE ST STE 3000
CHICAGO IL 60606-5018
Class I 36.57% N/A
  FIIOC FBO
MARCO INC 401(K) PLAN
100 MAGELLAN WAY (KW1C)
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class R4 8.86% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 257


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class B 9.08% N/A
Class C 5.91%
  GREAT WEST TRUST CO
TRST FBO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CLIENTS
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class K 86.53% N/A
  GREENLEAF TRUST FBO
SMITH HAUGHEY RICE & ROEGGE PS 401
211 S ROSE ST
KALAMAZOO MI 49007-4713
Class Y 50.95% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 25.95% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 6.22% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 24.22% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class C 5.23% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 3
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class B 18.32% N/A
Class C 9.27%
Class Z 67.95%
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO
THE ANDERSON COMPANY L L C 401 K
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 7.02% N/A
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
CARL BELT INC 2011-2020 MODERATE
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R 12.98% N/A
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
CARL BELT INC 2021-2030 MODERATE
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R 19.51% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class C 7.69% N/A
Class R4 35.29%
Class R5 7.38%
Class Y 29.31%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class A 5.48% N/A
Class B 6.53%
Class R4 50.66%
Class R5 19.26%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 258


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY
C/O MELLON BANK ID
ATTN MUTUAL FUND ADMIN
1 FREEDOM VALLEY DR
OAKS PA 19456-9989
Class R5 13.16% N/A
  SMC CONSULTING ENGINEERS P C TTEE
SMC CONSULTING ENGINEERS P C 401 K
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 23.95% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 39.39% N/A
Inflation Protected Securities Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 47.73% N/A
Class B 38.53%
Class C 23.47%
Class W 97.09%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
LAW OFFICES OF ROSEMARIE ARNOLD 401
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class K 72.57% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class K 24.38% 47.77% (a)
Class R5 12.16%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class B 5.22% N/A
Class C 5.56%
Class Z 72.19%
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 13.19% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 12.17% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 15.39% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 18.01% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA INCOME BUILDER FUND
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 37.47% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 5.25% N/A
Class C 34.42%
Class R 74.76%
Class Z 9.81%
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 259


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 6.76% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R5 35.68% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class B 15.03% N/A
Class R5 10.85%
  STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST AS
TRUSTEE AND/OR CUSTODIAN FBO
ADP ACCESS PRODUCT
1 LINCOLN ST
BOSTON MA 02111-2901
Class R5 36.97% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 12.38% N/A
Limited Duration Credit Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 66.86% 40.83%
Class B 50.55%
Class C 42.72%
Class W 99.99%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
CUST A/C FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT
ATTENTION MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 86.88% N/A
Class K 90.80%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class K 9.20% N/A (a)
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 7.78% N/A
Class Z 7.79%
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 15.35% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 25.45% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 20.67% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA INCOME BUILDER FUND
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 38.53% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class Z 5.14% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 260


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 9.43% N/A
Class Z 48.25%
  MINNESOTA LIFE INS COMPANY
ATTN KENNETH MONTAGUE
400 ROBERT STREET NORTH
ST PAUL MN 55101-2099
Class R4 83.48% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class Z 18.78% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 8.90% N/A
Class Y 96.81%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 7.53% N/A
Class R5 11.92%
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class C 8.41% N/A
Class Z 8.23%
MN Tax-Exempt Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INV SVCS, INC
ATTN: MFIS CUSTOMER
2003 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0020
Class B 7.18% N/A
Class B 7.16%
Class B 5.89%
  AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 21.93% N/A
Class B 36.95%
Class C 46.83%
Class Z 6.72%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class R5 100.00% N/A (a)
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class Z 11.65% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class Z 28.12% N/A
  MARIL & CO FBO NJ
C/O BMO HARRIS BANK NA ATTN MF
480 PILGRIM WAY, SUITE 1000
GREEN BAY WI 54304-5280
Class Z 5.75% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 13.88% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 60.11% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 261


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 38.81% N/A
  RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
MUTUAL FUND OMNIBUS PROCESSING
OMNIBUS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND OPS MANAGER
510 MARQUETTE AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-1110
Class Z 5.52% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 21.20% N/A
Money Market Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 100.00% N/A
Class A 7.02%
Class B 13.69%
Class C 7.57%
Class W 76.72%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
ED FAGAN, INC. 401(K) PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 6.14% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
FEI INC 401 K PROFIT SHARING PLA
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class C 7.49% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
HOSPICE ADVANTAGE 401(K) PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 6.42% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
MYTHICS, INC. 401(K) PS PLAN AND TR
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R5 26.04% N/A
  BANK OF AMERICA NA
FBO CGSC CAPITAL, INC MFO
PO BOX 843869
DALLAS TX 75284-3869
Class Z 15.58% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class W 23.28% N/A (a)
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 6.16% N/A
  JPMCB NA AS CUSTODIAN FOR THE SC529
PLAN COLUMBIA LEGACY CAPITAL
PRESERVATION 529 PORTFOLIO
14201 DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class Z 24.37% N/A
  JPMCB NA AS CUSTODIAN FOR THE SC529
PLAN FS LEGACY CAPITAL PRESERVATION
PORTFOLIO
14201 DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class Z 15.20% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA INCOME BUILDER FUND
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 98.49% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 262


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO
BTECH INC 401 K PROFIT SHARING PLA
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 6.98% N/A
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
BLOCK,JANNEY AND PASCAL 401(K) PROF
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R 22.07% N/A
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
DESERT CARDIOLOGY CONSULTANT S MED
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R5 68.83% N/A
  MLPF&S
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST, 3RD FL.
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class B 12.61% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 11.82% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class B 5.56% N/A
Funds with Fiscal Period Ending August 31:
Except as otherwise indicated, the information below is as of November 30, 2014:
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
Large Cap Growth Fund IV AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 78.16% 40.94%
Class C 58.17%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 25.07% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
SPRING DESIGN PARTNERS INC PROFIT
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 6.39% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
CUST A/C FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT
ATTENTION MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class A 9.08% 29.97%
Class R5 78.66%
Class Z 58.73%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
  ERNEST Y CHOU & MELBA J CHOU TTEE F
CHOU CHEMICAL COMPANY PSP 401K
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 54.20% N/A
  FIIOC FBO
MGP INGREDIENTS NON-UNION 401(K) &
PROFIT SHARING PLAN
100 MAGELLAN WAY # KW1C
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class R5 13.71% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class Z 21.96% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 263


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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  LPL FINANCIAL
FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class C 5.58% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 94.22% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 5.62% N/A
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 8.01% N/A
Class Z 6.97%
  RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
MUTUAL FUND OMNIBUS PROCESSING
OMNIBUS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND OPS MANAGER
510 MARQUETTE AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-1110
Class Z 5.75% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class C 12.20% N/A
Funds with Fiscal Period Ending October 31:
Except as otherwise indicated, the information below is as of January 31, 2015:
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INV SVCS, INC
ATTN: MFIS CUSTOMER
2003 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0020
Class B 43.50% N/A
Class C 10.36%
  AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 41.72% N/A
Class B 42.67%
Class C 25.86%
Class W 87.15%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class R4 67.59% 59.54% (a)
Class R5 100.00%
Class W 12.85%
Class Y 100.00%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 6.44% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 7.34% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 48.17% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 264


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 9.07% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 33.36% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC
FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class Z 68.48% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 6.96% N/A
Class Z 10.20%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class C 8.35% N/A
Class R4 32.41%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class C 8.81% N/A
  STATE STREET BANK & TRUST CUST
FBO DONA M RENDLEN IRA
1015 ANEMONE RD
FOUR SEASONS MO 65049-6620
Class C 5.15% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 6.18% N/A
  UMBSC & CO
FBO FBO ISM NON TRADITIONAL FUND
PO BOX 419260
KANSAS CITY MO 64141-6260
Class Z 9.35% N/A
Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund ACTION FABRICATORS INC TTEE FBO
ACTION FABRICATORS INC PSP 401K
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 38.86% N/A
  ALAN J PINNICK &
MARILYN K PINNICK JTTEN
712 PHAETON PL
INDIANAPOLIS IN 46227-2524
Class C 7.06% N/A
  AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 25.18% N/A
  CAPITAL BANK & TRUST CO TTEE FBO
EVERETT GASKINS HANCOCK LLP 401K PS
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 13.82% N/A
  COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT ADVISORS INC
NOMINEE FOR VARIOUS COLUMBIA FUNDS
ATTN JANE HOWARD FBO: RLD
225 FRANKLIN ST FL 25
BOSTON MA 02110-2888
Class Z 18.83% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 265


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
  DEMETRIOS ZIOZIS TTEE FBO
LINON HOME DECOR PRODUCTS INC 401K
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 6.20% N/A
  KERRI KOESSLER &
CHRISTOPHE KOESSLER JT WROS
1071 LONGFELLOW AVE
CAMPBELL CA 95008-7110
Class C 6.35% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class A 56.62% N/A
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO
KUCHLER POLK SCHELL WEINER & RICHES
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 19.56% N/A
  NALINI S NAIK
5 KILBURN CT
CHERRY HILL NJ 08003-1965
Class Z 6.86% N/A
  PAI TRUST COMPANY, INC
STUDIOPOLIS, INC. 401(K) P/S PLAN
1300 ENTERPRISE DR
DE PERE WI 54115-4934
Class R 5.05% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class A 6.98% N/A
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
HOUSE ACCT FIRM
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 8.24% N/A
Class Z 23.94%
  STATE STREET BANK & TRUST CUST
FBO DEAN C GASSMAN IRA
53 MANCHESTER CT
CARMEL IN 46032-9508
Class C 7.29% N/A
  STATE STREET BK & TR IRA
FBO MARLENE WOOD
9700 ENCHANTO RD
ATASCADERO CA 93422-7111
Class C 17.59% N/A
  STATE STREET BK & TR IRA
PATRICIA M DALY
426 GREAT FALLS ST
FALLS CHURCH VA 22046-2608
Class Z 17.52% N/A
  STATE STREET BK & TR IRA
RICHARD A HIGA
1913 JACK RABBIT WAY
LAS VEGAS NV 89128-2636
Class C 5.24% N/A
  STATE STREET BK & TR IRA
ROSEMARIE KATO
17218 ALFRED AVE
CERRITOS CA 90703-1112
Class C 14.10% N/A
  STATE STREET BK & TR IRA
YUKIKO KAWAHARA
567 N 17TH ST
SAN JOSE CA 95112-1735
Class C 7.06% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 266


Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  STIFEL NICOLAUS & CO INC
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
501 N BROADWAY
SAINT LOUIS MO 63102-2188
Class Z 29.33% N/A
  WESTMEYER DENTAL INC TTEE FBO
WESTMEYER DENTAL INC PSP 401K
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2
GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002
Class R 15.63% N/A
Emerging Markets Bond Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 39.45% N/A
Class B 39.98%
Class C 8.80%
Class W 97.85%
  CAPINCO
C/O US BANK NA
PO BOX 1787
MILWAUKEE WI 53201-1787
Class Y 45.24% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUND DEPT
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class R5 13.29% N/A
Class K 17.68%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class K 46.84% 42.03% (a)
  COUNSEL TRUST DBA MATC FBO
SAVINGS INCENTIVE & PS PLAN FOR
EE S OF THE HOBBY LOBBY GRP
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class Y 14.80% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class K 35.48% N/A
Class C 19.13%
Class Z 22.67%
  JPMCB NA AS CUST FOR THE SC529 PLAN
COLUMBIA MODERATE GROWTH
529 PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PARKWAY
FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class Z 5.78% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 11.36% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 7.03% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 11.39% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA INCOME BUILDER FUND
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 66.51% N/A
  LPL FINANCIAL
9785 TOWNE CENTRE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-1968
Class A 5.82% N/A
Statement of Additional Information – December 1, 2015 267


Table of Contents
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  MLP FENNER & SMITH INC
FBO SOLE BENEFIT OF ITS CUSTOMERS
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class B 5.61% N/A
Class C 12.20%
Class R 22.36%
Class Z 7.82%
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 16.91% N/A
Class Z 8.58%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class A 6.12% N/A
Class R4 90.41%
Class R5 7.58%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class A 5.11% N/A
Class R5 59.37%
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
HOUSE ACCT
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 12.19% N/A
Class Z 8.42%
  SAMMONS FINANCIAL NETWORK LLC
4546 CORPORATE DR STE 100
WEST DES MOINES IA 50266-5911
Class R 69.16% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 13.00% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class C 8.64% N/A
Class Z 8.49%
  WILMINGTON TRUST RISC AS TTEE FBO
VICTORY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC 401K
PO BOX 52129
PHOENIX AZ 85072-2129
Class Y 35.70% N/A
European Equity Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 45.18% N/A
Class B 31.52%
Class C 31.11%
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 11.26% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class K 20.07% 62.78% (a)
Class W 100.00%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class C 7.13% N/A
  JPMCB NA AS CUST FOR THE SC529 PLAN
COLUMBIA MODERATE 529 PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PARKWAY
FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class Z 16.19% N/A
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  JPMCB NA AS CUST FOR THE SC529 PLAN
COLUMBIA MODERATE GROWTH
529 PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PARKWAY
FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class Z 20.26% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 14.02% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 41.93% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 8.34% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR
COLUMBIA CAPITAL ALLOCATION
MODERATE PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class I 28.35% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR SC529 PLAN
COLUMBIA AGGRESSIVE GROWTH
529 PORTFOLIO
14201N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254
Class Z 19.18% N/A
  JPMCB NA CUST FOR SC529 PLAN
COLUMBIA GROWTH 529 PORTFOLIO
14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13
DALLAS TX 75254-2916
Class Z 22.07% N/A
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST. FBO
UROLOGIC SURGERY, P.C. 401(K) PROFI
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class K 68.67% N/A
  MLP FENNER & SMITH INC
FBO SOLE BENEFIT OF ITS CUSTOMERS
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 11.34% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 16.87% N/A
Class Z 5.04%
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class R4 99.01% N/A
Class R5 8.98%
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 84.18% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class C 12.42% N/A
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
Global Bond Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 24.87% N/A
Class B 38.22%
Class C 27.34%
Class W 87.85%
  BAND & CO C/O US BANK NA
1555 N RIVERCENTER DR STE 302
MILWAUKEE WI 53212-3958
Class Z 13.11% N/A
  BENEFIT TRUST TTEE
PETERS INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE 401K
330 W 9TH ST
KANSAS CITY MO 64105-1514
Class R 24.83% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 27.23% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
Class R 29.67%
Class W 12.15%
Class Y 100.00%
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class K 5.28% N/A
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
TECVAR INC 401 K PROFIT SHARING
PLAN & TRUST
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R 41.33% N/A
  MLP FENNER & SMITH INC
FBO SOLE BENEFIT OF ITS CUSTOMERS
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 6.11% N/A
  NANCY MANN FBO
MANNS JEWELERS INC 401(K) PROFIT
SHARING PLAN & TRUST
2945 MONROE AVE
ROCHESTER NY 14618-4601
Class K 64.08% N/A
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF
OUR CUSTOMERS
499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 5
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010
Class Z 13.92% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class Z 57.77% N/A
Select Global Equity Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 13.58% N/A
Class B 23.98%
Class C 12.64%
  ASCENSUS TRUST CO FBO
CACHE COMMODITIES INC 401K RETIRE
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 12.59% N/A
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
FINANCIAL NETWORK AUDIT, LLC 401(K)
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class R 13.08% N/A
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
Class W 100.00%
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class Z 11.28% N/A
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC
FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class C 14.15% N/A
Class R 41.61%
Class Z 16.74%
  MG TRUST COMPANY CUST
FBO APPLIED RELIABILITY ENGINEERING
717 17TH ST STE 1300
DENVER CO 80202-3304
Class R 30.80% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 6.86% N/A
Class Z 21.76%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R5 98.01% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class Z 24.02% N/A
  WELLS FARGO BANK FBO
1525 W W T HARRIS BLVD
CHARLOTTE NC 28262-8522
Class K 99.57% N/A
Seligman Global Technology Fund AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405
Class A 12.63% N/A
Class B 14.35%
  ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO
CHALET DENTAL CARE 401(K) PLAN
PO BOX 10758
FARGO ND 58106-0758
Class K 28.59% N/A
  CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
CUST A/C FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT
ATTENTION MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151
Class K 57.20% N/A
Class R5 69.29%
  COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC
ATTN KATRINA MACBAIN
50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508
Class I 100.00% N/A (a)
  FIIOC FBO
REV1 POWER SERVICES INC
401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN
100 MAGELLAN WAY # KW1C
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987
Class R4 26.91% N/A
  FIRST CLEARING LLC
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523
Class K 5.50% N/A
Class C 7.18%
Class Z 12.79%
  HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
ATTN UIT OPERATIONS
PO BOX 2999
HARTFORD CT 06104-2999
Class R 48.24% N/A
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Fund Shareholder Name and Address Share Class Percentage
of Class
Percentage of Fund
(if greater than 25%)
  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INC
FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FLOOR
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484
Class A 6.69% N/A
Class C 16.29%
Class R 12.47%
Class Z 34.81%
  MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO
LCM FX LLC 401 K PROFIT SHARING
PLAN & TRUST
1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525
PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228
Class R4 12.70% N/A
  MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
PLAZA 2, 3RD FLOOR
JERSEY CITY NJ 07311
Class C 9.78% N/A
Class Z 9.11%
  NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FEBO CUSTOMERS
MUTUAL FUNDS
200 LIBERTY STREET 1WFC
NEW YORK NY 10281-1003
Class R4 14.27% N/A
  PATTERSON & CO FBO
ISSI RETIREMENT PLAN
1525 WEST WT HARRIS BLVD
CHARLOTTE NC 28262-8522
Class R5 14.43% N/A
  PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
Class A 9.42% N/A
Class C 6.45%
Class R4 44.99%
  RAYMOND JAMES
FBO OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
HOUSE ACCT FIRM
ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100
Class C 6.74% N/A
  TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA NE 68103-2226
Class R5 14.64% N/A
  UBS WM USA
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
ATTN: DEPARTMENT MANAGER
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761
Class B 8.52% N/A
Class C 7.10%
Class Z 34.21%
(a) Combination of all share classes of Columbia Management initial capital and/or affiliated funds-of-funds’ investments.
American Enterprise Investment Services Inc., a Minnesota corporation, is a subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
Bank of America, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, are subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., a California corporation, is a subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation.
National Financial Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is wholly owned by Fidelity Global Brokerage Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR LLC.
The Investment Manager, a Minnesota limited liability company, is a subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Other Columbia Funds managed by the Investment Manager may hold more than 25% of a Fund.
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INFORMATION REGARDING PENDING AND SETTLED LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In December 2005, without admitting or denying the allegations, American Express Financial Corporation (AEFC, which is now known as Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial)) entered into settlement agreements with the SEC and Minnesota Department of Commerce (MDOC) related to market timing activities. As a result, AEFC was censured and ordered to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations of certain provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the 1940 Act, and various Minnesota laws. AEFC agreed to pay disgorgement of $10 million and civil money penalties of $7 million. AEFC also agreed to retain an independent distribution consultant to assist in developing a plan for distribution of all disgorgement and civil penalties ordered by the SEC in accordance with various undertakings detailed at http://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/ia-2451.pdf. Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates have cooperated with the SEC and the MDOC in these legal proceedings, and have made regular reports to the Funds’ Board.
Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions, and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Funds are not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Funds. Ameriprise Financial is required to make quarterly (10-Q), annual (10-K) and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the SEC-on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
There can be no assurance that these matters, or the adverse publicity associated with them, will not result in increased Fund redemptions, reduced sale of Fund shares or other adverse consequences to the Funds. Further, although we believe proceedings are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Funds, these proceedings are subject to uncertainties and, as such, we are unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result. An adverse outcome in one or more of these proceedings could result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties or other relief that could have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of Ameriprise Financial.
Additionally, for Columbia Floating Rate Fund:
Columbia Floating Rate Fund (the Fund) is one of several defendants to an adversary bankruptcy proceeding captioned Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of TOUSA, Inc., et al. v. Citicorp North America, Inc., et al. (the Lawsuit), (In re TOUSA, Inc., et al.), pending in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida (the Bankruptcy Court). The Fund and several other defendants (together, the Senior Transeastern Defendants) were lenders to parties involved in a joint venture with TOUSA, Inc. (TOUSA) on a $450 million Credit Agreement dated as of August 1, 2005 (the Credit Agreement). In 2006, the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement brought claims against TOUSA alleging that certain events of default had occurred under the Credit Agreement thus triggering the guaranties (the Transeastern Litigation). On July 31, 2007, TOUSA and the Senior Transeastern Defendants reached a settlement in the Transeastern Litigation pursuant to which the Fund (as well as the other Senior Transeastern Defendants) released its claims and was paid $1,052,271. To fund the settlement, TOUSA entered into a $500 million credit facility with new lenders secured by liens on the assets of certain of TOUSA’s subsidiaries. On January 29, 2008, TOUSA and certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. In August 2008, the Committee of Unsecured Creditors of TOUSA (Committee) filed the Lawsuit, seeking as to the Fund and the other Senior Transeastern Defendants a return of the money the Senior Transeastern Defendants received as part of the Transeastern Litigation settlement. The Lawsuit went to trial in July 2009, and the Bankruptcy Court ordered the Fund and the other Senior Transeastern Defendants to disgorge the money they received in settlement of the Transeastern Litigation. The Senior Transeastern Defendants, including the Fund, appealed the Bankruptcy Court’s decision to the District Court for the Southern District of Florida (the District Court). To stay execution of the judgment against the Fund pending appeal, the Fund deposited $1,327,620 with the Bankruptcy Court clerk of court. On February 11, 2011, the District Court entered an opinion and order quashing the Bankruptcy Court’s decision as it relates to the liability of the Senior Transeastern Defendants and ordering that “[t]he Bankruptcy Court’s imposition of remedies as to the [Senior Transeastern Defendants] is null and void.” On March 8, 2011, the Committee appealed the District Court’s order to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. On May 15, 2012, the Eleventh Circuit issued an order reversing the decision of the District Court. A petition for rehearing by the entire panel of the Eleventh Circuit was filed and denied. On June 23, 2015, the District Court affirmed the Bankruptcy Court’s liability findings and remanded the case back to the Bankruptcy Court to decide two issues: whether a settlement entered into by certain defendants as part of the TOUSA bankruptcy plan should reduce the judgment against the Senior Transeastern Lenders and whether the Bankruptcy Court erred in ordering certain remedies. The matter is currently pending in the Bankruptcy Court.
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APPENDIX A — DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
The ratings of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch represent their opinions as to quality. These ratings are not absolute standards of quality and are not recommendations to purchase, sell or hold a security. Issuers and issues are subject to risks that are not evaluated by the rating agencies. When a security is not rated by one of these agencies, it is designated as Not Rated. Securities designated as Not Rated do not necessarily indicate low credit quality, and for such securities the Investment Manager evaluates the credit quality.
S&P’s Debt Ratings
Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings
An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong. An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.
An obligation rated 'C' is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.
An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings
Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days – including commercial paper.
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
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A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation's rating is lowered to 'D' if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings
SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
Moody’s Long-Term Debt Ratings
Global Long-Term Rating Scale
Aaa – Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
Aa – Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
A – Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
Baa – Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Ba – Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.
B – Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
Caa – Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
Ca – Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
C – Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
Global Short-Term Rating Scale
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 (P-1) have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 (P-2) have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 (P-3) have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime (NP) do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
US Municipal Short-Term Debt and Demand Obligation Ratings
While the global short-term ‘prime’ rating scale is applied to U.S. municipal tax-exempt commercial paper, these programs are typically backed by external letters of credit or liquidity facilities and their short-term prime ratings usually map to the long-term rating of the enhancing bank or financial institution and not to the municipality’s rating. Other short-term municipal obligations, which generally have different funding sources for repayment, are rated using two additional short-term rating scales ( i.e. , the MIG and VMIG scales discussed below).
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The Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) scale is used to rate US municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity. Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating. MIG ratings are divided into three levels — MIG 1 through MIG 3 — while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated SG.
The MIG 1 designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
The MIG 2 designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
The MIG 3 designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
The SG designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned: a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”). The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (VMIG) scale. The rating transitions on the VMIG scale, as shown in the diagram below, differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.
The VMIG 1 designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
The VMIG 2 designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
The VMIG 3 designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
The SG designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
Fitch’s Ratings
Corporate Finance Obligations – Long-Term Rating Scales
AAA: Highest credit quality.
‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA: Very high credit quality.
‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A: High credit quality.
‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB: Good credit quality.
‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
BB: Speculative.
‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.
B: Highly speculative.
‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.
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CCC: Substantial credit risk.
‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.
CC: Very high levels of credit risk.
‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.
C: Exceptionally high levels of credit risk.
‘C’ indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.
Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘RD’ or ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘B’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.
Short-Term Ratings Assigned to Issuers or Obligations in Corporate, Public and Structured Finance
F1: Highest short-term credit quality.
Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2: Good short-term credit quality.
Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
F3: Fair short-term credit quality.
The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
B: Speculative short-term credit quality.
Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C: High short-term default risk.
Default is a real possibility.
RD: Restricted default.
Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.
D: Default.
Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.
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APPENDIX B — PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
Effective February 1, 2015
Set forth on the following pages are guidelines (the Guidelines) adopted and used by the Board or the Investment Manager in voting proxies for the Columbia Funds overseen by the Board. The Guidelines are organized by issue and present certain factors that may be considered in making proxy voting determinations. In accordance with the Funds' Proxy Voting Policy, the Board has delegated proxy voting authority to the Investment Manager in most circumstances. The Investment Manager has engaged a third party firm to provide proxy research services (the third party research provider) to assist it in this function. The Board or the Investment Manager may, in exercising its fiduciary discretion, determine to vote any proxy in a manner contrary to these Guidelines.
Directors, Boards, Committees
Elect Directors
In a routine election of directors, the Funds generally will vote FOR the slate nominated by the nominating committee of independent directors, who are in the best position to know what qualifications are needed for each director to contribute to an effective board. The Funds generally will WITHHOLD support from a nominee who fails to meet one or more of the following criteria:
Independence — A nominee who is deemed an affiliate of the company by virtue of a material business, familial or other relationship with the company but is otherwise not an employee.
Attendance — A nominee who failed to attend at least 75% of the board’s meetings.
Over Boarding — A nominee who serves on more than four other public company boards or an employee director nominee who serves on more than two other public company boards.
Committee Membership — A nominee who has been assigned to the audit, compensation, nominating, or governance committee if that nominee is not independent of management, or if the nominee does not meet the specific independence and experience requirements for audit committees or the independence requirements for compensation committees.
Audit Committee Chair — A nominee who serves as audit committee chair where the committee failed to put forth shareholder proposals for ratification of auditors.
Board Independence — A nominee of a company whose board as proposed to be constituted would have more than one-third of its members from management.
Interlocking Directorship — A nominee who is an executive officer of another company on whose board one of the company’s executive officers sits.
Poor Governance — A nominee involved with options backdating, financial restatements or material weakness in controls, approving egregious compensation, or who has consistently disregarded the interests of shareholders.
The Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on any director nominee who meets the aforementioned criteria but whose candidacy has otherwise been identified by the third party research provider as needing further consideration for any reason not identified above.
In the case of contested elections, the Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, taking into consideration the above criteria and other factors such as the background of the proxy contest, the performance of the company, current board and management, and qualifications of nominees on both slates.
Shareholder Nominations for Director
The Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for shareholder-nominated candidates for director, taking into account various factors including, but not limited to: company performance, the circumstances compelling the nomination by the shareholder, composition of the incumbent board, and the criteria listed above used to evaluate nominees.
Shareholder Nominations for Director — Special Criteria
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider, which are typically based on the view that board nominating committees are responsible for establishing and implementing policies regarding the composition of the board and are therefore in the best position to make determinations with respect to special nominating criteria.
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Director Independence and Committees
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals that require all members of a board’s key committees (audit, compensation, nominating or governance) be independent from management.
Independent Board Chair/Lead Director
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals supporting an independent board chair or lead director and FOR the separation of the board chair and CEO roles, as independent board leaders foster the effectiveness of the independent directors and ensure appropriate oversight of management.
Removal of Directors
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals that amend governing documents to grant or restore shareholder ability to remove directors with cause, and AGAINST proposals that provide directors may be removed only by supermajority vote. The Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals calling for removal of specific directors.
Board Vacancies
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider in the case of vacancies filled by continuing directors, taking into account factors including whether the proposal is in connection with a proxy contest or takeover situation.
Cumulative Voting
In the absence of proxy access rights or majority voting, the Funds generally will vote FOR the restoration or provision for cumulative voting and AGAINST its elimination.
Majority Voting
The Funds generally will vote FOR amendments to governing documents that provide that nominees standing for election to the board must receive a majority of votes cast in order to be elected to the board.
Number of Directors
The Funds generally will vote FOR amendments to governing documents that provide directors the authority to adjust the size of the board to adapt to needs that may arise.
Term Limits
The Funds generally will vote AGAINST proposals seeking to establish a limit on director terms or mandatory retirement.
General Corporate Governance
Right to Call a Special Meeting
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider, which typically recommends votes FOR adoption, considering factors such as proposed ownership threshold, company size, and shareholder ownership, but will not support proposals allowing for investors with less than 10% ownership to call a special meeting.
Eliminate or Restrict Right to Call Special Meeting
The Funds generally will vote AGAINST proposals to eliminate the right of shareholders to call special meetings.
Lead Independent Director Right to Call Special Meeting
The Funds generally will vote FOR governance document amendments or other proposals which give the lead independent director the authority to call special meetings of the independent directors at any time.
Adjourn Meeting
The Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on adjournment proposals and generally in the same direction as the primary proposal ( i.e. , if supporting the primary proposal, favor adjournment; if not supporting the primary proposal, oppose adjournment).
Other Business
The Funds generally will vote AGAINST proposals seeking to give management the authority to conduct or vote on other business at shareholder meetings on the grounds that shareholders not present at the meeting would be unfairly excluded from such deliberations.
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Eliminate or Restrict Action by Written Consent
The Funds generally will vote AGAINST proposals to eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent since it may be appropriate to take such action in some instances.
Vote Unmarked Proxies
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals prohibiting voting of unmarked proxies in favor of management.
Proxy Contest Advance Notice
The Funds generally will vote AGAINST proposals to amend governing documents that require advance notice for shareholder proposals or director nominees beyond notice that allows for sufficient time for company response, SEC review, and analysis by other shareholders.
Minimum Stock Ownership
The Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals regarding minimum stock ownership levels.
Director and Officer Indemnification
The Funds generally will vote FOR the provision of a maximum dollar amount that can be obtained through the course of legal action from a director or officer who acts in good faith and does not benefit from a transaction.
Confidential Voting
The Funds generally will vote FOR actions that ensure all proxies, ballots, and voting tabulations which identify shareholders be kept confidential, except where disclosure is mandated by law. The Funds support the proposal to minimize pressure on shareholders, particularly employee shareholders.
Miscellaneous Governing Document Amendments
The Funds generally will vote FOR bylaw or charter changes that are of a housekeeping nature ( e.g. , updates or corrections).
Change Company Name
The Funds generally will vote FOR routine business matters such as changing the company’s name.
Approve Minutes
The Funds generally will vote FOR routine procedural matters such as approving the minutes of a prior meeting.
Change Date/Time/Location of Annual Meeting
The Funds will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the third party research provider on proposals to change the date, time or location of the company’s annual meeting of shareholders.
Approve Annual, Financial and Statutory Reports
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals to approve the annual reports and accounts, financial and statutory reports, provided companies required to comply with U.S. securities laws have included the certifications required by the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.
Compensation
Approve or Amend Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider, which typically recommends votes FOR adoption or amendments to omnibus (general) equity compensation plans for employees or non-employee directors if they are reasonable and consistent with industry and country standards, and AGAINST compensation plans that substantially dilute ownership interest in a company, provide participants with excessive awards, or have objectionable structural features.
Approve or Amend Stock Option Plan
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider, which are typically based on factors including cost, size, and pattern of grants in comparison to peer groups, history of repricing, and grants to senior executives and non-employee directors.
Approve or Amend Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider, which are typically based on factors including the plan’s cost to shareholders, whether those costs are in line with the company’s peer’s plans, and whether the plan requires shareholder approval within five years.
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Approve or Amend Performance-Based 162(m) Compensation Plan
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider, which are typically based on factors that consider the goal of the plan and in particular the linkage between potential payments to senior executives and the attainment of preset performance-based metrics.
Approve or Amend Restricted Stock Plan
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider, which considers such factors as the balance of all equity grants and awards, the term and other restrictions in place for restricted stock.
Stock Option Repricing or Exchanges
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider on matters relating to the repricing of stock options, which are typically based on factors such as whether the amending terms lead to a reduction in shareholder rights, allow the plan to be amended without shareholder approval, or change the terms to the detriment of employee incentives such as excluding a certain class or group of employees. The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals to put stock option repricings to a shareholder vote.
Performance-Based Stock Options
The Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis regarding proposals urging that stock options be performance-based rather than tied to the vagaries of the stock market.
Ban Future Stock Option Grants
The Funds generally will vote AGAINST proposals seeking to ban or eliminate stock options in equity compensation plans as such an action would preclude the company from offering a balanced compensation program.
Require Stock Retention Period
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requiring senior executives to hold stock obtained by way of a stock option plan for a minimum of three years.
Require Approval of Extraordinary Benefits
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals specifying that companies disclose any extraordinary benefits paid or payable to current or retired senior executives and generally will vote AGAINST proposals requiring shareholder approval of any such extraordinary benefits.
Pay for Performance
The Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis regarding proposals seeking to align executive compensation with shareholders’ interests.
Say on Pay
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider, taking into consideration the company’s pay for performance results and certain elements of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis disclosure.
Executive Severance Agreements
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider on these proposals regarding approval of specific executive severance arrangements in the event of change in control of a company or due to other circumstances.
Approve or Amend Deferred Compensation Plans for Directors
The Funds generally will vote FOR approval or amendments to deferred compensation plans for non-employee directors, so that they may defer compensation earned until retirement.
Set Director Compensation
The Funds generally will vote AGAINST proposals that seek to limit director compensation or mandate that compensation be paid solely in shares of stock.
Director Retirement Plans
The Funds generally will vote AGAINST the adoption or amendment of director retirement plans on the basis that directors should be appropriately compensated while serving and should not view service on a board as a long-term continuing relationship with a company.
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Business Entity and Capitalization
Common or Preferred Stock — Increase in Authorized Shares or Classes
The Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis regarding proposals to increase authorized shares of common stock or to add a class of common stock, taking into consideration the company’s capital goals that may include stock splits, stock dividends, or financing for acquisitions or general operations. With respect to proposals seeking to increase authorized shares of preferred stock, to add a class of preferred stock, to authorize the directors to set the terms of the preferred stock or to amend the number of votes per share of preferred stock, the Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on the grounds that such actions may be connected to a shareholder rights’ plan that the Funds also will consider on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Common or Preferred Stock – Decrease in Authorized Shares or Classes
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals seeking to decrease authorized shares of common or preferred stock or the elimination of a class of common or preferred stock.
Common Stock — Change in Par Value
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals to change the par value of the common stock, provided that the changes do not cause a diminution in shareholder rights.
Authorize Share Repurchase Program
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals to institute or renew open market share repurchase plans in which all shareholders may participate on equal terms.
Stock Splits
The Funds generally will vote FOR stock split proposals on the grounds that they intended to encourage stock ownership of a company.
Private Placements, Conversion of Securities, Issuance of Warrants or Convertible Debentures
The Funds generally will vote FOR the issuance of shares for private placements, the conversion of securities from one class to another, and the issuance of warrants or convertible debentures on the grounds that such issuances may be necessary and beneficial for the financial health of the company and may be a low cost source of equity capital. The Funds generally will vote AGAINST any such issuance or related action if the proposal would in any way result in new equity holders having superior voting rights, would result in warrants or debentures, when exercised, holding in excess of 20 percent of the currently outstanding voting rights, or if the proposal would in any way diminish the rights of existing shareholders.
Issuance of Equity or Equity-Linked Securities without Subscription Rights (Preemptive Rights)
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals that seek shareholder approval of the issuance of equity, convertible bonds or other equity-linked debt instruments, or to issue shares to satisfy the exercise of such securities that are free of subscription (preemptive) rights on the grounds that companies must retain the ability to issue such securities for purposes of raising capital. The Funds generally will vote AGAINST any proposal where dilution exceeds 20 percent of the company’s outstanding capital.
Recapitalization
The Funds generally will vote FOR recapitalization plans that combine two or more classes of stock into one class, or that authorize the company to issue new common or preferred stock for such plans. The Funds generally will vote AGAINST recapitalization plans that would result in the diminution of rights for existing shareholders.
Merger Agreement
The Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals seeking approval of a merger or merger agreement and all proposals related to such primary proposals, taking into consideration the particular facts and circumstances of the proposed merger and its potential benefits to existing shareholders.
Going Private
The Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals that allow listed companies to de-list and terminate registration of their common stock, taking into consideration the cash-out value to shareholders, and weighing the value in continuing as a publicly traded entity.
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Reincorporation
The Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on reincorporation proposals, taking into consideration whether financial benefits ( e.g. , reduced fees or taxes) likely to accrue to the company as a result of a reincorporation or other change of domicile outweigh any accompanying material diminution of shareholder rights. The Funds generally will vote AGAINST the proposal unless the long-term business reasons for doing so are valid. The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals to consider reincorporating in the United States if a company left the country for the purpose of avoiding taxes.
Bundled Proposals
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider on “bundled” or otherwise conditioned proposals, which are determined depending on the overall economic effects to shareholders.
Defense Mechanisms
Shareholder Rights’ Plan (Poison Pill)
The Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis regarding management proposals seeking ratification of a shareholder rights’ plan, including a net operating loss (NOL) shareholder rights’ plan, or stockholder proposals seeking modification or elimination of any existing shareholder rights’ plan.
Supermajority Voting
The Funds generally will vote FOR the elimination or material diminution of provisions in company governing documents that require the affirmative vote of a supermajority of shareholders for approval of certain actions, and generally will vote AGAINST the adoption of any supermajority voting clause.
Control Share Acquisition Provisions
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals to opt out of control share acquisition statutes and generally will vote AGAINST proposals seeking approval of control share acquisition provisions in company governing documents on the grounds that such provisions may harm long-term share value by effectively entrenching management. The ability to buy shares should not be constrained by requirements to secure approval of the purchase from other shareholders.
Anti-Greenmail
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals to adopt anti-greenmail governing document amendments or to otherwise restrict a company’s ability to make greenmail payments.
Classification of Board of Directors
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals to declassify a board and AGAINST proposals to classify a board, absent special circumstances that would indicate that shareholder interests are better served by voting to the contrary.
Auditors
Ratify or Appoint Auditors
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider, which typically recommends votes FOR ratification or appointment except in situations where there are questions about the relative qualification of the auditors, conflicts of interest, auditor involvement in significant financial restatements, option backdating, material weaknesses in controls, or situations where independence has been compromised.
Prohibit or Limit Auditor’s Non-Audit Services
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider, which typically recommends votes AGAINST these proposals since it may be necessary or appropriate for auditors to provide a service related to the business of a company and that service will not compromise the auditors’ independence. In addition, Sarbanes-Oxley legislation spells out the types of services that need pre-approval or would compromise independence.
Indemnification of External Auditor
The Funds generally will vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify external auditors on the grounds that indemnification agreements may limit pursuit of legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.
Indemnification of Internal Auditor
The Funds generally will vote FOR the indemnification of internal auditors, unless the costs associated with the approval are not disclosed.
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Social and Environmental
Disclose Environmental or Social Agenda
Proposals that seek disclosure, often in the form of a report, on items such as military contracts or sales, environmental or conservation initiatives, business relationships with foreign countries, or animal welfare or other environmental and social issues, will be reviewed and, if after considering the proposal the Investment Manager believes the matter may bear on the long-term value creation or sustainability of the company, a vote FOR or AGAINST may be cast, otherwise the Funds generally will ABSTAIN from voting.
Socially Responsible Investing
Proposals that seek to have a company take a position on social or environmental issues will be reviewed and, if after considering the proposal the Investment Manager believes the matter may bear on the long-term value creation or sustainability of the company, a vote FOR or AGAINST may be cast, otherwise the Funds generally will ABSTAIN from voting.
Prohibit or Disclose Contributions and Lobbying Expenses
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider, which typically considers the proposal in the context of the company’s current disclosures, Federal and state laws, and whether the proposal is in shareholders’ best interests.
Disclose Prior Government Service
Proposals seeking a company to furnish a list of high-ranking employees who served in any governmental capacity over the last five years will be reviewed and, if after considering the proposal the Investment Manager believes the matter may bear on the long-term value creation or sustainability of the company, a vote FOR or AGAINST may be cast, otherwise the Funds generally will ABSTAIN from voting.
Change in Operations or Products Manufactured or Sold
Proposals seeking to change the way a company operates (e.g., protect human rights, sexual orientation, stop selling tobacco products, move manufacturing operations to another country, etc.) will be reviewed and, if after considering the proposal the Investment Manager believes the matter may bear on the long-term value creation or sustainability of the company, a vote FOR or AGAINST may be cast, otherwise the Funds generally will ABSTAIN from voting.
Foreign Issues
Foreign Issues — Directors, Boards, Committees
Approve Discharge of Management (Supervisory) Board
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider, which typically recommends votes FOR approval of the board, based on factors including whether there is an unresolved investigation or whether the board has participated in wrongdoing. This is a standard request in Germany and discharge is generally granted unless a shareholder states a specific reason for withholding discharge and intends to take legal action.
Announce Vacancies on Management (Supervisory) Board
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to announce vacancies on the board, as is required under Dutch law.
Approve Director Fees
The Funds generally will vote in accordance with recommendations made by the third party research provider on proposals seeking approval of director fees.
Foreign Issues — General Corporate Governance
Digitalization of Certificates
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals seeking shareholder approval to amend a company’s articles of incorporation to eliminate references to share certificates and beneficial owners, and to make other related changes to bring the articles in line with recent regulatory changes for Japanese companies.
Authorize Filing of Required Documents and Other Formalities
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders authorize the holder of a copy of the minutes of the general assembly to accomplish any formalities required by law, as is required in France.
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Propose Publications Media
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders approve the designation of a newspaper as the medium to publish the company’s meeting notice, as is common in Chile and other countries.
Clarify Articles of Association or Incorporation
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals seeking shareholder approval of routine housekeeping of the company’s articles, including clarifying items and deleting obsolete items.
Update Articles of Association or Incorporation with Proxy Results
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders approve changes to the company’s articles of association or incorporation to reflect the results of a proxy vote by shareholders, which is a routine proposal in certain country’s proxies.
Conform Articles of Association or Incorporation to Law or Stock Exchange
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to amend the articles of association or incorporation to conform to new requirements in local or national law or rules established by a stock exchange on which its stock is listed.
Authorize Board to Ratify and Execute Approved Resolutions
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to authorize the board to ratify and execute any resolutions approved at the meeting.
Prepare and Approve List of Shareholders
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval for the preparation and approval of the list of shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting, which is a routine formality in European countries.
Authorize Company to Engage in Transactions with Related Parties
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval for the company, its subsidiaries, and target associated companies to enter into certain transactions with persons who are considered “interested parties” as defined in Chapter 9A of the Listing Manual of the Stock Exchange of Singapore (SES), as the SES related-party transaction rules are fairly comprehensive and provide shareholders with substantial protection against insider trading abuses.
Amend Articles to Lower Quorum Requirement for Special Business
The Funds generally will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals seeking to amend the articles to lower the quorum requirement to one-third for special business resolutions at a shareholder meeting, which is common when certain material transactions such as mergers or acquisitions are to be considered by shareholders.
Change Date/Location of Annual Meeting
The Funds will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the third party research provider on proposals to change the date, time or location of the company’s annual meeting of shareholders.
Elect Chairman of the Meeting
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to elect the chairman of the meeting, which is a routine meeting formality in certain European countries.
Authorize New Product Lines
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to amend the company’s articles to allow the company to expand into new lines of business.
Approve Financial Statements, Directors’ Reports and Auditors’ Reports
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals that request shareholder approval of the financial statements, directors’ reports, and auditors’ reports.
Foreign Issues — Compensation
Approve Retirement Bonuses for Directors/Statutory Auditors
The Funds generally will ABSTAIN from voting on proposals requesting shareholder approval for the payment of retirement bonuses to retiring directors and/or statutory auditors, which is a standard request in Japan, because information to justify the proposal is typically insufficient.
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Approve Payment to Deceased Director’s/Statutory Auditor’s Family
The Funds generally will ABSTAIN from voting on proposals requesting shareholder approval for the payment of a retirement bonus to the family of a deceased director or statutory auditor, which is a standard request in Japan, because information to justify the proposal is typically insufficient.
Foreign Issues — Business Entity, Capitalization
Set or Approve the Dividend
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders approve the dividend rate set by management.
Approve Allocation of Income and Dividends
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders approve a board’s allocation of income for the current fiscal year, as well as the dividend rate.
Approve Scrip (Stock) Dividend Alternative
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders authorize dividend payments in the form of either cash or shares at the discretion of each shareholder, provided the options are financially equal. The Funds generally will vote AGAINST proposals that do not allow for a cash option unless management demonstrates that the cash option is harmful to shareholder value.
Authorize Issuance of Equity or Equity-Linked Securities
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to permit the board to authorize the company to issue convertible bonds or other equity-linked debt instruments or to issue shares to satisfy the exercise of such securities.
Authorize Issuance of Bonds
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval granting the authority to the board to issue bonds or subordinated bonds.
Authorize Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issue or Increase in Par Value
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to increase authorized stock by capitalizing various reserves or retained earnings, which allows shareholders to receive either new shares or a boost in the par value of their shares at no cost.
Increase Issued Capital for Rights Issue
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to increase issued capital in order to offer a rights issue to current registered shareholders, which provides shareholders the option of purchasing additional shares of the company’s stock, often at a discount to market value, and the company will use the proceeds from the issue to provide additional financing.
Board Authority to Repurchase Shares
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting that a board be given the authority to repurchase shares of the company on the open market, with such authority continuing until the next annual meeting.
Authorize Reissuance of Repurchased Shares
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to reissue shares of the company’s stock that had been repurchased by the company at an earlier date.
Approve Payment of Corporate Income Tax
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals seeking approval for the use by a company of its reserves in order to pay corporate taxes, which is common practice in Europe.
Cancel Pre-Approved Capital Issuance Authority
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders cancel a previously approved authority to issue capital, which may be necessary in Denmark as companies there do not have authorized but unissued capital that they may issue as needed like their counterparts in other countries.
Allotment of Unissued Shares
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting that shareholders give the board the authority to allot or issue unissued shares.
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Authority to Allot Shares for Cash
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting that shareholders give the board the ability to allot a set number of authorized but unissued shares for the purpose of employee share schemes and to allot equity securities for cash to persons other than existing shareholders up to a limited aggregate nominal amount (a percentage of the issued share capital of the company).
Foreign Issues – Defense Mechanisms
Authorize Board to Use All Outstanding Capital
The Funds will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals requesting shareholders authorize the board, for one year, to use all outstanding capital authorizations in the event that a hostile public tender or exchange offer is made for the company, which is a common anti-takeover measure in France similar to the way U.S. companies use preferred stock.
Foreign Issues — Auditors
Approve Special Auditors’ Report
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals that present shareholders of French companies, as required by French law, with a special auditor’s report that confirms the presence or absence of any outstanding related party transactions. At a minimum, such transactions (with directors or similar parties) must be previously authorized by the board. This part of the French commercial code provides shareholders with a mechanism to ensure an annual review of any outstanding related party transactions.
Appoint Statutory Auditor
The Funds generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to appoint the internal statutory auditor, designated as independent internal auditor as required by the revised Japanese Commercial Code.
Foreign Issues — Social and Environmental
Authorize Company to Make EU Political Organization Donations
The Funds generally will ABSTAIN from voting on proposals that seek authorization for the company to make EU political organization donations and to incur EU political expenditures.
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APPENDIX C — DESCRIPTION OF STATE RISK FACTORS
The state tax-exempt and state municipal bond Funds invest primarily in municipal securities issued by a single state and political sub-divisions of that state. Each state tax-exempt and state municipal bond Fund will be particularly affected by political and economic conditions and developments in the state in which it invests. This exposure to factors affecting the state’s tax-exempt investments will be significantly greater than that of more geographically diversified funds, and may result in greater losses and volatility. Because of the relatively small number of issuers of tax-exempt securities in a given state, the Fund may invest a higher percentage of assets in a single issuer and, therefore, be more exposed to the risk of loss than a fund that invests more broadly. At times, the Fund and other accounts managed by the Investment Manager may own all or most of the debt of a particular issuer. This concentration of ownership may make it more difficult to sell, or to determine the fair value of, these investments. In addition, a Fund may focus on a segment of the tax-exempt debt market, such as revenue bonds for health care facilities, housing or airports. These investments may cause the value of a Fund’s shares to change more than the values of shares of funds that invest more diversely. The yields on the securities in which the Funds invest generally are dependent on a variety of factors, including among others, the financial condition of the issuer or other obligor, the revenue source from which the debt service is payable, general economic and monetary conditions, conditions in the relevant market, the size of a particular issue, the maturity of the obligation, and the rating of the issue. In addition to such factors, geographically concentrated securities will be particularly sensitive to local conditions, including political and economic changes, adverse conditions to an industry significant to the area, and other further developments within a particular locality. Because many tax-exempt bonds may be revenue or general obligations of local governments or authorities, ratings on tax-exempt bonds may be different from the ratings given to the general obligation bonds of a particular state.
Certain events may adversely affect investments within a particular sector in a state. Examples include litigation, legislation or court decisions, concerns about pending or contemplated litigation, legislation or court decisions, or lower demand for the services or products provided by a sector. Investing mostly in state-specific, tax-exempt investments makes the Funds more vulnerable to the relevant state’s economy and to factors affecting tax-exempt issuers in the state than would be true for more geographically diversified funds. These risks include, among others:
the inability or perceived inability of a government authority to collect sufficient tax or other revenues to meet its payment obligations;
natural disasters and ecological or environmental concerns;
the introduction of constitutional or statutory limits on a tax-exempt issuer’s ability to raise revenues or increase taxes;
the inability of an issuer to pay interest on or to repay principal or securities in which the funds invest during recessionary periods; and
economic or demographic factors that may cause a decrease in tax or other revenues for a government authority or for private operators of publicly financed facilities.
State Specific Information
The following discussion regarding certain economic, financial and legal matters pertaining to the states, U.S. territories and possessions referenced below, and their political subdivisions is drawn from the documents indicated below and does not purport to be a complete description or a complete listing of all relevant factors. More information about state specific risks may be available from other official state resources. The information has not been updated nor will it be updated during the year. The Funds have not independently verified any of the information contained in such documents and are not expressing any opinion regarding the completeness or materiality of such information. The information is subject to change at any time. Any such change may adversely affect the financial condition of the applicable state, U.S. territory or possession.
Estimates and projections, if any, contained in the following summaries should not be construed as statements of fact; such estimates and projections are based on assumptions that may be affected by numerous factors and there can be no assurance that such estimates and projections will be realized or achieved. Discussions regarding the financial condition of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession may not be relevant to Municipal Obligations issued by political subdivisions of that state or U.S. territory or possession. Moreover, the general economic conditions discussed may or may not affect issuers of the obligations of these states, U.S. territories or possessions.
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California
Unless otherwise noted, the following information has been obtained from the Official Statement, dated April 21, 2015, for the following bonds: $1,092,355,000 State of California Various Purpose General Obligation Bonds; $105,355,000 Federally Taxable Various Purpose General Obligation Bonds; and $987,000,000 Tax-Exempt Various Purpose General Obligation Refunding Bonds (collectively, the “California 2015 Bonds”).
Current Economic Condition.
The State of California (“California”) has the largest economy among the 50 states and one of the largest and most diverse in the world and has major components in high technology, trade, entertainment, agriculture, manufacturing, government, tourism, construction and services. The relative proportion of the various components of the California economy closely resembles the make-up of the national economy. The California economy continues to benefit from broad-based growth.
California is by far the most populous state in the nation, nearly 50% larger than the second-ranked state according to the 2010 U.S. Census. The 2014 estimate of California’s population is 38.5 million residents, which is 12% of the total United States population. Personal income increased in 16 of the 18 quarters through the third quarter of 2014, with decreases only in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2013. The decrease in early 2013 was partially due to the expiration of the federal payroll tax holiday.
Employment gains averaged 30,000 jobs per month during the first six months of the 2014-15 fiscal year, and as of December 2014, nonfarm employment increased 2.3% over its June 2014 level. Job increases were spread across a wide array of industries and sectors, and by December 2014, 11 of California’s major metropolitan areas (representing 36% of California’s total labor market) had returned to their pre-recession job peaks. California’s unemployment rate continued to fall during the first six months of the 2014-15 fiscal year; by December 2014, it had receded to 7.0% from 7.4% in June 2014.
California’s began the first quarter of the 2014-15 fiscal year with a solid gain of 3.9% in total personal income compared with the prior quarter. Job gains, personal income increases, and low interest rates spurred a 9% increase in new auto registrations during the first four months of the 2014-15 fiscal year over the same period in prior fiscal years.
As California moved into the remaining months of the 2014-15 fiscal year, it appeared well positioned for further economic gains. Although challenged by an ongoing drought, economic and other instabilities abroad, and continuing budget pressures, California’s economy is clearly making progress on many fronts. The expected further growth in technology, health care, tourism, business and professional services, and construction all promise to deepen and broaden California’s economic expansion.
State Budget.
California’s 2014-15 Budget Act was enacted on June 20, 2014. The Budget Act appropriated $156.3 billion: $108.0 billion from the General Fund, $44.3 billion from special funds, and $4.0 billion from bond funds. The General Fund’s budgeted expenditures increased $7.3 billion (7.2%) over the previous year’s General Fund budget and included a $1.6 billion supplemental payment to pay of the remaining balance of the State’s prior deficit financing bonds, known as Economic Recovery bonds. The General Fund’s available resources were projected to be $105.5 billion, after a projected $1.6 billion transfer to the Budget Stabilization Account (Rainy Day Fund). General Fund revenue comes predominantly from trades, with personal income taxes expected to provide 65.6% of total revenue. California’s major taxes (personal income, sales and use, and corporation taxes) are projected to supply approximately 96.2% of the General Fund’s resources in the 2014-15 fiscal year.
The 2014-15 budget continued the Governor’s multi-year financial plan for the State of California, and for the third consecutive year, it projected a surplus in the General Fund. The 2014-15 fiscal year is projected to end with $2.1 billion in total reserves, $1.6 billion in the Budget Stabilization Account and $449 million reserved for economic uncertainties. The 2014-15 budget made targeted augmentations in a few key areas while paying down several billion dollars of existing liabilities, including California’s Economic Recovery bonds.
Budget-related legislation was enacted to erase the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) $74 billion unfunded liability in 32 years by increasing contributions from the state, school and community college districts, and teachers. California is responsible for approximately $20 billion of the unfunded liability. The 2014-15 budget provided $1.5 billion in state contributions to CalSTRS, of which $59 million will be used toward reducing the state’s share of the unfunded liability.
Despite the recent significant budgetary improvements as well as the progress in paying down certain liabilities, there remain a number of major risks and pressures that threaten California’s financial condition, including the need to continue to pay remaining obligations which were deferred to balance budgets during the economic downturn, as well as significant unfunded liabilities of the two main retirement systems managed by state entities, CalPERS and CalSTRS.
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Real Estate and Housing.
After hitting a low of close to 200,000 units (seasonally-adjusted and annualized) in the middle of 2007, sales of existing single-family homes have rebounded to over 360,000 units annually. Home prices continued to climb in 2013 and 2014 reaching levels not seen in more than five years. The median price of existing, single-family homes sold in December 2014 was $452,570. However, this remains 24% below the pre-recession peak. California issued 83,000 residential building permits in 2013, 42.6% percent more than were issued in 2012 but still only 39% of the 213,000 permits issued in 2004. There were 86,000 permits issued in 2014, an increase of 4% over 2013. These remain mostly permits for multi-family structures.
Long-Term Debt.
As of January 1, 2015, California had outstanding obligations payable principally from the state’s General Fund or from lease payments paid from the operating budget of the respective lessees, which operating budgets are primarily, but not exclusively, derived from the General Fund, consisting of $76.7 billion principal amount of general obligation bonds and $11.1 billion of lease-revenue bonds. As of January 1, 2015, there was approximately $31.1 billion of authorized and unissued long-term voter-approved general obligation bonds which, when issued, would be payable principally from the General Fund and approximately $3.89 billion of authorized and unissued lease-revenue bonds.
Certain state agencies and authorities issue revenue obligations for which the General Fund has no liability. Revenue bonds represent obligations payable from state revenue-producing enterprises and projects, which are not payable from the General Fund, and conduit obligations payable only from revenues paid by local governments or private users of facilities financed by the revenue bonds. California has always paid when due the principal of and interest on its general obligation bonds, general obligation commercial paper notes, lease-revenue obligations and short-term obligations, including revenue anticipation notes and revenue anticipation warrants.
Bond Ratings.
Three major credit rating agencies, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”), and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), assigned ratings to the California 2015 Bonds, as follows: Moody’s assigned a rating of “Aa3”, S&P assigned a rating of “A+”, and Fitch assigned a rating of “A+”. It is not possible to determine whether, or the extent to which, Moody’s, S&P, or Fitch will change its respective rating in the future. In addition, ratings assigned to individual Municipal Obligations vary.
Georgia
Unless otherwise noted, the following information has been obtained from disclosure contained in the Official Statement, dated June 10, 2015 (the “Georgia Official Statement”), for the $1,284,340,000 State of Georgia General Obligation Bonds, 2015A, 2015B (Federally Taxable), and 2015C (Refunding) (collectively, the “Georgia 2015 Bonds”).
Current Economic Condition.
Employment in the State of Georgia (“Georgia”) is growing at a strong pace that exceeds the year over year growth in U.S. employment as of April 2015. Georgia year over year employment growth as of April 2015 equaled 3.0% compared to 2.2% for the U.S. labor market. As of April 2015, total non-farm employment increased by 121,900 jobs over April 2014. Georgia’s employment growth has been well-diversified. Net job growth, measured on a year over year three month moving average basis as of April 2015, has been positive for Georgia’s ten leading industry sectors. Leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, education and health, and trade, transportation and utilities posted the strongest growth rates as of April 2015. Regional growth also is well diversified. All thirteen metro areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor statistics posted positive year over year job growth on a three month moving average basis as of April 2015. Georgia’s unemployment rate declined to 6.3% in April 2015 from 7.3% in April 2014. Over this twelve month period, Georgia’s labor market experienced increases in its labor force and household employment and declines in the number of unemployed.
Personal income growth in Georgia is moderate. Growth on a year over year basis has ramped up over the last four quarters with growth reaching 5.2% year over year as of the 4th quarter of 2014. This compares to growth in U.S. personal income of 4.5% for the same quarter. Income from wages and salaries in Georgia has grown more quickly than total personal income over the previous year. Income from wages and salaries grew at 6.2% year over year in 4th quarter 2014.
The Purchasing Managers Index (“PMI”) for manufacturing in Georgia in April 2015 is 59.5, which is well above the neutral level of 50 and exceeds the US ISM index reading of 51.5. The Georgia PMI index indicates that the Georgia manufacturing sector is expanding rapidly.
State Budget.
Georgia’s amended fiscal year 2014-15 budget (the “Amended FY 2015 Budget”) anticipates state general fund revenues growth of 3.4% over the fiscal year 2013-14 state general fund revenue collections and total tax revenue growth of 3.6% over the fiscal year 2013-14 tax revenue collections. The Amended FY 2015 budget was increased over the original fiscal year 2014-15 budget
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by $86.9 million. Neither the original fiscal year 2014-15 budget nor the Amended FY 2015 budget required state agencies to submit budget reductions. New revenues are projected to be sufficient to cover additional growth needs in core spending areas. Funding for the required contributions for state retirement systems was fully funded in the original fiscal year 2014-15 budget with no additional funding required in the Amended FY 2015 budget.
The Amended FY 2015 budget focused on adequately funding growth needs in education and healthcare spending. The Amended FY 2015 budget included $129 million for mid-term growth in the Quality Basic Education funding formula for K-12 education and $15 million for the Forestland Protection Grant program, of which $8.3 million will go directly to local school systems whose property tax digests have been impacted by dedicated forestland. The Amended FY 2015 budget also includes $35 million for the OneGeorgia Authority to provide additional grants to local school systems to expand digital learning opportunities. The Amended FY 2015 budget includes an additional $39 million for the Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids programs for projected expense growth due in part to additional costs associated with implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA), as well as to meet projected expenses associated with new Hepatitis C drug therapies. Finally, the Amended FY 2015 budget includes $15.3 million to provide additional resources to Georgia’s child welfare programs to meet an anticipated increase in need for services. As of the date of the Georgia Official Statement, growth in revenue collections was in excess of the pace built into the Amended FY 2015 budget revenue estimate. Georgia will continue to monitor revenue trends and is prepared to take steps should revenue performance deteriorate below expectations.
Georgia’s fiscal year 2015-16 budget (the “FY 2016 Budget”) revenue estimate assumes tax revenue growth of 4.6% and state general fund revenues growth in the range of 4.4% compared to Amended FY 2015 budget revenue estimates. As in fiscal year 2014-15, no reductions to agency budgets were necessary in fiscal year 2015-16. Anticipated new growth in revenues primarily will be used to meet the expected growth in K-12 education needs and the increase in required contributions to the state’s pension funds. The FY 2016 Budget includes an additional $519.6 million for K-12 education to allow local school systems to increase instructional days, eliminate teacher furloughs, or enhance teacher salaries. These funds will meet enrollment growth needs in the system as well as continue to restore funding reduced from the K-12 budget during the economic recession. The budget also fully funds the required contributions to the Teachers Retirement System and Employees’ Retirement System through an increase in these appropriations of $93 million and $46 million, respectively. Finally, the FY 2016 Budget includes significant capital investments in the state’s transportation infrastructure network through the authorization of $100 million in general obligation bonds for rehabilitation of the state’s bridges and $75 million to support statewide transit efforts.
Real Estate and Housing.
The housing sector in Georgia and nationally has not recovered as quickly as was expected a year ago, however prices are rising. The S&P Case Shiller Home Price Index for the Atlanta metropolitan area is up 5.6% as of February 2015 compared to February 2014. This growth is slightly stronger than that posted by the composite index for 20 metro areas which came in at 5.0%. While mortgage credit quality continues to improve, foreclosure rates and mortgage delinquency rates in Georgia remain above the U.S. averages, which is the historical norm. Foreclosure rates are almost in line with pre-recession levels. Delinquencies are still running higher than pre-recession levels, but are trending down. Overall, housing indicators continue to improve, but the pace of recovery is slow.
Long-Term Debt.
As of June 30, 2015, Georgia’s outstanding general obligation bond indebtedness was $8,770,990,000. Georgia projected that, subsequent to the issuance of the Georgia 2015 Bonds, Georgia’s general obligation bonds outstanding would equal $9,456,080,000.
Bond Ratings.
Three major credit rating agencies, Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch, assigned ratings to the Georgia 2015 Bonds, as follows: Moody’s assigned a rating of “Aaa,” S&P assigned a rating of “AAA,” and Fitch assigned a rating of “AAA”. It is not possible to determine whether, or the extent to which, Moody’s, S&P, or Fitch will change its respective rating in the future. In addition, ratings assigned to individual Municipal Obligations may vary.
Maryland
Unless otherwise noted, the following information has been obtained from disclosures contained in the Official Statement, dated July 16, 2015, for the $500,000,000 State of Maryland General Obligation Bonds, State and Local Facilities Loan of 2015, Second Series (the “Maryland 2015 Bonds”).
Current Economic Condition.
The population of the State of Maryland (“Maryland”) in 2014 is estimated to have been 5,976,407 on July 1st of that year. Between 2009 and 2014, total personal income in Maryland has grown 3.1% annually, compared to a national growth rate of 4.0%. During this period, wage and salary income, roughly half of total personal income, has grown at a lower rate in Maryland than it has nationally, as have supplements to wages and salaries – essentially nonwage benefits. Additionally, investment income
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(income derived from dividends, interest, and rent) growth did not keep pace with the nation as a whole. The nation’s proprietors’ income outpaced Maryland’s, growing at annual rates of 7.2% and 5.5% between 2009 and 2014, respectively. The disparity in growth of the residence adjustment income earned by residents who work outside of Maryland or the nation is not as meaningful as it might appear, because the residence adjustment is roughly 8.5% of Maryland personal income, but less than half a basis point of national personal income.
The unemployment rates in March 2015 for Maryland and the nation were 5.4% and 5.5%, respectively. In Maryland, employment and personal income declined at a lesser rate during the depths of the global recession of 2009; for example, national wages and salaries fell 4.4% in 2009 relative to a 0.8% decline for Maryland. The slower post-recession trajectory for Maryland’s principal income measures may be partially a function of the lesser rate of decline; coming out of a deeper trough, the nation as a whole would require higher income and employment growth than Maryland in order to recover to pre-recession levels. Maryland’s slower post-recession trajectory may also be reflective of the economic hurdles faced during that time frame. Relative to the nation as a whole, Maryland’s economy has been disproportionately affected by federal budget uncertainty, federal budget sequestration, and higher income tax rates.
On April 19, 2015 Baltimore resident Freddie Gray, Jr. died from injuries sustained while in police custody. Following his funeral on April 27th, instances of unrest and looting broke out and lasted into the night. As a result, a curfew took effect the next day at 10:00 P.M., and lasted until Sunday, May 3rd. Additionally, a major league baseball game was closed to the public and the following three games were relocated from Baltimore to Tampa Bay. These events undoubtedly caused some reduction in tax collections; directly impacting amusement taxes on baseball tickets and sales taxes from the missed baseball games as well as establishments impacted either by looting or from closing early during the curfew. Other immediate impacts include, but are not limited to, canceled events or plans in the city that would affect local tourism (originating from within or outside of the State) that were not then substituted for a similar event or plan elsewhere. Longer term impacts are difficult to estimate with certainty. Tourism (including conventions) is very likely to experience the most immediate impact; though migration, both residential and business, could prove the most vital issue to watch. However, from a state-wide perspective, some amount of the negative impact on the local area is offset by the shifting of activity to other areas of the state.
State Budget.
Maryland enacts its budget annually. Revenues are derived largely from certain broad-based taxes, including statewide income, sales, motor vehicle, and property taxes. Non-tax revenues are largely from the federal government for transportation, health care, welfare and other social programs. General Fund revenues on a budgetary basis realized in the state’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2014 were below revised estimates by $27.3 million, or 0.2%. The state ended fiscal year 2013-14 with a $147.6 million General Fund balance on a budgetary basis. This balance reflects a $146.3 million decrease compared to the balance projected at the time the fiscal year 2013-14 budget was enacted. In addition, there was a balance in the Revenue Stabilization Account of $763.6 million.
For fiscal year 2014-15, the total budget is $40.1 billion, a $3.2 billion increase over fiscal year 2013-14. The General Fund accounts for approximately $16.0 billion, of which the largest expenditures are for education and health, which together represent 74.1% of total General Fund expenditures. General Fund expenditures exclude transportation, which is funded with special fund revenues from the Transportation Trust Fund.
Real Estate and Housing.
Following several years of declining activity and values, data from the Maryland Association of Realtors indicates that the residential real estate market has somewhat stabilized. Following the housing price trough in 2011, prices have increased for three consecutive years, albeit at a slower pace in 2014. Unit sales growth has improved each year since 2009. Notably, the average median price in 2014 was 15.9% less than its 2006 peak and sales volume in 2014 was 37.3% below its 2005 peak. Of course, a return to prior peaks would not be expected in the absence of an unsustainable housing bubble. As a result of the housing bubble, risk remains in the outlook as the percentage of loans beginning the foreclosure process has remained elevated in comparison to pre-recession levels, and there may be an inventory of other units that have been held from the market in anticipation of higher prices. The elevated number of foreclosures was expected as Maryland employs a judicial foreclosure process.
Long-Term Debt.
Maryland is empowered by law to authorize, issue and sell general obligation bonds, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the state. Maryland also issues dedicated revenue bonds for the Department of Transportation and various business-type activities. The payment of principal and interest on revenue bonds comes solely from revenues received from the respective activities. This dedicated revenue debt is not backed by the state’s full faith and credit. At June 30, 2014, Maryland had outstanding bonds totaling $16.1 billion. Of this amount, $8.4 billion were general obligation bonds, backed by the full faith and credit of the state. The remaining $7.7 billion were secured solely by the specified revenue sources.
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Bond Ratings.
Three major credit rating agencies, Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch, assigned ratings to the Maryland 2015 Bonds, as follows: Moody’s assigned a rating of “Aaa,” S&P assigned a rating of “AAA,” and Fitch assigned a rating of “AAA”. It is not possible to determine whether, or the extent to which, Moody’s, S&P, or Fitch will change its respective rating in the future. In addition, ratings assigned to individual Municipal Obligations may vary.
Minnesota
Unless otherwise noted, the following information is based on disclosure contained in the Official Statement, dated August 5, 2015, for the $1,076,980,000 State of Minnesota General Obligation Bonds, Series 2015A through 2015E (the “Minnesota 2015 Bonds”), and the February 2015 Budget & Economic Forecast, published by the Minnesota Management and Budget Department (the “Forecast”).
Current Economic Condition.
According to the Forecast, the economic expansion in the State of Minnesota (“Minnesota”) continues to make steady progress. The state has added more than 50,000 jobs since employment surpassed its pre-recession peak 18 months ago, and most indicators suggest the labor market has tightened up considerably. Minnesota’s jobless rate dropped to 3.6% in December, its lowest mark since early 2001 and the fifth lowest among states. Unemployment has fallen across age, gender, and racial cohorts. The number of long-term unemployed and the rate of involuntary part-time employment have fallen sharply as well.
According to the Forecast, unlike some other states with stronger relative economic performance, Minnesota is not an oil-producing state. Its workers and businesses have benefitted from the oil and gas boom in neighboring North Dakota, but Minnesota’s overall improved performance is more a reflection of its large and diverse economic base, and the resilience of a major metropolitan area. The Minneapolis-St. Paul area has the lowest jobless rate of any large metropolitan in the nation, 3.3%. Thus the net positive effects from the recent decline in crude prices are likely to far outweigh the negative impacts on the energy sector. Cheap gasoline means big savings for Minnesotans. This will provide a boost to economic activity in 2015 and 2016.
Still, according to the Forecast, uncertainties remain. The surging value of the dollar against currencies of the state’s largest trading partners (i.e. Canada and Europe) could hurt demand for Minnesota’s exports, which jumped to a record high $5.5 billion in the third quarter of 2014, up 5.8% from a year earlier. The state’s housing recovery has been disappointing in part due to unexpectedly slow household formation. Moreover, Minnesota’s labor force growth remains very weak and wage growth continues to be modest, despite the tightening job market. The Minnesota Management and Budget Department’s economic forecast depends on stronger labor market conditions beginning to translate into improvements in household formation, the supply of labor, and productivity, thereby putting upward pressure on wages.
State Budget.
Minnesota’s biennial budget appropriation process relies on revenue and expenditure forecasting as the basis for establishing aggregate revenue and expenditure levels. The “Current Biennium” began on July 1, 2013 and ended on June 30, 2015, and the “Next Biennium” began on July 1, 2015, and will end on June 30, 2017.
According to the Forecast, Minnesota’s budgetary balance at the end of the Current Biennium was projected to be $478 million, $105 million above the $373 million projected balance in the November 2014 forecast. Forecast revenues for the Current Biennium have increased since the November 2014 forecast. Total revenues for fiscal year 2014-15 are now forecast to be $39.438 billion, $67 million (0.2%) higher than the November 2014 estimate. Total tax revenues for fiscal year 2014-15 are forecast to be $37.625 billion, exceeding the prior estimate by $40 million (0.1%). The change reflects the impact of January 2015 law changes, which reduce forecast tax revenue by $20 million in the Current Biennium.
According to the Forecast, total general fund revenues for fiscal year 2016-17 (i.e., the first fiscal year of the Next Biennium) are now forecast to be $42.497 billion, $616 million (1.5%) more than the November 2014 forecast. Total tax revenues for the biennium are forecast to be $40.772 billion, exceeding the prior estimate by $520 million (1.3%). The change reflects the impact of January 2015 law changes, which increase forecast tax revenue by $21 million in the next biennium. Higher expected income and sales tax receipts account for nearly all the change in forecast tax revenues.
Real Estate and Housing.
According to the Forecast, housing starts in Minnesota, which grew by just 8.0% (to 1.00 million) in 2014, are forecast to rise by 17.1% (to 1.18 million) in 2015 and by 13.5% (to 1.33 million) in 2016. With the rise in housing starts, the Forecast indicates that the state’s consultants expect growth in real residential construction spending to gain momentum this year, increasing from only 1.6% in 2014, to 10.9% in 2015 and 11.2% in 2016.
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Long-Term Debt.
Minnesota’s total long-term liabilities increased by $891 million (10.4%) during the fiscal year 2013-14. The increase was primarily a result of the state issuing general obligation bonds for trunk highway projects and other various state purposes. In addition, Minnesota issued state General Fund appropriation bonds for the state and the City of Minneapolis shares of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority’s (component unit) professional football stadium project.
Bond Ratings.
Three major credit rating agencies, Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, assigned ratings to the Minnesota 2015 Bonds, as follows: Moody’s assigned a rating of “Aa1,” S&P assigned a rating of “AA+,” and Fitch assigned a rating of “AA+.” It is not possible to determine whether, or the extent to which, Moody’s, S&P or Fitch will change its respective rating in the future. In addition, ratings assigned to individual Municipal Obligations may vary.
North Carolina
Unless otherwise noted, the following information has been obtained from disclosure contained in the Official Statement, dated April 8, 2015, for the $231,3 60,000 State of North Carolina General Obligation Bonds, Series 2015A (the “North Carolina 2015 Bonds”).
Current Economic Condition.
The State of North Carolina (“North Carolina”) is located on the Atlantic seacoast and is bordered by the states of South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. North Carolina’s estimated population as of July 1, 2014 was 9,944,571 ranking it 9th in the nation. During the period from 2010 to 2014, the state’s estimated population increased by 384,476 or 4.0% (the 3rd largest increase among the top 10 most populous states on a percentage basis).
North Carolina’s major industry sectors are services, agriculture, trade, manufacturing, exports and tourism, but the military’s presence and residential construction are also important economic drivers. During the period from 2003 to 2013, per capita personal income in the state grew from $29,138 to $38,683. North Carolina is recovering from a period of high unemployment and modest job growth in the wake of the national recession. North Carolina’s December 2014 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5%, down 1.4 percentage points from 6.9% in December 2013. At 5.5%, North Carolina’s unemployment rate was 0.1 of a percentage point below the nation as a whole (5.6%). Between the state’s peak in employment in February 2008 and the low of February 2010, North Carolina lost 335,300 jobs—a decrease of 8.0%. Based on December 2014 preliminary employment estimates, North Carolina’s economy has gained 379,500 jobs since the low in February 2010.
State Budget.
The total North Carolina state budget is supported from four primary sources of funds: (1) General Fund tax and non-tax revenue; (2) Highway Fund and Highway Trust Fund tax and non-tax revenue; (3) federal funds and (4) other receipts, generally referred to as departmental receipts. Federal funds comprise approximately 34% of the total State budget for fiscal year 2014-15. The largest share of federal funds is designated to support programs of the Department of Health and Human Services. The other major recipients of federal funds are public schools, universities, community colleges and transportation, including highway construction and safety.
North Carolina’s economic conditions continued to modestly improve during fiscal year 2013-14. Nonfarm employment climbed 1.8%, outpacing the nation, while the state’s unemployment rate fell 2.1 percentage points. Despite an improving economy, taxpayer response to federal and state tax changes presented budget challenges. In particular, the consensus economic and revenue forecast underestimated the impact of the 2012 federal “fiscal cliff” on 2013 final income payments. It also did not fully anticipate the timing of taxpayer adjustments to significant state tax law changes enacted during fiscal year 2013-14. As a result, North Carolina relied on the unappropriated General Fund balance and implementation of certain spending limitations to address a $451 million revenue shortfall. No other budget management measures were necessary in fiscal year 2013-14.
Real Estate and Housing.
North Carolina, like much of the nation, has shown signs of improvement in the housing sector. In 2013, the state witnessed a 6.2% increase from the previous year in building permits of new housing units compared to a 19.7% increase nationwide. In 2014, the state witnessed a 0.3% decrease in building permits of new housing units compared to a 6.4% increase nationwide. North Carolina’s housing construction remains strong compared to other states. During 2013 and 2014, North Carolina has ranked among the top four states in the nation in building permits for housing units.
Long-Term Debt.
As of June 30, 2014, North Carolina had total long-term debt outstanding (bonds, special indebtedness, and notes payable) of $7.99 billion, a decrease of 7.1% from the previous fiscal year-end. The state issued $506.26 million in refunding bonds to refinance previously outstanding general obligation and limited obligation bonds reported in governmental activities. The result is expected to be a decrease in future debt service payments of $53.3 million.
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Bond Ratings.
Three major credit rating agencies, Moody’s, S&P, Fitch, assigned ratings to the North Carolina 2015 Bonds, as follows: Moody’s assigned a rating of “Aaa”, S&P assigned a rating of “AAA”, and Fitch assigned a rating of “AAA”. It is not possible to determine whether, or the extent to which, Moody’s, S&P, or Fitch will change its rating in the future. In addition, ratings assigned to individual Municipal Obligations may vary.
South Carolina
Unless otherwise noted, the following information has been obtained from disclosure contained in the Official Statement, dated as of May 70, 2015, for the $56,725,000 General Obligation State Institution Bonds (Issued on Behalf of the University of South Carolina), Series 2015A; $30,625,000 General Obligation State Institution Refunding Bonds (Issued on Behalf of the University of South Carolina), Series 2015B; and $18,110,000 General Obligation State Economic Development Bonds, Series 2015A, of the State of South Carolina (collectively, the “South Carolina 2015 Bonds”).
Current Economic Condition.
The State of South Carolina (“South Carolina”) has a diversified economic base, including manufacturing, trade, healthcare, services, and leisure/hospitality. Businesses have relocated here from all over the world taking advantage of the state’s skilled labor force, competitive wages, lower-priced land, excellent port facilities and accessibility to markets, and, in recent years, substantial tax and other economic incentives. During the year ended June 30, 2014, total non-farm employment in the state increased by 42,400 to 1,933,000. Industry sectors reflecting gains were Professional and Business Services (+11,000); Leisure and Hospitality (+7,800); Manufacturing (+7,800); Education and Health Services (+7,100); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+5,500); Government (+2,200); Construction (+1,300); Information (+600); Other (+300). A decline was experienced in the Financial Activities (-1,200), and Mining and Logging remained unchanged.
South Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased to 5.3% in June 2014 (and increased to 6.7% in October 2014), which was well below the June 2013 rate of 7.8%. In comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate for June 2014 was 6.1% (and decreased to 5.8% in October 2014).
State Budget.
The South Carolina General Assembly approved a budget totaling $23.6 billion for fiscal year 2014-15, which includes $6.7 billion in recurring general funds and $127.792 million in capital reserve funds. The budget fully funds the General Reserve Fund that totals $292.889 million at June 30, 2014, and is available for management of revenue shortfalls.
The state’s fiscal year 2014-15 budget includes $130 million for Medicaid Maintenance of Effort. Eligibility was not expanded by legislation for the state’s Medicaid Program in connection with the federal “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Ace of 2010.” Instead, budget legislation includes a redirection of Medicaid spending under a new comprehensive Medicaid Accountability and Quality Improvement Initiative to be undertaken by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services upon approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Under this initiative, the Healthy Outcomes Initiative provides financial incentives for hospitals to reduce reliance on comparatively expensive emergency room treatment and also involves participating in price and quality transparency efforts and entering into agreements with primary care providers to help meet the needs of chronically ill uninsured patients through home visits and care in other settings outside the emergency room.
The budget devotes approximately $180 million in new funding to K-12 education for fiscal year 2014-15. Additional funding in the amount of $137.5 million was directed to the Education Finance Act, with $35 million to be used to address enrollment growth and an additional $54.3 million to be used to increase the base student cost from $2,100 to $2,120 per student, or 1.0%. Additionally, the budget includes a four-year-old kindergarten initiative for school districts with a poverty index of 70% or more, with the plaintiff districts in the Abbeville School District v. the State of South Carolina lawsuit given preference.
South Carolina also provided for a 2% employee pay increase with an appropriation of $30.6 million. Increased costs for operating the state employees’ health insurance plan were addressed by budgeting $57 million to cover increases in-employer premiums, and by increasing employee coinsurance payments and deductibles of up to 9%. The actual health insurance premiums paid by employees were not changed.
Real Estate and Housing.
The number of real estate closings in June 2014, up 1.6% compared to a year ago, and the declining number of foreclosures in the state, down 22.5% in June 2014 compared to June 2013, have reduced the supply of available homes on the market. As inventory tightens, real estate values in South Carolina have gained ground. Residential building permits compared to a year ago are up 18.9% in volume and 18.8% in valuation. The South Carolina housing market continued to improve, with the Charleston
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and Spartanburg housing markets continuing to lead the state in recovery. Median home prices were 6% higher when comparing June 2014 to June 2013. Improvements in the Columbia and Myrtle Beach areas also helped push the statewide sales volume up with a 5% increase in their respective median sales prices even with a decline of 4% in sales volumes compared to the previous year.
Long-Term Debt.
Rather than directly limiting the amount of outstanding general obligation debt, South Carolina law imposes a limitation on annual debt service expenditures. The legal annual debt service margin at June 30, 2014, was $35.949 million for highway bonds,$207.442 million for general obligation bonds excluding institution and highway bonds, $7.407 million for economic development bonds, and $10.237 million for research university infrastructure bonds. Excluded from the debt service limit calculations are a $170 million 2010 issue and an $85 million 2013 issue of economic development bonds and a $50 million 2010 issue of air carrier hub terminal facilities bonds which by State Law are not subject to the limitation on maximum annual debt service.
Bond Ratings.
Three major credit rating agencies, Moody’s, S&P, Fitch, assigned ratings to the South Carolina 2015 Bonds, as follows: Moody’s assigned a rating of “Aaa”, S&P assigned a rating of “AA+”, and Fitch assigned a rating of “AAA”. It is not possible to determine whether, or the extent to which, Moody’s, S&P, or Fitch will change its rating in the future. In addition, ratings assigned to individual Municipal Obligations may vary.
Commonwealth of Virginia
Unless otherwise noted, the following information has been obtained from disclosure contained in the Official Statement, dated April 15, 2015, for the $261,905,000 Commonwealth of Virginia General Obligation Bonds, Series 2015A, and General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2015B (the “Virginia 2015 Bonds”).
Current Economic Condition.
During fiscal year 2014, the Commonwealth of Virginia (“Virginia” or the “Commonwealth”) continued a slow recovery that began in 2011 from the recession of 2008-10. However, the recovery has tapered off, which is a cause for moderate concern. The Commonwealth experienced a weaker job growth rate than at the national level (0.3% at the state level versus 1.7% nationally), widening the gap between the Commonwealth’s job growth rate and that of the nation during the last fiscal year. Personal income growth continued to rise at a very modest 1.4% rate during fiscal year 2014, compared to 3.3% in fiscal year 2013. Unemployment in the Commonwealth and at the national level continued to decline during the fiscal year, reaching 5.2% and 6.8%, respectively. Total taxable sales in the Commonwealth experienced a slight increase of 0.9% over fiscal 2013. Economic indicators show that during fiscal year 2013-14, the housing market both in the Commonwealth and at the national level declined dramatically for the first time since the recession. Additionally, housing prices in the Commonwealth again showed a positive change for fiscal year 2013-14, with an increase of nearly 3.2%, compared to almost 7.0% at the national level. Fiscal year 2013-14 indicates that Virginia’s recovery from the recession shows a slowdown in the employment and personal income indicators. Therefore, the positive outlook shown in fiscal year 2012-13 has been replaced with moderate concern.
State Budget.
The General Fund began the year with an original revenue budget that was $629.8 million, or 3.6%, higher than the final fiscal year 2012-13 revenue budget. Additionally, the final revenue budget was slightly lower ($69.1 million or 0.4%) than the original budget. The change between the original and final budget was primarily attributable to decreases in the final budget for sales and use taxes of $118.9 million and corporation income of $69.9 million due to revised economic forecasts. This was offset by increases in the final budget for individual and fiduciary income taxes of $44.5 million and deeds, contracts, wills and suits of $41.1 million. Total actual General Fund revenues were lower than final budgeted revenues by $453.4 million due to weaker than anticipated collections.
Total final budget expenditures were higher than original budget expenditures by $110.7 million, or 0.6%. This increase was primarily attributable to budgeted expenditures for education of $111.6 million, administration of justice of $108.8 million, and resources and economic development of $78.6 million, offset in part by a decrease in general government of $192.0 million. The Commonwealth spent less than planned so actual expenditures were $342.4 million, or 1.8%, lower than final budget expenditures.
In order to mitigate the effects of difficult economic conditions over the past several years, the Commonwealth adopted temporary budget solutions such as accelerated sales taxes. While some of the conditions left by the financial and economic downturn experienced between 2008 and 2010 are still visible in certain sectors, Virginia’s economy continued to recover, however at a slower rate than in prior years. Data regarding the primary economic indicators – jobs and new housing units that looked promising in prior fiscal years has tapered off. During fiscal year 2013-14, the two General Fund revenue sources most closely tied to current economic activity – individual income taxes and retail sales taxes – experienced a reduction when
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compared to the 2013 collections by $86.6 million (0.8%) and $153.3 million (4.8%), respectively. The individual income tax collections were less than the estimated revenue by $415.8 million (3.6%) while the retail sales taxes were slightly less than the estimated revenue by $12.9 million (0.4%). These declines were due, at least in part, to declines in federal contractors and the restraint Virginia consumers have demonstrated in response to the federal government cutbacks.
Although the fiscal year 2013-14 revenue collections compared to the estimate required a re-estimate for fiscal year 2014-15, there is planned growth in the adopted budget for the 2015-2016 biennium (fiscal years 2014-15 and 2015-16). Based on the most recent General Fund revenue estimate, fiscal year 2014-15 revenue is projected to increase 2.8% over the fiscal year 2013-14 revenue collections. While there is anticipated revenue growth, the Governor has instructed Cabinet Secretaries to prepare and submit plans for 5.0% and 7.0% reductions in General Fund spending for fiscal years 2014-15 and 2015-16, respectively.
Real Estate and Housing.
Economic indicators show that during fiscal year 2013-14, the housing market both in the Commonwealth and at the national level declined dramatically for the first time since the recession. Additionally, housing prices in the Commonwealth again showed a positive change for fiscal year 2013-14, with an increase of nearly 3.2%, compared to almost 7.0% at the national level.
Long-Term Debt.
The Commonwealth is prohibited from issuing general obligation bonds for operating purposes. At the end of fiscal year 2014-15, the Commonwealth had total debt outstanding of $37.6 billion, including total tax-supported debt of $15.4 billion and total debt not supported by taxes of $22.2 billion. Bonds backed by the full faith and credit of the government and tax-supported total $1.7 billion. Debt is considered tax-supported if Commonwealth tax revenues are used or pledged for debt service payments. An additional $831.2 million is considered moral obligation debt which is not tax-supported. The Commonwealth has no direct or indirect pledge of tax revenues to fund reserve deficiencies. However, in some cases, the Commonwealth has made a moral obligation pledge to consider funding deficiencies in debt service reserves that may occur. The remainder of the Commonwealth’s debt represents bonds secured solely by specified revenue sources (i.e., revenue bonds).
Bond Ratings.
Three major credit rating agencies, Moody’s, S&P, Fitch, assigned ratings to the Virginia 2015 Bonds, as follows: Moody’s assigned a rating of “Aaa”, S&P assigned a rating of “AAA”, and Fitch assigned a rating of “AAA”. It is not possible to determine whether, or the extent to which, Moody’s, S&P, or Fitch will change its rating in the future. In addition, ratings assigned to individual Municipal Obligations may vary.
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APPENDIX D — SERIES OF CFST, CFST I AND CFST II
Below are the series of CFST, CFST I and CFST II. In prospectuses dated prior to June 25, 2014, series of CFST and CFST I are referred to as “Legacy Columbia Funds” and series of CFST II are referred to as “Legacy RiverSource Funds”.
Columbia Funds Series Trust
Columbia AMT-Free California Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free Georgia Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free Maryland Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free North Carolina Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free South Carolina Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free Virginia Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio
Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio
Columbia Convertible Securities Fund
Columbia Global Strategic Equity Fund
Columbia International Opportunities Fund
Columbia International Value Fund
Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V
Columbia Large Cap Index Fund
Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund
Columbia Mid Cap Value Fund
Columbia Overseas Value Fund
Columbia Select Global Growth Fund
Columbia Select International Equity Fund
Columbia Select Large Cap Equity Fund
Columbia Short Term Bond Fund
Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund
Columbia Small Cap Index Fund
Columbia Small Cap Value Fund II
Columbia Funds Series Trust I
Active Portfolios ® Multi-Manager Alternative Strategies Fund
Active Portfolios ® Multi-Manager Core Plus Bond Fund
Active Portfolios ® Multi-Manager Growth Fund
Active Portfolios ® Multi-Manager Small Cap Equity Fund
CMG Ultra Short Term Bond Fund
Columbia Adaptive Alternatives Fund
Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Fund
Columbia AMT-Free Connecticut Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free Massachusetts Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free New York Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia AMT-Free Oregon Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
Columbia Balanced Fund
Columbia Bond Fund
Columbia California Tax-Exempt Fund
Columbia Contrarian Core Fund
Columbia Corporate Income Fund
Columbia Diversified Absolute Return Fund
Columbia Diversified Real Return Fund
Columbia Dividend Income Fund
Columbia Emerging Markets Fund
Columbia Global Dividend Opportunity Fund
Columbia Global Energy and Natural Resources Fund
Columbia Global Inflation-Linked Bond Plus Fund
Columbia Global Technology Growth Fund
Columbia Global Unconstrained Bond Fund
Columbia Greater China Fund
Columbia High Yield Municipal Fund
Columbia Intermediate Bond Fund
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund
Columbia Mid Cap Growth Fund
Columbia Multi-Asset Income Fund
Columbia New York Tax-Exempt Fund
Columbia Pacific/Asia Fund
Columbia Real Estate Equity Fund
Columbia Select Large Cap Growth Fund
Columbia Small Cap Core Fund
Columbia Small Cap Growth Fund I
Columbia Small Cap Value Fund I
Columbia Strategic Income Fund
Columbia Tax-Exempt Fund
Columbia U.S. Social Bond Fund
Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund
Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund
Columbia Funds Series Trust II
Active Portfolios ® Multi-Manager Value Fund
Columbia Absolute Return Currency and Income Fund
Columbia AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
Columbia Asia Pacific ex-Japan Fund
Columbia Capital Allocation Aggressive Portfolio
Columbia Capital Allocation Conservative Portfolio
Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Portfolio
Columbia Commodity Strategy Fund
Columbia Disciplined Core Fund
Columbia Disciplined Growth Fund
Columbia Disciplined Value Fund
Columbia Diversified Equity Income Fund
Columbia Dividend Opportunity Fund
Columbia Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Columbia European Equity Fund
Columbia Flexible Capital Income Fund
Columbia Floating Rate Fund
Columbia Global Bond Fund
Columbia Global Equity Value Fund
Columbia Global Infrastructure Fund
Columbia Global Opportunities Fund
Columbia High Yield Bond Fund
Columbia Income Builder Fund
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Columbia Income Opportunities Fund
Columbia Inflation Protected Securities Fund
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV
Columbia Limited Duration Credit Fund
Columbia Minnesota Tax-Exempt Fund
Columbia Money Market Fund
Columbia Mortgage Opportunities Fund
Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund
Columbia Select Global Equity Fund
Columbia Select Large-Cap Value Fund
Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund
Columbia Seligman Communications and Information Fund
Columbia Seligman Global Technology Fund
Columbia Short-Term Cash Fund
Columbia Small/Mid Cap Value Fund
Columbia U.S. Government Mortgage Fund
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APPENDIX S — MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CHOOSING A SHARE CLASS
Class Y — Changes to Share Class Eligibility
Effective June 25, 2014, Class Y shares of the Funds are available to any retirement plan that maintains a plan-level or omnibus account with the Fund (through the Transfer Agent).
Prior to June 25, 2014, Class Y shares of a Fund were available only to (i) omnibus retirement plans with plan assets of at least $10 million as of the date of funding the Fund account (without a minimum initial investment amount) and (ii) omnibus retirement plans with plan assets of less than $10 million as of the date of funding the Fund account, provided that such plans invest $500,000 or more in Class Y shares of the Fund. Effective June 25, 2014, these size and minimum initial investment requirements have been removed.
Prior to November 8, 2012, Class Y shares were offered only to certain former shareholders of series of the former Columbia Funds Institutional Trust (together, Former CFIT Shareholders). Former CFIT Shareholders who opened and funded a Class Y account with a Fund as of the close of business on November 7, 2012 may continue to make additional purchases of Class Y shares even if they do not satisfy the current eligibility requirements but may not establish new Class Y shares accounts and will not be eligible to exchange Class Y shares of a Fund into Class Y shares of other Funds. Former CFIT Shareholders may exchange Class Y shares of a Fund for Class Z shares of the same Fund or Class Z shares of another Fund, subject to applicable minimum investments.
Changes to Share Class Names
Effective October 25, 2012, Class R4 shares were renamed Class K shares. Effective October 31, 2012, Class R3 shares were renamed Class R4 shares. Prior to September 3, 2010, any Class R shares of a series of CFST II were known as Class R2 shares.
Front-End Sales Charge Reductions — Accounts Eligible for Aggregation
The following accounts are eligible for account value aggregation for purposes of the right of accumulation and letters of intent as described in the prospectuses offering share classes subject to a front-end sales charge:
Individual or joint accounts;
Roth and traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), Simplified Employee Pension accounts (SEPs), Savings Investment Match Plans for Employees of Small Employers accounts (SIMPLEs) and Tax Sheltered Custodial Accounts (TSCAs);
Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA)/Uniform Transfers to Minors (UTMA) accounts for which you, your spouse, or your domestic partner is parent or guardian of the minor child;
Revocable trust accounts for which you or an immediate family member, individually, is the beneficial owner/grantor;
Accounts held in the name of your, your spouse’s, or your domestic partner’s sole proprietorship or single owner limited liability company or S corporation;
Qualified retirement plan assets, provided that you are the sole owner of the business sponsoring the plan, are the sole participant (other than a spouse) in the plan, and have no intention of adding participants to the plan; and
Investments in wrap accounts;
provided that each of the accounts identified above is invested in Class A, Class B, Class C, Class E, Class F, Class T, Class W, Class Z shares of the Funds and/or Class R4 or Class R5 shares of the Funds invested in non-retirement plan accounts. The term “retirement plan” refers to retirement plans created under sections 401(a), 401(k), 457 and 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), non-qualified deferred compensation plans governed by section 409A of the Code and similar plans, but does not refer to individual retirement plans.
The following accounts are not eligible for account value aggregation:
Accounts of pension and retirement plans with multiple participants, such as 401(k) plans (which are combined to reduce the sales charge for the entire pension or retirement plan and therefore are not used to reduce the sales charge for your individual accounts);
Accounts invested in Class I, Class K, Class R and/or Class Y shares of the Funds;
Retirement plan accounts invested in Class R4 and/or Class R5 shares;
Investments in 529 plans, donor advised funds, variable annuities, variable life insurance products, or managed separate accounts;
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Charitable and irrevocable trust accounts;
Accounts holding shares of money market Funds that used the Columbia brand before May 1, 2010; and
Direct purchases of Columbia Money Market Fund shares. (Shares of Columbia Money Market Fund acquired by exchange from other Funds may be combined for letter of intent purposes.)
Your “Immediate Family” and Account Value Aggregation
For purposes of obtaining a breakpoint discount for Class A shares or Class T shares the value of your account will be deemed to include the value of all applicable shares in eligible Fund accounts that are held by you and your “immediate family,” which includes your spouse, domestic partner, parent, step-parent, legal guardian, child under 21, step-child under 21, father-in-law and mother-in-law, provided that you and your immediate family members share the same mailing address. Any Fund accounts linked together for account value aggregation purposes as of the close of business on September 3, 2010 will be permitted to remain linked together. Group plan accounts are valued at the plan level.
Sales Charge Waivers
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers
The following categories of investors may buy Class A, Class E and Class T shares at net asset value, without payment of any front-end sales charge that would otherwise apply:
Current or retired fund Board members, officers or employees of the funds or Columbia Management or its affiliates (a) ;
Current or retired Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial Services) financial advisors and employees of such financial advisors (a) ;
Registered representatives and other employees of affiliated or unaffiliated selling agents (and their immediate family members and related trusts or other entities owned by the foregoing) having a selling agreement with the Distributor (a) ;
Registered broker-dealer firms that have entered into a dealer agreement with the Distributor may buy Class A shares without paying a front-end sales charge for their investment account only;
Portfolio managers employed by subadvisers of the funds (a) ;
Partners and employees of outside legal counsel to the funds or the funds’ directors or trustees who regularly provide advice and services to the funds, or to their directors or trustees;
Direct rollovers ( i.e. , rollovers of fund shares and not reinvestments of redemption proceeds) from qualified employee benefit plans, provided that the rollover involves a transfer to Class A shares in the same fund;
Employees of Bank of America, its affiliates and subsidiaries;
Employees or partners of Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC and Marsico Capital Management, LLC (or their successors);
(For Class T shares only) Shareholders who (i) bought Galaxy fund Retail A shares at net asset value and received Class T shares in exchange for those shares during the Galaxy/Liberty fund reorganization; and (ii) continue to maintain the account in which the Retail A shares were originally bought; and Boston 1784 fund shareholders on the date that those funds were reorganized into Galaxy funds;
Separate accounts established and maintained by an insurance company which are exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(11);
At a fund’s discretion, front-end sales charges may be waived for shares issued in plans of reorganization, such as mergers, asset acquisitions and exchange offers, to which the fund is a party;
In the Distributor’s discretion, on (i) purchases (including exchanges) of Class A shares in accounts of selling agents that have entered into agreements with the Distributor to offer fund shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee to customers and (ii) exchanges of Class Z shares of a fund for Class A shares of the fund; and
Purchases by registered representatives and employees (and their immediate family members and related trusts or other entities owned by the foregoing (referred to as “Related Persons”)) of Ameriprise Financial Services and its affiliates; provided that with respect to employees (and their Related Persons) of an affiliate of Ameriprise, such persons must make purchases through an account held at Ameriprise or its affiliates.
The following categories of investors may buy Class A shares of any eligible series of CFST II at net asset value, without payment of any front-end sales charge that would otherwise apply:
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Participants of “eligible employee benefit plans” including 403(b) plans for which Ameriprise Financial Services serves as broker-dealer, and the school district or group received a written proposal from Ameriprise Financial Services between November 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008 (each a Qualifying 403(b) Plan). In order for participants in one of these 403(b) plans to receive this waiver, at least one participant account of the 403(b) plan must have been funded at Ameriprise Financial Services prior to December 31, 2009. This waiver may be discontinued for any Qualifying 403(b) Plan, in the sole discretion of the Distributor.
Purchases of Class A, Class E and Class T shares may be made at net asset value if they are made as follows:
With dividend or capital gain distributions from a fund or from the same class of another fund (b) ;
Through or under a wrap fee product or other investment product sponsored by a selling agent that charges an account management fee or other managed agency/asset allocation accounts or programs involving fee-based compensation arrangements that have or that clear trades through a selling agent that has a selling agreement with the Distributor;
Through state sponsored college savings plans established under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code;
Through banks, trust companies and thrift institutions, acting as fiduciaries; and
Through “employee benefit plans” created under section 401(a), 401(k), 457 and 403(b), and qualified deferred compensation plans, that have a plan level or omnibus account maintained with the fund or the Transfer Agent and transacts directly with the fund or the Transfer Agent through a third party administrator or third party recordkeeper.

(a) Including their spouses or domestic partners, children or step-children, parents, step-parents or legal guardians, and their spouse’s or domestic partner’s parents, step-parents, or legal guardians.
(b) The ability to invest dividend and capital gain distributions from one Fund to another Fund may not be available to accounts held at all Selling Agents.
Investors can also buy Class A shares without paying a sales charge if the purchase is made from the proceeds of a sale from any Columbia Fund Class A, B, C or T shares of another fund in the Columbia Funds Complex (other than Columbia Money Market Fund) within 90 days, up to the amount of the sales proceeds. In addition, shareholders of the money market fund series of BofA Funds Series Trust, which were formerly referred to as the Columbia Money Market Funds (the Former Columbia Money Market Funds), can also buy Class A shares of the Columbia Funds without paying a sales charge if the purchase is made from the proceeds of a sale of shares from a Former Columbia Money Market Fund within 90 days, up to the amount of the sales proceeds, provided that the proceeds are from the sale of shares of a Former Columbia Money Market Fund purchased on or before April 30, 2010. To be eligible for these reinstatement privileges the purchase must be made into an account for the same owner, but does not need to be into the same fund from which the shares were sold. The Transfer Agent, Distributor or their agents must receive a written reinstatement request within 90 days after the shares are sold and the purchase of Class A shares through this reinstatement privilege will be made at the NAV of such shares next calculated after the request is received in good order.
Restrictions may apply to certain accounts and certain transactions. The funds may change or cancel these terms at any time. Any change or cancellation applies only to future purchases. Unless you provide your financial advisor with information in writing about all of the factors that may count toward a waiver of the sales charge, there can be no assurance that you will receive all of the waivers for which you may be eligible. You should request that your financial advisor provide this information to the funds when placing your purchase order. For more information about the sales charge reductions and waivers described here, as well as additional categories of eligible investors, please see the applicable prospectus.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Waivers (Class A, Class B, Class C and Class T Shares)
For purposes of calculating a CDSC, the start of the holding period is generally the first day of the month in which your purchase was made. However, for purposes of calculating the CDSC on Class B shares of series of CFST II purchased on or before the close of business on September 3, 2010, the start of the holding period is the date your purchase was made.
Shareholders won’t pay a CDSC on redemption of Class A, Class C and Class T shares:
In the event of the shareholder’s death;
For which no sales commission or transaction fee was paid to an authorized selling agent at the time of purchase;
Purchased through reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions;
In an account that has been closed because it falls below the minimum account balance;
That result from required minimum distributions taken from retirement accounts upon the shareholder’s attainment of age 70½;
That result from returns of excess contributions made to retirement plans or individual retirement accounts, so long as the selling agent returns the applicable portion of any commission paid by the Distributor;
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Of Class A shares of a fund initially purchased by an employee benefit plan;
Other than Class A shares of a fund initially purchased by an employee benefit plan that are not connected with a plan level termination;
In connection with the fund’s Small Account Policy (as described in the applicable prospectus); and
At a fund’s discretion, issued in connection with plans of reorganization, including but not limited to mergers, asset acquisitions and exchange offers, to which the fund is a party.
Shareholders won’t pay a CDSC on redemption of Class B or Class F shares:
In the event of the shareholder’s death; and
That result from required minimum distributions taken from retirement accounts upon the shareholder’s attainment of age 70½.
Shareholders won’t pay a CDSC on the following categories of redemptions of Class B or Class F shares purchased prior to September 7, 2010:
By health savings accounts sponsored by third party platforms, including those sponsored by Bank of America affiliates.*
For medical payments that exceed 7.5% of income.*
To pay for insurance by an individual who has separated from employment and who has received unemployment compensation under a federal or state program for at least twelve weeks.*
Occurring pursuant to a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) established with the Transfer Agent, to the extent that the sales do not exceed, on an annual basis, 12% of the account’s value as long as distributions are reinvested. Otherwise, a CDSC will be charged on SWP sales until this requirement is met.
For shares purchased prior to September 7, 2010, CDSCs may be waived on sales after the sole shareholder on an individual account or a joint tenant on a joint tenant account becomes disabled (as defined by Section 72(m)(7) of the Code). To be eligible for such a waiver: (i) the disability must arise after the account is opened and (ii) a letter from a physician must be signed under penalty of perjury stating the nature of the disability. If the account is transferred to a new registration and then shares are sold, the applicable CDSC will be charged.*
Shares redeemed in connection with loans from qualified retirement plans to shareholders.*
CDSCs may be waived on shares (except for Class B shares) sold by certain group retirement plans held in omnibus accounts. However, CDSCs may not be waived for Class C shares if the waiver would occur as a result of a plan-level termination.
Below are additional categories of CDSC waivers for Class B or Class F shares of a series of CFST or CFST I purchased prior to September 7, 2010:
Shares redeemed in connection with distributions from qualified retirement plans, government (Section 457) plans, individual retirement accounts or custodial accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the Code following normal retirement or the attainment of 59½.**

* Fund investors and Selling Agents must inform the Fund or the Transfer Agent in writing that the Fund investor qualifies for the particular sales charge waiver and provide proof thereof.
** For direct trades on non-prototype retirement accounts where the date of birth of the shareholder is not maintained, the shareholder or Selling Agent must inform the Fund or the Transfer Agent in writing that the Fund investor qualifies for the particular sales charge waiver and provide proof thereof.
Shareholders won’t pay a CDSC on the following categories of redemptions of Class B shares of a series of CFST II:
Redemptions of Class B shares of a series of CFST II held in investment-only accounts ( i.e. , accounts for which Ameriprise Trust Company does not act as the custodian) at Ameriprise Financial Services on behalf of a trust for an employee benefit plan.
Redemptions of Class B shares of a series of CFST II held in individual retirement accounts or certain qualified plans, on or prior to June 12, 2009, such as Keogh plans, tax-sheltered custodial accounts or corporate pension plans where Ameriprise Trust Company is acting as custodian, provided that the shareholder is (i) at least 59½ years old and taking a retirement distribution (if the sale is part of a transfer to an individual retirement account or qualified plan, or a custodian-to-custodian transfer, the CDSC will not be waived* or (ii) selling under an approved substantially equal periodic payment arrangement.
Class B shares of a series of CFST II held in individual retirement accounts and certain qualified plans where an Ameriprise Financial affiliate acts as selling agent that were purchased prior to September 7, 2010 and sold under an approved
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substantially equal periodic payment arrangement (applies to retirement accounts when a shareholder sets up an arrangement with the IRS). The Distributor, in its discretion, may grant a waiver to accounts held directly with the Transfer Agent or held at other selling agents under similar circumstances.**

* You must notify the Fund or the Transfer Agent prior to redeeming shares of the applicability of the CDSC waiver, but final decision of the applicability of the CDSC waiver is contingent on approval of the Fund or the Transfer Agent.
** Fund investors and selling and/or servicing agents must inform the Fund or the Transfer Agent in writing that the Fund investor qualifies for the particular sales charge waiver and provide proof thereof.
Restrictions may apply to certain accounts and certain transactions. The Distributor may, in its sole discretion, authorize the waiver of the CDSC for additional classes of investors. The fund may change or cancel these terms at any time. Any change or cancellation applies only to future purchases. For more information about the sales charge reductions and waivers described here, as well as additional categories of eligible redemptions, please see the prospectuses.
Minimum Initial Investment in Class Z Shares
Class Z shares are available only to certain eligible investors, which are subject to different minimum initial investment requirements described in the prospectuses. In addition to the categories of Class Z investors described in the prospectuses, the minimum initial investments in Class Z shares are as follows:
There is no minimum initial investment in Class Z shares for any health savings account sponsored by a third party platform.
The minimum initial investment in Class Z shares for the following eligible investors is $1,000:
Any persons employed as of April 30, 2010 by the Previous Adviser, Previous Distributor or Previous Transfer Agent and immediate family members of any of the foregoing who share the same address and any employee of the Investment Manager, Distributor or Transfer Agent and immediate family members of any of the foregoing who share the same address and are eligible to make new and subsequent purchases in Class Z shares through an individual retirement account. If you maintain your account with a financial intermediary, you must contact that financial intermediary each time you seek to purchase shares to notify them that you qualify for Class Z shares.
The minimum initial investment in Class Z shares for the following categories of eligible investors is $2,000:
Any client of Bank of America or one of its subsidiaries buying shares through an asset management company, trust, fiduciary, retirement plan administration or similar arrangement with Bank of America or the subsidiary.
Any employee (or family member of an employee) of Bank of America or one of its subsidiaries.
Any investor buying shares through a Columbia Management state tuition plan organized under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Any trustee or director (or family member of a trustee or director) of a fund distributed by the Distributor.
Any persons employed as of April 30, 2010 by the Previous Adviser, Previous Distributor or Previous Transfer Agent and immediate family members of any of the foregoing who share the same address and any employee of the Investment Manager, Distributor or Transfer Agent and immediate family members of any of the foregoing who share the same address and are eligible to make new and subsequent purchases in Class Z shares through a non-retirement account. If you maintain your account with a financial intermediary, you must contact that financial intermediary each time you seek to purchase shares to notify them that you qualify for Class Z shares.
As described in the prospectuses, any shareholder (as well as any family member of a shareholder or person listed on an account registration for any account of the shareholder) of another fund distributed by the Distributor who holds Class Z shares is eligible to purchase Class Z shares subject to a minimum initial investment of $2,000. If the account in which the shareholder holds Class Z shares is not eligible to purchase additional Class Z shares, the shareholder may purchase Class Z shares in an account maintained directly with the Transfer Agent, subject to the $2,000 minimum for such direct account.
Class B Shares — Conversion to Class A Shares
Class B shares purchased in a series of CFST, CFST I or CFST II (other than Class B shares purchased in a former Seligman Fund on or prior to June 12, 2009) automatically convert to Class A shares after you’ve owned the shares for eight years, except for Class B shares of Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund, which do not convert to Class A shares. Class B shares originally purchased in a former Seligman Fund on or prior to June 12, 2009 will convert to Class A shares in the month prior to the ninth year of ownership. The conversion feature allows you to benefit from the lower operating costs of Class A shares, which can help increase your total returns from an investment in the fund.
The following rules apply to the conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares:
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Class B shares are converted on or about the 15th day of the month that they become eligible for conversion. For purposes of determining the month when your Class B shares are eligible for conversion, the start of the holding period is the first day of the month in which your purchase was made.
Any shares you received from reinvested distributions on these shares generally will convert to Class A shares at the same time.
You’ll receive the same dollar value of Class A shares as the Class B shares that were converted. Class B shares that you received from an exchange of Class B shares of another fund will convert based on the day you bought the original shares.
No sales charge or other charges apply, and conversions are free from U.S. federal income tax.
Class A Shares of Active Portfolio Funds
The Active Portfolio Funds offer only Class A shares that are available only to certain eligible investors through certain wrap fee programs sponsored and/or managed by Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates. Class A shares of Active Portfolio Funds are not subject to any front-end sales charge or CDSC.
Additional Eligible Investors
The Distributor, in its sole discretion, may accept investments in any share class of a Fund from investors other than those listed above and in the Fund’s prospectus(es).
Additional Information about Minimum Initial Investments
The Distributor, in its sole discretion, may also waive minimum initial investment requirements, including, without limitation, the requirement for omnibus retirement plans with plan assets of less than $10 million to invest $500,000 or more in Class Y shares of a Fund. Minimum investment and related requirements may be modified at any time, with or without prior notice.
Additional Information about Systematic Withdrawal Plans
Systematic Withdrawal Plans allow you to schedule regular redemptions from your account any day of the month on a monthly, quarterly or semi-annual basis. Currently, Systematic Withdrawal Plans are generally available for Class A, B, C, R4, R5, T, W, Y and Z share accounts. Contact the Transfer Agent or your financial advisor to set up the plan.
To set up the plan, your account balance must meet the class minimum initial investment amount. A Systematic Withdrawal Plan cannot be set up on an account that already has a Systematic Investment Plan established. If you set up the plan after you’ve opened your account, we may require your signature to be Medallion Signature Guaranteed, as described below.
You can choose to receive your withdrawals via check or direct deposit into your bank account. The Fund will deduct any applicable CDSC from the withdrawals before sending the balance to you. You can cancel the plan by giving the Fund 30 days notice in writing or by calling the Transfer Agent at 800.422.3737. It’s important to remember that if you withdraw more than your investment in the Fund is earning, you’ll eventually withdraw your entire investment.
Fund Reorganizations
Class A shares may be issued without any initial sales charge in connection with the acquisition of cash and securities owned by other investment companies. Any CDSC will be waived in connection with the redemption of shares of the fund if the fund is combined with another fund or in connection with a similar reorganization transaction.
Rejection of Purchases
Each fund and the distributor of the funds reserve the right to reject any offer to purchase shares, in their sole discretion.
Medallion Signature Guarantees
The Transfer Agent may require a Medallion Signature Guarantee for your signature in order to process certain transactions. A Medallion Signature Guarantee helps assure that a signature is genuine and not a forgery. A Medallion Signature Guarantee must be provided by an eligible guarantor institution including, but not limited to, the following: bank, credit union, savings association, broker or dealer, that participates in the Securities Transfer Association Medallion Program (STAMP), the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP) or the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program (MSP). Notarization by a notary public is not an acceptable signature guarantee. The Transfer Agent reserves the right to reject a signature guarantee and to request additional documentation for any transaction.
A Medallion Signature Guarantee is required if: (i) the transaction amount is over $100,000; (ii) you want your check made payable to someone other than yourself; (iii) your address has changed within the last 30 days; (iv) you want the check mailed to an address other than the address of record; (v) you want proceeds to be sent according to existing bank account instructions not coded for outgoing ACH or wire, or to a bank account not on file; (vi) you are the beneficiary of the account and the account owner is deceased (other documentation may be required); or (vii) you are changing legal ownership of your account.
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Dividend Diversification
Generally, you may automatically invest distributions made by another Fund into the same class of shares (and in some cases certain other classes of shares) of a Fund at no additional sales charge. A sales charge may apply when you invest distributions made with respect to shares that were not subject to a sales charge at the time of your initial purchase. Call the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611 for details. The ability to invest distributions from one Fund to another Fund may not be available to accounts held at all selling agents.
SAI915_00_024_(12/15)
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Appendix B – Pro forma financial statements of Columbia Contrarian Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, Columbia Overseas Value Fund and Columbia Select International Equity Fund

NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRO FORMA EFFECTS OF THE REORGANIZATIONS

The unaudited pro forma information set forth below for the twelve month periods ended on the dates indicated is intended to present supplemental data as if the reorganizations of one or more funds (each a “ Selling Fund ” and together, the “ Selling Funds ”) into other corresponding funds (each a “ Buying Fund ” and together, the “ Buying Funds ”), as noted in Table 1 below (the “ Reorganizations ”), had occurred as of the beginning of the period (unless otherwise noted). No Reorganization is contingent upon any other Reorganization. Information has not been presented for any Reorganizations involving a Selling Fund the net assets of which were less than 10% of the net assets of the corresponding Buying Fund as of November 30, 2015, except for Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, which had net assets of approximately 5% of the net assets of the corresponding Buying Fund as of November 30, 2015.

Table 1 – Reorganizations

 

Selling Fund

  

Buying Fund

  

Period Ended

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund

   Columbia Contrarian Core Fund    8/31/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II

   Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund    7/31/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III

   Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund    7/31/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV

   Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund    7/31/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V

   Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund    7/31/2015

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

   Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund    11/30/2015

Columbia International Value Fund

   Columbia Overseas Value Fund    8/31/2015

Columbia International Opportunities Fund

   Columbia Select International Equity Fund    8/31/2015

Basis of Combination

In December 2015, the Boards of Trustees of the Selling Funds approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “ Plan of Reorganization ”) pursuant to which, subject to shareholder approval, each Selling Fund will transfer all of its assets to the corresponding Buying Fund in exchange for shares of the corresponding Buying Fund (“ Reorganization Shares ”) and each Buying Fund will assume all of the liabilities of the corresponding Selling Fund. Selling Fund shareholders will receive the class of Reorganization Shares indicated in Table 2 below. Each Buying Fund will issue Reorganization Shares with an aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate value of the assets that it receives from the corresponding Selling Fund, less the liabilities it assumes from the corresponding Selling Fund. All Reorganization Shares delivered to the Selling Funds will be delivered at net asset value without a sales load, commission or other similar fee being imposed. Immediately following the transfer, the Reorganization Shares received by each Selling Fund attributable to each class thereof will be distributed pro rata, on what is expected to be a tax-free basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to the shareholders of such class of the Selling Fund in proportion to their holdings of shares of the Selling Fund.

Table 2 – Reorganization Shares

 

Selling Fund Share Class

         

Reorganization Share Class

Class A

   g         Class A

Class B

   g         Class B

Class C

   g         Class C

Class I

   g         Class I

Class K

   g         Class K

Class R

   g         Class R

Class R4

   g         Class R4

Class R5

   g         Class R5

Class W

   g         Class W

Class Y

   g         Class Y

Class Z

   g         Class Z

 

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Under the terms of the Plan of Reorganization, each Reorganization will be accounted for by the method of accounting for tax-free mergers of investment companies. Following the Reorganizations, the Buying Funds will be the accounting survivors. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, the historical cost of investment securities will be carried forward to the surviving funds and the results of operations for pre-Reorganization periods will not be restated. The costs of the Reorganizations, current estimates of which are set forth in Table 5 below, will be borne by the Selling Funds and the Buying Funds (each a “ Fund ” and collectively, the “ Funds ”) up to the amount of the anticipated reduction in expenses borne by that Fund over the first year following the Reorganization. Any Reorganization expenses otherwise allocable to a Fund that are in excess of that limitation will be borne by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (“ Columbia Threadneedle ”) or its affiliates and not by any other Fund. If a Reorganization is not consummated, Columbia Threadneedle or its affiliates will bear the costs associated with that Reorganization. The pro forma information provided herein should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements of the Funds included in their most recent annual reports and, as applicable, the unaudited financial statements of the Funds included in their most recent semi-annual reports, in each case dated as indicated in Table 3 below.

Table 3 – Shareholder Report Dates

 

Fund

   Annual Report    Semi-Annual Report

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Buying Fund)

   8/31/2015    N/A

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund (Selling Fund)

   8/31/2015    N/A

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Buying Fund)

   7/31/2015    N/A

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (Selling Fund)

   2/28/2015    8/31/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (Selling Fund)

   2/28/2015    8/31/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (Selling Fund)

   8/31/2015    N/A

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (Selling Fund)

   2/28/2015    8/31/2015

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Buying Fund)

   5/31/2015    11/30/2015

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund (Selling Fund)

   5/31/2015    11/30/2015

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Buying Fund)

   2/28/2015    8/31/2015

Columbia International Value Fund (Selling Fund)

   2/28/2015    8/31/2015

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Buying Fund)

   2/28/2015    8/31/2015

Columbia International Opportunities Fund (Selling Fund)

   2/28/2015    8/31/2015

Table 4 below presents, as of the date indicated, the net assets of each Fund.

Table 4 – Selling Funds and Buying Funds Net Assets

 

Fund

   Net Assets      As-Of Date

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Buying Fund)

   $ 6,190,683,777       8/31/2015

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund (Selling Fund)

   $ 1,620,396,278       8/31/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Buying Fund)

   $ 3,579,453,840       7/31/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (Selling Fund)

   $ 980,635,486       7/31/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (Selling Fund)

   $ 1,015,481,021       7/31/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (Selling Fund)

   $ 182,850,955       7/31/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (Selling Fund)

   $ 1,508,719,812       7/31/2015

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Buying Fund)

   $ 479,704,076       11/30/2015

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund (Selling Fund))

   $ 339,765,604       11/30/2015

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Buying Fund)

   $ 638,414,971       8/31/2015

Columbia International Value Fund (Selling Fund)

   $ 172,119,191       8/31/2015

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Buying Fund)

   $ 542,015,173       8/31/2015

Columbia International Opportunities Fund (Selling Fund)

   $ 106,285,892       8/31/2015

The number of Reorganizations into each Buying Fund that occur will affect the net assets and total annual operating expenses of the Buying Fund and the costs of each Reorganization. Table 5 presents the estimated Reorganization costs (exclusive of any transaction costs associated with any portfolio realignment); the net assets as of the date indicated in Table 4 above of each Buying Fund assuming the indicated Reorganizations occurred on that date, after accounting for the estimated Reorganization costs to be borne by the Buying Fund and the corresponding Selling Fund; and, on a pro forma basis, the estimated relative increases or decreases in combined operating expenses that would have been incurred during the one-year period ended on the date indicated in Table 4 above, assuming in each case that (1) certain, but not all, of the Reorganizations into each Buying Fund are consummated or (2) that all of the

 

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Reorganizations into each Buying Fund are consummated. Specifically, the table presents information assuming (a) the combination of Reorganizations into each Buying Fund that results in the highest possible total annual operating expense ratio are consummated, and (b) all of the Reorganizations into each Buying Fund, which results in the lowest possible total annual operating expense ratio. The pro forma increases and decreases represent the differences between (i) the combined expenses actually charged to the Buying Fund and the Selling Fund during the period and (ii) the expenses that would have been charged to the combined assets of the Buying and Selling Funds if the Reorganizations and other contractual changes had occurred at the beginning of the year.

The unaudited pro forma information set forth in Table 5 below reflects adjustments made to expenses for differences in contractual rates, duplicate services and other services that would not have occurred if the Reorganizations had taken place on the first day of the period described in Table 1 above. The pro forma information has been derived from the books and records of the Funds utilized in calculating daily net asset value for the Funds and has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require the use of management estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Table 5 – Estimated Reorganization Costs, Combined Fund Net Assets and Pro Forma Increases or Decreases in Expenses (1)

 

Proposal 1 - Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund into Columbia Contrarian Core
Fund

      

Estimated Reorganization Costs

   $ 446,321   

Combined Fund Net Assets as of the Date Indicated in Table 4

   $ 7,810,633,734   
     Increase (Decrease)  

Management fees (2)

   ($ 2,353,886

Custodian fees (3)

   ($ 11,852

Professional fees (3)

   ($ 59,872

Registration fees (3)

   ($ 97,210

Reports to shareholders (3)

   ($ 104,454

Other (3)

   ($ 72,124
     (Increase) Decrease  

Waiver and/or reimbursement of fund expenses (4)

   $ 361,365   

 

Proposal 2 - Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II,
Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large
Cap Growth Fund IV and Columbia Large Cap Growth
Fund V into Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

   Highest Annual Operating
Expense Ratio

(the Reorganization of only
Columbia Large Cap
Growth Fund IV)
     Lowest Annual Operating
Expense Ratio

(the Reorganization of all of
the Selling Funds)
 

Estimated Reorganization Costs

   $ 67,714       $ 347,425   

Combined Fund Net Assets as of the Date Indicated in Table 4

   $ 3,762,237,081       $ 7,266,783,689   
     Increase (Decrease)      Increase (Decrease)  

Management fees (2)

   ($ 353,206    ($ 5,402,072

Custodian fees (3)

   ($ 6,798    ($ 31,188

Professional fees (3)

   ($ 28,634    ($ 116,681

Registration fees (3)

   ($ 78,173    ($ 396,101

Reports to shareholders (3)

   ($ 12,427    ($ 446,158

Other (3)

   ($ 16,455    ($ 92,752
     (Increase) Decrease      (Increase) Decrease  

Waiver and/or reimbursement of fund expenses (4)

   $ 0       $ 114,602   

 

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Proposal 3 - Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund into Columbia Select
Smaller-Cap Value Fund

      

Estimated Reorganization Costs

   $ 169,047   

Combined Fund Net Assets as of the Date Indicated in Table 4

   $ 819,300,633   
     Increase (Decrease)  

Management fees (2)

   ($ 825,956

Custodian fees (3)

   ($ 1,939

Professional fees (3)

   ($ 27,716

Registration fees (3)

   ($ 89,232

Reports to shareholders (3)

   ($ 65,000

Other (3)

   ($ 21,925
     (Increase) Decrease  

Waiver and/or reimbursement of fund expenses (4)

   $ 652,420   

 

Proposal 4 - Columbia International Value Fund into Columbia Overseas Value Fund

      

Estimated Reorganization Costs

   $ 134,147   

Combined Fund Net Assets as of the Date Indicated in Table 4

   $ 810,400,015   
     Increase (Decrease)  

Management fees (2)

   ($ 138,191

Custodian fees (3)

   ($ 48,653

Professional fees (3)

   ($ 58,681

Registration fees (3)

   ($ 78,138

Reports to shareholders (3)

   ($ 29,530

Other (3)

   ($ 18,735
     (Increase) Decrease  

Waiver and/or reimbursement of fund expenses (4)

   $ 57,713   

Proposal 5 - Columbia International Opportunities Fund into Columbia Select International
Equity Fund

      

Estimated Reorganization Costs

   $ 5,094   

Combined Fund Net Assets as of the Date Indicated in Table 4

   $ 648,295,971   
     Increase (Decrease)  

Management fees (2)

   ($ 82,886

Custodian fees (3)

   ($ 21,784

Professional fees (3)

   ($ 58,834

Registration fees (3)

   ($ 63,139

Reports to shareholders (3)

   ($ 20,487

Other (3)

   ($ 16,723
     (Increase) Decrease  

Waiver and/or reimbursement of fund expenses (4)

   $ 246,823   

 

(1) See “Fees and Expenses” in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus for more information.
(2) Management fees reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under one agreement providing for a single management fee.
(3) Adjustment reflects the elimination of duplicative services.
(4) Adjustment reflects the aggregate (increase) decrease in expense reimbursements and/or waivers by Columbia Threadneedle and its affiliates.

Table 6 – Management Fees (Combined Investment Management and Administration Fees)

Pursuant to a Management Agreement with Columbia Threadneedle, each Fund pays a monthly management fee to Columbia Threadneedle for investment management and administrative services based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, at the annual rates shown in Table 6 below.

 

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Fund

  

Assets (millions)

   Annual Rate at
Each Asset
Level
(Current)
   

Annual Rate at
Each Asset Level
(Buying Fund -
Proposed)

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund (Buying Fund)

   $0 - $500      0.770   Same as Current
   >$500 - $1,000      0.720  
   >$1,000 - $1,500      0.670  
   >$1,500 - $3,000      0.620  
   >$3,000 - $6,000      0.600  
   >$6,000 - $12,000      0.580  
   >$12,000      0.570  

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund (Selling Fund)

   $0 - $500      0.750   N/A
   >$500 - $1,000      0.740  
   >$1,000 - $1,500      0.670  
   >$1,500 - $3,000      0.620  
   >$3,000 - $6,000      0.600  
   >$6,000 - $12,000      0.580  
   >$12,000      0.570  

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund (Buying Fund)

   $0 - $500      0.770   Same as Current

and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (Selling Fund)

   >$500 - $1,000      0.720  

and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (Selling Fund)

   >$1,000 - $1,500      0.670  

and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV (Selling Fund)

   >$1,500 - $3,000      0.620  

and Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (Selling Fund)

   >$3,000 - $6,000      0.600  
   >$6,000 - $12,000      0.580  
   >$12,000      0.570  

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (Buying Fund)

   $0 - $500      0.870   Same as Current
   >$500 - $1,000      0.820  
   >$1,000 - $3,000      0.770  
   >$3,000 - $12,000      0.760  
   >$12,000      0.750  

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund (Selling Fund)

   $0 - $250      1.050   N/A
   >$250 - $500      1.025  
   >$500 - $750      0.995  
   >$750 - $1,000      0.970  
   >$1,000 - $3,000      0.940  
   >$3,000 - $12,000      0.930  
   >$12,000      0.920  

Columbia Overseas Value Fund (Buying Fund)

   $0 - $500      0.870   Same as Current

and Columbia International Value Fund (Selling Fund)

   >$500 - $1,000      0.820  
   >$1,000 - $1,500      0.770  
   >$1,500 - $3,000      0.720  
   >$3,000 - $6,000      0.700  
   >$6,000 - $12,000      0.680  
   >$12,000      0.670  

Columbia Select International Equity Fund (Buying Fund)

   $0 - $500      0.870   Same as Current

and Columbia International Opportunities Fund (Selling Fund)

   >$500 - $1,000      0.820  
   >$1,000 - $1,500      0.770  
   >$1,500 - $3,000      0.720  
   >$3,000 - $6,000      0.700  
   >$6,000 - $12,000      0.680  
   >$12,000      0.670  

 

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Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., an affiliate of Columbia Threadneedle, is the transfer agent for each Fund. Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., an affiliate of Columbia Threadneedle, is the distributor for each Fund.

No significant accounting policies will change as the result of the proposed Reorganizations.

The estimated costs of the Reorganizations shown in Table 5 above do not reflect any brokerage commissions incurred by a Fund in connection with any portfolio realignment. Columbia Threadneedle expects that, subsequent to the Reorganizations, there may be some portfolio realignment of the Buying Funds (of securities acquired from the Selling Funds). However, Columbia Threadneedle expects that any such portfolio realignment will not result in any significant increase in a Buying Fund’s portfolio turnover rate, relative to its historical portfolio turnover rates. Columbia Threadneedle also does not expect any incremental trading costs to be significant.

Federal Income Taxes

Please see “Tax Status of the Reorganizations” in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus for a discussion of the tax effects of each Reorganization.

It is each Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to eliminate a fund-level tax, and therefore to distribute at least annually all of its investment company taxable income, its net-tax exempt interest income, if any, and its net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders. After the Reorganizations, the Buying Funds intend to continue to comply with these requirements to qualify as regulated investment companies that pay no fund-level tax.

 

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COLUMBIA FUNDS SERIES TRUST

PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 15. Indemnification

Article VII of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust, as amended, provides that the Registrant shall indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any proceeding, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts incurred in connection with such proceeding, under specified circumstances, all as more fully set forth in the Declaration of Trust, which is filed as an exhibit to this registration statement.

Section 17(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) provides that no instrument pursuant to which Registrant is organized or administered shall contain any provision which protects or purports to protect any trustee or officer of Registrant against any liability to Registrant or its shareholders to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

In accordance with Section 17(h) of the 1940 Act, no trustee or officer has a right to indemnification under the Declaration of Trust for any liability by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, Columbia Management Distributors, Inc. agrees to indemnify the Registrant, its officers and trustees against claims, demands, liabilities and expenses under specified circumstances, all as more fully set forth in the Registrant’s Distribution Agreement, which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

The Registrant may be party to other contracts that include indemnification provisions for the benefit of the Registrant’s trustees and officers.

The trustees and officers of the Registrant and the personnel of the Registrant’s investment adviser and principal underwriter are insured under an errors and omissions liability insurance policy. Registrant’s investment adviser, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, maintains investment advisory professional liability insurance to insure it, for the benefit of Registrant and its non-interested trustees, against loss arising out of any effort, omission, or breach of any duty owed to Registrant or any series of Registrant by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Registrant’s organizational instruments or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and, therefore, is unenforceable.


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Item 16. Exhibits

All references to the “Registration Statement” in the following list of Exhibits refer to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-89661; 811-09645), unless otherwise noted.

 

(1) (a) Certificate of Trust, dated October 22, 1999, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(1)), filed on February 10, 2000.

 

(1) (b) Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Trust, dated September 21, 2005, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(2)), filed on November 21, 2005.

 

(1) (c) Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated March 2, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 90 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(3)), filed on March 30, 2011.

 

(1) (d) Third Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust is filed electronically herewith.

 

(2) Not applicable.

 

(3) Not applicable.

 

(4) Agreement and Plan of Reorganization is filed electronically herewith.

 

(5) Articles III and VIII of Registrant’s Third Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust filed electronically herewith define the rights of holders of securities being registered.

 

(6) (a)(i) Investment Management Services Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and the Registrant, dated May 1, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 82 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(1)), filed on May 28, 2010.

 

(6) (a)(ii) Amendment No. 1 to Investment Management Services Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and the Registrant, dated February 28, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(1)(i)), filed on May 27, 2011.

 

(6) (a)(iii) Amendment No. 2 to Investment Management Services Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and the Registrant, dated January 23, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(1)(ii)), filed on February 28, 2013.

 

(6) (a)(iv) Schedule A, effective July 1, 2015, to Investment Management Services Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and the Registrant, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A(Exhibit (d)(1)(iii)), filed on June 26, 2015.

 

(6) (b) Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement, dated June 11, 2008, last amended January 16, 2013, between RiverSource Investments, LLC, now known as Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, and Threadneedle International Limited, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(27)), filed on May 15, 2014.

 

(6) (c)(i) Management Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, the Registrant and Columbia Funds Series Trust II, effective July 1, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 of Columbia Funds Series Trust II on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(3)), filed on June 26, 2015.

 

(6) (c)(ii) Schedule A and Schedule B, as of September 1, 2015, to the Management Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, the Registrant and Columbia Funds Series Trust II, effective July 1, 2015, are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 132 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 of Columbia Funds Series Trust II on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(4)), filed on August 26, 2015.

 

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(7) (a)(i) Distribution Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. and the Registrant, dated September 7, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (e)(2)), filed on September 27, 2010.

 

(7) (a)(ii) Restated Schedule I, effective May 1, 2015, to Distribution Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. and the Registrant, dated September 7, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (e)(2)), filed on May 28, 2015.

 

(7) (b) Form of Mutual Fund Sales Agreement is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to Registration Statement No. 2-72174 of RiverSource Bond Series, Inc. on Form N-1A (Exhibit (e)(2)), filed on July 9, 2010.

 

(8) Deferred Compensation Plan, adopted as of December 31, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to the Registration Statement No. 333-131683 of Columbia Funds Series Trust II on Form N-1A (Exhibit (f)), filed on February 24, 2012.

 

(9) (a) Second Amended and Restated Master Global Custody Agreement between each of the funds listed on Schedule A thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. , is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (g)(3)), filed on May 27, 2011.

 

(9) (b) Side letter (related to the China Connect Service on behalf of Columbia Overseas Value Fund and Columbia International Value Fund), dated December 19, 2014, to the Second Amended and Restated Master Global Custody Agreement with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., dated March 7, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 140 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (g)(2)), filed on April 30, 2015.

 

(10) (a)(i) Shareholder Servicing and Distribution Plan for Registrant’s Class A Shares is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (m)(1)), filed on July 29, 2008.

 

(10) (a)(ii) Restated Exhibit I to Shareholder Servicing and Distribution Plan for Registrant’s Class A Shares, effective May 1, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (m)(1)(ii)), filed on May 28, 2015.

 

(10) (b)(i) Distribution Plan for certain Fund share classes of the Registrant is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (m)(2)), filed on September 27, 2010.

 

(10) (b)(ii) Restated Exhibit I to Distribution Plan, effective May 1, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (m)(2)(ii)), filed on May 28, 2015.

 

(10) (c)(i) Shareholder Servicing Plan for certain Fund share classes of Registrant is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (m)(3)), filed on September 27, 2010.

 

(10) (c)(ii) Restated Exhibit I to Shareholder Servicing Plan effective April 11, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (m)(3)(ii)), filed on May 28, 2015.

 

(10) (d)(i) Shareholder Servicing Plan Implementation Agreement between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 82 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (m)(4)), filed on May 28, 2010.

 

(10) (d)(ii) Restated Schedule I to Shareholder Servicing Plan Implementation Agreement, dated March 14, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 102 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (m)(4)(ii)), filed on March 23, 2012.

 

(10) (e)(i) Shareholder Servicing Plan for Registrant’s Class T shares is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (m)(5)), filed on June 26, 2015.

 

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(10) (e)(ii) Shareholder Servicing Plan Implementation Agreement for Registrant’s Class T shares between the Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (m)(6)), filed on June 26, 2015.

 

(10) (e)(iii) Schedule I, effective December 1, 2014, to Shareholder Servicing Plan Implementation Agreement for Registrant’s Class T shares between the Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (m)(7)), filed on May 28, 2015.

 

(10) (f) Rule 18f – 3 Multi-Class Plan, amended and restated as of May 1, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (n)), filed on May 28, 2015.

 

(11) Opinion and consent of Counsel as to the legality of the securities being registered is filed electronically herewith.

 

(12) Opinion of Counsel to be filed by amendment.

 

(13) (a)(i) Administrative Services Agreement between the Registrant, the other parties listed on Schedule A and Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, dated December 16, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to Registration Statement No. 333-40265 of Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(1)), filed on April 28, 2014.

 

(13) (a)(ii) Schedule A and Schedule B, effective as of July 1, 2015, to the Administrative Services Agreement, by and between the Registrant, the other parties listed on Schedule A, and Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(1)(i)), filed on June 26, 2015.

 

(13) (b)(i) Amended and Restated Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent Agreement among Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., the Registrant and Columbia Funds Master Investment Trust, LLC, dated April 27, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 98 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(2)), filed on July 29, 2011.

 

(13) (b)(ii) Schedule A and Schedule B, effective October 1, 2015, to the Amended and Restated Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent Agreement by and between the Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., dated as of April 27, 2011, are filed electronically herewith.

 

(13) (c)(i) Amended and Restated Plan Administration Services Agreement among Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., the Registrant and Columbia Funds Series Trust I, dated as of September 7, 2010, amended and restated November 1, 2012, relating to Class K shares (formerly known as Class R4 shares), is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(3)), filed on November 7, 2012.

 

(13) (c)(ii) Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Exhibit C, effective May 1, 2015, to the Amended and Restated Plan Administration Services Agreement among Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., the Registrant and Columbia Funds Series Trust I, dated as of September 7, 2010, amended and restated November 1, 2012, relating to Class K shares, are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(3)(i)), filed on May 28, 2015.

 

(13) (d)(i) Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Cap Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. and the Registrant, dated May 2, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 94 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(5)), filed on June 28, 2011.

 

(13) (d)(ii) Restated Schedule A, effective May 1, 2015, to the Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Cap Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. and the Registrant dated May 2, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to Registration Statement No. 333-40265 of Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(15)(i)), filed on May 15, 2015.

 

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(13) (e) Amended and Restated Credit Agreement as of December 9, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 225 to Registration Statement No. 2-99356 of Columbia Funds Series Trust I on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(14)), filed on April 16, 2015.

 

(13) (f)(i) Columbia Funds Family Code of Ethics, effective April 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(1)), filed on May 15, 2014.

 

(13) (f)(ii) Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. and Threadneedle International Limited Code of Ethics, effective December 8, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 120 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 of Columbia Funds Series Trust II on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(2)), filed on November 25, 2014.

 

(14) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP) is filed electronically herewith.

 

(15) Not applicable.

 

(16) Trustees Power of Attorney to sign this Registration Statement and all amendments hereto is filed electronically herewith.

 

(17) Not applicable.

Item 17. Undertakings

(1) The undersigned registrant agrees that prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered through the use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c) of the Securities Act, the reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form for reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items of the applicable form.

(2) The undersigned registrant agrees that every prospectus that is filed under paragraph (1) above will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until the amendment is effective, and that, in determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement for the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering of them.

(3) The Registrant undertakes to file the opinion of counsel supporting the tax consequences of the proposed reorganization required by Item 16(12) through an amendment to this Registration Statement no later than a reasonable time after the closing of the transaction.

 

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SIGNATURES

As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed on behalf of the Registrant, Columbia Funds Series Trust, by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Boston, and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 22nd day of December, 2015.

 

COLUMBIA FUNDS SERIES TRUST
By:  

/s/ Christopher O. Petersen

Name:

Title:

 

Christopher O. Petersen

President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 22nd day of December, 2015.

 

Signature    Capacity    Signature    Capacity

/s/ Christopher O. Petersen

Christopher O. Petersen

  

President

(Principal Executive Officer)

  

/s/ R. Glenn Hilliard *

R. Glenn Hilliard

   Trustee

/s/ Michael G. Clarke

Michael G. Clarke

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

  

/s/ Catherine James Paglia *

Catherine James Paglia

   Trustee

/s/ William A. Hawkins*

William A. Hawkins

   Chair of the Board   

/s/ Leroy C. Richie *

Leroy C. Richie

   Trustee

/s/ Kathleen A. Blatz *

Kathleen A. Blatz

   Trustee   

/s/ Anthony M. Santomero *

Anthony M. Santomero

   Trustee

/s/ Edward J. Boudreau, Jr. *

Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.

   Trustee   

/s/ Minor M. Shaw *

Minor M. Shaw

   Trustee

/s/ Pamela G. Carlton *

Pamela G. Carlton

   Trustee   

/s/ Alison Taunton-Rigby *

Alison Taunton-Rigby

   Trustee

/s/ William P. Carmichael *

William P. Carmichael

   Trustee   

/s/ William F. Truscott *

William F. Truscott

   Trustee

/s/ Patricia M. Flynn *

Patricia M. Flynn

   Trustee      

 

*     By:  

/s/ Christopher O. Petersen

  Name:   Christopher O. Petersen**
    Attorney-in-fact

 

** Executed by Christopher O. Petersen on behalf of each of the Trustees pursuant to a Power of Attorney filed herewith.


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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

(1)(d)   Third Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
(4)   Agreement and Plan of Reorganization
(11)   Opinion and consent of Counsel as to the legality of the securities being registered
(13)(b)(ii)  

Schedule A and Schedule B, effective October 1, 2015, to the Amended and Restated Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent Agreement by and between the Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., dated as of April 27, 2011.

(14)   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP)
(16)   Trustees Power of Attorney to sign this Registration Statement and all amendments hereto

Exhibit (1)(d)

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

DECLARATION OF TRUST

OF

COLUMBIA FUNDS SERIES TRUST

WHEREAS, THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST is made and entered into as of December 15, 2015, by the Trustees named hereunder, and the holders of Shares for the purpose of continuing a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth.

WHEREAS, the Board (as defined below) has heretofore created the Trust (as defined herein) as a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act (as defined herein), by causing to be filed a Certificate of Trust with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 22, 1999, and entering into a Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of February 7, 2000 (as further amended and/or restated, the “Original Declaration of Trust”); and

WHEREAS, the Board desires to continue the Trust as a statutory trust under the Delaware Act and hereby amend and restate the Original Declaration of Trust in its entirety;

NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the Board that this Declaration of Trust constitute the governing instrument of the Trust, does hereby declare that the Board will hold in trust all cash, securities and other assets which the Trust now possesses or may hereafter acquire from time to time in any manner and manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the pro rata benefit of the holders of Shares in this Trust.

ARTICLE I

N AME AND D EFINITIONS

SECTION 1. NAME. This Trust shall be known as Columbia Funds Series Trust (formerly known as Nations Funds Trust) and the Board shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as it may from time to time determine.

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise defined or required by the context or specifically provided:

 

  a) “1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time, and all terms and requirements that are defined herein by reference to the 1940 Act shall be interpreted as that term or requirement has been modified or interpreted by applicable orders of the Commission or any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretive releases of the Commission or its staff, and staff no-action letters issued under the 1940 Act;

 

  b) “Board” refers to the Board of Trustees of the Trust;

 

  c) “Class” means any division of Shares of a Series. A Series may have a single named or unnamed Class, or multiple Classes.

 

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  d) “Commission” shall have the meaning given it in the 1940 Act;

 

  e) “Declaration of Trust” refers to this Third Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;

 

  f) “Delaware Act” has the meaning given it in Article X, Section 4 of this Declaration of Trust;

 

  g) “Interested Person” has the meaning given it in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act;

 

  h) “Investment Adviser(s)” means a party, or parties, furnishing investment advisory services to the Trust pursuant to any contract described in Article IV, Section 20 hereof;

 

  i) “Person” means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, associations, joint ventures, estates and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof, whether domestic or foreign;

 

  j) “Principal Underwriter” shall have the meaning given it in the 1940 Act;

 

  k) “Series” refers to each series of the Trust established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof.

 

  l) “Shares” means the shares of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares;

 

  m) “Shareholder” means a record owner of a Class or Series of outstanding Shares;

 

  n) “Trust” refers to Columbia Funds Series Trust, which is the Delaware statutory trust continued by this Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time;

 

  o) “Trustees” refers to the persons who have signed this Declaration of Trust and all other persons who may from time to time be duly elected or appointed to serve on the Board in accordance with the provisions hereof, so long as they continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such person or persons only in their capacity as trustees of the Trust; and

 

  p) The “Trust Property” means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust.

ARTICLE II

P URPOSE OF T RUST AND O FFICES

SECTION 1. PURPOSE OF THE TRUST. The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the business of an open-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act through one or more Series investing primarily in securities.

SECTION 2. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The principal office of the Trust is: One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111. The Board may, from time to time, change the location of the principal office of the Trust to any place within or outside the State of Delaware.

SECTION 3. DELAWARE OFFICE. The Board shall establish a registered office in the State of Delaware and shall appoint as the Trust’s registered agent for service of process in the State of Delaware an individual resident of the State of Delaware or a Delaware corporation or a corporation authorized to transact business in the State of Delaware; in each case the business office of such registered agent for service of process shall be identical with the registered Delaware office of the Trust.

SECTION 4. OTHER OFFICES. The Board may at any time establish branch or subordinate offices at any place or places where the Trust intends to do business.

 

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ARTICLE III

S HARES

SECTION 1. DIVISION OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST . The beneficial interest in the Trust shall at all times be divided into an unlimited number of Shares, without par value. The Board may authorize the division of Shares into separate Series and the division of Series into one or more separate Classes of Shares. The different Series shall be established and designated, and the variations in the relative rights and preferences as among the different Series and Classes shall be fixed and determined, by the Board.

No Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Share of the same Class of a Series with respect to dividends or distributions upon termination of the Trust or of such Series. All dividends and distributions shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of a particular Class of a Series from the assets held with respect to such Series according to the number of Shares of such Class of such Series held of record by such Shareholder on the record date for any dividend or distribution or on the date of termination, as the case may be. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust or any Series. The Board may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of any particular Series into a greater or lesser number of Shares of that Series. All Shares when issued hereunder on the terms determined by the Board shall be fully paid and non-assessable.

SECTION 2. OWNERSHIP OF SHARES . The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent for the Trust, which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each Series and Class. No certificates evidencing the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Board may otherwise determine from time to time. The Board may make such rules as it considers appropriate for the transfer of Shares of each Series and Class and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who are the Shareholders of each Series and Class and as to the number of Shares of each Series and Class held from time to time by each Shareholder.

SECTION 3. INVESTMENTS IN THE TRUST . Investments may be accepted by the Trust from such Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such consideration as the Board from time to time may authorize. In addition, investments in any Series may be accepted by the Board from any other Series, at such times, on such terms, and for such consideration as the Board may from time to time authorize.

SECTION 4. STATUS OF SHARES AND LIMITATION OF PERSONAL LIABILITY . Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof and to have become a party hereto. The death, incapacity, dissolution, termination or bankruptcy of a Shareholder during the existence of the Trust shall not operate to dissolve or terminate the Trust or Series or Class, nor entitle the representative of any such Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or

 

3


elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but entitles such representative only to the rights of such Shareholder under this Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust Property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders as partners. Shareholders shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the general corporation law of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 5. ESTABLISHMENT AND DESIGNATION OF SERIES OR CLASS . The establishment and designation of any Series or Class of Shares shall be effective upon the adoption by a majority of the then Trustees, of a resolution that sets forth such establishment and designation. Such resolution may set forth the relative preferences, powers, rights and privileges of the Shares of such Series or Class, whether directly in such resolution or by reference to, or approval of, another document that sets forth such relative preferences, powers, rights and privileges of such Series or Class, including, without limitation, any registration statement of the Trust, or as otherwise provided in such resolution. Each such resolution shall be incorporated herein by reference upon adoption.

Shares of each Series established pursuant to this Section 5, unless otherwise provided in the resolution establishing such Series or Class, shall have the following relative rights and preferences:

(a) ASSETS and LIABILITIES HELD WITH RESPECT TO A PARTICULAR SERIES. All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof (including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be), shall be held and accounted for separately from the other assets of the Trust and every other Series and are referred to as “assets belonging to” that Series. The assets belonging to a Series shall belong only to that Series for all purposes, and to no other Series, and shall be subject only to the rights of creditors of that Series. Any assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, funds, or payments which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series shall be allocated between and among one or more Series as the Treasurer, subject to the supervision of the President, Chairman of the Board, if any, and the Board itself, deems fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes, and such assets, earnings, income, profits or funds, or payments and proceeds thereof shall be referred to as assets belonging to that Series. The assets belonging to a Series shall be so recorded upon the books of the Trust in separate and distinct records (directly or indirectly, including through a nominee or otherwise), and shall be held for the benefit of the Shareholders of that Series. The debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Series shall be enforceable against the assets of such Series only, and not against the assets of the Trust generally or any other Series, and none of the debt, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the Trust generally or any other Series shall be enforceable against the assets of such Series. Liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves allocated solely to a particular Class, if any, shall be borne by that Class. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series or Class shall be allocated and charged between and among any one or more of the Series or Classes in such manner as the Board deems fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series and Classes for all purposes.

 

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Without limiting the foregoing, but subject to the right of the Treasurer, subject to the supervision of the President, Chairman of the Board, if any, and the Board itself, to allocate general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves as herein provided, the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Series shall be enforceable against the assets of such Series only, and not against the assets of the Trust generally or of any other Series and, unless otherwise provided in this Declaration, none of the debts, liabilities, obligations, expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the Trust generally or any other Series shall be enforceable against the assets of such Series. Notice of this limitation on liabilities among Series may, in the Board’s discretion, be set forth in the certificate of trust of the Trust (whether originally or by amendment) as filed or to be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the Delaware Act, and upon the giving of such notice in the certificate of trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware Act relating to limitations on liabilities among Series (and the statutory effect under Section 3804 of the Delaware Act of setting forth such notice in the certificate of trust) shall become applicable to the Trust and each Series. Any person extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against any Series may look only to the assets of that Series to satisfy or enforce any debt, with respect to that Series. No Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall have a claim on or any right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series, except to the extent that such Shareholder or former Shareholder has such a claim or right hereunder as a Shareholder or former Shareholder of such other Series.

(b) DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, REDEMPTIONS, AND REPURCHASES. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, no dividend or distribution including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of any Series or Class with respect to, nor any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any Series or Class shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets held with respect to such Series, nor shall any Shareholder of any particular Series otherwise have any right or claim against the assets held with respect to any other Series except to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series. The Board shall have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with the 1940 Act, to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital; and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders.

Any Shares of a Series acquired, through purchase, exchange or otherwise, by another Series shall not be deemed cancelled, unless the Board affirmatively determines otherwise.

(c) EQUALITY. All the Shares of each particular Series shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets held with respect to that Series (subject to the liabilities held with respect to that Series and such rights and preferences as may have been established and designated with respect to Classes of Shares within such Series).

(d) FRACTIONS. Any fractional Share of a Series shall carry proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole share of that Series, including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions, redemption of Shares and termination of the Trust.

(e) EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE. The Board shall have the authority to provide that the holders of Shares of any Series shall have the right to exchange said Shares for Shares of one or more other Series of Shares in conformity with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Board.

SECTION 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF SHAREHOLDERS . If any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be exposed to liability by reason of a claim or demand relating solely to his being or having been a Shareholder, and not because of his acts or omissions, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his heirs, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives or in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled to be held harmless from and indemnified out of the assets of the Trust against all loss and expense arising from such claim or demand.

 

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ARTICLE IV

T HE B OARD AND ITS P OWERS

SECTION 1. MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST . The business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, and it shall have all powers necessary or desirable, convenient or incidental, to carry out that responsibility. The Board may execute all instruments and take all action they deem necessary, desirable, convenient or incidental, to promote the interests of the Trust. Any determination made by the Board in good faith as to what is in the interests of the Trust shall be conclusive. To the extent allowable under federal and state law, the Board may delegate any or all of its responsibilities to one or more appropriate officers of the Trust and/or any other Person.

SECTION 2. CURRENT TRUSTEES . The current Trustees shall be the persons signing this Declaration of Trust from time-to-time.

SECTION 3. NUMBER AND TERM OF OFFICE . The number of Trustees (other than the initial Trustees) constituting the Board shall be as fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed, or by resolution approved at a duly constituted meeting, by seventy five percent (75%) of the Trustees, provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall in no event be less than one (1) nor more than sixteen (16). Each Trustee shall hold office through the term described in this section, or until his or her successor is elected or the Trust terminates; except that (a) any Trustee may resign by delivering to the other Trustees or to any Trust officer a written resignation effective upon delivery or a later date specified therein; (b) any Trustee may be removed with or without cause at any time by a written instrument signed by at least seventy five percent (75%) of the other Trustees, specifying the effective date of removal; (c) any Trustee who requests to be retired, or has become physically or mentally incapacitated or is otherwise unable to serve fully, may be retired by a written instrument signed by a majority of the other Trustees, specifying the effective date of retirement; and (d) if required by Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act, any Trustee may be removed at any meeting of the Shareholders by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Outstanding Shares. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Declaration of Trust, this Section 3 may not be amended to reduce the percentage vote required to change the number of Trustees or to remove a Trustee, without the approval of at least seventy five percent (75%) of the Trustees.

SECTION 4. [RESERVED]

SECTION 5. VACANCIES, APPOINTMENT, EFFECT OF DEATH, RESIGNATION, ETC. OF A TRUSTEE . Vacancies on the Board may be filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Trustee, unless the Board calls a meeting of Shareholders for the purposes of electing Trustees. In the event that at any time less than a majority of the Trustees holding office at that time were so elected by the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, the Board shall forthwith cause to be held as promptly

 

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as possible, and in any event within sixty (60) days, a meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing Trustees to fill any existing vacancies in the Board, unless such period is extended by order of the Commission.

The death, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of one or more Trustees, or all of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust. Whenever a vacancy on the Board shall occur, until such vacancy is filled, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration of Trust. As conclusive evidence of such vacancy, a written instrument certifying the existence of such vacancy may be executed by an officer of the Trust or by a majority of the Board. In the event of the death, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of all the then Trustees within a short period of time and without the opportunity for at least one Trustee being able to appoint additional Trustees to fill vacancies, the Trust’s Investment Adviser(s) are empowered to appoint new Trustees subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act.

SECTION 6. PLACE OF MEETINGS AND MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE. All meetings of the Board may be held at any place that has been designated from time to time by the Board. In the absence of such a designation, regular meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the Trust or the Investment Adviser(s). Any meeting, regular or special, may be held by conference telephone or other communications equipment, so long as all Trustees participating in the meeting can hear one another and all such Trustees shall be deemed to be present at the meeting.

SECTION 7. REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such time as shall from time to time be fixed by the Board. Such regular meetings may be held without notice, unless required to be so held by law.

SECTION 8. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board or the President or the Secretary or any two (2) Trustees.

Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered to each Trustee personally, or by telephone, first-class mail, express mail, overnight mail, electronic transmission (as defined in the Delaware Act), telefacsimile, internet or other media. In case the notice is sent by first class mail, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least seven (7) calendar days before the time of the holding of the meeting. In case the notice is delivered by other means, it shall be given using means whereby it is intended to be received by each Trustee at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting.

SECTION 9. QUORUM. A majority of the authorized number of Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except to adjourn as provided in Section 11 of this Article III. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the Board, subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of Trustees if any action taken is approved by a least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting. Presence by conference telephone or other communications equipment shall constitute presence at the meeting for purposes of obtaining a quorum. If the Board creates a committee pursuant to Article VI, a majority of the authorized number of committee members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of such committee, unless the Board designates a lower percentage.

 

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SECTION 10. WAIVER OF NOTICE. Notice of any meeting need not be given to any Trustee who either before or after the meeting signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to holding the meeting. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify the purpose of the meeting. All such waivers or consents shall be filed with the records of the Trust or made a part of the minutes of the meeting, either in person or by telephone. Notice of a meeting shall also be deemed given to any Trustee who attends the meeting, either in person or by conference telephone or other communications equipment, without protesting before or at its commencement the lack of notice to that Trustee.

SECTION 11. ADJOURNMENT. A majority of the Trustees present, whether or not constituting a quorum, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place.

SECTION 12. NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT. Notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be given unless the meeting is adjourned for more than fourteen (14) days, in which case notice of the time and place shall be given before the time of the adjourned meeting in the manner specified in Section 8 of this Article III to the Trustees who were present at the time of the adjournment.

SECTION 13. ACTION WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board may be taken without a meeting if a majority of the Trustees shall individually or collectively consent in writing to that action. Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as a majority vote of the Board. Such written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

SECTION 14. POWERS . Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Board, and such Board shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility including the power to engage in securities transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may: fill vacancies in or remove from their number, and may elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; appoint from their own number and establish and terminate one or more committees consisting of two or more Trustees which may exercise the powers and authority of the Board to the extent that the Trustees determine; employ one or more Investment Advisers to the Series of the Trust; employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such custodians to employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities or with a Federal Reserve Bank, retain a transfer agent or a Shareholder servicing agent, or both; provide for the issuance and distribution of Shares by the Trust directly or through one or more Principal Underwriters or otherwise; redeem, repurchase and transfer Shares pursuant to applicable law; set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters; declare and pay dividends and distributions to Shareholders of each Series from the assets of such Series; and in general delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any such custodian, transfer or Shareholder servicing agent, Investment Adviser(s) or Principal Underwriter. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. Unless otherwise specified or required by law, any action by the Board shall be deemed effective if approved or taken by a majority of the Trustees then in office.

 

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Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust shall have power and authority:

(a) To invest and reinvest cash, to hold cash uninvested, and to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, write options on, lend or otherwise deal in or dispose of contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of fixed income or other securities, and securities of every nature and kind, including, without limitation, all types of bonds, debentures, stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable instruments, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or indebtedness, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, bankers’ acceptances, and other securities of any kind, issued, created, guaranteed, or sponsored by any and all Persons, including, without limitation, states, territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, any foreign government or any political subdivision of the U.S. Government or any foreign government, or any international instrumentality, or by any bank or savings institution, or by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, territory, or possession thereof, or by any corporation or organization organized under any foreign law, or in “when issued” contracts for any such securities; to change the investments of the assets of the Trust; and to exercise any and all rights, powers, and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such investments of every kind and description, including, without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons, to exercise any of said rights, powers, and privileges in respect of any of said instruments;

(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, or write options with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of the Trust or any Series;

(c) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property, and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;

(d) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;

(e) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its own name or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or nominees or otherwise;

(f) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;

(g) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Board shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Board shall deem proper;

 

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(h) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;

(i) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combination or associations;

(j) To borrow funds or other property in the name of the Trust exclusively for Trust purposes;

(k) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any Person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof;

(l) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such insurance as the Board may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust or payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, Investment Adviser(s), Principal Underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust, individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding Shares, holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, Investment Adviser(s), Principal Underwriter, or independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against liability; and

(m) to adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust.

The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible termination of the Trust or one or more of its Series. The Trust shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investment by fiduciaries. The Trust shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other action hereunder.

SECTION 15. DELEGATION OF POWER TO OTHER TRUSTEES. Any Trustee may, by power of attorney, delegate his power for a period not exceeding twelve (12) months at any one time to any other Trustee or Trustees; provided that in no case shall fewer than two (2) Trustees personally exercise the powers granted to the Trustees under this Declaration of Trust except as otherwise expressly provided herein or by resolution of the Board. Except where applicable law may require a Trustee to be present in person, a Trustee represented by another Trustee pursuant to such power of attorney shall be deemed to be present for purposes of establishing a quorum and satisfying the voting requirements.

SECTION 16. DELEGATION OF POWER TO OFFICERS OF THE TRUST. The Board may delegate, either by resolution or by other provision in this Declaration of Trust, certain of its powers conferred by this Declaration of Trust to the Trust’s officers.

 

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SECTION 17. COMPENSATION. Trustees and members of committees may receive such compensation, if any, for their services and such reimbursement of expenses as may be fixed or determined by resolution of the Board. This Section shall not be construed to preclude any Trustee from serving the Trust in any other capacity as an officer, agent, employee, or otherwise and receiving compensation for those services. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other services and payment for the same by the Trust.

SECTION 18. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES BY THE TRUST . The Board is authorized to pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust, or partly out of the principal and partly out of income, as they deem fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust, or in connection with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees’ compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, Investment Adviser(s), principal underwriter, auditors, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, Shareholder servicing agent, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.

SECTION 19. OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS OF THE TRUST . Title to all of the assets of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trust, except that the Board shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any other Person as nominee, on such terms as the Board may determine. To the extent applicable, the right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter become a Trustee. Upon the resignation, removal or death of a Trustee he shall automatically cease to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.

SECTION 20. SERVICE CONTRACTS .

(a) Investment Adviser(s). The Board may authorize the Trust to enter into one or more investment advisory contracts for the Trust or any Series of the Trust, providing for investment advisory services, statistical and research facilities and services, and other facilities and services to be furnished to the Trust or Series on terms and conditions acceptable to the Trustees. Any such contract may provide for the Investment Adviser(s) to effect purchases, sales or exchanges of portfolio securities or other Trust Property on behalf of the Board or may authorize any officer or agent of the Trust to effect such purchases, sales or exchanges pursuant to recommendations of the Investment Adviser(s). The contract may authorize the Investment Adviser(s) to employ one or more investment sub-advisers. The Shareholders of the Trust or any Series shall have the right to vote to approve investment advisory contracts to the extent such approval is required under the 1940 Act.

(b) Principal Underwriter. The Board may authorize the Trust to enter into one or more distribution contracts for the Trust or any Series or Class, providing for the distribution and sale of Shares to or by the other party, either directly or through selling agents or selected dealers, on terms and conditions acceptable to the Board. The Board may adopt a plan or plans of distribution with respect to Shares of any Series or Class and enter into any related agreements, whereby the Series or Class finances directly or indirectly any activity that is primarily intended to result in sales of its Shares, subject to the requirements of Section 12 of the 1940 Act, Rule 12b-1 thereunder, and/or other applicable rules and regulations.

 

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(c) Transfer Agency, Accounting, Administration and Other Services. The Board may authorize the Trust, for the Trust or any Series or Class, to enter into one or more transfer agency, accounting, administration contracts and contracts for such other services necessary or appropriate to carry out the business and affairs of the Trust with any party or parties on terms and conditions acceptable to the Board.

(d) Custodian. The Board shall at all times place and maintain the securities and similar investments of the Trust and of each Series in custody under arrangements that meet the requirements of Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. The Board, on behalf of the Trust or any Series, may enter into one or more contracts with a custodian on terms and conditions acceptable to the Board, providing for the custodian, among other things, to (a) hold the securities owned by the Trust or any Series and deliver the same upon written order or oral order confirmed in writing, (b) receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust or any Series and deposit the same in its own banking department or elsewhere, (c) disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers, and (d) employ one or more sub-custodians.

(e) The fact that:

(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees, or officers of the Trust is a Shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter, distributor, or affiliate or agent of or for any corporation, trust, association, or other organization, or for any parent or affiliate of any organization with which an advisory, management or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that (ii) any corporation, trust, association or other organization with which an advisory, management or administration contract or Principal Underwriter’s contract, or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory, management or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s contract, or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other service contract with one or more other corporations, trust, associations, or other organizations, or has other business or interests, shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same, or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders, provided approval of each such contract is made pursuant to the requirements of the 1940 Act.

ARTICLE V

C OMMITTEES

SECTION 1. COMMITTEES. To facilitate certain requirements under the 1940 Act, the Trust shall have a standing Audit Committee and a standing Nominating Committee (collectively, the “Standing Committees”). The Board shall determine the number of members of each committee, and may determine the quorum for each committee, and shall appoint its members. Either the Board or the committee may elect a chair. Each committee member shall serve as such at the pleasure of the Board. The Board may abolish any committee other than the Standing Committees, at any time. Each committee shall maintain records of its meetings and report its actions to the full Board. The Board may rescind any action of any committee, but

 

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such rescission shall not have retroactive effect except as agreed by the committee. The Board may delegate to any committee any of its powers, subject only to the express limitations of the 1940 Act.

SECTION 2 . AUDIT COMMITTEE . The Audit Committee is responsible for (a) recommending independent accountants for selection by the Board, (b) reviewing the scope of audit, accounting and financial internal controls and the quality and adequacy of each Trust’s accounting staff with the independent accountants and such other persons as may be deemed appropriate, (c) reviewing, as necessary, with the accounting staff and the independent accountants the compliance of transactions between each Trust and any affiliated persons of the Trust, (d) reviewing reports of the independent accountants, and (e) making themselves directly available to the independent accountants and responsible Officers of the Trust for consultation on audit, accounting and related financial matters. The Board may expand or clarify the responsibilities of the Audit Committee by adopting a committee charter or otherwise, but may not narrow the responsibilities set forth here without the consent of the Audit Committee.

SECTION 3. NOMINATING COMMITTEE. The Nominating Committee is responsible for recommending to the Board persons to be nominated for election as Trustees by the Shareholders at any required Shareholder meeting and a person to be appointed to fill any vacancy occurring on the Board. The nomination and selection of those Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined under the 1940 Act) shall be committed to the discretion of the disinterested Trustees so long as the Trust has in effect one or more plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Board may expand or clarify the responsibilities of the Nominating Committee by adopting a committee charter or otherwise, but may not narrow the responsibilities set forth here without the consent of the Nominating Committee.

SECTION 4. OTHER COMMITTEES OF TRUSTEES. The Board may by resolution adopted by a majority of the authorized number of Trustees designate one or more committees in addition to the Standing Committees, each consisting of two (2) or more Trustees, to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Board may designate one or more Trustees as alternate members of any committee who may replace any absent member at any meeting of the committee. Any committee to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have the authority of the Board, except with respect to:

 

  (a) the approval of any action which under applicable law also requires Shareholders’ approval or approval of the outstanding shares, or requires approval by a majority of the entire Board or certain members of said Board;

 

  (b) the filling of vacancies on the Board or on any committee;

 

  (c) the fixing of compensation of the Trustees for serving on the Board or on any committee;

 

  (d) the amendment or repeal of the Declaration of Trust;

 

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  (e) the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board which by its express terms is not so amendable or repealable;

 

  (f) the appointment of any other committees of the Board or the members of these committees.

SECTION 5. MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES. Meetings and action of committees shall be governed by and held and taken in accordance with the provisions of Article IV of this Declaration of Trust, with such changes in the context thereof as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members, except that the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board or by resolution of the committee. Special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board. Alternate members shall be given notice of meetings of committees and shall have the right to attend all meetings of committees. The Board may adopt rules for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of this Declaration of Trust.

ARTICLE VI

O FFICERS

SECTION 1. OFFICERS. The officers of the Trust shall be a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Trust may also have, at the discretion of the Board, a Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Article VI. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

SECTION 2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The officers of the Trust, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Article VI, shall be chosen by the Board, and each shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.

SECTION 3. SUBORDINATE OFFICERS. The Board may appoint and may empower the President to appoint such other officers as the business of the Trust may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as are provided in this Declaration of Trust or as the Board may from time to time determine.

SECTION 4. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS. Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board or by the principal executive officer or by such other officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Trust. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Trust under any contract to which the officer is a party.

 

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SECTION 5. VACANCIES IN OFFICES. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed in this Declaration of Trust for regular appointment to that office. The President may make temporary appointments to a vacant office pending ratification by the Board.

SECTION 6. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Chairman of the Board, if such an officer is elected, shall if present preside at meetings of the Board and shall, subject to the control of the Board, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and the officers of the Trust and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be from time to time assigned to him by the Board or prescribed by the Declaration of Trust.

SECTION 7. PRESIDENT. Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be vested in the Chairman of the Board, if there be such an officer, the President shall be the chief executive officer and chief operating officer of the Trust and shall, subject to the control of the Board and the Chairman, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and the officers of the Trust. He shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of President of a corporation and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board or this Declaration of Trust. A single person may occupy the positions of Chairman of the Board and President simultaneously.

Pursuant to Article IV, Section 16 of this Declaration, the Board hereby confers upon, and delegates to, the President of the Trust (concurrently with the Treasurer) all powers, duties and obligations conferred upon the Board by: Article III, Sections 5(a) and (b), Article IV, Section 18 and Article IX, Sections 1, 2 and 8; and (concurrently with the Secretary) all powers, duties and obligations conferred upon the Board by: Article IV, Sections 6 and 7, and Article VIII, Sections 3, 6, 7 and 11.

SECTION 8. VICE PRESIDENTS. In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice Presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board or if not ranked, the Executive Vice President (who shall be considered first ranked) and such other Vice Presidents as shall be designated by the Board, shall perform all the duties of the President and when so acting shall have all powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. The Vice Presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the Board or the President or the Chairman of the Board or by this Declaration of Trust.

SECTION 9. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal executive office of the Trust, or such other place as the Board may direct, a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of the Board, committees of the Board and Shareholders with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and if special, how authorized, the notice given, the names of those present at Board meetings or committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented at Shareholders’ meetings, and the proceedings.

The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal executive office of the Trust or at the office of the Trust’s transfer agent or registrar, a share register or a duplicate share register showing the names of all Shareholders and their addresses, the number (and Classes) of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates issued for the same and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.

The Secretary shall give or cause to be given notice of all meetings of the Shareholders and of the Board required to be given by this Declaration of Trust or by applicable law and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board or by this Declaration of Trust.

 

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Pursuant to Article IV, Section 16 of this Declaration, the Board hereby confers upon, and delegates to, the Secretary of the Trust all powers, duties and obligations conferred upon the Board by: Article IV, Sections 6 and 7, and Article VIII, Sections 3, 6, 7 and 11.

SECTION 10. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer and chief accounting officer of the Trust and shall keep and maintain or cause to be kept and maintained adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Trust, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings and shares. The books of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any Trustee.

The Treasurer shall deposit all monies and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Trust with such depositaries as may be designated by the Board. He shall disburse the funds of the Trust, shall render to the President and Trustees, whenever they request it, an account of all of his transactions as chief financial officer and of the financial condition of the Trust and shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board or this Declaration of Trust.

Pursuant to Article IV, Section 16 of this Declaration, the Board hereby confers upon, and delegates to, the Treasurer of the Trust all powers, duties and obligations conferred upon the Board by: Article III, Sections 5(a) and (b), Article IV, Section 18 and Article IX, Sections 1, 2 and 8.

SECTION 11. AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE AND FILE APPLICATIONS FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF. The officers of the Trust, including, without limitation, the President, Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, or any of them are delegated the authority to prepare, execute and file with the Commission, any and all applications for exemptive orders, and any amendments or supplements thereto, that the officers or any of them believe are necessary, desirable or convenient.

ARTICLE VII

I NDEMNIFICATION OF T RUSTEES , O FFICERS , E MPLOYEES AND O THER A GENTS

SECTION 1. AGENTS, PROCEEDINGS AND EXPENSES. For the purpose of this Article, “agent” means any person who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee or other agent of this Trust or is or was serving at the request of this Trust as a Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or was a Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of a foreign or domestic corporation which was a predecessor of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor entity; “proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative; and “expenses” includes without limitation attorney’s fees and any expenses of establishing a right to indemnification under this Article.

Notwithstanding any provision in the Article, neither the Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter or other independent service providers, nor any officers, employees or other agents of such entities, shall be indemnified pursuant to this Article VII, unless such employees are dual officers, employees or other agents of the Trust and such entities, and such officer, employee or other agent was acting solely in his or her capacity as an officer, employee or agent of the Trust.

 

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SECTION 2. ACTIONS OTHER THAN BY TRUST. This Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of this Trust) by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of this Trust, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding, if it is determined that person acted in good faith and reasonably believed:

 

  (a) in the case of conduct in his official capacity as a Trustee of the Trust, that his conduct was in the Trust’s best interests, and

 

  (b) in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to the Trust’s best interests, and

 

  (c) in the case of a criminal proceeding, that he had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of that person was unlawful.

The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not of itself create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of this Trust or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

SECTION 3. ACTIONS BY THE TRUST. This Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action by or in the right of this Trust to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that that person is or was an agent of this Trust, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by that person in connection with the defense or settlement of that action if that person acted in good faith, in a manner that person believed to be in the best interests of this Trust and with such care, including reasonable inquiry, as an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances.

SECTION 4. EXCLUSION OF INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, there shall be no right to indemnification under Sections 2 and 3 of this Article for any liability arising by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence, or the reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the agent’s office with this Trust.

No indemnification shall be made under Sections 2 or 3 of this Article:

 

  (a) In respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which that person shall have been adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him, whether or not the benefit resulted from an action taken in the person’s official capacity; or

 

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  (b) In respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which that person shall have been adjudged to be liable in the performance of that person’s duty to this Trust, unless and only to the extent that the court in which that action was brought shall determine upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, that person was not liable by reason of the disabling conduct set forth in the preceding paragraph and is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for the expenses which the court shall determine; or

 

  (c) of amounts paid in settling or otherwise disposing of a threatened or pending action, with or without court approval, or of expenses incurred in defending a threatened or pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of without court approval, unless the required approval set forth in Section 6 of this Article is obtained.

SECTION 5. SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE BY AGENT. To the extent that an agent of this Trust has been successful on the merits in defense of any proceeding referred to in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, before the court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought, the agent shall be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the agent in connection therewith, provided that the Board, including a majority who are disinterested, non-party Trustees, also determines that based upon a review of the facts, the agent was not liable by reason of the disabling conduct referred to in Section 4 of this Article.

SECTION 6. REQUIRED APPROVAL. Except as provided in Section 5 of this Article, any indemnification under Sections 2 and 3 of this Article shall be made by the Trust only if authorized in the specific case on a determination that indemnification of the agent is proper in the circumstances because the agent has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article and is not prohibited from indemnification because of the disabling conduct set forth in Section 4 of this Article, by:

 

  (a) A majority vote of a quorum consisting of Trustees who are not parties to the proceeding and are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act); or

 

  (b) A written opinion by legal counsel.

SECTION 7. ADVANCE OF EXPENSES. Expenses incurred in defending any proceeding may be advanced by this Trust before the final disposition of the proceeding upon a written undertaking by or on behalf of the agent, to repay the amount of the advance if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification, together with at least one of the following as a condition to the advance: (i) security for the undertaking; or (ii) the existence of insurance protecting the Trust against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances; or (iii) a determination by a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are not parties to the proceeding and are not interested persons of the Trust, or by an independent legal counsel,

 

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based on a review of readily available facts that there is reason to believe that the agent ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification. Determinations and authorizations of payments under this Section must be made in the manner specified in Section 6 of this Article for determining that the indemnification is permissible.

SECTION 8. OTHER CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS. Nothing contained in this Article (including, without limitation, Sections 4 and 7 of this Article) shall affect any right to indemnification or advancement from the Trust or any other Person to which agents of this Trust or any subsidiary hereof may be entitled by contract or otherwise and any such right to indemnification or advancement shall not be subject to the standards and restrictions contained in this Article.

SECTION 9. LIMITATIONS. No indemnification or advance shall be made under this Article, except as provided in Sections 5 or 6, in any circumstances where it appears:

 

  (a) that it would be inconsistent with a provision of the Declaration of Trust, a resolution of the Shareholders, or an agreement in effect at the time of accrual of the alleged cause of action asserted in the proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were paid which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification; or

 

  (b) that it would be inconsistent with any condition expressly imposed by a court in approving a settlement.

SECTION 10. INSURANCE. Upon and in the event of a determination by the Board of this Trust to purchase such insurance, this Trust shall purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any agent of this Trust against any liability asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising out of the agent’s status as such.

SECTION 11. FIDUCIARIES OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN. This Article does not apply to any proceeding against any Trustee, investment adviser or other fiduciary of an employee benefit plan in that person’s capacity as such, even though that person may also be an agent of this Trust as defined in Section 1 of this Article. Nothing contained in this Article shall limit any right to indemnification to which such a Trustee, investment adviser, or other fiduciary may be entitled by contract or otherwise which shall be enforceable to the extent permitted by applicable law other than this Article.

ARTICLE VIII

S HAREHOLDERS ’ V OTING P OWERS AND M EETINGS

SECTION 1. VOTING POWERS . The Shareholders shall have only the voting powers expressly granted under the 1940 Act or under the law of Delaware applicable to statutory trusts. This Declaration of Trust shall not confer any independent right to Shareholders to vote on any matter, including the creation, operation, dissolution, or termination of the Trust. The Shareholders shall have the right to vote on other matters only as the Board may consider desirable, and so authorize. To the extent that the 1940 Act or Delaware law is amended, modified or interpreted by rule, regulation, order, or no-action letter to eliminate or limit

 

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Shareholders’ right to vote on any specific matter, the Shareholders’ right to vote shall be deemed to be amended, modified or interpreted in accordance therewith without further approval by the Board or the Shareholders.

Currently, the 1940 Act requires that Shareholders have the right to vote, under certain circumstances, to: (a) elect Trustees; (b) approve investment advisory agreements and principal underwriting agreements; (c) approve a change in subclassification; (d) approve any change in fundamental investment policies; (e) approve a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act; and (f) terminate the Trust’s independent public accountant. The Shareholders may vote on any additional matter only as the Board may consider desirable, and so authorize. Shareholders have the right to call special meetings and vote to remove Trustees but only if and to the extent that the Commission staff takes the position by rule, interpretive or other public release, or by no-action letter, that Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act gives them such right.

On any matter that requires Shareholder approval under the 1940 Act, whether Shareholders are required to vote by Series or Class shall be determined by reference to the express requirements of the 1940 Act. On other matters submitted to a vote of the Shareholders in the discretion of the Trustees, or for which the 1940 Act does not expressly specify the voting procedure, all Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and not by Series or Class unless the Trustees determine otherwise. Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote, and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy or in any manner authorized by the Trustees. Unless the Trustees declare otherwise, proxies may be given by electronic transmissions (as defined in the Delaware Act), including telefacsimile, telephone or through the Internet, but if a proposal by anyone other than the officers or Trustees is submitted to a vote of the Shareholders of any Series or Class, or if there is a proxy contest or proxy solicitation or proposal in opposition to any proposal by the officers or Trustees, Shares may be voted only in person or by written proxy unless the Trustees specifically authorize other permissible methods of transmission. Until Shares of a Series are issued, as to that Series the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required or permitted to be taken by Shareholders by law, or this Declaration of Trust.

SECTION 2. VOTING POWER AND MEETINGS . Meetings of the Shareholders may be called by the Trustees for the purpose of electing Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 5 and for such other purposes as may be prescribed by law or by this Declaration of Trust.

SECTION 3. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of Shareholders shall be held at any place designated by the Board. In the absence of any such designation, shareholders’ meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the Trust.

SECTION 4. CALL OF MEETING. A meeting of the Shareholders may be called at any time by the Board or by the Chairman of the Board or by the President.

SECTION 5. NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING. All notices of meetings of shareholders shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with Section 6 of this Article VIII not less than seven (7) nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days before the date of the meeting. The notice shall specify (i) the place, date and hour of the meeting, and (ii) the general nature of the business to be transacted. The notice of any meeting at which Trustees are to be elected also shall include the name of any nominee or nominees whom at the time of the notice are intended to be presented for election. Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act, the notice need not state the purpose for which the meeting is being called.

 

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SECTION 6. MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE. Notice of any meeting of shareholders shall be given either personally, or by telephone, first-class mail, express mail, overnight mail, telegram, electronic transmission (as defined in the Delaware Act), telefacsimile, internet or other electronic media, charges prepaid, addressed to the shareholder at the address of that shareholder appearing on the books of the Trust or its transfer agent or given by the shareholder to the Trust for the purpose of notice. If no such address appears on the Trust’s books or is given, notice shall be deemed to have been given if sent to that shareholder by telephone, first-class mail, express transmission (as defined in the Delaware Act), overnight mail, telegram, electronic mail, telefacsimile, internet or other electronic media to the Trust’s principal executive office, or if published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where that office is located. Notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when delivered personally or deposited in the mail or sent by telegram or by electronic transmission (as defined in the Delaware Act).

If any notice addressed to a shareholder at the address of that shareholder appearing on the books of the Trust is returned to the Trust by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the Postal Service is unable to deliver the notice to the shareholder at that address, all future notices or reports shall be deemed to have been duly given without further mailing if these shall be available to the shareholder on written demand of the shareholder at the principal executive office of the Trust for a period of one year from the date of the giving of the notice.

An affidavit of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any shareholder’s meeting shall be executed by the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or any transfer agent or other designated agent of the Trust giving the notice and shall be filed and maintained in the minute book of the Trust.

SECTION 7. ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE. Any shareholder’s meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of a majority of the shares represented at that meeting, either in person or by proxy.

When any meeting of shareholders is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless a new record date of the adjourned meeting is fixed or unless the adjournment is for more than sixty (60) days from the date set for the original meeting, in which case the Board shall set a new record date. Notice of any such adjourned meeting shall be given to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5 and 6 of this Article VIII. At any adjourned meeting, the Trust may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

SECTION 8. VOTING PROCEDURE. The shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Declaration of Trust, as in effect at such time. The shareholders’ vote may be by voice vote or by ballot, provided, however, that any election for Trustees must be by ballot if demanded by any shareholder before the voting has begun. The Trust shall be authorized to solicit, and a shareholder shall be entitled to submit a proxy ballot containing the voting instructions of such shareholder, in person, or by mail, telephone, electronic transmission (as defined in the Delaware Act), overnight mail, express mail, telefacsimile, telegraph, internet or similar electronic or other medium, as permitted by law, and except that the Trustees or any

 

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appropriate officer of the Trust may limit or delineate the types of media and methods by which a shareholder may submit voting instructions in a proxy statement or in any voting instructions accompanying a proxy statement. On any matter other than elections of Trustees, any shareholder may vote part of the shares in favor of the proposal and refrain from voting the remaining shares or vote them against the proposal, but if the shareholder fails to specify the number of shares which the shareholder is voting affirmatively, it will be conclusively presumed that the shareholder’s approving vote is with respect to the total shares that the shareholder is entitled to vote on such proposal.

SECTION 9. QUORUM AND REQUIRED VOTE . Except when a larger quorum is required by applicable law or by this Declaration of Trust, thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the Shares entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders’ meeting. When any one or more Series or Classes is to vote as a single Class separate from any other Shares, thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the Shares of each such Series or Classes entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholder’s meeting of that Series. Any meeting of Shareholders may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the question of adjourning a meeting to another date and time, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting without further notice. When a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of the Shares represented at the meeting shall decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, except when a larger vote is required by any provision of this Declaration of Trust or by applicable law.

SECTION 10. ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT . Any action taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on the matter (or such other proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Declaration of Trust) and holding a majority (or such other proportion as aforesaid) of the Shares of any Series or Class entitled to vote separately on the matter consent to the action in writing and such written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.

SECTION 11. RECORD DATES . For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any Series or Class who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, the Trustees may from time to time fix a time, which shall be not more than one-hundred and twenty (120) days before the date of any meeting of Shareholders, as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series or Class having the right to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof, and in such case only Shareholders of record on such record date shall have such right, notwithstanding any transfer of shares on the books of the Trust after the record date. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any Series or Class who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Trustees may from time to time fix a date, which shall be before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other payment, as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series or Class having the right to receive such dividend or distribution. Without fixing a record date the Trustees may for voting and/or distribution purposes close the register or transfer books for one or more Series for all or any part of the period between a record date and a meeting of Shareholders or the payment of a distribution. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Trustees from setting different record dates for different Series or Classes.

SECTION 12. WAIVER OF NOTICE BY CONSENT OF ABSENT SHAREHOLDERS. The transactions of the meeting of shareholders, however called and noticed and wherever

 

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held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if a quorum be present either in person or by proxy and if either before or after the meeting, each person entitled to vote who was not present in person or by proxy signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to a holding of the meeting or an approval of the minutes. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify either the business to be transacted or the purpose of any meeting of shareholders.

Attendance by a person at a meeting shall also constitute a waiver of notice of that meeting, except when the person objects at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to object to the consideration of matters not included in the notice of the meeting if that objection is expressly made at the beginning of the meeting.

SECTION 13. PROXIES. Every person entitled to vote for Trustees or on any other matter shall have the right to do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a written proxy signed by the person and filed with the Secretary of the Trust. A proxy shall be deemed signed if the shareholder’s name is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature, typewriting, electronic transmission (as defined in the Delaware Act) or otherwise) by the shareholder or the shareholder’s attorney-in-fact. A validly executed proxy which does not state that it is irrevocable shall continue in full force and effect unless (i) revoked by the person executing it before the vote pursuant to that proxy by a writing delivered to the Trust stating that the proxy is revoked or by a subsequent proxy executed by, or attendance at the meeting and voting in person by, the person executing that proxy; or (ii) written notice of the death or incapacity of the maker of that proxy is received by the Trust before the vote pursuant to that proxy is counted; provided however, that no proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date of the proxy unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

SECTION 14. INSPECTORS OF ELECTION. Before any meeting of shareholders, the Board may appoint any persons other than nominees for office to act as inspectors of election at the meeting or its adjournment. If no inspectors of election are so appointed, the chairman of the meeting may and on the request of any shareholder or a shareholder’s proxy shall, appoint inspectors of election at the meeting. The number of inspectors shall be either one (1) or three (3). If inspectors are appointed at a meeting on the request of one or more shareholders or proxies, the holders of a majority of shares or their proxies present at the meeting shall determine whether one (1) or three (3) inspectors are to be appointed. If any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the chairman of the meeting may and on the request of any shareholder or a shareholder’s proxy, shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy.

These inspectors shall:

 

  (a) Determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies;

 

  (b) Receive votes, ballots or consents;

 

  (c) Hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote;

 

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  (d) Count and tabulate all votes or consents;

 

  (e) Determine when the polls shall close;

 

  (f) Determine the result; and

 

  (g) Do any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all shareholders.

(h)

ARTICLE IX

R ECORDS AND R EPORTS

SECTION 1. MAINTENANCE OF SHARE REGISTER. The Trust shall keep at its principal executive office or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar, if either be appointed and as determined by resolution of the Board, a record of its shareholders, giving the names and addresses of all shareholders and the number and series of shares held by each shareholder.

SECTION 2. MAINTENANCE OF OTHER RECORDS. The accounting books and records and minutes of proceedings of the shareholders and the Board and any committee or committees of the Board shall be kept at such place or places designated by the Board or in the absence of such designation, at the principal executive office of the Trust. The minutes shall be kept in written form and the accounting books and records shall be kept either in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form.

ARTICLE X

M ISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 1. TERMINATION OF TRUST OR SERIES . Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust, and any Series thereof, shall continue without limitation of time. Except to the extent the 1940 Act expressly grants to Shareholders the power to vote on such termination(s), the Trust, or any Series thereof, may be dissolved and terminated at any time by the Board with written notice to the Shareholders. To the extent that the 1940 Act expressly grants to Shareholders the power to vote on such dissolution or termination(s), the Trust, or any Series thereof, may be dissolved and terminated by a vote of a majority of the Shares of the Trust voting in the aggregate, or a majority of the Shares of such Series, entitled to vote, respectively.

Upon dissolution of the Trust (or any Series, as the case may be), after paying or otherwise making reasonable provision for all charges, taxes, expenses, claims and liabilities of the Trust, or severally, with respect to each Series (or the applicable Series, as the case may be), whether due or accrued or anticipated as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall, in accordance with the Delaware Act and such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate, reduce the remaining assets held, severally, with respect to each Series (or the applicable Series, as the case may be), to distributable form in cash or shares or other securities, or any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds held with respect to each Series (or the applicable Series, as the case may be), to the Shareholders of that Series, as a Series, ratably according to the number of Shares of that Series held by the several Shareholders on the date of dissolution. Upon the completion of the winding up of the Trust in

 

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accordance with the Delaware Act and this Declaration of Trust, the Board shall cause the Certificate of Trust of the Trust to be canceled by filing a certificate of cancellation (which may be signed by one or more Trustees) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the provisions of Section 3810 of the Delaware Act and thereupon, the Trust and this Declaration of Trust (other than Article VII) shall terminate. The provisions of Article VII shall survive the termination of the Trust.

SECTION 2. MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION . The Board may cause (i) the Trust to be merged into or consolidated with, or to sell all or substantially all of its assets to, another trust or company; (ii) a Series of the Trust to be merged into or consolidated with, or to sell all or substantially all of its assets to, another Series of the Trust or another series of another trust or company; (iii) the Shares of a Class of a Series to be converted into another Class of the same Series; (iv) the Shares of the Trust or any Series to be converted into beneficial interests in another statutory trust (or series thereof); or (v) the Shares of the Trust or any Series to be exchanged for shares in another trust or company under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law.

Except to the extent the 1940 Act expressly grants Shareholders the power to vote on (i) – (v) above, the Board, with written notice to the Shareholders, may approve and effect any of the transactions contemplated under (i) – (v) above without any vote or other action of the shareholders. To the extent that the 1940 Act expressly grants to Shareholders the power to vote on such transaction(s), such transaction(s) may be approved by a vote of a majority of the Shares of the Trust entitled to vote and voting in the aggregate, with respect to (i) above, and a majority of the Shares of any such Series entitled to vote, with respect to (ii) – (v) above.

This Article X, Section 2 shall be interpreted to eliminate any right to vote on a merger, consolidation, sale of assets or conversion that might otherwise be conferred by Section 3815, Section 3821 or any other provision of the Delaware Act.

SECTION 3. FILING OF COPIES, REFERENCES, HEADINGS . The original or a copy of this Declaration of Trust and of each restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not any such restatements and/or amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this Declaration of Trust or of any such restatements and/or amendments. In this Declaration of Trust and in any such restatements and/or amendment, references to this Declaration of Trust, and all expressions like “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, shall be deemed to refer to this Declaration of Trust as amended or affected by any such restatements and/or amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this Declaration of Trust. Whenever the singular number is used herein, the same shall include the plural; and the neuter, masculine and feminine genders shall include each other, as applicable. This Declaration of Trust may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.

SECTION 4. APPLICABLE LAW . This Declaration of Trust is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. § 3801 et. seq. , as amended from time to time (the “Delaware Act”). The Trust shall be a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a statutory trust.

 

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SECTION 5. PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT WITH LAW OR REGULATIONS .

(a) The provisions of this Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the Board determines, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions are in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or with any other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision(s) shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Declaration of Trust; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of the Declaration of Trust or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.

(b) If any provision of the Declaration of Trust shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of the Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.

SECTION 6. STATUTORY TRUST ONLY . It is the intention of the Trustees to create a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act, and thereby to create only the relationship of trustee and beneficial owners within the meaning of the Delaware Act between the Trustees and each Shareholder. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association, corporation, bailment, or any form of legal relationship other than a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.

SECTION 7. FORUM SELECTION. Forum Selection. To the fullest extent permitted by law, including Section 3804(e) of the Delaware Act, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any shareholder (including a beneficial owner of shares) to bring derivatively or directly (i) any claim, suit, action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Trust, (ii) any claim, suit, action or proceeding asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any Trustee, officer or employee, if any, of the Trust to the Trust or the Trust’s shareholders, (iii) any claim, suit, action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Trust, its Trustees, officers or employees, if any, arising pursuant to any provision of Delaware statutory or common law, or any federal or state securities law, in each case as amended from time to time, or the Trust’s Trust Instrument or bylaws; or (iv) any claim, suit, action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Trust, its Trustees, officers or employees, if any, governed by the internal affairs doctrine. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any shareholder (including a beneficial owner of shares) (1) irrevocably agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such courts or any other court to which proceedings in such courts may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper, (2) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided, nothing in clause (2) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law, and (3) irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding. If

 

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any provision or provisions of this Section shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Section (including. without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Section containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 8. CHECKS, DRAFTS, EVIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS. All checks, drafts, or other orders for payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of or payable to the Trust shall be signed or endorsed in such manner and by such person or persons as shall be designated from time to time by the Board.

SECTION 9. CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS; HOW EXECUTED. The Board may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Trust and this authority may be general or confined to specific instances; and unless so authorized or ratified by the Board or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Trust by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

SECTION 10. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Trust and of each Series shall be fixed and refixed or changed from time to time by resolution of the Trustees.

ARTICLE XI

A MENDMENT

SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Because this Declaration of Trust does not confer any independent voting rights to Shareholders not expressly granted under Delaware law or the 1940 Act, this Declaration of Trust may be amended without Shareholder approval, and all Shareholders purchase Shares with notice that it may be so amended unless expressly required under Delaware law or the 1940 Act. The Trustees may, without any Shareholder vote, amend or otherwise supplement this Declaration of Trust by making an amendment, a trust instrument supplemental hereto or an amended and restated declaration of trust; provided, that Shareholders shall have the right to vote on any amendment if expressly required under Delaware law or the 1940 Act, or submitted to them by the Trustees in their discretion.

SECTION 2. COUNTERPARTS. This Declaration of Trust may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustees named below do hereby make and enter into this Third Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust as of the date first above-written.

 

/s/ Kathleen A. Blatz

   

/s/ Catherine James Paglia

Kathleen A. Blatz     Catherine James Paglia

/s/ Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.

   

/s/ Leroy C. Richie

Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.     Leroy C. Richie

/s/ Pamela G. Carlton

   

/s/ Anthony M. Santomero

Pamela G. Carlton     Anthony M. Santomero

/s/ William P. Carmichael

   

/s/ Minor M. Shaw

William P. Carmichael     Minor M. Shaw

/s/ Patricia M. Flynn

   

/s/ Alison Taunton-Rigby

Patricia M. Flynn     Alison Taunton-Rigby

/s/ William A. Hawkins

   

/s/ William F. Truscott

William A. Hawkins     William F. Truscott

/s/ R. Glenn Hilliard

   
R. Glenn Hilliard    

 

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Exhibit (4)

Agreement and Plan of Reorganization

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION dated as of December 17, 2015, is by and among each Target Company, as defined below, on behalf of each of its series that is a Target Fund, as defined below, each Acquiring Company, as defined below, on behalf of each of its series that is an Acquiring Fund, as defined below, and, for purposes of paragraphs 7.3 and 10.2 of this Agreement only, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (“ Columbia Threadneedle ”).

Each reorganization contemplated by this Agreement consists of the transfer of all assets attributable to each class of a Target Fund’s shares in exchange for Acquisition Shares (as defined in paragraph 1) of the corresponding class of shares of the corresponding Acquiring Fund, the Acquiring Fund’s assumption of all Obligations of the Target Fund and the distribution of the Acquisition Shares to the relevant Target Fund shareholders in liquidation of the Target Fund, all upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

To the extent this Agreement provides for multiple reorganizations, it is to be treated as if each reorganization between a Target Fund and its corresponding Acquiring Fund had been the subject of a separate agreement. Each Target Fund and each Target Company acting for itself and on behalf of the Target Fund, and each Acquiring Fund and each Acquiring Company acting for itself and on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, is acting separately from all of the other parties and their series, and not jointly or jointly and severally with any other party.

This Agreement covers the following two categories of reorganizations: (i) the “RIC Reorganizations” identified in Exhibit A, (ii) the “RIC-to-Partnership Reorganizations” identified in Exhibit B.

This Agreement is adopted as (i) with respect to the RIC Reorganizations, a plan of reorganization and liquidation within the meaning of Section 361(a) and Section 368(a) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and any successor provision and (ii) with respect to the Target Funds participating in the RIC-to-Partnership Reorganizations, a plan of liquidation within the meaning of Section 331 or Section 332 of the Code, as applicable.

The parties therefore agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS.

Acquiring Fund ” means each series of an Acquiring Company listed in the column entitled “Acquiring Fund” on Exhibits A or B.

Acquiring Fund Prospectus ” means, collectively, the prospectus(es) and statement(s) of additional information of an Acquiring Fund, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Acquiring Company ” means each entity listed in the column entitled “Acquiring Company” on Exhibits A or B.

Acquisition Shares ” means the shares of an Acquiring Fund to be issued to the corresponding Target Fund in a reorganization under this Agreement.

Closing ” means the time at which the transaction contemplated by paragraph 2.1 is consummated.

Closing Date ” means the date on which the Closing occurs.

Investments ” means a Target Fund’s investments that would be shown on its schedule of investments if such a schedule were prepared as of the close of business on the Valuation Date.

Liquidation Date ” means the date on which a Target Fund liquidates and distributes the Acquisition Shares to its shareholders of record pursuant to paragraph 2.1.

Obligations ” means all liabilities and obligations of a Target Fund of any kind whatsoever, whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise, in existence on the Closing Date.


Target Fund ” means each series of a Target Company listed in the column entitled “Target Fund” on Exhibits A or B.

Target Fund Prospectus ” means, collectively, the prospectus(es) or statement(s) of additional information of a Target Fund, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Target Company ” means each entity listed in the column entitled “Target Company” on Exhibits A or B.

Valuation Date ” means the business day preceding the Closing Date.

 

2. TRANSFER OF ASSETS OF EACH TARGET FUND IN EXCHANGE FOR ASSUMPTION OF OBLIGATIONS AND ACQUISITION SHARES AND LIQUIDATION OF SUCH TARGET FUND.

 

  2.1. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth and on the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein,

 

  (a) Each Target Fund will transfer and deliver to the corresponding Acquiring Fund all its assets, as set forth in paragraph 2.2;

 

  (b) Each Acquiring Fund will assume all Obligations; and

 

  (c) Each Acquiring Fund will issue and deliver to the corresponding Target Fund in exchange for the net assets attributable to each class of its shares a number of Acquisition Shares of the corresponding class (including fractional shares, if any) determined by dividing the value of such net assets, computed in the manner and as of the time and date set forth in paragraph 3.1, by the net asset value of one Acquisition Share of the corresponding class computed in the manner and as of the time and date set forth in paragraph 3.2. Such transactions shall take place at the Closing.

 

  2.2. The assets of each Target Fund to be acquired by the corresponding Acquiring Fund shall consist of all cash, securities, dividends and interest receivable, receivables for shares sold and all other assets that are owned by the Target Fund on the Closing Date, including any prepaid expenses, other than unamortized reorganizational expenses, shown as an asset on the books of the Target Fund on the Closing Date. Each Acquiring Fund agrees that all rights to indemnification and all limitations of liability existing in favor of the corresponding Target Fund’s current and former trustees or directors and officers, acting in their capacities as such shall survive the reorganization, and shall continue in full force and effect, without any amendment thereto. Each Acquiring Fund further agrees that such rights and limitations may be asserted against the Acquiring Fund, its successors or assigns.

 

  2.3. On the Liquidation Date, each Target Fund will liquidate and distribute pro rata to its shareholders of record of each class of its shares, determined as of the close of business on the Valuation Date, the Acquisition Shares of the corresponding class received by the Target Fund pursuant to paragraph 2.1. Such liquidation and distribution will be accomplished by the transfer of the Acquisition Shares then credited to the account of each Target Fund on the books of the corresponding Acquiring Fund to open accounts on the share records of the corresponding Acquiring Fund in the names of the Target Fund’s shareholders and representing the respective pro rata number of Acquisition Shares due such shareholders. The Acquiring Fund shall not be obligated to issue certificates representing Acquisition Shares in connection with such exchange.

 

  2.4. With respect to Acquisition Shares distributable pursuant to paragraph 2.3 to a Target Fund shareholder holding a certificate or certificates for shares of the Target Fund, if any, on the Valuation Date, the Target Fund will not permit such shareholder to receive Acquisition Share certificates therefor, to exchange such Acquisition Shares for shares of other investment companies, to effect an account transfer of such Acquisition Shares or to pledge or redeem such Acquisition Shares until such Target Fund shareholder has surrendered all his or her outstanding certificates for Target Fund shares or, in the event of lost certificates, posted adequate bond.

 

  2.5. As soon as practicable after the Closing Date, each Target Company, on behalf of each Target Fund, shall make all filings and take all other steps as shall be necessary and proper to effect the complete dissolution of each Target Fund under applicable state law. After the Closing Date, no Target Fund shall conduct any business except in connection with its dissolution, including compliance with the requirements of paragraph 2.4.

 

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3. VALUATION.

 

  3.1. The value of each Target Fund’s assets to be acquired by the corresponding Acquiring Fund hereunder shall be the value of such assets computed as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the Valuation Date using the valuation procedures set forth in the organizational documents of the corresponding Acquiring Fund and/or the Acquiring Fund Prospectus for determining net asset value, after deduction for any expenses of the reorganization contemplated hereby to be paid by the Target Fund, and shall be certified by the Target Fund.

 

  3.2. For the purpose of paragraph 3.1, the net asset value of an Acquisition Share of each class shall be the net asset value per share computed as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the Valuation Date, using the valuation procedures set forth in the organizational documents of the Acquiring Fund and/or the Acquiring Fund Prospectus for determining net asset value.

4. CLOSING AND CLOSING DATE.

 

  4.1. The Closing Date shall be on such date as the Acquiring Fund and Target Fund may agree. The Closing shall be held at Columbia Threadneedle’s offices, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (or such other place as the parties may agree), at such time as the parties may agree.

 

  4.2. On the Closing Date, each Target Fund’s assets, including all the Target Fund’s cash shall be delivered by the Target Fund to the Custodian for the account of the corresponding Acquiring Fund. All portfolio securities so delivered to be duly endorsed in proper form for transfer in such manner and condition as to constitute good delivery thereof in accordance with the custom of brokers or, in the case of portfolio securities held in the U.S. Treasury Department’s book-entry system or by the Depository Trust Company, Participants Trust Company or other third party depositories, by transfer to the account of the Custodian in accordance with Rule 17f-4, Rule 17f-5 or Rule 17f-7, as the case may be, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ 1940 Act ”) and accompanied by all necessary federal and state stock transfer stamps or a check for the appropriate purchase price thereof. The cash delivered shall be in the form of currency or certified or official bank checks, payable to the order of “[Custodian], custodian for [Acquiring Fund].”

 

  4.3. In the event that on the Valuation Date (a) the New York Stock Exchange shall be closed to trading or trading thereon shall be restricted, or (b) trading or the reporting of trading on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere shall be disrupted so that accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets of each Target Fund or the corresponding Acquiring Fund is impracticable, the Closing Date shall be postponed until the first business day after the day on which trading shall have been fully resumed and reporting shall have been restored; provided that if trading shall not be fully resumed and reporting restored within three business days of the Valuation Date, this Agreement may be terminated by either the Target Fund or the corresponding Acquiring Fund upon the giving of written notice to the other party.

 

  4.4. At the Closing, each Target Fund or its transfer agent shall deliver to the corresponding Acquiring Fund or its designated agent a list of the names and addresses of the Target Fund’s shareholders and the number of outstanding shares of each class of the Target Fund owned by each Target Fund shareholder, and indicating the number, if any, of such shares represented by an outstanding share certificate, all as of the close of business on the Valuation Date. On the Closing Date, the Acquiring Fund will provide to the Target Fund evidence satisfactory to the Target Fund that the Acquisition Shares issuable pursuant to paragraph 2.1 have been credited to the Target Fund’s account on the books of the Acquiring Fund. On the Liquidation Date, each Acquiring Fund will provide to the corresponding Target Fund evidence satisfactory to the Target Fund that such Acquisition Shares have been credited pro rata to open accounts in the names of the Target Fund’s shareholders as provided in paragraph 2.3.

 

  4.5. At the Closing, each party shall deliver to the other such bills of sale, instruments of assumption of Obligations, checks, assignments, stock certificates, receipts or other documents as such other party or its counsel may reasonably request in connection with the transfer of assets, assumption of liabilities and liquidation contemplated by paragraph 2.

 

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5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

 

  5.1. Each Target Fund represents and warrants the following to the corresponding Acquiring Fund as of the date hereof and agrees to confirm the continuing accuracy and completeness in all material respects of the following on the Closing Date:

 

  (a) The Target Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of organization;

 

  (b) The Target Company is a duly registered investment company classified as a management company of the open-end type and its registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect, and, as applicable, the Target Fund is a separate series thereof duly designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the organizational documents of the Target Company and the 1940 Act;

 

  (c) The Target Fund is not in violation in any material respect of any provision of its organizational documents or of any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which the Target Fund is a party or by which the Target Fund is bound, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result in any such violation;

 

  (d) The Target Fund has no material contracts or other commitments (other than this Agreement and such other contracts as may be entered into in the ordinary course of its business) that if terminated may result in material liability to the Target Fund or under which (whether or not terminated) any material payments for periods subsequent to the Closing Date will be due from the Target Fund;

 

  (e) To the knowledge of the Target Fund, except as has been disclosed in writing to the corresponding Acquiring Fund, no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or threatened as to the Target Fund, any of its properties or assets, or any person whom the Target Fund may be obligated to indemnify in connection with such litigation, proceeding or investigation, and the Target Fund is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body that materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;

 

  (f) The statement of assets and liabilities, the statement of operations, the statement of changes in net assets, and the schedule of investments of the Target Fund, as of the last day of and for its most recently completed fiscal year, audited by the Target Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm (and, if applicable, an unaudited statement of assets and liabilities, statement of operations, statement of changes in net assets and schedule of investments for any subsequent semiannual period following the most recently completed fiscal year), copies of which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or furnished to the corresponding Acquiring Fund, fairly reflect the financial condition and results of operations of the Target Fund as of such dates and for the periods then ended in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied. In addition, the Target Fund has no known liabilities of a material amount, contingent or otherwise, other than those shown on the statements of assets and liabilities referred to above or those incurred in the ordinary course of its business since the last day of the Target Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year;

 

  (g) Since the last day of the Target Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, there has not been any material adverse change in the Target Fund’s financial condition, assets, Obligations or business (other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business), or any incurrence by the Target Fund of indebtedness, except as disclosed in writing to the corresponding Acquiring Fund. For the purposes of this subparagraph (g), distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains, changes in portfolio securities, changes in the market value of portfolio securities or net redemptions shall be deemed to be in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (h) The Target Fund has met the requirements of subchapter M of the Code for treatment as a “regulated investment company” within the meaning of Sections 851 and 852 of the Code in respect of each taxable year since the commencement of its operations, and will continue to meet such requirements at all times through the Closing Date;

 

 

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  (i) In the case of each Target Fund that serves as a funding vehicle for variable annuity and/or variable life insurance contracts, for all taxable years and all applicable quarters of the Target Fund since the commencement of its operations, the assets of the Target Fund have been sufficiently diversified that each segregated asset account investing all its assets in the Target Fund was adequately diversified within the meaning of Section 817(h) of the Code and applicable regulations thereunder;

 

  (j) Except as otherwise disclosed to the Acquiring Fund, as of the Closing Date: (i) the Target Fund shall have duly and timely filed all federal, state and other tax returns and reports of the Target Fund (including, but not limited to, information returns) required by law to have been filed by such date (giving effect to extensions), and all federal, state and other taxes shown to be due on such returns and reports or on any assessment received shall have been paid, or provisions shall have been made for the payment thereof; (ii) all such returns and reports are accurate and complete as of the time of their filing, and accurately state the amount of tax (if any) owed for the periods covered by the returns, or, in the case of information returns, the amount and character of income or other information required to be reported by the Target Fund; (iii) all of the Target Fund’s tax liabilities will have been adequately provided for on its books; and (iv) the Target Fund will have had no known tax deficiency or liability asserted against it or question with respect thereto raised by the Internal Revenue Service or by any state or local tax authority, and the Target Fund will not be under audit by the Internal Revenue Service or by any state or local tax authority for taxes in excess of those already paid;

 

  (k) All issued and outstanding shares of the Target Fund are, and at the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable (except as set forth in the most recent Target Fund Prospectus by the applicable Target Company) and will have been issued in compliance with all applicable registration or qualification requirements of federal and state securities laws. No options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase, or securities convertible into, any shares of the Target Fund are outstanding and none will be outstanding on the Closing Date;

 

  (l) The Target Fund’s investment operations from inception to the date hereof have been in compliance in all material respects with the investment policies and investment restrictions set forth in the Target Fund Prospectus, except as previously disclosed in writing to the corresponding Acquiring Fund;

 

  (m) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement has been duly authorized by the directors or trustees, as applicable, of the Target Fund, and, upon approval thereof by the required majority of the shareholders of the Target Fund, this Agreement will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Target Fund enforceable in accordance with its terms except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and other equitable principles;

 

  (n) The Acquisition Shares to be issued to the Target Fund pursuant to paragraph 2 will not be acquired for the purpose of making any distribution thereof other than to the Target Fund’s shareholders as provided in paragraph 2.3;

 

  (o) The information provided by the Target Fund for use in the Registration Statement and Prospectus/Proxy Statement referred to in paragraph 6.3, if any, shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply with federal securities and other laws and regulations as applicable thereto;

 

  (p) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Target Fund of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as may be required under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”), the 1940 Act and state securities or “Blue Sky” laws (which terms used herein shall include the laws of the District of Columbia and of Puerto Rico);

 

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  (q) On the Closing Date, the Target Fund will have good and marketable title to its assets to be transferred to the corresponding Acquiring Fund pursuant to paragraph 2.1 and will have full right, power and authority to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Investments and any other of its assets and Obligations to be transferred to the corresponding Acquiring Fund pursuant to this Agreement. At the Closing Date, subject only to the delivery of the Investments and any such other assets and Obligations and payment therefor as contemplated by this Agreement, the corresponding Acquiring Fund will acquire good and marketable title thereto and will acquire the Investments and any such other assets and Obligations subject to no encumbrances, liens or security interests whatsoever and without any restrictions upon the transfer thereof, except as previously disclosed to the corresponding Acquiring Fund;

 

  (r) On the Closing Date, the Target Fund will have sold such of its assets, if any, as are necessary based on information provided by the corresponding Acquiring Fund and contingent on the accuracy of such information to assure that, after giving effect to the acquisition of the assets of the Target Fund pursuant to this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund, if classified as a “diversified company” within the meaning of Section 5(b)(1) of the 1940 Act, will remain a “diversified company” and in compliance in all material respects with such other investment restrictions as are set forth in the Acquiring Fund Prospectus, as amended through the Closing Date; and

 

  (s) No registration of any of the Investments would be required if they were, as of the time of such transfer, the subject of a public distribution by either of the Target Fund or the corresponding Acquiring Fund, except as previously disclosed by the Target Fund to the corresponding Acquiring Fund.

 

  5.2. Each Acquiring Fund represents and warrants the following to the corresponding Target Fund as of the date hereof and agrees to confirm the continuing accuracy and completeness in all material respects of the following on the Closing Date:

 

  (a) The Acquiring Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of organization;

 

  (b) The Acquiring Company is a duly registered investment company classified as a management company of the open-end type and its registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect, and the Acquiring Fund, as applicable, is a separate series thereof duly designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the organizational documents of the Acquiring Company and the 1940 Act;

 

  (c) On the Closing Date, the registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to the Acquisition Shares will, as of the Closing Date, be in full force and effect and no stop order suspending such effectiveness shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Acquiring Fund, threatened by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and such registration statement will conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder and does not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and there are no material contracts to which the Acquiring Fund is a party that are not referred to in the Acquiring Fund Prospectus or in the registration statement of which it is a part;

 

  (d) On the Closing Date, the Acquiring Fund will have good and marketable title to its assets;

 

  (e) The Acquiring Fund is not in violation in any material respect of any provisions of its organizational documents or of any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which the Acquiring Fund is bound, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result in any such violation;

 

  (f)

To the knowledge of the Acquiring Fund, except as has been disclosed in writing to the corresponding Target Fund, no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or threatened as to the Acquiring Fund, any of its properties or

 

6


  assets, or any person whom the Acquiring Fund may be obligated to indemnify in connection with such litigation, proceeding or investigation, and the Acquiring Fund is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body that materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;

 

  (g) The statement of assets and liabilities, the statement of operations, the statement of changes in net assets, and the schedule of investments of the Acquiring Fund, as of the last day of and for its most recently completed fiscal year, audited by the Acquiring Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm (and, if applicable, an unaudited statement of assets and liabilities, statement of operations, statement of changes in net assets and schedule of investments for any subsequent semiannual period following the most recently completed fiscal year), copies of which have been furnished to the Target Fund, fairly reflect the financial condition and results of operations of the Acquiring Fund as of such dates and for the periods then ended in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied. In addition, the Acquiring Fund has no known liabilities of a material amount, contingent or otherwise, other than those shown on the statements of assets and liabilities referred to above or those incurred in the ordinary course of its business since the last day of the Acquiring Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year;

 

  (h) Since the last day of the Acquiring Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, there has not been any material adverse change in the Acquiring Fund’s financial condition, assets, Obligations or business (other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business), or any incurrence by the Acquiring Fund of indebtedness, except as disclosed in writing to the Target Fund. For the purposes of this subparagraph (h), any distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains, changes in portfolio securities, changes in the market value of portfolio securities or net redemptions shall be deemed to be in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (i) In the case of each Acquiring Fund identified in Exhibit A hereto, the Acquiring Fund has met the requirements of subchapter M of the Code for treatment as a “regulated investment company” within the meaning of Sections 851 and 852 of the Code in respect of each taxable year since the commencement of operations, and will continue to meet such requirements at all times through the Closing Date;

 

  (j) In the case of each Acquiring Fund identified in Exhibit B hereto, the Acquiring Fund has been classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes in respect of each taxable year since the commencement of its operations, and will continue to be classified as a partnership through the Closing Date;

 

  (k) In the case of each Acquiring Fund that serves as a funding vehicle for variable annuity and/or variable life insurance contracts, for all taxable years and all applicable quarters of the Acquiring Fund since the commencement of its operations, the assets of the Acquiring Fund have been sufficiently diversified that each segregated asset account investing all its assets in the Acquiring Fund was adequately diversified within the meaning of Section 817(h) of the Code and applicable regulations thereunder;

 

  (l) Except as otherwise disclosed to the Target Fund, as of the Closing Date: (i) the Acquiring Fund shall have duly and timely filed all federal, state and other tax returns and reports of the Acquiring Fund (including, but not limited to, information returns) required by law to have been filed by such date (giving effect to extensions) and all federal, state and other taxes shown to be due on such returns and reports or any assessments received shall have been paid, or provisions shall have been made for the payment thereof; (ii) all such returns and reports are accurate and complete as of the time of their filing, and accurately state the amount of tax (if any) owed for the periods covered by the returns, or, in the case of information returns, the amount and character of income or other information required to be reported by the Acquiring Fund; (iii) all of the Acquiring Fund’s tax liabilities will have been adequately provided for on its books; and (iv) the Acquiring Fund will have had no known tax deficiency or liability asserted against it or question with respect thereto raised by the Internal Revenue Service or by any state or local tax authority, and the Acquiring Fund will not be under audit by the Internal Revenue Service or by any state or local tax authority for taxes in excess of those already paid;

 

  (m)

All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquiring Fund are, and at the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable (except as set forth in the Acquiring Fund

 

7


  Prospectus) by the Acquiring Fund and will have been issued in compliance with all applicable registration or qualification requirements of federal and state securities laws. No options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase, or securities convertible into, any shares of common stock of the Acquiring Fund are outstanding and none will be outstanding on the Closing Date;

 

  (n) The Acquiring Fund’s investment operations from inception to the date hereof have been in compliance in all material respects with the investment policies and investment restrictions set forth in the Acquiring Fund Prospectus;

 

  (o) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Acquiring Fund, and this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Acquiring Fund enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and other equitable principles;

 

  (p) The Acquisition Shares to be issued and delivered to the corresponding Target Fund pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will at the Closing Date have been duly authorized and, when so issued and delivered, will be duly and validly issued shares in the Acquiring Fund, and will be fully paid and non-assessable (except as set forth in the Acquiring Fund Prospectus) by the Acquiring Fund, and no shareholder of the Acquiring Fund will have any preemptive right of subscription or purchase in respect thereof;

 

  (q) The information provided by the Acquiring Fund for use in the Registration Statement and Prospectus/Proxy Statement referred to in paragraph 6.3, if any, shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply with federal securities and other laws and regulations applicable thereto; and

 

  (r) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Acquiring Fund of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act and state securities or “Blue Sky” laws (which term as used herein shall include the laws of the District of Columbia and of Puerto Rico).

6. COVENANTS OF EACH TARGET FUND AND THE CORRESPONDING ACQUIRING FUND.

Each Target Fund and the corresponding Acquiring Fund hereby covenants and agrees with the other as follows:

 

  6.1. Each Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund will each operate its business in the ordinary course between the date hereof and the Closing Date, it being understood that such ordinary course of business will include regular and customary periodic dividends and distributions.

 

  6.2. Each Target Fund for which shareholder approval of the transactions contemplated hereby is required under the 1940 Act, by applicable state law or the Target Company’s charter will call a meeting of its shareholders to be held prior to the Closing Date to consider and act upon this Agreement and take all other reasonable action necessary to obtain the required shareholder approval of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

  6.3. In connection with each Target Fund shareholders’ meeting referred to in paragraph 6.2, if any, the corresponding Acquiring Fund will prepare a Prospectus/Proxy Statement for such meeting, to be included in a Registration Statement on Form N-14 (the “ Registration Statement ”), which the corresponding Acquiring Fund will prepare and file for registration under the 1933 Act of the Acquisition Shares to be distributed to the Target Fund’s shareholders pursuant hereto, all in compliance with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 1940 Act.

 

  6.4. The information to be furnished by each Target Fund for use in the Registration Statement, if any, and the information to be furnished by the corresponding Acquiring Fund for use in the Prospectus/Proxy Statement, if any, each as referred to in paragraph 6.3, shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply with federal securities and other laws and regulations thereunder applicable thereto.

 

8


  6.5. Each Acquiring Fund will advise the corresponding Target Fund promptly if at any time prior to the Closing Date the assets of such Target Fund include any securities that the Acquiring Fund is not permitted to acquire.

 

  6.6. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Target Fund and the corresponding Acquiring Fund will each take, or cause to be taken, all action, and do or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to cause the conditions to the other party’s obligations to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby to be met or fulfilled and otherwise to consummate and make effective such transactions.

 

  6.7. Each Acquiring Fund will use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and such of the state securities or “Blue Sky” laws as it may deem appropriate in order to continue its operations after the Closing Date.

7. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH TARGET FUND.

The obligation of each Target Fund to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the corresponding Acquiring Fund of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, to the following further conditions:

 

  7.1. The corresponding Acquiring Fund shall have delivered to the Target Fund a certificate executed in its name by its President or a Vice President and its Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Target Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of the corresponding Acquiring Fund made in this Agreement are true and correct at and as of the Closing Date, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that the corresponding Acquiring Fund has complied with all the covenants and agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

  7.2. The Target Fund shall have received a favorable opinion of counsel to the corresponding Acquiring Fund, dated the Closing Date and in a form satisfactory to the Target Fund, to the following effect:

 

  (a) The Acquiring Company is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its state of organization and has power to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted, and, as applicable, the Acquiring Fund is a separate series thereof duly constituted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the organizational documents of the Acquiring Company;

 

  (b) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the corresponding Acquiring Fund and, assuming the Registration Statement and Prospectus/Proxy Statement referred to in paragraph 6.3, if any, comply with applicable federal securities laws and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Target Fund, is the valid and binding obligation of the corresponding Acquiring Fund enforceable against the corresponding Acquiring Fund in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and other equitable principles;

 

  (c) The corresponding Acquiring Fund has the power to assume the Obligations to be assumed by it hereunder and, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the corresponding Acquiring Fund will have duly assumed such Obligations;

 

  (d) The Acquisition Shares to be issued for transfer to the Target Fund’s shareholders as provided by this Agreement are duly authorized and upon such transfer and delivery will be validly issued and outstanding and, assuming receipt by the Acquiring Fund of the consideration contemplated hereby, fully paid and nonassessable shares in the corresponding Acquiring Fund, and no shareholder of the corresponding Acquiring Fund has any preemptive right of subscription or purchase in respect thereof; and

 

  (e) The execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and the performance by the corresponding Acquiring Fund of its obligations hereunder will not, violate the corresponding Acquiring Fund’s organizational documents.

 

  7.3. For the period beginning at the Closing Date and ending not less than six years thereafter, Columbia Threadneedle, its successors and assigns, shall provide, or cause to be provided, liability coverage at least comparable in scope and amount to the liability coverage currently applicable to any former and/or current trustees/directors and officers of the Target Funds as of the date of this Agreement, covering the actions of such trustees/directors and officers of the Target Funds for the period(s) they served as such. Any related costs or expenses for the provision of liability coverage pursuant to this paragraph shall be allocated based on paragraph 10.2.

 

9


8. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH ACQUIRING FUND.

The obligations of each Acquiring Fund to complete the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the corresponding Target Fund of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, to the following further conditions:

 

  8.1. The corresponding Target Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a certificate executed in its name by its President or a Vice President and its Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of the corresponding Target Fund made in this Agreement are true and correct at and as of the Closing Date, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that the corresponding Target Fund has complied with all the covenants and agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

  8.2. The Acquiring Fund shall have received a favorable opinion of counsel to the corresponding Target Fund dated the Closing Date and in a form satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund, to the following effect:

 

  (a) The Target Company is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its state of organization and has power to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted, and the corresponding Target Fund, as applicable, is a separate series thereof duly constituted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the organizational documents of the Target Company;

 

  (b) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the corresponding Target Fund and, assuming the Registration Statement and Prospectus/Proxy Statement referred to in paragraph 6.3, if any, comply with applicable federal securities laws and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Acquiring Fund, is the valid and binding obligation of the corresponding Target Fund enforceable against the corresponding Target Fund in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and other equitable principles;

 

  (c) The corresponding Target Fund has the power to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the assets to be transferred by it hereunder, and, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the corresponding Target Fund will have duly transferred such assets to the Acquiring Fund; and

 

  (d) The execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and the performance by the corresponding Target Fund of its obligations hereunder will not, violate the corresponding Target Fund’s organizational documents.

 

  8.3. On or prior to the Closing Date, the corresponding Target Fund shall have declared a dividend or dividends that, together with all previous dividends, shall have the effect of distributing, in distributions qualifying for the dividends paid deduction, (i) all of the excess of (a) the corresponding Target Fund’s interest income excludable from gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code over (b) the corresponding Target Fund’s deductions disallowed under Sections 265 or 171(a)(2) of the Code, (ii) all of the corresponding Target Fund’s investment company taxable income as defined in Section 852 of the Code and (iii) all of the corresponding Target Fund’s net capital gain realized (after reduction for any capital loss carryover); the amounts in (i), (ii) and (iii) shall in each case be computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and shall include amounts in respect of both (x) the corresponding Target Fund’s taxable year that will end on the Closing Date, and (y) any prior taxable year of the corresponding Target Fund, to the extent such dividend or dividends are eligible to be treated as paid during such prior year under Section 855(a) of the Code.

 

  8.4. The corresponding Target Fund shall have furnished to the Acquiring Fund a certificate signed by an officer of the Target Fund as to the adjusted tax basis in the hands of the corresponding Target Fund of the securities delivered to the Acquiring Fund pursuant to this Agreement, and shall have delivered a copy of the tax books and records of the Target Fund, including but not limited to information necessary for purposes of preparing any tax returns, reports and information returns required by law to be filed by the Acquiring Fund after the Closing Date.

 

10


9. FURTHER CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH TARGET FUND AND THE CORRESPONDING ACQUIRING FUND.

The respective obligations of each Target Fund and the corresponding Acquiring Fund hereunder are subject to the further conditions that on or before the Closing Date:

 

  9.1. This Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein shall have received all necessary shareholder approvals at the meeting of shareholders of each Target Fund referred to in paragraph 6.2, if any.

 

  9.2. On the Closing Date, no action, suit or other proceeding shall be pending before any court or governmental agency in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit, or obtain damages or other relief in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

  9.3. All consents of other parties and all other consents, orders and permits of federal, state and local regulatory authorities (including those of the Securities and Exchange Commission and of state “Blue Sky” and securities authorities) deemed necessary by the Target Fund or the corresponding Acquiring Fund to permit consummation, in all material respects, of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained, except when failure to obtain any such consent, order or permit would not involve a risk of a material adverse effect on the assets or properties of the Target Fund or the corresponding Acquiring Fund.

 

  9.4. The Registration Statement, if any, shall have become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and, to the best knowledge of the parties hereto, no investigation or proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, threatened or contemplated under the 1933 Act.

 

  9.5. With respect to each RIC Reorganization, the Target Fund and the corresponding Acquiring Fund shall have received a favorable opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP satisfactory to each of them (which opinion will be subject to certain qualifications), substantially to the effect that, on the basis of existing provisions of the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, current administrative rules and court decisions, as further described below, generally for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

  (a) The transaction contemplated by this Agreement will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the Code, and the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund will each be a “party to a reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code;

 

  (b) Under Sections 361 and 357 of the Code, the Target Fund will not recognize gain or loss upon (i) the transfer of all its assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for Acquisition Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all the liabilities of the Target Fund or (ii) the distribution of the Acquisition Shares by the Target Fund to its shareholders in liquidation, except for (A) any gain or loss recognized on (1) “Section 1256 contracts” as defined in Section 1256(b) of the Code or (2) stock in a “passive foreign investment company” as defined in Section 1297(a) of the Code, and (B) any other gain or loss required to be recognized by reason of the reorganization (1) as a result of the closing of the tax year of Target Fund, (2) upon the termination of a position, or (3) upon the transfer of such asset regardless of whether such a transfer would otherwise be a nontaxable transaction under the Code;

 

11


  (c) Under Section 1032 of the Code, the Acquiring Fund will not recognize gain or loss upon receipt of the assets of the Target Fund in exchange for the Acquisition Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all liabilities and obligations of the Target Fund;

 

  (d) Under Section 362(b) of the Code, the Acquiring Fund’s tax basis in the assets of the Target Fund transferred to the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the Target Fund’s tax basis of such assets immediately prior to the transfer, adjusted for any gain or loss required to be recognized as described in (b) above;

 

  (e) Under Section 1223(2) of the Code, the Acquiring Fund’s holding periods for the assets it receives from the Target Fund, other than certain assets with respect to which gain or loss is required to be recognized as described in (b) above, will include the periods during which such assets were held or treated for federal income tax purposes as being held by the Target Fund;

 

  (f) Under Section 354 of the Code, the Target Fund’s shareholders will not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of all of their shares of the Target Fund for the Acquisition Shares;

 

  (g) Under Section 358 of the Code, the aggregate tax basis of Acquisition Shares received by a shareholder of the Target Fund will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the Target Fund shares exchanged therefor;

 

  (h) Under Section 1223(1) of the Code, a Target Fund shareholder’s holding period for the Acquisition Shares received will include the shareholder’s holding period for the Target Fund shares exchanged therefor, provided the shareholder held such Target Fund shares as capital assets on the date of the exchange; and

 

  (i) The Acquiring Fund will succeed to and take into account the items of the Target Fund described in Section 381(c) of the Code, subject to the conditions and limitations specified in Sections 381, 382, 383 and 384 of the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder.

The opinion will be based on certain factual certifications made by officers of the Target Fund and the corresponding Acquiring Fund, and will also be based on customary assumptions. The opinion will note and distinguish certain published precedent. The opinion is not a guarantee that the tax consequences of the reorganization will be as described above. There is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service or a court would agree with the opinion.

 

  9.6. With respect to each RIC-to-Partnership Reorganization, the Target Fund and the corresponding Acquiring Fund shall have received a favorable opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP satisfactory to each of them (which opinion will be subject to certain qualifications), substantially to the effect that, on the basis of existing provisions of the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, current administrative rules and court decisions, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

  (a) Under Section 723 of the Code, the Acquiring Fund’s tax basis in the assets of the Target Fund transferred to the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the Target Fund’s tax basis in such assets immediately prior to the reorganization, except in the case of assets with respect to which Selling Fund recognizes gain or loss upon the contribution of such assets to the Buying Fund;

 

  (b) Under Section 1223(2) of the Code, the Acquiring Fund’s holding periods in the assets received from the Target Fund, other than certain assets with respect to which gain or loss is recognized by the Selling Fund as described in (a) above, will include the Target Fund’s holding periods in such assets; and

 

  (c) Under Sections 852(b) and 561(a) of the Code, the Target Fund’s distribution of the Acquisition Shares will eliminate the tax liability of the Target Fund with respect to any gain recognized upon the distribution of the Acquisition Shares to the shareholders of the Target Fund.

 

12


The opinion will not address the tax consequences of the RIC-to-Partnership Reorganizations to the Target Fund shareholders.

The opinion will be based on certain factual certifications made by officers of the Target Fund and the corresponding Acquiring Fund, and will also be based on customary assumptions. The opinion is not a guarantee that the tax consequences of the reorganization will be as described above. There is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service or a court would agree with the opinion.

 

  9.7 At any time prior to the Closing, any of the foregoing conditions of this Agreement may be waived jointly by the board of trustees/directors of each of the Target Fund and the corresponding Acquiring Fund, if, in their judgment, such waiver will not have a material adverse effect on the interests of the shareholders of the Target Fund or the corresponding Acquiring Fund.

10. BROKERAGE FEES AND EXPENSES.

 

  10.1. Each Target Fund and corresponding Acquiring Fund represents and warrants to the other that there are no brokers or finders entitled to receive any payments in connection with the transactions provided for herein.

 

  10.2. All fees paid to governmental authorities for the registration or qualification of the Acquisition Shares and all transfer agency costs related to the Acquisition Shares shall be allocated to the corresponding Acquiring Fund. All fees and expenses related to printing and mailing communications to Target Fund shareholders shall be allocated to the Target Fund. All of the other expenses of the transactions, including without limitation, accounting, legal and custodial expenses, contemplated by this Agreement shall be allocated equally between the Target Fund and the corresponding Acquiring Fund. The expenses detailed above shall be borne by the Fund to which they are allocated; except that Columbia Threadneedle shall bear such expenses to the extent such expenses exceed the anticipated reduction in expenses borne by the Fund’s shareholders over the first year following the reorganization. In addition, Columbia Threadneedle shall bear (a) all expenses allocated to Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II, and (b) at least 50 percent of all expenses allocated to Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV, Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund II and Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund III. In the event the Closing does not occur, Columbia Threadneedle shall bear all such expenses.

11. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES.

 

  11.1. Each Target Fund and corresponding Acquiring Fund agrees that neither party has made any representation, warranty or covenant not set forth herein and that this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties.

 

  11.2. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall not survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder except paragraphs 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 6.4, 6.6, 7.3, 10, 11, 14 and 15.

12. TERMINATION.

 

  12.1. This Agreement may be terminated by the mutual agreement of each Target Fund and corresponding Acquiring Fund. In addition, either a Target Fund or the corresponding Acquiring Fund may at its option terminate this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date because:

 

  (a) of a material breach by the other of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein to be performed by the other party at or prior to the Closing Date;

 

13


  (b) a condition herein expressed to be precedent to the obligations of the terminating party has not been met and it reasonably appears that it will not or cannot be met; or

 

  (c) any governmental authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued any judgment, injunction, order, ruling or decree or taken any other action restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated herein and such judgment, injunction, order, ruling, decree or other action becomes final and non-appealable; provided that the party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this paragraph 12.1(c) shall have used its reasonable best efforts to have such judgment, injunction, order, ruling, decree or other action lifted, vacated or denied.

If any transaction contemplated by this Agreement has not been substantially completed by the first anniversary of this Agreement, this Agreement shall automatically terminate on that date with respect to that transaction, unless a later date is agreed to by both the Target Fund and the corresponding Acquiring Fund.

 

  12.2. If for any reason any transaction contemplated by this Agreement is not consummated, no party shall be liable to any other party for any damages resulting therefrom, including without limitation consequential damages.

13. AMENDMENTS.

This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the authorized officers of each Target Fund and corresponding Acquiring Fund; provided, however, that no amendment that under applicable law requires approval by shareholders of a Target Fund or an Acquiring Fund, as applicable, shall be effective without such approval having been obtained.

14. NOTICES.

Any notice, report, statement or demand required or permitted by any provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by prepaid telegraph, telecopy or certified mail addressed to the Target Fund or the corresponding Acquiring Fund, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, Attention: Secretary.

15. HEADINGS; COUNTERPARTS; GOVERNING LAW; ASSIGNMENT; NON- RECOURSE.

 

  15.1. The article and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

  15.2. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.

 

  15.3. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic substantive laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to any choice or conflicts of law rule or provision that would result in the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

  15.4. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, but no assignment or transfer hereof or of any rights or obligations hereunder shall be made by any party without the written consent of the other party. Nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

  15.5. For an Acquiring Company or Target Company that is a Massachusetts business trust only: A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Acquiring Company or the Target Company is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that no trustee, officer, agent or employee of the Acquiring Company or the Target Company shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that insofar as it relates to any Acquiring Fund or Target Fund, this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and properties of such Acquiring Fund or Target Fund.

THE REST OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK.

 

14


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed as set forth below.

 

      Columbia Funds Series Trust
      Columbia Funds Series Trust I
      Columbia Funds Series Trust II
      Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I
      On behalf of each Target Fund thereof identified on Exhibits A and/or B
Attested by:      

/s/ Ryan C. Larrenaga

     
Name:   Ryan C. Larrenaga     By:  

/s/ Christopher O. Petersen

      Name:   Christopher O. Petersen
      Title:   President & Principal Executive Officer
      Columbia Funds Series Trust
      Columbia Funds Series Trust I
      Columbia Funds Series Trust II
      Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II
      On behalf of each Acquiring Fund thereof identified on Exhibit A and/or B
Attested by:      

/s/ Ryan C. Larrenaga

     
Name:   Ryan C. Larrenaga     By:  

/s/ Christopher O. Petersen

      Name:   Christopher O. Petersen
      Title:   President & Principal Executive Officer
      Solely for purposes of Paragraphs 7.3 and 10.2 of the Agreement
      Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Attested by:      

/s/ Ryan C. Larrenaga

     
Name:   Ryan C. Larrenaga     By:  

/s/ William F. Truscott

      Name:   William F. Truscott
      Title:   President

 

15


EXHIBIT A – RIC REORGANIZATIONS

 

Target Company

  

Target Fund

  

Acquiring Company

  

Acquiring Fund

Columbia Funds Series Trust I    Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund    Columbia Funds Series Trust I    Columbia Contrarian Core Fund
Columbia Funds Series Trust    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II    Columbia Funds Series Trust I    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund
Columbia Funds Series Trust    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III      
Columbia Funds Series Trust II    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV      
Columbia Funds Series Trust    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V      
Columbia Funds Series Trust II    Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund    Columbia Funds Series Trust II    Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund
Columbia Funds Series Trust    Columbia International Value Fund    Columbia Funds Series Trust    Columbia Overseas Value Fund
Columbia Funds Series Trust    Columbia International Opportunities Fund    Columbia Funds Series Trust    Columbia Select International Equity Fund
Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I    Columbia Variable Portfolio - International Opportunities Fund    Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II    Columbia Variable Portfolio - Select International Equity Fund

Share Class Mapping

 

Target Fund Share Class

  

Acquiring Fund Share Class

Class A    Class A
Class B    Class B
Class C    Class C
Class I    Class I
Class K    Class K
Class R    Class R
Class R4    Class R4
Class R5    Class R5
Class W    Class W
Class Y    Class Y
Class Z    Class Z
Class 1    Class 1
Class 2    Class 2

 

16


EXHIBIT B - RIC-TO-PARTNERSHIP REORGANIZATIONS

 

Target Company

  

Target Fund

  

Acquiring Company

  

Acquiring Fund

Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I    Columbia Variable Portfolio - Large Cap Growth Fund II    Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II    Columbia Variable Portfolio - Large Cap Growth Fund
Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I    Columbia Variable Portfolio - Large Cap Growth Fund III      
Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I    Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund II    Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II    Variable Portfolio - Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

Share Class Mapping

 

Target Fund Share Class

  

Acquiring Fund Share Class

Class 1    Class 1
Class 2    Class 2

 

17

LOGO   

Goodwin Procter LLP Counselors at Law

901 New York Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20001

     

T: 202.346.4000

F: 202.346.4444 GoodwinProcter.com

December 22, 2015

Columbia Funds Series Trust

225 Franklin Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

 

  Re: Columbia Funds Series Trust

Registration Statement on Form N-14

File Nos. 333-             and 811-09645

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As counsel to Columbia Funds Series Trust (the “Trust”), an unincorporated association under Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code (the “Delaware Statutory Trust Law”), commonly referred to as a “Delaware statutory trust,” we have been asked to render our opinion with respect to the issuance of shares of beneficial interest (the “Shares”), each Share representing an interest in Columbia Select International Equity Fund and Columbia Overseas Value Fund (each, a “Fund”), each a series of the Trust, as more fully described in the prospectuses and statement of additional information contained in the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (the “Registration Statement”).

We have reviewed such documents and made such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate to give the opinion expressed below. We have relied, without independent verification, on a certificate of the Delaware Secretary of State and a certificate and other inquiries of officers of the Trust. We also have assumed that: (i) the Shares of each Fund will be issued and sold at a price per share of not less than the net asset value thereof and that such issuance or sale will be made substantially in conformity with and subject to all of the provisions, terms and conditions set forth in the Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented from time to time, and (ii) ownership of all Shares of each Fund will be duly recorded in the books of the Trust or its transfer or similar agent. The opinion expressed below is limited to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, as amended, 12 Del. C. §§ 3801-3863.

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued and sold, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust.


LOGO

Columbia Funds Series Trust

December 22, 2015

Page 2

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Goodwin Procter LLP
GOODWIN PROCTER LLP

 

Exhibit (13)(b)(ii)

SCHEDULE A

Effective October 1, 2015

Columbia Funds Series Trust

Columbia AMT-Free California Intermediate Muni Bond Fund

Columbia AMT-Free Georgia Intermediate Muni Bond Fund

Columbia AMT-Free Maryland Intermediate Muni Bond Fund

Columbia AMT-Free North Carolina Intermediate Muni Bond Fund

Columbia AMT-Free South Carolina Intermediate Muni Bond Fund

Columbia AMT-Free Virginia Intermediate Muni Bond Fund

Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio

Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio

Columbia Convertible Securities Fund

Columbia Global Strategic Equity Fund

Columbia International Value Fund

Columbia International Opportunities Fund

Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund

Columbia Large Cap Index Fund

Columbia Marsico 21st Century Fund

Columbia Marsico Focused Equities Fund

Columbia Marsico Global Fund

Columbia Marsico Growth Fund

Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund

Columbia Mid Cap Value Fund

Columbia Overseas Value Fund

Columbia Select International Equity Fund

Columbia Select Large Cap Equity Fund

Columbia Short Term Bond Fund

Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund

Columbia Small Cap Index Fund

Columbia Small Cap Value Fund II


SCHEDULE B

Effective October 1, 2015

Payments under the Agreement are payable to CMISC monthly.

Transfer agency costs are calculated separately for each of (i) Class Y shares, (ii) Class K and R5 shares, and (iii) all other classes of shares (except Class I, which pay no transfer agency fees).

Each Fund shall pay to CMISC for the services to be provided by CMISC under the Agreement an amount equal to the sum of the following:

 

  (a) i) Base transfer agency fee paid monthly of:

1. an annual fee of $36.10 per account for accounts established directly with the Fund (direct accounts)*;

2. an annual fee of $8.50 per account for accounts established or maintained pursuant to the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s networking system (network accounts)*;

3. an annual rate of 0.0125% of the average daily value of accounts of intermediaries established with the Fund through CMISC that represents the combined holdings of, and transactions in, Fund shares of one or more clients of the intermediary (omnibus accounts)*;

 

* excluding Class I share accounts

PLUS

ii) The Fund’s Allocated Share of CMISC Reimbursable Out-of-Pocket Expenses (allocated among the Fund’s classes (other than Class I shares) based on the number of open accounts); PLUS

iii) Sub-transfer agency fees (generally intended to offset amounts paid by CMISC to intermediaries for services they provide) EITHER

1. (for all classes other than Class I, K, R5 or Y) for each position held in an omnibus account (i) for which American Enterprise Investment Services, Inc. is the broker of record or with respect to which the beneficial shareholder is a customer of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., at the rate of $16 per annum, calculated monthly based on the total number of positions in such account at the end of such month; and (ii) for all other accounts, at an annual rate of up to 0.20% of the average aggregate value of the fund’s shares maintained in each such omnibus account; OR

2. (for Class K and Class R5 shares) at an annual rate of 0.05% of the average aggregate value of the fund’s shares maintained in omnibus accounts.

 

  (b) For Class K and Class R5 shares the maximum annual rate for the fees set forth in paragraphs (a)(i) – (a)(iii)(2) shall be 0.05%.


In addition, CMISC shall be entitled to retain as additional compensation for its services all CMISC revenues for fees for wire, telephone, and redemption orders, IRA trustee agent fees and account transcripts due CMISC from shareholders of the Fund and interest (net of bank charges) earned with respect to balances in the accounts referred to in paragraph 2 of the Agreement. All determinations hereunder shall be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and subject to audit by the Funds’ independent accountants.

Definitions

“Allocated Share” for any month means that percentage of CMISC Reimbursable Out-of-Pocket Expenses which would be allocated to a Fund for such month in accordance with the methodology described below under the heading “Methodology of Allocating CMISC Reimbursable Out-of-Pocket Expenses.”

“CMISC Reimbursable Out-of-Pocket Expenses” means (i) networking account fees paid to dealer firms by CMISC on shareholder accounts established or maintained pursuant to the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s networking system, subject to a maximum annual rate of up to 0.20% of the month end value of the Fund’s shares maintained in networked accounts of each dealer firm, and (ii) out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Funds by CMISC for stationery, forms, postage and similar items and those expenses identified as “Out-of-Pocket Expenses” below.

“Out-of-Pocket Expenses” also include, but are not limited to, the following items:

 

    Printing, storage and programming costs associated with, but not limited to envelopes, checks, confirmations and stationery

 

    Postage bulk, pre-sort, ZIP+4, barcoding, first class

 

    Telephone and telecommunication costs, including all lease, maintenance and line costs

 

    Proxy solicitations, mailings and tabulations

 

    Daily & Distributions advice mailings

 

    Implementing, monitoring or processing any Stop Orders

 

    Shipping, Certified and Overnight mail and insurance

 

    Year-end forms and mailings

 

    Duplicating services

 

    Courier services

 

    National Securities Clearing Corporation charges related to fund transactions

 

    Record retention costs including but not limited to the storage, movement, destruction, retrieval and handling charges

 

    Data processing and storage for anti-market timing omnibus monitoring

 

    Creation and maintenance of on-line records including reports, shareholder and dealer statements, year-end forms, and regulatory mailings

 

    Third party quality control assessments

 

    Compliance items including, but not limited to, lost shareholder review, lost certificate filings and compliance programs

 

    Electronic website linkages to third party account management applications

 

    Regulatory mailings inclusive of costs related to electronic delivery of such documents.

 

    At the request, or with the consent of the Trust, such other miscellaneous expenses reasonably incurred by CMISC in performing its duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.


The Funds agree that postage and mailing expenses will be paid on the day of or prior to mailing as agreed with CMISC. In addition, the Funds will promptly reimburse CMISC for any other unscheduled expenses incurred by CMISC whenever the Funds and CMISC mutually agree that such expenses are not otherwise properly borne by CMISC as part of its duties under the Agreement.


Methodology of Allocating CMISC Reimbursable Out-of-Pocket Expenses

CMISC Reimbursable Out-of-Pocket Expenses are allocated to the Funds as follows:

 

 

A.     Identifiable

   Based on actual services performed and invoiced to a Fund.
 

B.     Unidentifiable

   Allocation will be based on three evenly weighted factors.
    

•       number of shareholder accounts

    

•       number of transactions

    

•       average assets

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the forgoing Schedule A and Schedule B to be duly executed as of September 28, 2015.

 

COLUMBIA FUNDS SERIES TRUST,
on behalf of their respective series listed on Schedule A
By:  

/s/ Christopher O. Petersen

  Name:   Christopher O. Petersen
  Title:   President
COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT SERVICES CORP.
By:  

/s/ Lyn Kephart-Strong

  Name:   Lyn Kephart-Strong
  Title:   President

Exhibit (14)

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-14 of our reports dated as of the report dates stated below, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights which appear in the Annual Reports to Shareholders, which are also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the headings “Financial Highlights of the Buying Funds” and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in such Registration Statement. We also consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-14 of our report for the fund dates stated below, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights appearing in the Annual Report to Shareholders, and the reference to us under the headings “Financial Highlights” and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” appearing in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information on Form N-1A dated as indicated in the table below, which are also incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

 

Fund Name

  

Annual shareholder

report date

  

Report date

  

N-1A filing Date

Columbia International Opportunities Fund

   2/28/2015    4/21/2015    7/1/2015

Columbia International Value Fund

   2/28/2015    4/21/2015    7/1/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II (formerly Columbia Marsico 21st Century Fund)

   2/28/2015    4/21/2015    7/1/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III (formerly Columbia Marsico Focused Equities Fund)

   2/28/2015    4/21/2015    7/1/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V (formerly Columbia Marsico Growth Fund)

   2/28/2015    4/21/2015    7/1/2015

Columbia Overseas Value Fund

   2/28/2015    4/21/2015    7/1/2015

Columbia Select International Equity Fund

   2/28/2015    4/21/2015    7/1/2015

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

   5/31/2015    7/23/2015    10/1/2015

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

   5/31/2015    7/23/2015    10/1/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

   7/31/2015    9/21/2015    12/1/2015

Columbia Large Cap Growth IV (formerly Columbia Marsico Flexible Capital Fund)

   8/31/2015    10/22/2015    12/18/2015

Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund

   8/31/2015    10/22/2015    12/21/2015

Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

   8/31/2015    10/22/2015    12/21/2015

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
December 22, 2015

Exhibit (16)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned constitutes each of Michael G. Clarke, Scott R. Plummer, Christopher O. Petersen, Paul B. Goucher, Michael E. DeFao, Ryan C. Larrenaga, Joseph L. D’Alessandro, Megan E. Garcy, Robert M. Kurucza and George M. Silfen, individually, as my true and lawful attorney, with full power to each of them to sign for me and in my name, in my capacity as a trustee of Columbia Funds Series Trust, Columbia Funds Series Trust II and Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II , the following registration statements on Form N-14 and any and all amendments thereto filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the acquisition of the assets and the assumption of the liabilities by the indicated series of Columbia Funds Series Trust, Columbia Funds Series Trust II and Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II of the indicated series of the investment companies indicated below:

 

Selling Fund

  

Buying Fund

Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust II    Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust II
Columbia International Value Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust    Columbia Oversees Value Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust
Columbia International Opportunities Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust    Columbia Select International Equity Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Series Trust

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund II and

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund III, each a series of Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I

   Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II
Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunities Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I    Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select International Equity Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II
Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sales Growth Fund II, a series of Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I    Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II

This Power of Attorney authorizes the above individuals to sign the undersigned’s name and will remain in full force and effect until specifically rescinded by the undersigned.

The undersigned specifically permits this Power of Attorney to be filed, as an exhibit to any such registration statement on Form N-14 or any amendment thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]


Dated the 15th day of December, 2015.

 

/s/ William A. Hawkins

   

/s/ R. Glenn Hilliard

William A. Hawkins     R. Glenn Hilliard

/s/ Kathleen A. Blatz

   

/s/ Catherine James Paglia

Kathleen A. Blatz     Catherine James Paglia

/s/ Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.

   

/s/ Leroy C. Richie

Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.     Leroy C. Richie

/s/ Pamela G. Carlton

   

/s/ Anthony M. Santomero

Pamela G. Carlton     Anthony M. Santomero

/s/ William P. Carmichael

   

/s/ Minor M. Shaw

William P. Carmichael     Minor M. Shaw

/s/ Patricia M. Flynn

   

/s/ Alison Taunton-Rigby

Patricia M. Flynn     Alison Taunton-Rigby
   

/s/ William F. Truscott

    William F. Truscott