497 1 file002.txt COLUMBIA ACORN TRUST COLUMBIA ACORN FUND COLUMBIA ACORN USA COLUMBIA ACORN SELECT COLUMBIA THERMOSTAT FUND (EACH A "FUND") SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 2004 CLASS A, B AND C SHARES 1. The following language will replace in its entirety disclosure under the heading "FUND POLICY ON TRADING OF FUND SHARES": The interests of the Fund's long-term shareholders may be adversely affected by certain short-term trading activity by Fund shareholders. Such short-term trading activity, when excessive, has the potential to interfere with efficient portfolio management, generate transaction and other costs, dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders and have other adverse effects on the Fund. This type of excessive short-term trading activity is referred to herein as "market timing". The Columbia Funds are not intended as vehicles for market timing. The Fund, directly and through its agents, takes various steps designed to deter and curtail market timing. For example, if the Fund detects that any shareholder has conducted two "round trips" (as defined below) in the Fund that are deemed material by the Fund in any 28-day period, the Fund will generally reject the shareholder's future purchase orders, including exchange purchase orders, involving any Columbia Fund (other than a Money Market Fund). In addition, if the Fund determines that any person, group or account has engaged in any type of market timing activity (independent of the two-round-trip limit), the Fund may, in its discretion, reject future purchase orders by the person, group or account, including exchange purchase orders, involving the same or any other Columbia Fund, and also retains the right to modify these market timing policies at any time without prior notice. The rights of shareholders to redeem shares of the Fund are not affected by any of the limits mentioned above. However, certain Funds impose a redemption fee on the proceeds of Fund shares that are redeemed or exchanged within 60 days of their purchase. For these purposes, a "round trip" is a purchase by any means into a Columbia Fund followed by a redemption, of any amount, by any means out of the same Columbia Fund. Under this definition, an exchange into the Fund followed by an exchange out of the Fund is treated as a single round trip. Also for these purposes, where known, accounts under common ownership or control generally will be counted together. Accounts maintained or managed by a common intermediary, such as an adviser, selling agent or trust department, generally will not be considered to be under common ownership or control. Purchases, redemptions and exchanges made through the Columbia Funds' Automatic Investment Plan, Systematic Withdrawal Plan or similar automated plans generally are not subject to the two-round-trip limit. Purchases, redemptions and exchanges made by Columbia Thermostat Fund are also not subject to the two round-trip limit. The two-round-trip limit may be modified for, or may not be applied to, accounts held by certain retirement plans to conform to plan limits, 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. The practices and policies described above are intended to deter and curtail market timing in the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that these policies, individually or collectively, will be totally effective in this regard because of various factors. In particular, a substantial portion of purchase, redemption and exchange orders are received through omnibus accounts. Omnibus accounts, in which shares are held in the name of an intermediary on behalf of multiple beneficial owners, are a common form of holding shares among financial intermediaries and retirement plans. The Fund typically is not able to identify trading by a particular beneficial owner through an omnibus account, which may make it difficult or impossible to determine if a particular account is engaged in market timing. Certain financial intermediaries have different policies regarding monitoring and restricting market timing in the underlying beneficial owner accounts that they maintain through an omnibus account that may be more or less restrictive than the Fund practices discussed above. The Fund seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of Fund shareholders in making any judgments regarding market timing. Neither the Fund nor its agents shall be held liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders or exchanges. 2. RULE 12B-1 PLAN is added to the beginning of the paragraph under the heading "DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEES" and the following is added as a second category under this heading: ADDITIONAL INTERMEDIARY COMPENSATION In addition to the commissions specified in this prospectus, the distributor, or its advisory affiliates, from their own resources, may make cash payments to financial service firms that agree to promote the sale of shares of funds that the distributor distributes. A number of factors may be considered in determining the amount of those payments, including the financial service firm's sales, client assets invested in the funds and redemption rates, the quality of the financial service firm's relationship with the distributor and/or its affiliates, and the nature of the services provided by financial service firms to its clients. The payments may be made in recognition of such factors as marketing support, access to sales meetings and the financial service firm's representatives, and inclusion of the Fund on focus, select or other similar lists. Subject to applicable rules, the distributor may also pay non-cash compensation to financial service firms and their representatives, including: (i) occasional gifts; (ii) occasional meals, or other entertainment; and/or (iii) support for financial service firm educational or training events. In addition, the distributor, and/or the Fund's investment advisor, transfer agent or their affiliates, may pay service, administrative or other similar fees to broker/dealers, banks, third-party administrators or other financial institutions (each commonly referred to as an "intermediary"). Those fees are generally for subaccounting, sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus or other group accounts. The rate of those fees may vary and is generally calculated on the average daily net assets of a Fund attributable to a particular intermediary. In some circumstances, the payments discussed above may create an incentive for an intermediary or its employees or associated persons to recommend or sell shares of the Fund. For further information about payments made by the distributor and its affiliates to financial service firms and intermediaries, please see the Statement of Additional Information. PLEASE ALSO CONTACT YOUR FINANCIAL SERVICE FIRM OR INTERMEDIARY FOR DETAILS ABOUT PAYMENTS IT MAY RECEIVE. ACN-36/674T-1104 November 18, 2004 COLUMBIA ACORN INTERNATIONAL COLUMBIA ACORN INTERNATIONAL SELECT (EACH A "FUND") CLASS A, B AND C SHARES SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 2004 1. The following language will replace in its entirety disclosure under the heading "FUND POLICY ON TRADING OF FUND SHARES": The interests of the Fund's long-term shareholders may be adversely affected by certain short-term trading activity by Fund shareholders. Such short-term trading activity, when excessive, has the potential to interfere with efficient portfolio management, generate transaction and other costs, dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders and have other adverse effects on the Fund. This type of excessive short-term trading activity is referred to herein as "market timing". The Columbia Funds are not intended as vehicles for market timing. The Fund, directly and through its agents, takes various steps designed to deter and curtail market timing. For example, if the Fund detects that any shareholder has conducted two "round trips" (as defined below) in the Fund that are deemed material by the Fund in any 28-day period, the Fund will generally reject the shareholder's future purchase orders, including exchange purchase orders, involving any Columbia Fund (other than a Money Market Fund). In addition, if the Fund determines that any person, group or account has engaged in any type of market timing activity (independent of the two-round-trip limit), the Fund may, in its discretion, reject future purchase orders by the person, group or account, including exchange purchase orders, involving the same or any other Columbia Fund, and also retains the right to modify these market timing policies at any time without prior notice. The rights of shareholders to redeem shares of the Fund are not affected by any of the limits mentioned above. However, the Fund imposes a redemption fee on the proceeds of Fund shares that are redeemed or exchanged within 60 days of their purchase. For these purposes, a "round trip" is a purchase by any means into a Columbia Fund followed by a redemption, of any amount, by any means out of the same Columbia Fund. Under this definition, an exchange into the Fund followed by an exchange out of the Fund is treated as a single round trip. Also for these purposes, where known, accounts under common ownership or control generally will be counted together. Accounts maintained or managed by a common intermediary, such as an adviser, selling agent or trust department, generally will not be considered to be under common ownership or control. Purchases, redemptions and exchanges made through the Columbia Funds' Automatic Investment Plan, Systematic Withdrawal Plan or similar automated plans generally are not subject to the two-round-trip limit. The two-round-trip limit may be modified for, or may not be applied to, accounts held by certain retirement plans to conform to plan limits, 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. The practices and policies described above are intended to deter and curtail market timing in the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that these policies, individually or collectively, will be totally effective in this regard because of various factors. In particular, a substantial portion of purchase, redemption and exchange orders are received through omnibus accounts. Omnibus accounts, in which shares are held in the name of an intermediary on behalf of multiple beneficial owners, are a common form of holding shares among financial intermediaries and retirement plans. The Fund typically is not able to identify trading by a particular beneficial owner through an omnibus account, which may make it difficult or impossible to determine if a particular account is engaged in market timing. Certain financial intermediaries have different policies regarding monitoring and restricting market timing in the underlying beneficial owner accounts that they maintain through an omnibus account that may be more or less restrictive than the Fund practices discussed above. The Fund seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of Fund shareholders in making any judgments regarding market timing. Neither the Fund nor its agents shall be held liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders or exchanges. 2. RULE 12B-1 PLAN is added to the beginning of the paragraph under the heading "DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEES" and the following is added as a second category under this heading: ADDITIONAL INTERMEDIARY COMPENSATION In addition to the commissions specified in this prospectus, the distributor, or its advisory affiliates, from their own resources, may make cash payments to financial service firms that agree to promote the sale of shares of funds that the distributor distributes. A number of factors may be considered in determining the amount of those payments, including the financial service firm's sales, client assets invested in the funds and redemption rates, the quality of the financial service firm's relationship with the distributor and/or its affiliates, and the nature of the services provided by financial service firms to its clients. The payments may be made in recognition of such factors as marketing support, access to sales meetings and the financial service firm's representatives, and inclusion of the Fund on focus, select or other similar lists. Subject to applicable rules, the distributor may also pay non-cash compensation to financial service firms and their representatives, including: (i) occasional gifts; (ii) occasional meals, or other entertainment; and/or (iii) support for financial service firm educational or training events. In addition, the distributor, and/or the Fund's investment advisor, transfer agent or their affiliates, may pay service, administrative or other similar fees to broker/dealers, banks, third-party administrators or other financial institutions (each commonly referred to as an "intermediary"). Those fees are generally for subaccounting, sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus or other group accounts. The rate of those fees may vary and is generally calculated on the average daily net assets of a Fund attributable to a particular intermediary. In some circumstances, the payments discussed above may create an incentive for an intermediary or its employees or associated persons to recommend or sell shares of the Fund. For further information about payments made by the distributor and its affiliates to financial service firms and intermediaries, please see the Statement of Additional Information. PLEASE ALSO CONTACT YOUR FINANCIAL SERVICE FIRM OR INTERMEDIARY FOR DETAILS ABOUT PAYMENTS IT MAY RECEIVE. ACN-36/678T-1104 November 18, 2004 COLUMBIA ACORN FUND COLUMBIA ACORN USA COLUMBIA ACORN SELECT COLUMBIA THERMOSTAT FUND (EACH A "FUND") SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 2004 CLASS Z SHARES 1. The following language will replace in its entirety disclosure under the heading "FUND POLICY ON TRADING OF FUND SHARES": The interests of the Fund's long-term shareholders may be adversely affected by certain short-term trading activity by Fund shareholders. Such short-term trading activity, when excessive, has the potential to interfere with efficient portfolio management, generate transaction and other costs, dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders and have other adverse effects on the Fund. This type of excessive short-term trading activity is referred to herein as "market timing". The Columbia Funds are not intended as vehicles for market timing. The Fund, directly and through its agents, takes various steps designed to deter and curtail market timing. For example, if the Fund detects that any shareholder has conducted two "round trips" (as defined below) in the Fund that are deemed material by the Fund in any 28-day period, the Fund will generally reject the shareholder's future purchase orders, including exchange purchase orders, involving any Columbia Fund (other than a Money Market Fund). In addition, if the Fund determines that any person, group or account has engaged in any type of market timing activity (independent of the two-round-trip limit), the Fund may, in its discretion, reject future purchase orders by the person, group or account, including exchange purchase orders, involving the same or any other Columbia Fund, and also retains the right to modify these market timing policies at any time without prior notice. The rights of shareholders to redeem shares of the Fund are not affected by any of the limits mentioned above. However, certain Funds impose a redemption fee on the proceeds of Fund shares that are redeemed or exchanged within 60 days of their purchase. For these purposes, a "round trip" is a purchase by any means into a Columbia Fund followed by a redemption, of any amount, by any means out of the same Columbia Fund. Under this definition, an exchange into the Fund followed by an exchange out of the Fund is treated as a single round trip. Also for these purposes, where known, accounts under common ownership or control generally will be counted together. Accounts maintained or managed by a common intermediary, such as an adviser, selling agent or trust department, generally will not be considered to be under common ownership or control. Purchases, redemptions and exchanges made through the Columbia Funds' Automatic Investment Plan, Systematic Withdrawal Plan or similar automated plans generally are not subject to the two-round-trip limit. Purchases, redemptions and exchanges made by Columbia Thermostat Fund are also not subject to the two round-trip limit. The two-round-trip limit may be modified for, or may not be applied to, accounts held by certain retirement plans to conform to plan limits, 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. The practices and policies described above are intended to deter and curtail market timing in the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that these policies, individually or collectively, will be totally effective in this regard because of various factors. In particular, a substantial portion of purchase, redemption and exchange orders are received through omnibus accounts. Omnibus accounts, in which shares are held in the name of an intermediary on behalf of multiple beneficial owners, are a common form of holding shares among financial intermediaries and retirement plans. The Fund typically is not able to identify trading by a particular beneficial owner through an omnibus account, which may make it difficult or impossible to determine if a particular account is engaged in market timing. Certain financial intermediaries have different policies regarding monitoring and restricting market timing in the underlying beneficial owner accounts that they maintain through an omnibus account that may be more or less restrictive than the Fund practices discussed above. The Fund seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of Fund shareholders in making any judgments regarding market timing. Neither the Fund nor its agents shall be held liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders or exchanges. 2. A new section has been added to the prospectus following immediately the language that appears under the heading "FUND POLICY ON TRADING OF FUND SHARES": INTERMEDIARY COMPENSATION The distributor, or its advisory affiliates, from their own resources, may make cash payments to financial service firms that agree to promote the sale of shares of funds that the distributor distributes. A number of factors may be considered in determining the amount of those payments, including the financial service firm's sales, client assets invested in the funds and redemption rates, the quality of the financial service firm's relationship with the distributor and/or its affiliates, and the nature of the services provided by financial service firms to its clients. The payments may be made in recognition of such factors as marketing support, access to sales meetings and the financial service firm's representatives, and inclusion of the Fund on focus, select or other similar lists. Subject to applicable rules, the distributor may also pay non-cash compensation to financial service firms and their representatives, including: (i) occasional gifts; (ii) occasional meals, or other entertainment; and/or (iii) support for financial service firm educational or training events. In addition, the distributor, and/or the Fund's investment advisor, transfer agent or their affiliates, may pay service, administrative or other similar fees to broker/dealers, banks, third-party administrators or other financial institutions (each commonly referred to as an "intermediary"). Those fees are generally for subaccounting, sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus or other group accounts. The rate of those fees may vary and is generally calculated on the average daily net assets of a Fund attributable to a particular intermediary. In some circumstances, the payments discussed above may create an incentive for an intermediary or its employees or associated persons to recommend or sell shares of the Fund. For further information about payments made by the distributor and its affiliates to financial service firms and intermediaries, please see the Statement of Additional Information. PLEASE ALSO CONTACT YOUR FINANCIAL SERVICE FIRM OR INTERMEDIARY FOR DETAILS ABOUT PAYMENTS IT MAY RECEIVE. ACN-36/675T-1104 November 18, 2004 COLUMBIA ACORN INTERNATIONAL COLUMBIA ACORN INTERNATIONAL SELECT (EACH A "FUND") CLASS Z SHARES SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 2004 1. The following language will replace in its entirety disclosure under the heading "FUND POLICY ON TRADING OF FUND SHARES": The interests of the Fund's long-term shareholders may be adversely affected by certain short-term trading activity by Fund shareholders. Such short-term trading activity, when excessive, has the potential to interfere with efficient portfolio management, generate transaction and other costs, dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders and have other adverse effects on the Fund. This type of excessive short-term trading activity is referred to herein as "market timing". The Columbia Funds are not intended as vehicles for market timing. The Fund, directly and through its agents, takes various steps designed to deter and curtail market timing. For example, if the Fund detects that any shareholder has conducted two "round trips" (as defined below) in the Fund that are deemed material by the Fund in any 28-day period, the Fund will generally reject the shareholder's future purchase orders, including exchange purchase orders, involving any Columbia Fund (other than a Money Market Fund). In addition, if the Fund determines that any person, group or account has engaged in any type of market timing activity (independent of the two-round-trip limit), the Fund may, in its discretion, reject future purchase orders by the person, group or account, including exchange purchase orders, involving the same or any other Columbia Fund, and also retains the right to modify these market timing policies at any time without prior notice. The rights of shareholders to redeem shares of the Fund are not affected by any of the limits mentioned above. However, the Fund imposes a redemption fee on the proceeds of Fund shares that are redeemed or exchanged within 60 days of their purchase. For these purposes, a "round trip" is a purchase by any means into a Columbia Fund followed by a redemption, of any amount, by any means out of the same Columbia Fund. Under this definition, an exchange into the Fund followed by an exchange out of the Fund is treated as a single round trip. Also for these purposes, where known, accounts under common ownership or control generally will be counted together. Accounts maintained or managed by a common intermediary, such as an adviser, selling agent or trust department, generally will not be considered to be under common ownership or control. Purchases, redemptions and exchanges made through the Columbia Funds' Automatic Investment Plan, Systematic Withdrawal Plan or similar automated plans generally are not subject to the two-round-trip limit. The two-round-trip limit may be modified for, or may not be applied to, accounts held by certain retirement plans to conform to plan limits, 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. The practices and policies described above are intended to deter and curtail market timing in the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that these policies, individually or collectively, will be totally effective in this regard because of various factors. In particular, a substantial portion of purchase, redemption and exchange orders are received through omnibus accounts. Omnibus accounts, in which shares are held in the name of an intermediary on behalf of multiple beneficial owners, are a common form of holding shares among financial intermediaries and retirement plans. The Fund typically is not able to identify trading by a particular beneficial owner through an omnibus account, which may make it difficult or impossible to determine if a particular account is engaged in market timing. Certain financial intermediaries have different policies regarding monitoring and restricting market timing in the underlying beneficial owner accounts that they maintain through an omnibus account that may be more or less restrictive than the Fund practices discussed above. The Fund seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of Fund shareholders in making any judgments regarding market timing. Neither the Fund nor its agents shall be held liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders or exchanges. 2. A new section has been added to the prospectus following immediately the language that appears under the heading "FUND POLICY ON TRADING OF FUND SHARES": INTERMEDIARY COMPENSATION The distributor, or its advisory affiliates, from their own resources, may make cash payments to financial service firms that agree to promote the sale of shares of funds that the distributor distributes. A number of factors may be considered in determining the amount of those payments, including the financial service firm's sales, client assets invested in the funds and redemption rates, the quality of the financial service firm's relationship with the distributor and/or its affiliates, and the nature of the services provided by financial service firms to its clients. The payments may be made in recognition of such factors as marketing support, access to sales meetings and the financial service firm's representatives, and inclusion of the Fund on focus, select or other similar lists. Subject to applicable rules, the distributor may also pay non-cash compensation to financial service firms and their representatives, including: (i) occasional gifts; (ii) occasional meals, or other entertainment; and/or (iii) support for financial service firm educational or training events. In addition, the distributor, and/or the Fund's investment advisor, transfer agent or their affiliates, may pay service, administrative or other similar fees to broker/dealers, banks, third-party administrators or other financial institutions (each commonly referred to as an "intermediary"). Those fees are generally for subaccounting, sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus or other group accounts. The rate of those fees may vary and is generally calculated on the average daily net assets of a Fund attributable to a particular intermediary. In some circumstances, the payments discussed above may create an incentive for an intermediary or its employees or associated persons to recommend or sell shares of the Fund. For further information about payments made by the distributor and its affiliates to financial service firms and intermediaries, please see the Statement of Additional Information. PLEASE ALSO CONTACT YOUR FINANCIAL SERVICE FIRM OR INTERMEDIARY FOR DETAILS ABOUT PAYMENTS IT MAY RECEIVE. ACN-36/679T-1104 November 18, 2004 COLUMBIA ACORN INTERNATIONAL COLUMBIA ACORN INTERNATIONAL SELECT (EACH A "FUND," AND COLLECTIVELY THE "FUNDS") SUPPLEMENT TO THE PROSPECTUSES CLASS A, B AND C SHARES 1. Effective January 3, 2005, the following disclosure, the "SHAREHOLDER FEES" disclosure under the heading "YOUR EXPENSES" will be revised in its entirety as follows: Shareholder Fees (1) (paid directly from your investment)
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C Maximum sales charge (load) on purchases (%) (as a percentage of the offering price) 5.75 None None ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------- -------------- ---------------- Maximum deferred sales charge (load) on redemptions (%) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption price) 1.00(2) 5.00 1.00 ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------- -------------- ---------------- Redemption fee (%) (as a percentage of None(3)(4) None (3)(4) None (3)(4) amount redeemed, if applicable)
(1) A $20 annual fee may be deducted from accounts of less than $1,000 and paid to the transfer agent. (2) This charge applies only to certain Class A shares bought without an initial sales charge that are sold within 18 months of purchase. (3) There is a $7.50 charge for wiring sale proceeds to your bank. (4) A redemption fee of 2.00% may be charged on shares that were owned for 60 days or less. For more information, see "Fund Policy on Trading of Fund Shares" below. 2. Effective January 3, 2005, the following disclosure will replace similar disclosure under the heading "SALES CHARGES": SALES CHARGES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You may be subject to an initial sales charge when you purchase, or a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) when you sell, shares of the Fund. These sales charges are described below. In certain circumstances, the sales charge may be waived, as described below and in the Statement of Additional Information. CHOOSING A SHARE CLASS The Fund offers three classes of shares in this prospectus -- CLASS A, B AND C. Each share class has its own sales charge and expense structure. Determining which share class is best for you depends on the dollar amount you are investing and the number of years for which you are willing to invest. If your financial advisor does not participate in the Class B discount program, purchases of $250,000 or more but less than $1 million can be made only in Class A or Class C shares. Purchases of $1 million or more can be made only in Class A shares. Based on your personal situation, your financial advisor can help you decide which class of shares makes the most sense for you. The Fund also offers an additional class of shares, Class Z shares, exclusively to certain institutional and other investors. Class Z shares are made available through a separate prospectus provided to eligible institutional and other investors. CLASS A SHARES Your purchases of Class A shares are made at the public offering price for these shares. This price includes a sales charge that is based on the amount of your initial investment when you open your account. The sales charge you pay on an additional investment is based on the total amount of your purchase and the current value of your account. Shares you purchase with reinvested dividends or other distributions are not subject to a sales charge. A portion of the sales charge is paid as a commission to your financial advisor on the sale of Class A shares. The amount of the sales charge differs depending on the amount you invest as shown in the table below. CLASS A SALES CHARGES
% OF OFFERING PRICE AS A % OF THE PUBLIC AS A % OF YOUR RETAINED BY AMOUNT PURCHASED OFFERING PRICE INVESTMENT FINANCIAL ADVISOR Less than $50,000 5.75 6.10 5.00 ---------------------------------- ------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- $50,000 to less than $100,000 4.50 4.71 3.75 ---------------------------------- ------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- $100,000 to less than $250,000 3.50 3.63 2.75 ---------------------------------- ------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- $250,000 to less than $500,000 2.50 2.56 2.00 ---------------------------------- ------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- $500,000 to less than $1,000,000 2.00 2.04 1.75 ---------------------------------- ------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- $1,000,000 or more 0.00 0.00 0.00
In addition to the initial sales charge paid to your financial advisor and distributor, a 0.25% annual commission is paid to your financial advisor over the life of your investment out of your Fund assets as a 12b-1 fee. The Fund's distributor may also pay additional compensation to financial advisors as an incentive for promoting the sale of shares of funds that the distributor distributes. Class A shares bought without an initial sales charge in accounts aggregating $1 million to $25 million at the time of purchase are subject to a 1.00% CDSC if the shares are sold within 18 months of the time of purchase. Subsequent Class A share purchases that bring your account value above $1 million (but less than $25 million) are subject to a CDSC if redeemed within 18 months of the date of purchase. The 18-month period begins on the first day of the month in which the purchase was made. The CDSC does not apply to retirement plans purchasing through a fee-based program. For Class A share purchases of $1 million or more, financial advisors receive a cumulative commission from the distributor as follows: PURCHASES OVER $1 MILLION
AMOUNT PURCHASED COMMISSION % Less than $3 million 1.00 ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ $3 million to less than $5 million 0.80 ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ $5 million to less than $25 million 0.50 ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ $25 million or more 0.25
The commission to financial advisors for Class A share purchases of $25 million or more is paid over 12 months but only to the extent the shares remain outstanding. For Class A share purchases by participants in certain group retirement plans offered through a fee-based program, financial advisors receive a 1.00% commission from the distributor on all purchases of less than $3 million. UNDERSTANDING CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGES Certain investments in Class A, B and C shares are subject to a CDSC, a sales charge applied at the time you sell your shares. You will pay the CDSC only on shares you sell within a certain amount of time after purchase. The CDSC generally declines each year until there is no charge for selling shares. The CDSC is applied to the net asset value at the time of purchase or sale, whichever is lower. For purposes of calculating the CDSC, the start of the holding period is the first day of the month in which the purchase was made. Shares you purchase with reinvested dividends or other distributions are not subject to a CDSC. When you place an order to sell shares, the Fund will automatically sell first those shares not subject to a CDSC and then those you have held the longest. 3. Effective January 3, 2005, the disclosure under the heading "HOW TO EXCHANGE SHARES" will be revised in its entirety as follows: You may exchange your shares for shares of the same share class (and in some cases, certain other classes) of another fund distributed by Columbia Funds Distributor, Inc. at net asset value. If your shares are subject to a CDSC, you will not be charged a CDSC upon the exchange. However, when you sell the shares acquired through the exchange, the shares sold may be subject to a CDSC, depending upon when you originally purchased the shares you are exchanging. For purposes of computing the CDSC, the length of time you have owned your shares will be computed from the date of your original purchase and the applicable CDSC will be the CDSC of the original fund. Shareholders of Columbia Acorn Funds that qualify to purchase Class A shares at net asset value may exchange their Class A shares for Class Z shares of another fund distributed by Columbia Funds Distributor, Inc. (see the Statement of Additional Information for a description of these situations). Unless your account is part of a tax-deferred retirement plan, an exchange is a taxable event, and you may realize a gain or a loss for tax purposes. The Fund may terminate your exchange privilege if the advisor determines that your exchange activity is likely to adversely impact its ability to manage the Fund. See "Fund Policy on Trading of Fund Shares" for the Fund's policy. To exchange by telephone, call 1-800-422-3737. Please have your account and taxpayer identification numbers available when calling. 4. Effective January 3, 2005, the chart included under the heading "HOW TO SELL SHARES" will be revised in its entirety as follows: OUTLINED BELOW ARE THE VARIOUS OPTIONS FOR SELLING SHARES:
METHOD INSTRUCTIONS Through your You may call your financial advisor to place your sell order. To receive the financial advisor current trading day's price, your financial advisor must receive your request prior to the close of regular trading on the NYSE, usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Your financial advisor may charge you fees for executing a redemption for you. ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By exchange You or your financial advisor may sell shares of the Fund by exchanging from the Fund into the same share class (and, in some cases, certain other classes) of another fund distributed by Columbia Funds Distributor, Inc. at no additional cost. To exchange by telephone, call 1-800-422-3737. ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By telephone You or your financial advisor may sell shares of the Fund by telephone and request that a check be sent to your address of record by calling 1-800-422-3737, unless you have notified the Fund of an address change within the previous 30 days. The dollar limit for telephone sales is $100,000 in a 30-day period. You do not need to set up this feature in advance of your call. Certain restrictions apply to retirement accounts. For details, call 1-800-799-7526. ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By mail You may send a signed letter of instruction or stock power form along with any share certificates to be sold ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to the address below. In your letter of instruction, note the Fund's name, share class, account number, and the dollar value or number of shares you wish to sell. All account owners must sign the letter. Signatures must be guaranteed by either a bank, a member firm of a national stock exchange or another eligible guarantor that participates in the Medallion Signature Guarantee Program for amounts over $100,000 or for alternate payee or mailing instructions. Additional documentation is required for sales by corporations, agents, fiduciaries, surviving joint owners and individual retirement account owners. For details, call 1-800-345-6611. Mail your letter of instruction to Columbia Funds Services, Inc., P.O. Box 8081, Boston, MA 02266-8081. ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By wire You may sell shares of the Fund and request that the proceeds be wired to your bank. You must set up this feature prior to your request. Be sure to complete the appropriate section of the account application for this feature. ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By systematic You may automatically sell a specified dollar amount or percentage of your account withdrawal plan on a monthly, quarterly or semi-annual basis and have the proceeds sent to you if your account balance is at least $5,000. This feature is not available if you hold your shares in certificate form. All dividend and capital gains distributions must be reinvested. Be sure to complete the appropriate section of the account application for this feature. ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By electronic You may sell shares of the Fund and request that the proceeds be electronically funds transfer transferred to your bank. Proceeds may take up to two business days to be received by your bank. You must set up this feature prior to your request. Be sure to complete the appropriate section of the account application for this feature.
5. Effective January 3, 2005, the following disclosure will be added under the heading "FUND POLICY ON TRADING OF FUND SHARES": The Funds will assess, subject to limited exceptions, a 2.00% redemption fee on the proceeds of Fund shares that are redeemed (either by selling shares or exchanging into another Columbia Fund) within 60 days of their purchase. The redemption fee is paid to the Fund. The redemption fee is imposed on Fund shares redeemed (including redemptions by exchange) within 60 days of purchase. In determining which shares are being redeemed, we generally apply a first-in, first-out approach. For Fund shares acquired by exchange, the holding period prior to the exchange will not be considered in determining whether to assess the redemption fee. The redemption fee will not be imposed if you qualify for a waiver and the Fund has received proper notification, unless the waiver is automatic as noted below. We'll redeem any shares that are eligible for a waiver first. A Fund shareholder won't pay an otherwise applicable redemption fee on any of the following transactions: o shares sold following the death or disability (as defined in the tax code) of the shareholder, including a registered joint owner o shares sold by or distributions from participant directed retirement plans, such as 401(k), 403(b), 457, Keogh, profit sharing, and money purchase pension accounts, where the Fund does not have access to information about the individual participant account activity, except where the Fund has received an indication that the plan administrator is able to assess the redemption fee to the appropriate accounts (automatic) o shares sold by certain investment funds, including those that Columbia Management Advisors or its affiliates may manage (automatic) o shares sold as part of an automatic rebalancing within an asset allocation program or by certain wrap programs where the program sponsor has provided assurances reasonably satisfactory to the Fund that the program is not designed to be a vehicle for market timing o shares sold by accounts maintained by a financial institution or intermediary where the Fund has received information reasonably satisfactory to the Fund indicating that the financial institution or intermediary maintaining the account is unable for administrative reasons to assess the redemption fee to underlying shareholders o shares sold by an account which has demonstrated a hardship, such as a medical emergency, as determined in the absolute discretion of the Fund o shares that were purchased by reinvested dividends (automatic) o the following retirement plan distributions: o lump-sum or other distributions from a qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan following retirement (or following attainment of age 59 1/2 in the case of a "key employee" of a "top heavy" plan) o distributions from an individual retirement account (IRA) or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the tax code, following attainment of age 59 1/2 The Fund also has the discretion to waive the 2.00% redemption fee if the Fund is in jeopardy of failing the 90% income test or losing its RIC qualification for tax purposes. As described above, certain intermediaries do not assess redemption fees to certain categories of redemptions that do not present significant market timing concerns (such as automatic withdrawal plan redemptions). In these situations, the Fund's ability to assess redemption fees is generally limited by the intermediary's policies and, accordingly, no redemption fees will be assessed on such redemptions. ACN-36/676T-1104 November 18, 2004 COLUMBIA ACORN INTERNATIONAL COLUMBIA ACORN INTERNATIONAL SELECT (EACH A "FUND," AND COLLECTIVELY THE "FUNDS") SUPPLEMENT TO THE PROSPECTUSES CLASS Z SHARES The following disclosure describes the Funds' current policy in assessing redemption fees on Fund shares. This language is located under the heading "FUND POLICY ON TRADING OF FUND SHARES." Redemption Fee. In addition, if you redeem or exchange shares of the Fund that you have owned 60 days or less, the Fund will charge you a redemption fee of 2% of redemption proceeds. The Fund will use the "first-in" "first-out" method to determine when shares were purchased. The redemption fee will be deducted from your redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund to help cover transaction and tax costs that long-term investors may bear when the Fund realizes capital gains as a result of selling securities to meet investor redemptions. The redemption fee is not imposed on redemptions of shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and distributions, or exchanges of shares for Class Z shares of a fund distributed by Columbia Funds Distributor, Inc. that has a redemption fee. The Fund may waive the 2% redemption fee for 401(k) plans that are in the process of liquidating their Fund investments. Effective January 3, 2005, the redemption fee currently charged by the Funds will be revised as set forth below. The following disclosure describing the revisions will be added under the heading "FUND POLICY ON TRADING OF FUND SHARES": The Funds will assess, subject to limited exceptions, a 2.00% redemption fee on the proceeds of Fund shares that are redeemed (either by selling shares or exchanging into another Columbia Fund) within 60 days of their purchase. The redemption fee is paid to the Fund. The redemption fee is imposed on Fund shares redeemed (including redemptions by exchange) within 60 days of purchase. In determining which shares are being redeemed, we generally apply a first-in, first-out approach. For Fund shares acquired by exchange, the holding period prior to the exchange will not be considered in determining whether to assess the redemption fee. The redemption fee will not be imposed if you qualify for a waiver and the Fund has received proper notification, unless the waiver is automatic as noted below. We'll redeem any shares that are eligible for a waiver first. A Fund shareholder won't pay an otherwise applicable redemption fee on any of the following transactions: o shares sold following the death or disability (as defined in the tax code) of the shareholder, including a registered joint owner o shares sold by or distributions from participant directed retirement plans, such as 401(k), 403(b), 457, Keogh, profit sharing, and money purchase pension accounts, where the Fund does not have access to information about the individual participant account activity, except where the Fund has received an indication that the plan administrator is able to assess the redemption fee to the appropriate accounts (automatic) o shares sold by certain investment funds, including those that Columbia Management Advisors or its affiliates may manage (automatic) o shares sold as part of an automatic rebalancing within an asset allocation program or by certain wrap programs where the program sponsor has provided assurances reasonably satisfactory to the Fund that the program is not designed to be a vehicle for market timing o shares sold by accounts maintained by a financial institution or intermediary where the Fund has received information reasonably satisfactory to the Fund indicating that the financial institution or intermediary is unable for administrative reasons to assess the redemption fee to underlying shareholders o shares sold by an account which has demonstrated a hardship, such as a medical emergency, as determined in the absolute discretion of the Fund o shares that were purchased by reinvested dividends (automatic) o the following retirement plan distributions: o lump-sum or other distributions from a qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan following retirement (or following attainment of age 59 1/2 in the case of a "key employee" of a "top heavy" plan) o distributions from an individual retirement account (IRA) or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the tax code, following attainment of age 59 1/2 The Fund also has the discretion to waive the 2.00% redemption fee if the Fund is in jeopardy of failing the 90% income test or losing its RIC qualification for tax purposes. As described above, certain intermediaries do not assess redemption fees to certain categories of redemptions that do not present significant market timing concerns (such as automatic withdrawal plan redemptions). In these situations, the Fund's ability to assess redemption fees is generally limited by the intermediary's policies and, accordingly, no redemption fees will be assessed on such redemptions. ACN-36/677T-1104 November 18, 2004 COLUMBIA ACORN TRUST COLUMBIA ACORN FUND COLUMBIA ACORN INTERNATIONAL COLUMBIA ACORN USA COLUMBIA ACORN SELECT COLUMBIA ACORN INTERNATIONAL SELECT COLUMBIA THERMOSTAT FUND SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Under the heading "HOW TO BUY SHARES", the sixth paragraph is deleted and replaced with the following: In addition to the commissions specified in the Class A, B and C Fund prospectuses and this SAI, CFD, or its advisory affiliates, from their own resources, may make cash payments to FSFs that agree to promote the sale of shares of funds that CFD distributes. A number of factors may be considered in determining the amount of those payments, including the FSF's sales, client assets invested in the funds and redemption rates, the quality of the FSF's relationship with CFD and/or its affiliates, and the nature of the services provided by FSFs to its clients. The payments may be made in recognition of such factors as marketing support, access to sales meetings and the FSF's representatives, and inclusion of the Fund on focus, select or other similar lists. Subject to applicable rules, CFD may also pay non-cash compensation to FSFs and their representatives, including: (i) occasional gifts; (ii) occasional meals, or other entertainment; and/or (iii) support for FSF educational or training events. In addition, CFD, and/or the Fund's investment advisor, transfer agent or their affiliates, may pay service, administrative or other similar fees to broker/dealers, banks, third-party administrators or other financial institutions (each commonly referred to as an "intermediary"). Those fees are generally for subaccounting, sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus or other group accounts. The rate of those fees may vary and is generally calculated on the average daily net assets of a Fund attributable to a particular intermediary. In some circumstances, the payments discussed above may create an incentive for an intermediary or its employees or associated persons to recommend or sell shares of a Fund. As of the date of this Supplement and in connection with the Columbia Funds, CFD and its affiliates anticipate that the FSFs and intermediaries that will receive the additional compensation described above include: 1st Global Capital Corp 401 Company ABN AMRO Trust Services ADP Retirement Services Advest AEGON/Transamerica AG Edwards American Century Services American Express AMG AON Consulting AST Trust Company Banc of America Investment Services BancOne Bear Stearns Benefit Plan Administrators Bidwell & Company BNY Clearing C N A Trust Charles Schwab CIBC Oppenheimer Citigroup Global Markets CitiStreet Associates LLC City National Bank City of Milwaukee Columbia Trust Company Commonwealth Financial Compensation & Capital CPI Qualified Plan Consultants Daily Access Concepts Davenport & Company Delaware Investments Digital Retirement Solutions Discover Brokerage Dreyfus/Mellon Edgewood Services Edward Jones E-Trade, ExpertPlan FAS Liberty Life Spectrum Ferris Baker Watts Fidelity Financial Data Services Franklin Templeton Freeman Welwood Gem Group Great West Life Hewitt Associates LLC Huntington Bank ING Intermountain Health Care Investmart, Inc. Investment Manager Services (IMS) Janney Montgomery Scott JJB Hilliard Lyons JP Morgan/American Century Kenney Investments Kirkpatrick Pettis Smith Polian Inc Legg Mason Wood Walker Liberty Life Lincoln Financial Lincoln Life Linsco Private Ledger M & T Securities Marquette Trust Company Mass Mutual Life Matrix Settlement & Clearance Services (MSCS) McDonald Investments Merrill Lynch MetLife MFS Mfund Trax MidAtlantic Capital Milliman USA Morgan Keegan Morgan Stanley Dean Witter PFPC Nationwide Investment Services Neuberger Berman Mgmt NFP Securities NSD -NetStock Sharebuilder NYLife Distributors Optimum Investment Advisors Orbitex Pershing LLC Phoenix Home Life Piper Jaffray PNC PPI Employee Benefits Private Bank & Trust Prudential Putnam Investments Raymond James RBC Dain Rausher Robert W Baird Royal Alliance RSM McGladrey Inc. Safeco Scott & Stringfellow Scudder Investments Security Benefit Segall Bryant Hamill South Trust Securities Southwest Securities Standard Insurance Stanton Group State of NY Deferred Compensation Plan Stephens, Inc. Stifel Nicolaus & Co Strong Capital Sungard T Rowe Price Trustar Retirement Services Trustlynx/Datalynx UBS Financial Services USAA Investment Management Vanguard Wachovia TD Waterhouse Webster Investment Services Wells Fargo Wilmington Trust PLEASE CONTACT YOUR FSF OR INTERMEDIARY FOR DETAILS ABOUT PAYMENTS IT MAY RECEIVE. ACN-35/672T-1104 November 18, 2004