XML 16 R42.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Columbia Acorn Select
SUMMARY OF THE FUND
Investment Objective
Columbia Acorn SelectSM (the Fund) seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and members of your immediate family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain classes of shares of eligible funds distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, and can be found in the Choosing a Share Class section beginning on page 22 of the Fund’s prospectus and in Appendix S to the Statement of Additional Information (SAI) under Sales Charge Waivers beginning on page S-1.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Shareholder Fees Columbia Acorn Select
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class I
Class R4
Class R5
Class Y
Class Z
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a % of offering price) 5.75%rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none none none none none none none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a % of the lower of the original purchase price or current net asset value) 1.00%rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther [1] 5.00%rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther [2] 1.00%rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther [3] none none none none none
[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 one year after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Annual Fund Operating Expenses Columbia Acorn Select
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class I
Class R4
Class R5
Class Y
Class Z
Management fees 0.85%rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.25%rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.75%rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none none none none none
Other expenses 0.22%rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.55%rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.19%rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.27%rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.15%rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.19%rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1.32%rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.15%rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.04%rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.95%rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.12%rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.00%rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.95%rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.04%rr_ExpensesOverAssets
Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements [1] (0.20%)rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.20%)rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.20%)rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.20%)rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.20%)rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.20%)rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.20%)rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.20%)rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements 1.12%rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.95%rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.84%rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.75%rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.92%rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.80%rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.75%rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.84%rr_NetExpensesOverAssets
[1] Effective May 1, 2015, Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC (the Investment Manager) has contractually agreed to waive 0.20% of the advisory fee otherwise payable to it by the Fund through April 30, 2016. This arrangement may only be modified or amended with approval from all parties to the arrangement, including the Fund and the Investment Manager.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
  • you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
  • your investment has a 5% return each year, and
  • the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire as indicated in the preceding table, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the other examples. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
Expense Example Columbia Acorn Select (USD $)
1 year
3 years
5 years
10 years
Class A
683 951 1,239 2,057
Class B
698 954 1,336 2,256
Class C
287 620 1,080 2,353
Class I
77 283 506 1,148
Class R4
94 336 598 1,345
Class R5
82 298 533 1,206
Class Y
77 283 506 1,148
Class Z
86 311 555 1,253
Expense Example, No Redemption Columbia Acorn Select (USD $)
1 year
3 years
5 years
10 years
Class A
683 951 1,239 2,057
Class B
198 654 1,136 2,256
Class C
187 620 1,080 2,353
Class I
77 283 506 1,148
Class R4
94 336 598 1,345
Class R5
82 298 533 1,206
Class Y
77 283 506 1,148
Class Z
86 311 555 1,253
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 17% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of companies with market capitalizations under $20 billion at the time of initial investment. However, if the Fund's investments in such companies represent less than a majority of its net assets, the Fund may continue to hold and to make additional investments in an existing company in its portfolio even if that company's capitalization has grown to exceed $20 billion. Under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest in companies with market capitalizations above $20 billion at the time of initial investment, provided that immediately after that investment a majority of its net assets would be invested in companies whose market capitalizations were under $20 billion at the time of initial investment.

Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser (the Investment Manager), believes that stocks of companies with market capitalizations under $20 billion, which generally are not as well known by financial analysts as larger companies, may offer higher return potential than stocks of larger companies.

The Fund invests the majority of its assets in U.S. companies, but also may invest up to 33% of its total assets in foreign companies in developed markets (for example, Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom) and in emerging markets (for example, China, India and Colombia).

The Fund invests in a limited number of companies (generally between 30-60), offering the potential to provide above-average growth over time. In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, the portfolio managers may take advantage of the research and stock-picking capabilities of the Investment Manager to select investments that are “best ideas,” but need not do so and will generally concentrate the Fund’s investments in those sectors, companies, geographic regions or industries that the portfolio managers believe offer the most growth potential.

The Investment Manager typically seeks companies with:
  • A strong business franchise that offers growth potential.
  • Products and services in which the company has a competitive advantage.
  • A stock price the Investment Manager believes is reasonable relative to the assets and earning power of the company.
The Fund may also invest in companies that the Investment Manager believes have good operational fundamentals but that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued due to negative investor sentiment related to company-specific or market-related conditions. Investments in turnaround and development stage companies may also be made when the Investment Manager believes potential returns outweigh risks of losses.

The Investment Manager may sell a portfolio holding if the security reaches the Investment Manager's price target, if the company has a deterioration of fundamentals, such as failing to meet key operating benchmarks, or if the Investment Manager believes other securities are more attractive. The Investment Manager also may sell a portfolio holding to fund redemptions.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money. The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.

Select 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 its portfolio securities decline in price. In addition, the Fund’s holdings and weightings will diverge significantly from its primary benchmark’s holdings and weightings and the Fund may therefore experience greater risk and volatility relative to the benchmark. Because the Fund may invest in more than one company concentrated in a similar industry, sector or geographic region, the Fund may be even more concentrated than the number of companies it may hold would suggest.

Active Management Risk. The Investment Manager’s active management of the Fund could cause the Fund to underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives.

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.

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.

Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests 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.

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.

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 the Fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.

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. 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, 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.

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 foreign sub-custodians. Some countries have limited governmental oversight and regulation, 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. As a result, there is a risk that the security will not be delivered to the Fund or that payment will not be received. 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. In certain non-U.S. markets, an issuer’s securities are blocked from trading for a specified number of days before and, in certain instances, after a shareholder meeting. The blocking period can last up to several weeks. Share blocking may prevent the Fund from buying or selling securities during this period. 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.

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.

Operational and Settlement Risks of Securities in Emerging Markets. Foreign sub-custodians in emerging markets 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. There may also 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. Emerging market currencies may not be traded and are subject to a higher risk of currency devaluations.

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.

Liquidity and Trading Volume Risk. Because the Fund may invest a percentage of its assets in foreign securities, it may be subject to the liquidity and trading volume risks associated with international investing. Due to market conditions, including uncertainty regarding the price of a security, it may be difficult for the Fund to buy or sell foreign portfolio securities at a desirable time or price, which could result in investment losses. This risk of portfolio illiquidity is heightened with respect to small- and mid-cap securities, generally, and foreign small- and mid-cap securities in particular. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, liquidate other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity as a result of illiquidity in the markets. As a result of significant and sustained reductions in emerging and developed international market trading volumes in the wake of the 2007-2009 financial crisis, it may take longer to buy or sell these securities, which can exacerbate the Fund’s exposure to volatile markets. The Fund may also be limited in its ability to execute favorable trades in foreign portfolio securities in response to changes in share prices and fundamentals, and may be forced to dispose of securities under disadvantageous circumstances and at a loss. As the Fund grows in size, these considerations take on increasing significance and may adversely impact performance.

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.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class Z share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) MidCap 400® Index, the Fund’s primary benchmark, and the S&P 500® Index. The S&P MidCap 400® Index is a market value-weighted index that tracks the performance of 400 mid-cap U.S. companies. The S&P 500® Index tracks the performance of 500 widely held, large-capitalization U.S. stocks. Although the Fund typically invests in companies with market capitalizations under $20 billion at the time of investment, the comparison to the S&P 500® Index is presented to show performance against a widely recognized market index.

The performance of one or more share classes shown in the Average Annual Total Returns table below includes the Fund’s Class Z share returns (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to the indicated inception date of such share classes. Except for differences in fees and expenses, all 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 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-deferred 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.

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611 or visiting columbiathreadneedle.com/us.
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Bar Chart
[1] Year to Date return as of March 31, 2015: 2.83%
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart


Best                            2nd Quarter 2009                            28.11%

Worst                         4th Quarter 2008                            -30.14%
Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2014)
Average Annual Total Returns Columbia Acorn Select
Share Class Inception Date
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class Z
Nov. 23, 1998 2.47% 10.60% 7.33%
Class Z returns after taxes on distributions
Nov. 23, 1998 (2.20%) 7.98% 5.89%
Class Z returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares
Nov. 23, 1998 5.17% 8.33% 5.93%
Class A
Oct. 16, 2000 (3.70%) 8.98% 6.39%
Class B
Oct. 16, 2000 (2.60%) 9.30% 6.31%
Class C
Oct. 16, 2000 0.63% 9.45% 6.19%
Class I
Sep. 27, 2010 2.49% 10.69% 7.38%
Class R4
Nov. 08, 2012 2.39% 10.58% 7.32%
Class R5
Nov. 08, 2012 2.50% 10.62% 7.34%
Class Y
Nov. 08, 2012 2.53% 10.64% 7.35%
S&P MidCap 400® Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)
  9.77% 16.54% 9.71%
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)
  13.69% 15.45% 7.67%