As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2023
Securities Act Registration No. 2‑34223
Investment Company Act File No. 811‑1829
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Post-Effective Amendment No. 116
and
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
Amendment No. 91
COLUMBIA ACORN TRUST
71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500
Chicago, IL 60606
Telephone number: 312.634.9200
| Ryan C. Larrenaga c/o Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC 290 Congress Street Boston, MA 02210 |
Stephen Kusmierczak Daniel J. Beckman Columbia Acorn Trust 71 S. Wacker Drive Suite 2500 Chicago, IL 60606 |
Mary C. Moynihan Perkins Coie LLP 700 13th Street, N.W., Suite 800 Washington, D.C. 20005 | ||
| (Agents for service) | ||||
It is proposed that this filing will become effective:
| ☐ | immediately upon filing pursuant to rule 485(b) |
| ☒ | on |
| ☐ | 60 days after filing pursuant to rule 485(a)(1) |
| ☐ | on pursuant to rule 485(a)(l) |
| ☐ | 75 days after filing pursuant to rule 485(a)(2) |
| ☐ | on pursuant to rule 485(a)(2). |
Prospectus
Columbia Acorn Family of Funds
Managed by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
Columbia
Acorn European FundSM
Acorn European FundSM
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Table of Contents
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A-1 |
2
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Summary of the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Acorn European FundSM (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, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. 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 is available about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers from your financial intermediary, and can be found in the Choosing a Share Class section beginning on page 26 of the Fund’s prospectus, in Appendix A to the prospectus beginning on page A-1 and in Appendix S to the Statement of Additional Information (SAI) under Sales Charge Waivers beginning on page S-1.
| | |||
| Class A | Class C | Classes Adv, Inst, Inst2 and Inst3 | |
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a % of offering price) | |||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a % of the lower of the original purchase price or current net asset value) | |||
| | ||||||
| Class A | Class Adv | Class C | Class Inst | Class Inst2 | Class Inst3 | |
| Management fees | ||||||
| Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | ||||||
| Other expenses | ||||||
| Total annual Fund operating expenses | ||||||
| Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements(c) | ( |
( |
( |
( |
( |
( |
| Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements | ||||||
| (a) | |
| (b) | |
| (c) | |
| Prospectus 2023 | 3 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
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. |
Class C shares’ 10-year cost examples below reflect the Class C shares 8-year conversion policy.
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:
| 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | |
| Class A (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Adv (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class C (assuming redemption of all shares at the end of the period) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class C (assuming no redemption of shares) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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 31 % of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowing for investment purposes) in European companies. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 70% of its total assets in companies in Western European countries (for example, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy), but also may invest up to 30% of its total assets in companies in emerging Central and Eastern European countries (for example, Poland, the Czech Republic, Turkey and Cyprus). For purposes of the Fund's policies, the Fund may invest in a company if (i) it is domiciled in, or the principal trading market for its securities is in, a European country, (ii) it derives 50% or more of its economic value from goods produced, sales made or services performed or has at least 50% of its assets in a European country or countries or (iii) it is a holding company that predominantly holds shares in such companies. The Fund may invest in a variety of countries, industries and sectors and does not attempt to invest a specific percentage of its assets in any given country, industry or sector.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations generally in the range of market capitalizations in the MSCI AC Europe Small Cap Index (Net), the Fund's benchmark, (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $128.6 million and $8.4 billion as of March 31, 2023). The market capitalization range and composition of companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. The Fund determines a
| 4 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
company’s market capitalization at the time of investment. As long as a majority of its net assets are invested in companies within the market capitalization range of the Index, the Fund may continue to hold and make new investments in a security even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the range of the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index. The Investment Manager from time to time emphasizes one or more sectors in selecting the Fund’s investments, including the industrials, information technology, and health care sectors.
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser (the Investment Manager), believes that stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, 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 takes advantage of the Investment Manager's research and stock-picking capabilities to initially invest in a limited number of companies (generally under 100), offering the potential to provide above-average growth over time.
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 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 risks, including those described below, among others. 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. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
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 and/or strategies.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-cap companies often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established 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.
Geographic Focus Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to risks related 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.
| ■ | Europe. The Fund is particularly susceptible to risks related to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions, including acts of war or other conflicts in the region, affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Countries in Europe are often closely connected and interdependent, and events in one European country can have an adverse impact on, and potentially spread to, other European countries. In addition, significant private or public debt problems in a single European Union (EU) country can pose 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 focus their investments in this region of the world. Any uncertainty caused by the departure of the United Kingdom (UK) from the EU, which occurred in January 2020, could have negative impacts on the UK and EU, as well as other European economies |
| Prospectus 2023 | 5 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
| and the broader global economy. These could include negative impacts on currencies and financial markets as well as increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth in markets in Europe, which could adversely affect the value of your investment in the Fund. |
Market Risk. The Fund may incur losses due to declines in the value of one or more securities in which it invests. These declines may be due to factors affecting a particular issuer, or the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s) more generally. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to price or value hard-to-value assets in thinly traded and closed markets and could cause significant redemptions and operational challenges. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as terrorism, war, other conflicts, natural disasters, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other public health issues, recessions, depressions or other events – or the potential for such events – could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions.
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.
Liquidity and Trading Volume Risk. Due to market conditions, including uncertainty regarding the price of a security, it may be difficult for the Fund to buy or sell 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. The Fund may also be limited in its ability to execute favorable trades in 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 or, conversely, if it faces significant redemption pressure, these considerations take on increasing significance and may adversely impact performance.
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. Growth securities may also be sensitive to movements in interest rates.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to securities of foreign companies may involve heightened risks relative to investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Investing in securities of foreign companies subjects the Fund to the risks associated with an issuer’s (and any of its related companies’) country of organization and places of business operations, including risks related to political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events (including, for example, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism and disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics) 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.
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
| 6 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
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.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in an industry or related group of industries within one or more economic sectors , including the industrials, information technology, and health care sectors. Companies in the same 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 industry or group of industries or 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.
| ■ | Industrials Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials 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, economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims. |
| ■ | Information Technology Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the information technology sector 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 information 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. Some companies in the information technology sector are facing increased government and regulatory scrutiny and may be subject to adverse government or regulatory action, which could negatively impact the value of their securities. |
| ■ | Health Care Sector. The Fund is 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), among others. 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. |
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Underperformance of an issuer 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, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other events, conditions and factors.
| Prospectus 2023 | 7 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries 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, and may be more susceptible to market manipulation, 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. Due to the differences in the nature and quality of financial information of issuers of emerging market securities, including auditing and financial reporting standards, financial information and disclosures about such issuers may be unavailable or, if made available, may be considerably less reliable than publicly available information about other foreign securities.
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 have an active trading market 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.
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 performance of one or more share classes shown in the Average Annual Total Returns table below includes the Fund’s Class Inst 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.
| 8 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
as of December 31 Each Year* |
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart | ||
 |
|||
| - | |||
| * | |
Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2022)
| Share Class Inception Date |
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | |
| Class Inst | ||||
| returns before taxes | - |
|||
| returns after taxes on distributions | - |
|||
| returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares | - |
|||
| Class A returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Class Adv returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Class C returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Class Inst2 returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Class Inst3 returns before taxes | - |
|||
| MSCI AC Europe Small Cap Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes) | - |
- |
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
| Portfolio Management | Title | Role with Fund | Service with the Fund Since | |||
| Stephen Kusmierczak, CFA | International Team Head, Portfolio Manager and Analyst | Portfolio Manager or Co-Portfolio Manager since inception in 2011 |
2011 | |||
| Sebastien Pigeon, CFA | Portfolio Manager and Analyst | Co-Portfolio Manager since 2021 |
2015 |
| Prospectus 2023 | 9 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by contacting the Fund in the ways described below:
| Online | Regular Mail | Express Mail | By Telephone | |||
| columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/ | Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. P.O. Box 219104 Kansas City, MO 64121-9104 |
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. c/o SS&C GIDS, Inc. 430 W 7th Street, Suite 219104 Kansas City, MO 64105-1407 |
800.422.3737 |
You may purchase shares and receive redemption proceeds by electronic funds transfer, by check or by wire. If you maintain your account with a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, you must contact that financial intermediary to buy, sell or exchange shares of the Fund through your account with the intermediary.
The minimum initial investment amounts for the share classes offered by the Fund are shown below:
Minimum Initial Investment
| Class | Category of eligible account | For accounts other than Systematic Investment Plan accounts (as described in the Fund’s Prospectus) |
For Systematic Investment Plan accounts |
| Classes A & C | All accounts other than IRAs | $2,000 | $100 |
| IRAs | $1,000 | $100 | |
| Classes Adv & Inst | All eligible accounts | $0, $1,000 or $2,000 depending upon the category of eligible investor |
$100 |
| Class Inst2 | All eligible accounts | None | N/A |
| Class Inst3 | All eligible accounts | $0, $1,000, $2,000 or $1 million depending upon the category of eligible investor |
$100 (for certain eligible investors) |
More information about these minimums can be found in the Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares - Buying Shares section of the prospectus. There is no minimum additional investment for any share class.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders. These distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, you may be taxed upon withdrawals from that account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies – including the Investment Manager, the Distributor and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) – may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Fund over another investment. These potential conflicts of interest may be heightened with respect to broker-dealers owned by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial) and/or its affiliates. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
| 10 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
More Information About the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Acorn European FundSM (the Fund) seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy of the Fund and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board) without shareholder approval. There is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowing for investment purposes) in European companies. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 70% of its total assets in companies in Western European countries (for example, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy), but also may invest up to 30% of its total assets in companies in emerging Central and Eastern European countries (for example, Poland, the Czech Republic, Turkey and Cyprus). For purposes of the Fund's policies, the Fund may invest in a company if (i) it is domiciled in, or the principal trading market for its securities is in, a European country, (ii) it derives 50% or more of its economic value from goods produced, sales made or services performed or has at least 50% of its assets in a European country or countries or (iii) it is a holding company that predominantly holds shares in such companies. The Fund may invest in a variety of countries, industries and sectors and does not attempt to invest a specific percentage of its assets in any given country, industry or sector.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations generally in the range of market capitalizations in the MSCI AC Europe Small Cap Index (Net), the Fund's benchmark, (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $128.6 million and $8.4 billion as of March 31, 2023). The market capitalization range and composition of companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. The Fund determines a company’s market capitalization at the time of investment. As long as a majority of its net assets are invested in companies within the market capitalization range of the Index, the Fund may continue to hold and make new investments in a security even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the range of the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index. The Investment Manager from time to time emphasizes one or more sectors in selecting the Fund’s investments, including the industrials, information technology, and health care sectors.
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser (the Investment Manager), believes that stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, 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 takes advantage of the Investment Manager's research and stock-picking capabilities to initially invest in a limited number of companies (generally under 100), offering the potential to provide above-average growth over time.
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 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 risks, including those described below, among others. 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. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
| Prospectus 2023 | 11 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
More Information About the Fund (continued)
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the Investment Manager to select investments and to make investment decisions that will achieve the Fund’s investment objective. 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 and/or strategies.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger, more established 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 and generally less experienced 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 Fund investment losses that would affect the value of your investment in 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.
Geographic Focus Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to risks related 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.
| ■ | Europe. The Fund is particularly susceptible to risks related to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions, including acts of war or other conflicts in the region, affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Countries in Europe are often closely connected and interdependent, and events in one European country can have an adverse impact on, and potentially spread to, other European countries. Most developed countries in Western Europe are members of the EU, and many are also members of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). European countries can be significantly affected by the tight fiscal and monetary controls that the EMU imposes on its members and with which candidates for EMU membership are required to comply. In addition, significant private or public debt problems in a single EU country can pose economic risks to the EU as a whole. Unemployment in Europe has historically been higher than in the United States and public deficits are an ongoing concern in many European countries. 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 focus their investments in this region of the world. Any uncertainty caused by the departure of the UK from the EU, which occurred in January 2020, could have negative impacts on the UK and EU, as well as other European economies and the broader global economy. These could include negative impacts on currencies and financial markets as well as increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth in markets in the UK, Europe and globally, which could adversely affect the value of your investment in the Fund. Any attempt by the Fund to hedge against or otherwise protect its portfolio or to profit from such circumstances may fail and, accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. |
Market Risk. The Fund may incur losses due to declines in the value of one or more securities in which it invests. These declines may be due to factors affecting a particular issuer, or the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s) more generally. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to price or value hard-to-value assets in thinly traded and closed markets and could cause significant redemptions and operational challenges. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as terrorism, war, other
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conflicts, natural disasters, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other public health issues, recessions, depressions or other events – or the potential for such events – could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions.
The large-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 has resulted in sanctions and market disruptions, including declines in regional and global stock markets, unusual volatility in global commodity markets and significant devaluations of Russian currency. The extent and duration of the military action are impossible to predict but could be significant. Market disruption caused by the Russian military action, and any counter measures or responses thereto (including international sanctions, a downgrade in a country’s credit rating, purchasing and financing restrictions, boycotts, tariffs, changes in consumer or purchaser preferences, cyberattacks and espionage) could have severe adverse impacts on regional and/or global securities and commodities markets, including markets for oil and natural gas. These impacts may include reduced market liquidity, distress in credit markets, further disruption of global supply chains, increased risk of inflation, and limited access to investments in certain international markets and/or issuers. These developments and other related events could negatively impact Fund performance.
Focused Portfolio Risk. The Fund, because it may invest in a limited number of companies, may have more volatility in its NAV and is considered to have more risk than a fund that invests in a greater number of companies because changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund’s NAV. To the extent the Fund invests its assets in fewer securities, the Fund is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decline in price.
Liquidity and Trading Volume Risk. Due to market conditions, including uncertainty regarding the price of a security, it may be difficult for the Fund to buy or sell 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. The Investment Manager will fair value in good faith any securities it deems to be illiquid under consistently applied procedures established by the Fund’s Board. Market conditions are always changing and vary by country and industry sector, and investing in international markets involves unique risks. Although it is difficult to accurately assess trends in trading volumes in foreign markets, a reduction in trading volumes poses challenges to the Fund. This is particularly so because the Fund focuses on small- and mid-cap companies that usually have lower trading volumes and often takes sizeable positions in portfolio companies. As a result of lower trading volumes, it may take longer to buy or sell 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 portfolio securities in response to changes in share prices and fundamentals. If the Fund is forced to sell securities to meet redemption requests or other cash needs, or in the case of an event affecting liquidity in a particular market or markets, it may be forced to dispose of those securities under disadvantageous circumstances and at a loss. As the Fund grows in size or, conversely, if it faces significant redemption pressure, these considerations take on increasing significance and may adversely impact performance.
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. Growth securities may also be sensitive to movements in interest rates.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to securities of foreign companies may involve heightened risks relative to investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities may also be less liquid, making them more difficult to trade, 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
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information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events (including, for example, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism and disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics), possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; 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. Economic sanctions may be, and have been, imposed against certain countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals. Economic sanctions and other similar governmental actions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate the Fund’s ability to purchase or sell securities, and thus may make the Fund’s investments in such securities less liquid or more difficult to value. In addition, as a result of economic sanctions, the Fund may be forced to sell or otherwise dispose of investments at inopportune times or prices, which could result in losses to the Fund and increased transaction costs. These conditions may be in place for a substantial period of time and enacted with limited advance notice to the Fund. 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. Additionally, investments in certain countries may subject the Fund to a number of tax rules, the application of which may be uncertain. Countries may amend or revise their existing tax laws, regulations and/or procedures in the future, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in or uncertainties regarding the laws, regulations or procedures of a country could reduce the after-tax profits of the Fund, directly or indirectly, including by reducing the after-tax profits of companies located in such countries in which the Fund invests, or result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund.
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.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in an industry or related group of industries within one or more economic sectors , including the industrials, information technology, and health care sectors. Companies in the same sector may be similarly affected
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by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that industry or group of industries or 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.
| ■ | Industrials Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials 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, economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims. |
| ■ | Information Technology Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the information technology sector 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 information 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. Some companies in the information technology sector are facing increased government and regulatory scrutiny and may be subject to adverse government or regulatory action, which could negatively impact the value of their securities. |
| ■ | Health Care Sector. The Fund is 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), among others. 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. |
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Underperformance of an issuer 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, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other events, conditions and factors.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries 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, and may be more susceptible to market manipulation, 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. Due to the
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differences in the nature and quality of financial information of issuers of emerging market securities, including auditing and financial reporting standards, financial information and disclosures about such issuers may be unavailable or, if made available, may be considerably less reliable than publicly available information about other foreign securities.
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 have an active trading market 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 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.
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. Restrictions on currency trading may be imposed by foreign countries, which may adversely affect the value of your investment in the Fund. Even though the currencies of some countries may be pegged to the U.S. dollar, the conversion rate may be controlled by government regulation or intervention at levels significantly different than what would normally prevail in a free market. Significant revaluations of the U.S. dollar exchange rate of these currencies could cause substantial reductions in the Fund’s NAV.
Additional Investment Strategies and Policies
This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that the Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in the Fund. For information about risks associated with changing levels of Fund distributions, see the Fund’s SAI.
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Changing the Fund’s Investment Objective and Policies
The Fund’s investment objective and non-fundamental investment policies (including its principal and additional investment strategies) can be changed by the Board without shareholder approval, but may require notice to shareholders in certain instances. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies, as identified in the SAI, may be changed only with Board and shareholder approval in accordance with the voting requirements of the 1940 Act. For additional information about changing the Fund’s fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies, see the SAI.
Investment Guidelines
As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies in this prospectus, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of the 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 based on the characteristics of a company at the time of initial purchase, and subsequent changes in a characteristic are not taken into account.
Holding Other Kinds of Investments
The Fund may hold other investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the SAI. The 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 the Fund’s holdings can be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports or by visiting columbiathreadneedleus.com.
Transactions in Derivatives
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions or otherwise have exposure to derivative transactions through underlying investments. The Fund expects to enter into such transactions primarily in the form of stock index futures in order to obtain exposure to the overall sector of the market represented by a particular stock index or to invest the Fund’s uninvested cash balances in a manner that the Investment Manager believes aligns more closely with the Fund’s investment strategy than simply holding short-term fixed income investments or cash equivalents (known as cash equitization). 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 Secured Overnight Financing Rate (commonly known as SOFR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor’s 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 the Fund’s potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies typically expose the Fund to gains and losses in excess of the amount actually invested in the derivative. This characteristic of a derivative (known as "leverage") may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the 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 (including distressed) market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or the 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 the Fund’s potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund’s derivative positions at times when the 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. The 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 the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. The U.S. government and the European Union (and some other jurisdictions) have enacted regulations and similar requirements that prescribe clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These requirements are
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evolving and their ultimate impact on the Fund remains unclear, but such impact could include restricting and/or imposing significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. Additionally, in August 2022, regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies, such as the Fund, became effective. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, among other things, requires a fund that invests in derivative instruments beyond a specified limited amount to apply a value-at-risk-based limit to its portfolio and establish a comprehensive derivatives risk management program. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund is not required to maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program under Rule 18f-4 given its more limited use of derivatives. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.
LIBOR Phase-Out Risk. Many derivatives and other financial instruments utilize or are permitted to utilize a floating interest rate based on the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR). On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced its intention to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and the ICE Benchmark Administration have since announced that a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will cease publication after June 30, 2023. A subset of non-U.S. dollar LIBOR settings is continuing to be published on a “synthetic” basis and it is possible that a subset of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will also be published after June 30, 2023 on a “synthetic” basis. Any such publications are, or would be considered, non-representative of the underlying market. Uncertainty related to the liquidity impact of changes in reference rates, and how to appropriately adjust these rates at the time of transition, poses risks for the Fund. It is difficult to predict the full impact of the transition away from LIBOR on the Fund until new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new products, instruments and contracts are commercially accepted and market practices become more settled. The Investment Manager monitors the Fund’s LIBOR exposure risks, including the extent to which any derivative and/or debt investments allow for the utilization of alternative rate(s), such as the SOFR, which the U.S. Federal Reserve is promoting as the alternative reference rate to LIBOR.
Affiliated Fund Investing
The Investment Manager and its affiliate, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management), serve as investment advisers to mutual funds and ETFs using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including mutual funds 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 the 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 the Investment Manager and Columbia Management seek 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 the 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 to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Underlying Fund shares. Although the Investment Manager or Columbia Management 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 the Investment Manager or Columbia Management 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, the 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 investments (i.e., any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or
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less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment) or less liquid securities. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Underlying Fund to implement its investment strategy. The Investment Manager or Columbia Management also has a 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
The Fund may invest cash, including cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending program, in shares of money market funds, including funds advised by affiliates of the Investment Manager. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which the Fund may invest.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries on a fully collateralized basis in order to earn additional income. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, the borrower does not return a loaned security and the proceeds from sale of the collateral are not sufficient to replace the borrowed security. The Fund invests collateral in a government money market fund.
Investing Defensively
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions. These investment positions may include, 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 the Investment Manager deems necessary. During these times, the Investment Manager may make frequent portfolio changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and taxes, and decreased Fund performance.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of Fund portfolio securities is available in the SAI. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings on the Columbia Funds’ website, columbiathreadneedleus.com, as described below. Once posted, the portfolio holdings information will remain available on the website until at least the date on which such Fund files a Form N-CSR or publicly available Form N-PORT (forms filed with the SEC that include portfolio holdings information) for the period that includes the date as of which the information is current.
The Fund considers changes in its portfolio holdings to be confidential information. Consequently, Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information only after a certain amount of time has passed. The Fund’s complete portfolio holdings are disclosed approximately 30 to 40 days after each month-end. The top 15 holdings may be available sooner, approximately 15 calendar days after each month-end. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information available on the website may not always be current.
Cybersecurity
The Fund, like all companies, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks, including the risk of cyber attacks or failures. As a result, the Fund or its service providers, or the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, may experience disruptions in business operations that may potentially result in financial losses, the inability of the Fund or Fund shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. See the discussion of Cybersecurity Breaches and Technology and Related Systems Failure Risk in the SAI for further information.
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Use of Benchmarks
Benchmarks are indices that provide some comparative guidance in assessing the Fund’s performance. The Investment Manager selects the benchmark(s) it believes provide meaningful comparisons for the Fund. However, there may be different or additional indices that more closely reflect the market sectors in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s benchmark(s) may change from time to time. The benchmark included in this prospectus is intended only as a guidepost for your assessment of the Fund’s performance.
FUNDamentals
Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks
The Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmarks, and accordingly the Fund's holdings may diverge significantly from those of the benchmarks selected by the Investment Manager. In addition, the Fund may invest in securities outside the industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmarks. The Fund's weightings in individual securities, and in industry and geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmarks.
eDelivery and Mailings to Households
In order to reduce shareholder expenses, the Fund may mail only one copy of the Fund’s 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, as well as quarterly statements and supplements, by logging into your account at columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/.
Additional Information on Portfolio Turnover
A mutual fund that replaces, or turns over, more than 100% of its investments in a year may be considered to have a high portfolio turnover rate. A high portfolio turnover rate can generate larger distributions of short-term capital gains to shareholders, which for individuals are generally taxable at higher rates than long-term capital gains for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Also, a high portfolio turnover rate can mean higher brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which could reduce a fund’s returns. In general, the greater the volume of buying and selling by a fund, the greater the impact that brokerage commissions and other transaction costs will have on its returns. The Fund may sell securities regardless of how long they’ve been held. See the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus for the Fund's portfolio turnover rates for the past five years.
Cash Flows
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent the Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require the 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 the Fund’s performance.
Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund’s annual operating expenses, as presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, may vary by share class and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The expense ratios reflect the Fund’s fee arrangements as of the date of this prospectus and, unless indicated otherwise, are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year. The Fund’s assets will fluctuate, but unless indicated otherwise in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table, no adjustments have been or will be made to the expense ratios to reflect any differences in the Fund’s average net assets between the most recently completed fiscal year and the date of this prospectus or a later
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
date. In general, the Fund’s expense ratios will increase as its net assets decrease, such that the 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 the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected, in part, to limit the impact of any increase in the Fund’s expense ratios that would otherwise result because of a decrease in the Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. The 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. Please see Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Arrangements below for information about commitments made by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates during the performance period covered by this prospectus.
FUNDamentals
Other Expenses
“Other expenses” consist of the fees the Fund pays to its administrator, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. Generally, these expenses are allocated on a pro rata basis across all share classes. These expenses include certain sub-transfer agency and shareholder servicing fees. Transfer agency 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 agency and shareholder servicing fees applicable to each share class. For more information on these fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Financial Intermediary Compensation.
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Arrangements
The Investment Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse certain expenses of the Fund through April 30, 2024, so that ordinary operating expenses (excluding transaction costs and certain other investment-related expenses, interest and fees on borrowings, and expenses associated with the Fund’s investment in other investment companies, if any) do not exceed the annual rates of:
| Columbia Acorn European Fund | |
| Class A | 1.45% |
| Class Adv | 1.20% |
| Class C | 2.20% |
| Class Inst | 1.20% |
| Class Inst2 | 1.14% |
| Class Inst3 | 1.11% |
This arrangement may only be amended or terminated with approval from the Board and the Investment Manager.
The fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements shown in the table above also reflect the contractual agreement of the Fund's Transfer Agent to waive a portion of its fees through April 30, 2024, such that the Fund's transfer agency fees do not exceed the annual rate of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of Class Inst2 shares. This arrangement may be terminated at the sole discretion of the Board.
Effect of Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements on Past Performance. The Fund’s returns shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus reflect the effect of fee waivers and/or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates that were in place during the performance period shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus. Without such fee waivers/expense reimbursements, the Fund’s returns might have been lower.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Board of Trustees
The Fund is governed by the Board. More than 75% of the Fund's Trustees are independent (Independent Trustees), meaning that they are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. The Independent Trustees bring backgrounds in business and academia to their task of working with the Fund's officers to establish the Fund's policies and oversee its activities. Among the Trustees' responsibilities are: selecting the investment adviser for the Fund; approving the advisory agreement; reviewing other contracts; approving investment policies; monitoring Fund operations, performance, compliance and costs; and nominating or selecting new Trustees.
Each Trustee serves the Fund for an indefinite term until his or her retirement, resignation, death or removal in accordance with the organizational documents of Columbia Acorn Trust (the Trust). The Trust's Bylaws generally require that Trustees retire at the end of the calendar year in which they attain the age of 75 years. The last meeting to elect Trustees was held on February 27, 2015. Any Trustee may be removed at a shareholders' meeting by a vote representing two-thirds of the net asset value of all shares of the Columbia Acorn family of funds (Columbia Acorn Funds). The mailing address for the Trustees and officers is 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
For more detailed information about the Board, please refer to the SAI.
Primary Service Provider Contracts
The Fund enters into contractual arrangements (Service Provider Contracts) with various parties, including, among others, the Investment Manager, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and the Fund’s custodian. The Fund’s Service Provider Contracts are solely among the parties thereto. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third-party beneficiaries of, any Service Provider Contracts. Further, this prospectus, the SAI and any Service Provider Contracts are not intended to give rise to any agreement, duty, special relationship or other obligation between the Fund and any investor, or give rise to any contractual, tort or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person, including any right to assert a fiduciary or other duty, enforce the Service Provider Contracts against the parties or to seek any remedy thereunder, either directly or on behalf of the Fund. Nothing in the previous sentence should be read to suggest any waiver of any rights under federal or state securities laws.
The Investment Manager, which also serves as the Fund's administrator (the Administrator), Columbia Management, which serves as the Fund's sub-administrator pursuant to an agreement with the Investment Manager (the Sub-Administrator), 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 the Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.
The Investment Manager
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC is located at 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60606. As of March 31, 2023, the Investment Manager had assets under management of approximately $6.8 billion. The Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Management, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to mutual funds, the Investment Manager acts as an investment manager for other private funds and institutional accounts.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Investment Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund, determining what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executing portfolio transactions. The Investment Manager may use the research and other capabilities of its affiliates and third parties in managing the Fund’s investments.
The Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee for its investment advisory services. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the daily net assets of the Fund and is paid monthly. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, aggregate fees paid to the Investment Manager by the Fund amounted to 1.14% of average daily net assets of the Fund, before any applicable reimbursements.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the renewal of the Fund’s investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2022.
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The Investment Manager and its investment advisory affiliates, including Columbia Management (Affiliates), around the world may coordinate in providing services to their clients. From time to time, the Investment Manager may engage its Affiliates to provide a variety of services such as investment research, investment monitoring, trading, and discretionary investment management (including portfolio management and proxy voting) to certain accounts managed by the Investment Manager, including the Fund. These Affiliates will provide services to the Fund and other accounts of the Investment Manager either pursuant to delegation agreements, personnel-sharing agreements or similar inter-company or other arrangements or relationships and the Fund will pay no additional fees and expenses as a result of any such arrangements or relationships. These Affiliates, like the Investment Manager, are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Ameriprise Financial and are registered with the appropriate respective regulators and, where required, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in the United States.
Pursuant to some of these arrangements or relationships, certain personnel of Columbia Management and other Affiliates may serve as “associated persons” or officers 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 this prospectus and the Fund's SAI, and with the Investment Manager’s and the Fund's compliance policies and procedures, may provide such services to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
| Portfolio Management | Title | Role with Fund | Service with the Fund Since | |||
| Stephen Kusmierczak, CFA | International Team Head, Portfolio Manager and Analyst | Portfolio Manager or Co-Portfolio Manager since inception in 2011 |
2011 | |||
| Sebastien Pigeon, CFA | Portfolio Manager and Analyst | Co-Portfolio Manager since 2021 |
2015 |
Mr. Kusmierczak has been associated with the Investment Manager or its predecessors as an investment professional since 2001, has been President or Co-President of the Trust since 2020, and was a Vice President of the Trust from 2011-2020. Mr. Kusmierczak began his investment career in 1999 and earned a B.A. from Bowdoin College and an M.P.A. from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.
Mr. Pigeon has been associated with the Investment Manager as an investment professional since 2015 and has been a Vice President of the Trust since 2021. Mr. Pigeon began his investment career in 1997 and earned a B.A. from the Political Institute of Lyon and an M.B.A. from the KEDGE Business School.
The Administrator
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Fund’s operations, coordination of the Fund’s service providers, and the provision of office facilities and related clerical and administrative services. The Administrator retains the Sub-Administrator to perform many of these services (including fund accounting), and pays a fee for the services of the Sub-Administrator. The Fund pays the Administrator a fee for its services, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses. The fee is calculated as an annual percentage of the Trust’s aggregate average daily net assets and is paid monthly, as follows:
| Annual Administration Fee, as a % of Aggregate Daily Net Assets of the Trust: | |
| Up to $8 billion | 0.050% |
| $8 billion to $16 billion | 0.040% |
| $16 billion to $35 billion | 0.030% |
| $35 billion to $45 billion | 0.025% |
| $45 billion and over | 0.015% |
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
The Distributor
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. 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 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, 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 SS&C GIDS, 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. Depending on the type of account, the Fund pays the Transfer Agent a per account fee for each open account and compensates the Transfer Agent for certain out-of-pocket expenses, including certain payments to financial intermediaries through which shares are held. In addition, subject to certain limitations, the Fund compensates the Transfer Agent for payments made to financial intermediaries for the shareholder services that the intermediaries provide, in amounts that vary by share class and with the type of intermediary and the type of shareholder services provided. The Transfer Agent is contractually obligated to oversee such intermediaries for the purpose of reasonably assuring their compliance with applicable law and the terms of their agreements to provide the shareholder services. For more information about Shareholder Services fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Financial Intermediary Compensation.
Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest
This section describes certain actual and potential conflicts of interest that arise from the financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including: insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management and financial services. As a consequence of these activities, Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates may have interests arising from their other business lines that conflict with the interests of the Fund. These activities may also, from time to time, place certain investment constraints on the management of the Fund that might not otherwise arise.
As described in More Information About the Fund - Primary Service Provider Contracts, the Investment Manager, Administrator, Sub-Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial. In addition to the services that they provide to the Fund, they also provide substantially similar services (for which they are compensated) to other clients and customers, including the Columbia Funds. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide services (for which they are compensated) to the Fund, other Columbia Funds or other clients and customers.
Examples of activities that could lead to conflicts of interest and/or impose limitations that could affect the Fund include the following:
| ■ | the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may receive compensation and other benefits related to the management/administration of the Fund and the other Columbia Funds and the sale of their shares; |
| ■ | there may be competition for limited investment opportunities that must be allocated among the Fund, the other Columbia Funds and other clients and customers of the Investment Manager (which can include affiliates of the Investment Manager) that may have the same or similar investment objectives as the Fund; |
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| ■ | management of the Fund may diverge from other Columbia Funds or other clients and customers of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for example, advice given to the Fund may differ from, or conflict with, advice given to other funds or accounts; |
| ■ | there may be regulatory or investment restrictions imposed on the investment activities of the Investment Manager arising from the activities or holdings of other Columbia Funds or other clients or customers of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, for example, caps on the aggregate amount of certain types of investments or in holdings of particular portfolio companies that may be made by affiliated entities, including the Fund; |
| ■ | Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates may have potentially conflicting relationships with companies and other entities in which the Fund invests; and |
| ■ | there may be regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, for example, if an affiliated entity were in possession of non-public information, the Investment Manager might be prohibited by law from using that information in connection with the management of the Fund. |
The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no absolute 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 Advisory and Other Services – Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and Affiliates – Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Fund 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 are involved in the normal course of business in legal proceedings which include regulatory inquiries, arbitration and litigation, including class actions concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their activities as part of a diversified financial services firm. Ameriprise Financial believes that the 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 the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in the 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 sec.gov.
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Choosing a Share Class
The Funds
The Columbia Acorn Funds and the other Columbia Funds generally share the same policies and procedures for investor services, as described below. Together, the Fund and the other Columbia Acorn Funds, along with the Columbia Funds, are referred to herein as the Funds.
Funds Contact Information
Additional information about the Funds, including sales charges and other class features and policies, can be obtained, free of charge, at columbiathreadneedleus.com,* by calling toll-free 800.345.6611, or by writing (regular mail) to Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., P.O. Box 219104, Kansas City, MO 64121-9104 or (express mail) Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., c/o SS&C GIDS, Inc., 430 W 7th Street, Ste 219104, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407.
| * | 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
Financial Intermediaries
The term “financial intermediary” refers to the selling and servicing agents that are authorized to sell and/or service shares of the Funds. Financial intermediaries include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other firms in the financial services industry.
Omnibus Accounts
The term “omnibus account” refers to a financial intermediary’s account with the Fund (held directly through the Transfer Agent) that represents the combined holdings of, and transactions in, Fund shares of one or more clients of the financial intermediary (beneficial Fund shareholders). Omnibus accounts are held in the name of the financial intermediaries and not in the name of the beneficial Fund 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), and non-qualified deferred compensation plans governed by Section 409A of the Code and similar plans, but does not refer to individual retirement plans, such as traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. The term “omnibus retirement plan” refers to a retirement plan that has a plan-level or omnibus account with the Transfer Agent.
Networked Accounts
Networking, offered by the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation’s Wealth Management Services (WMS), is the industry standard IT system for mutual fund account reconciliation and dividend processing.
Summary of Share Class Features
Each share class has its own investment eligibility criteria, cost structure and other features. You may not be eligible to invest in every share class. Your financial intermediary may not make every share class available or may cease to make available one or more share classes of the Fund. The share class you select through your financial intermediary may have higher fees and/or sales charges than other classes of shares available through other financial intermediaries. An investor transacting in a class of Fund shares without any front-end sales charge, contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC), or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution, such as a Rule 12b-1 fee, may be required to pay a commission to the financial intermediary for effecting such transactions. Each investor’s personal situation is different and you may wish to discuss with your financial intermediary the share classes the Fund offers, which share classes are available to you and which share class(es) is/are appropriate for you. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as
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Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts. The Fund, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent do not provide investment advice or make recommendations regarding Fund share classes. Your financial intermediary may provide advice and recommendations to you, such as which share class(es) is/are appropriate for 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 fees (e.g., sales charge or “load”) and expenses for each share class. |
| ■ | Whether you may be eligible for a reduction or waiver of sales charges when you buy or sell shares. |
FUNDamentals
Front-End Sales Charge Calculation
The front-end sales charge is calculated as a percentage of the offering price.
| ■ | The net asset value (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 (or load) that applies. |
The dollar amount of any applicable front-end sales charge is the difference between the offering price of the shares you buy and the NAV of those shares. To determine the front-end sales charge you will pay when you buy Class A 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 financial intermediary notifies the Fund) and base the sales charge on the aggregate amount. For information on account value aggregation, sales charge waivers and other important information, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.
FUNDamentals
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
A contingent deferred sales charge (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 can vary 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 Fund distribution reinvestments 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 are not 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.
Share Class Features
The following summarizes the primary features of Class A, Class Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, Class Inst3, and Class R shares.
Not all Funds offer every class of shares. The Fund offers the class(es) of shares set forth on the cover of this prospectus and may offer other share classes through a separate prospectus. Although certain share classes are generally closed to new and/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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Choosing a Share Class (continued)
The sales charge reductions and waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. Appendix A describes financial intermediary-specific reductions and/or waiver policies. A shareholder transacting in Fund shares through a financial intermediary identified in Appendix A should carefully read the terms and conditions of Appendix A. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to a particular financial intermediary is not available to Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as defined below, or through another financial intermediary. The information in Appendix A may be provided by, or compiled from or based on information provided by the financial intermediaries identified in Appendix A. To obtain additional information regarding any sales charge reduction and/or waiver described in Appendix A, and to ensure that you receive any such reductions or waivers that may be available to you, please consult your financial intermediary.
| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| Class A | Eligibility: Available to the general public for investment Minimum Initial Investment: $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts (as described below)) |
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 | Reductions: yes, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges – Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Reductions Waivers: yes, on Fund distribution reinvestments. For additional waivers, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges – Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers, as well as Choosing a Share Class — CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C Financial intermediary-specific waivers are also available, see Appendix A |
Service Fee: 0.25% |
| Class Adv |
Eligibility: Available only to (i) omnibus retirement plans, including self-directed brokerage accounts within omnibus retirement plans that clear through institutional no transaction fee (NTF) platforms; 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 financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Adv eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (iv) 501(c)(3) charitable organizations; (v) 529 plans; (vi) health savings accounts; (vii) investors participating in a fee-based advisory program sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity that is not compensated by the Fund for those services, other than payments for shareholder servicing or sub-accounting performed in place | None | None | N/A | None |
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| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| of the Transfer Agent; and (viii) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform. Minimum Initial Investment: None, except in the case of (viii) above, which is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) |
|||||
| Class C | Eligibility: Available to the general public for investment Minimum Initial Investment: $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) Conversion Feature: Yes. Effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Prior to April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically converted to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 10-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date.(a) |
None | 1.00% on certain investments redeemed within one year of purchase | Waivers: yes, on Fund distribution reinvestments. For additional waivers, see Choosing a Share Class — CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C Financial intermediary-specific CDSC waivers are also available, see Appendix A |
Distribution Fee: 0.75% Service Fee: 0.25% |
| Class Inst |
Eligibility: Available only to certain eligible investors, which are subject to different minimum investment requirements, ranging from $0 to $2,000, including investors who purchase Fund shares through commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary holds the shares in an omnibus account and, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform; closed to (i) accounts of financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund | None | None | N/A | None |
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Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| trading platforms that have been given specific written notice from the Transfer Agent of the termination of their eligibility for new purchases of Class Inst shares and (ii) omnibus group retirement plans, subject to certain exceptions(d) Minimum Initial Investment: See Eligibility above |
|||||
| Class Inst2 |
Eligibility: Available only to (i) certain registered investment advisers and family offices that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Inst2 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (ii) omnibus retirement plans(d); (iii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst2 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (iv) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst2 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst2 shares within such platform. Minimum Initial Investment: None |
None | None | N/A | None |
| Class Inst3 |
Eligibility: Available to: (i) group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund(d); (ii) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; (iii) collective trust funds; (iv) affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); (v) fee-based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary they trade through) that have an agreement with the |
None | None | N/A | None |
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| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform, provided also that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vi) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (viii) bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor, may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement. Minimum Initial Investment: No minimum for the eligible investors described in (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) above; $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for the eligible investors described in (vi) above; and $1 million for all other eligible investors, unless waived in the discretion of the Distributor |
|||||
| 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 financial intermediaries approved by the Distributor Minimum Initial Investment: None |
None | None | N/A | Distribution Fee: 0.50% |
| (a) | For more information on the conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares, see Choosing a Share Class — Sales Charges and Commissions — Class C Shares —Conversion to Class A Shares. |
| (b) | 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. |
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| (c) | These are the maximum applicable distribution and/or service fees under the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 plan. 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 service fees. For more information on distribution and service fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees. |
| (d) | These share classes are closed to new accounts generally or to new accounts of certain categories of investors, subject to certain conditions, as summarized below and described in more detail under Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares — Eligible Investors: |
• Class Inst Shares: Financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares and omnibus retirement plans are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts, subject to certain exceptions. Omnibus retirement plans that opened and, subject to exceptions, funded a Class Inst account as of close of business on March 28, 2013, and have continuously held Class Inst shares in such account after such date, may generally continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst shares, open new Class Inst 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 Inst accounts. Accounts of financial intermediaries (other than omnibus retirement plans) that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts or make additional purchases of Class Inst shares (other than through reinvestment of distributions).
• Class Inst2 Shares. Shareholders with Class Inst2 accounts funded before November 8, 2012 who do not satisfy the current eligibility criteria for Class Inst2 shares may not establish new Class Inst2 accounts but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares in existing accounts. In addition, investment advisory programs and similar programs that opened a Class Inst2 account as of May 1, 2010, and continuously hold Class Inst2 shares in such account after such date, may generally not only continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares but also open new Class Inst2 accounts and add new shareholders in the program.
• Class Inst3 Shares: Shareholders with Class Inst3 accounts funded before November 8, 2012 who do not satisfy the current eligibility criteria for Class Inst3 shares may not establish new accounts for such share class but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst3 shares in existing accounts.
Sales Charges and Commissions
Sales charges, commissions, and distribution fees compensate financial intermediaries (typically your financial advisor) for selling shares to you, and service fees compensate financial intermediaries for maintaining and servicing the shares held in your account with them. Distribution and service fees are discussed in a separate sub-section below. Depending on which share class you choose and the financial intermediary through which you purchase your shares, you may pay these charges at potentially different levels 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 distribution and/or service fees. You may be required to pay brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries when transacting in any class of Fund shares, including those that do not assess any front-end sales charge, contingent deferred sales charge, or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution. Such brokerage commissions and other fees are set by the financial intermediary.
As described in more detail below, Class A shares have a front-end sales charge, which is deducted from your purchase price when you buy your shares, and results in a smaller dollar amount being invested in the Fund than the purchase price you pay (unless you qualify for a waiver or reduction of the sales charge). The Fund’s other share classes do not have a front-end sales charge, so the full amount of your purchase price is invested in those classes. Class A shares have lower ongoing distribution and/or service fees than Class C and Class R shares of the Fund. Over time, Class C and Class R shares can incur distribution and/or service fees that are equal to or more than the front-end sales charge and the distribution and/or service fees you would pay for Class A shares. Although the full amount of your purchase price of Class C and Class R shares is invested in a Fund, your return on this money will be reduced by the expected higher annual expenses of Class C and Class R shares. In this regard, note that effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date (prior to April 1, 2021, the 10-year anniversary of such date). The Fund may convert Class C shares held through a financial intermediary to Class A shares sooner in connection with the withdrawal of Class C shares of the Fund from the financial intermediary’s platform or accounts. No sales charge or other charges will apply in connection with such conversions, and the conversions are free from U.S. federal income tax. Once your Class C shares convert to Class A shares, your total returns from an investment in the Fund may increase as a result of the lower operating costs of Class A shares. Class Adv, Class Inst, Class Inst2 and Class Inst3 shares of the Fund do not have distribution and/or service fees.
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Whether the ultimate cost is higher for one share class over another depends on the amount you invest, how long you hold your shares, the fees (i.e., sales charges) and expenses of the class and whether you are eligible for reduced or waived sales charges, if available. You are responsible for choosing the share class most appropriate for you after taking into account your share class eligibility, class-specific features, and any applicable reductions in, or waivers of, 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. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information about services, fees and expenses, and other important information about investing in the Fund, as well as with any questions you may have about your investing options. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts.
Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge
Unless your purchase qualifies for a waiver (e.g., you buy the shares through reinvested Fund dividends or distributions or subject to an applicable financial intermediary-specific waiver), you will pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class A shares, resulting in a smaller dollar amount being invested in a Fund than the purchase price you pay. The Class A shares sales charge is waived on Class C shares converted to Class A shares. For more information about sales charge waivers and reduction opportunities, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges and Appendix A.
The Distributor receives the sales charge and re-allows (or pays) a portion of the sales charge to the financial intermediary through which you purchased the shares. The Distributor retains the balance of the sales charge.
The front-end sales charge you will pay on Class A shares:
| ■ | depends on the amount you are 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 financial intermediary notifies the Fund). |
The table below presents the front-end sales charge as a percentage of both the offering price and the net amount invested.
| 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 financial intermediaries as a % of the offering price |
| Class A Shares | $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) | |
| (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 financial intermediary when you buy $1 million or more of Class A shares of a Fund, see Class A Shares — Commissions below. |
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Class A Shares — CDSC
In some cases, you'll pay a CDSC if you sell Class A shares that you purchased without a front-end sales charge.
| ■ | If you purchased Class A shares 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 the time periods noted above. |
Class A Shares — Commissions
The Distributor may pay your financial intermediary an up-front commission when you buy Class A shares. The Distributor generally funds the commission through the applicable sales charge you paid. For more information, see Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge above.
The Distributor may also pay your financial intermediary a cumulative commission when you buy Class A shares in amounts not subject to a front-end sales charge, according to the following schedules (assets initially purchased into Class A shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund that were purchased without the application of a front-end sales charge are excluded for purposes of calculating a financial intermediary’s commission under these schedules):
| Class A Shares — Commission Schedule (Paid by the Distributor to Financial Intermediaries) | |
| 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% |
| * | The commission level applies to the applicable asset level; therefore, for example, for a purchase of $5 million, the Distributor would pay a commission of 1.00% on the first $2,999,999 and 0.50% on the balance. |
Class C Shares — Front-End Sales Charge
You do not pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class C shares, but you may pay a CDSC when you sell 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.
Class C Shares — Conversion to Class A Shares
Effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares of a Fund generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Prior to April 1, 2021, Class C shares of a Fund generally automatically converted to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or in the month following the 10-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Class C shares held through a financial intermediary in an omnibus account will be converted (pursuant to the financial intermediary’s Class C conversion policy, including those disclosed in Appendix A, which may differ from the Fund’s policy described here) provided that the intermediary is able to track individual shareholders’ holding periods. It is the financial intermediary's (and not the Fund's) responsibility to keep records and to ensure that the shareholder holding period is calculated properly. Not all financial intermediaries are able to track individual shareholders' holding periods. For example, group retirement plans held through third-party intermediaries that hold Class C shares in an omnibus account may not track participant level share lot aging. Please consult with your financial intermediary about your
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eligibility for Class C share conversion. The Fund may convert Class C shares held through a financial intermediary to Class A shares sooner in connection with the withdrawal of Class C shares of the Fund from the financial intermediary's platform or accounts. Once your Class C shares convert to Class A shares, your total returns from an investment in the Fund may increase as a result of the lower operating costs of Class A shares.
The following rules apply to the automatic conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares:
| ■ | Class C share accounts that are Direct-at-Fund Accounts and Networked Accounts for which the Transfer Agent (and not your financial intermediary) sends you Fund account transaction confirmations and statements, convert on or about the 15th day of the month (if the 15th is not a business day, then the next business day thereafter) that they become eligible for automatic conversion provided that the Fund has records that Class C shares have been held for the requisite time period. |
| ■ | For purposes of determining the month when your Class C shares are eligible for conversion, the start of the holding period is the first day of the month in which your purchase was made. Your financial intermediary may choose a different day of the month to convert Class C shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information on calculating the holding period. |
| ■ | 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 C shares that were automatically converted. Class C shares that you received from an exchange of Class C shares of another Fund will convert based on the day you bought the original shares. |
| ■ | In addition to the above automatic conversion of Class C to Class A shares policy, the Transfer Agent seeks to convert Class C shares as soon as administratively feasible, regardless of how long such shares have been owned, to Class A shares of the same Fund for Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below) that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them. Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares; Class C share purchase orders received by Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund. |
| ■ | No sales charge or other charges apply in connection with these automatic conversions, and the conversions are free from U.S. federal income tax. |
Class C Shares — CDSC
You will 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 (e.g., the shares you are selling were purchased with reinvested Fund distributions). Redemptions of Class C shares are not subject to a CDSC if redeemed after 12 months. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.
Class C Shares — Commissions
Although there is no front-end sales charge when you buy Class C shares, the Distributor makes an up-front payment (which includes a sales commission and an advance of service fees) directly to your financial intermediary of up to 1.00% of the NAV per share when you buy Class C shares. A portion of this payment may be passed along to your financial advisor. The Distributor seeks to recover this payment through distribution fees of up to 0.75% and shareholder service fees of up to 0.25% it receives under the Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan during the first 12 months following the sale of Class C shares, and any applicable CDSC when you sell your shares. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees.
Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges
The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund (i.e., a Direct-at-Fund Account, as defined below) or through a financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales charge and/or CDSC waivers. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund
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Accounts, as defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts. In order to obtain waivers and discounts not available through a particular financial intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund (if permitted) or through a different financial intermediary. For a description of financial intermediary-specific sales charge reductions and/or waivers, see Appendix A.
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Reductions
The Fund makes available two means of reducing the front-end sales charge that you may pay when you buy Class A 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 (as described in the Eligible Accounts section below) maintained by you and members of your immediate family to reach a breakpoint discount level and apply a lower front-end sales charge to your purchase. To calculate the combined value of your eligible 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 and your “immediate family” members' ownership (as described in the FUNDamentals box below) of certain 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 of Class A 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 enough to reach the first (or next) breakpoint of the Fund. The required form of LOI may vary by financial intermediary, 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 and not current market value) of the shares held in each eligible account; reinvested dividends or capital gains, or purchases made through the reinstatement privilege do not count as purchases made under an LOI. For purposes of making an LOI to purchase additional shares, you may aggregate eligible shares owned by you or your immediate family members in eligible accounts, valued as of the day immediately before the initiation of your LOI.
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 financial intermediary 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 financial intermediaries. You and your financial intermediary are responsible for ensuring that you receive discounts for which you are eligible. Please contact your financial intermediary with questions regarding application of the eligible discount to your account. You may be asked by your financial intermediary (or by the Fund if you hold your account directly with the Fund) for account statements or other records to verify your discount eligibility for new and subsequent purchases, including, when applicable, records for accounts opened with a different financial intermediary and records of accounts established by members of your immediate family.
The sales charge reductions available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge reductions, see Appendix A.
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FUNDamentals
Your “Immediate Family” and Account Value Aggregation
For purposes of obtaining a breakpoint discount for Class A 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 retirement plan accounts are valued at the retirement plan level.
Eligible Accounts
The following accounts are eligible for account value aggregation as described above, provided that they are invested in Class A (excluding, in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts, Funds that do not assess a front-end sales charge, including Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund, unless such shares were purchased via an exchange from Class A shares of a Fund on which you paid the Class A share applicable front-end sales charge), Class C, Class E, Class Inst or Class V shares of a Fund, or non-retirement plan accounts invested in Class Adv, Class Inst2 or Class Inst3 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.
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 R shares of a Fund; and retirement plan accounts invested in Class Adv, Class Inst2 or Class Inst3 shares of a Fund.
Additionally, direct purchases of shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund may not be aggregated for account value aggregation purposes; however, shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund acquired by exchange from other Columbia Funds that assess a sales charge may be included in account value aggregation.
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers
There are no front-end sales charges on reinvested Fund distributions. The Class A shares sales charge is waived on conversions of Class C shares to Class A shares. The Distributor may waive front-end sales charges on purchases of Class A shares of the Funds by certain categories of investors, including Board members, certain employees of financial intermediaries, Fund portfolio managers, certain partners and employees of outside legal counsel to the Funds or the Board, separate accounts of an insurance company exempt from registration as an investment company under Section 3(c)(11) of the 1940 Act, registered broker-dealer firms that have an agreement with the Distributor purchasing Fund shares for their investment account only, and qualified employee benefit plan rollovers to Class A
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shares in the same Fund (see Appendix S to the SAI for details). For a more complete description of categories of investors who may purchase Class A 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 shares may be made at NAV. The Distributor may waive front-end sales charges on (i) purchases (including exchanges) of Class A shares in accounts of financial intermediaries 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; (ii) exchanges of Class Inst shares of a Fund for Class A shares of the Fund; (iii) purchases of Class A shares on brokerage mutual fund-only platforms of financial intermediaries that have an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes the offering of Class A shares within such platform; (iv) purchases through certain wrap fee or other products or programs that involve fee-based compensation arrangements that have, or clear trades through a financial intermediary that has, a selling agreement with the Distributor; (v) purchases through state sponsored 529 Plans; (vi) purchases through banks, trust companies, and thrift institutions acting as fiduciaries; (vii) purchases through certain employee benefit plans and certain qualified deferred compensation plans; and (viii) purchases of Class A shares in Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below) that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them. For a more complete description of these eligible transactions, see Appendix S to the SAI.
The sales charge waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge waivers, see Appendix A.
CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C
You may be able to avoid an otherwise applicable CDSC when you sell Class A or Class C 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; for which no sales commission or transaction fee was paid to an authorized financial intermediary at the time of purchase; purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions; that result from required minimum distributions taken from retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations; that result from returns of excess contributions made to retirement plans or individual retirement accounts (subject to certain conditions); initially purchased by an employee benefit plan (for Class A shares) and that are not connected with a plan level termination (for Class C shares); in connection with the Fund's Small Account Policy (which is described in Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Transaction Rules and Policies); held within Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them; and by certain other investors and in certain other types of transactions or situations. 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 a more complete description of the available waivers of the CDSC on redemptions of Class A or Class C shares, see Appendix S to the SAI.
The sales charge waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge waivers, see Appendix A.
Repurchases (Reinstatements)
As noted in the table below, you can redeem shares of certain classes (see Redeemed Share Class below) and use such redemption proceeds to buy shares of the Corresponding Repurchase Class without paying an otherwise applicable sales charge and/or CDSC (other than, in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts, redemptions from Funds that do not assess a front-end sales charge, including Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S.
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Treasury Index Fund, unless such shares were purchased via an exchange from Class A shares of a Fund on which you paid the Class A share applicable front-end sales charge) within 90 days, up to the amount of the redemption proceeds.
| Repurchases (Reinstatements) | |
| Redeemed Share Class | Corresponding Repurchase Class |
| Class A | Class A |
| Class C | Class C |
Any CDSC paid upon redemption of your Class A or Class C shares of a Fund will not be reimbursed.
To be eligible for the repurchase (or 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 financial intermediary within 90 days after the shares are redeemed. The purchase of the Corresponding Repurchase Class (as noted in the table above) through this repurchase (or reinstatement) privilege will be made at the NAV of such shares next calculated after the request is received in “good form.” 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 and/or the Distributor may change or cancel these terms and conditions at any time. Unless you provide your financial intermediary with information in writing about all of the factors that may count toward available reductions or waivers of an applicable sales charge, there can be no assurance that you will receive all of the reductions and waivers for which you may be eligible. To the extent your Fund account is held directly with the Fund, you should provide this information to the Fund when placing your purchase or redemption order. Please see Appendix A to this prospectus and Appendix S of the SAI for more information about sales charge waivers.
Distribution and Service Fees
The Board has approved, and the Columbia Acorn Funds have adopted, a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that sets 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 financial intermediaries for, with regard to distribution fees, selling Fund shares and, with regard to service fees, 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.
The table below shows the maximum annual distribution and/or service fees (as an annual percentage of average daily net assets) and the combined amount of such fees applicable to each share class of the Columbia Acorn Funds:
| Distribution Fee |
Service Fee |
Combined Total | |
| Class A | None | 0.25% | 0.25% |
| Class Adv | None | None | None |
| Class C | 0.75% | 0.25% | 1.00% |
| Class Inst | None | None | None |
| Class Inst2 | None | None | None |
| Class Inst3 | None | None | None |
| Class R | 0.50% | None | 0.50% |
The distribution and/or service fees for Class A, Class C, and Class R shares, as applicable, are subject to the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Distributor may retain these fees otherwise payable to financial intermediaries if the amounts due are below an amount determined by the Distributor in its sole discretion.
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Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
For Class A shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees immediately after purchase, except in the following case, in which the Distributor begins to pay these fees 12 months after purchase: a purchase of Class A shares of $1 million or more that pay a Class A up-front commission to your financial intermediary and the financial intermediary has opted to receive such commission. The Distributor’s policy to otherwise begin to pay these fees immediately on Class A shares also applies to purchases of funds that do not pay an up-front sales commission on Class A shares, which includes Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund. For Class C shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees 12 months after purchase. However, for Class C shares, financial intermediaries may opt to decline the up-front payment described in Choosing a Share Class – Sales Charges and Commissions – Class C Shares – Commissions and instead may receive these fees immediately after purchase. If the intermediary opts to receive the up-front payment, the Distributor retains the distribution and service fee for the first 12 months following the sale of Class C shares in order to recover the up-front payment made to financial intermediaries and to pay for other related expenses. For Class R shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees immediately after purchase.
If you maintain shares of the Fund directly with the Fund, without working with a financial advisor or other financial intermediary, 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 financial intermediaries for as long as the distribution plan continues in effect, which is expected to be indefinitely. However, the Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time. Your financial intermediary may also charge you other additional fees for providing services to your account, which may be different from those described here.
Financial Intermediary Compensation
The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates make payments, from their own resources, to financial intermediaries, 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 attributable to that financial intermediary; gross sales of the Funds attributable to that financial intermediary; reimbursement of ticket charges (fees that a financial intermediary charges its representatives for effecting transactions in Fund shares); or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each financial intermediary, Marketing Support Payments to any one financial intermediary are generally between 0.01% and 0.40% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the financial intermediary, 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 financial intermediary. The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates make payments with respect to a Fund or the Columbia Funds generally on a basis other than those described above or in larger amounts when dealing with certain financial intermediaries. Not all financial intermediaries receive Marketing Support Payments. The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates do not make Marketing Support Payments with respect to Class Inst3 shares of the Columbia Acorn Funds.
In addition, the Transfer Agent has certain arrangements in place to compensate financial intermediaries, including other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, that hold Fund shares through networked and omnibus accounts, including omnibus retirement plans, for services that they provide to beneficial Fund shareholders (Shareholder Services). Shareholder Services and related fees vary by financial intermediary and according to distribution channel and 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, and are not intended to include services that are primarily intended to result in the sale of Fund shares. Payments for Shareholder Services vary by financial intermediary and according to distribution channel, but generally are not expected, with certain limited exceptions, to exceed 0.40% of the average aggregate value of the Fund’s shares. Payments to financial intermediaries in excess of the amounts paid by the Fund are borne by the Distributor, the Investment Manager and/or their affiliates.
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Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Generally, each of the Columbia Acorn Funds compensates the Transfer Agent for payments made for Shareholder Services, for each share class except Class Inst3. Effective July 1, 2017, the Columbia Acorn Funds compensate the Transfer Agent for payments made for Shareholder Services as follows:
| Financial Intermediary Distribution Channel | Fee Rate |
| Retirement | up to 0.18% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $18 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Fund supermarket transaction fee (TF) | up to 0.12% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $16 per account held for intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Fund supermarket no-transaction fee (NTF) | up to 0.18% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $18 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Bank | up to 0.10% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $20 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Broker-dealer | up to 0.13% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $16 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
With respect to Class Inst2 and Class Inst3 shares of the Fund, total annual compensation payable to the Transfer Agent may not exceed, respectively, 0.07% and 0.02% of the average daily net assets of the Class. For additional details about the application of the Columbia Acorn Funds’ fee limits, please refer to the SAI.
The Transfer Agent does not pay financial intermediaries for Shareholder Services, and the Fund does not compensate the Transfer Agent for any Shareholder Services provided by financial intermediaries with respect to Class Inst3 shares of the Columbia Acorn Funds. The Fund believes that the fee levels paid to the Transfer Agent are reasonably related to the Shareholder Services provided, but payments may vary and there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify with specificity the costs or particular Shareholder Services for which compensation is paid.
In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates typically make other payments or allow promotional incentives to certain broker-dealers to the extent permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 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 financial intermediaries, 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 financial intermediary may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described in this prospectus. You should consult with your financial intermediary and review carefully any disclosure your financial intermediary provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a financial intermediary and its financial advisors may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive for recommending the Fund or a particular share class over others.
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Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares
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, with the value of the Fund's shares based on the total value of all of the securities and other assets that it holds as of such specified time.
FUNDamentals
NAV Calculation
Each of the Fund's share classes calculates its NAV per share as follows:
NAV per share = (Value of assets of the share class) – (Liabilities of the share class)
Number of outstanding shares of the class
Number of outstanding shares of the class
FUNDamentals
Business Days
A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at (i) the scheduled close of the NYSE for such day (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or such other time as the NYSE may schedule), (ii) the scheduled close of the NYSE (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on any business day on which the NYSE has an unscheduled close or intraday trading halt or other disruption, regardless of the time of such unscheduled close, halt or disruption or whether trading resumes, or (iii) such other time as the Board may from time to time determine. 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 listed on an exchange are typically valued at the closing price or last trade on their primary exchange at the close of business of the NYSE. Equity securities without a readily available closing price or that are not listed on any exchange are typically valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices. Other equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are fair valued unless market quotations are readily available, 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 based on prices obtained from a pricing service, if available (which may represent market values or fair values). Investments in other open-end funds are valued at their published NAVs. The value of the Fund’s portfolio securities is determined in accordance with the valuation policy approved by the Board (the Valuation Policy). Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board has designated the Investment Manager as the Fund’s valuation designee. The Investment Manager, in turn, has authorized its Valuation Committee to make fair value determinations and to carry out supervisory and certain other functions relating to the valuation of Fund portfolio securities, pursuant to the Valuation Policy.
If a market price is not readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value for a portfolio security, the Investment Manager will determine the price based on a determination of the security's fair value pursuant to the Valuation Policy. In addition, the Investment Manager may use fair valuation techniques 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 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
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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.
Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Investment Manager uses fair valuation to price equity securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund or manager would. Also, fair valuation of Fund holdings may cause the Fund's performance to diverge to a greater degree from the performance of various benchmark indices used to compare the Fund's performance because indices 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.
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. Your financial intermediary may have rules and policies in place that are in addition to or different than those described below.
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 financial intermediary before the end of a business day are priced at the NAV per share (plus any applicable sales charge) 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 (plus any applicable sales charge). For Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below), 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 transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), 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 financial intermediary has received payment (in the case of purchases) and all of the information and documentation it deems necessary to effect your order. For example, when you sell shares, “good form” means that your request (i) has complete instructions and written requests include the signatures of all account owners, (ii) is for an amount that is less than or equal to the shares in your account for which payment has been received and collected, (iii) has a Medallion Signature Guarantee for amounts greater than $100,000 and certain other transactions, as described below, and (iv) includes 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, including 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; or (vi) you are changing legal ownership of your account.
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
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Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Signature Program (MSP). For other transactions, the Transfer Agent may require a signature guarantee. 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.
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 C, and Class Inst 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. Any otherwise applicable CDSC will not be imposed on such an automatic sale of your shares. Generally, you may avoid such an automatic sale by raising your account balance to at least $250 or consolidating your multiple accounts you may have with the Funds through an exchange (so as to maintain at least $250 in each of your accounts). The minimum account balance varies among share classes and types of accounts, as follows:
| Minimum Account Balance | |
| Minimum Account Balance | |
| For all classes and account types except those listed below | $250 (None for accounts with Systematic Investment Plans) |
| Individual Retirement Accounts for all classes except those listed below | None |
| Class Adv, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R | None |
For shares held directly with the Funds’ Transfer Agent, if your shares are sold, the Transfer Agent will remit the sale proceeds to you. 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 to at least $250, consolidating your multiple accounts you may have with the Funds through an exchange (so as to maintain at least $250 in each of your accounts), or setting up a Systematic Investment Plan. For more information, contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary. 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.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, the Funds may instruct the intermediary to automatically sell your Fund shares if the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
Small Account Policy — Class A, Class C, and Class Inst 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 could be subject to a $20 annual fee. 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 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 or for other reasons.
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Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
For shares held directly with the Funds’ Transfer Agent, 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 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 multiple accounts you may have with the Funds, or setting up a Systematic Investment Plan that invests at least monthly. For more information, contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary. 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.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, this fee could be assessed through the automatic sale of Fund shares in your account if instructed by the Fund and the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
Exceptions to the Small Account Policy (Accounts Below Minimum Account Balance) and Minimum Balance Fee
The automatic sale of Fund shares in accounts under $250 and the annual minimum balance fee described above do not apply to shareholders of Class Adv, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R shares; shareholders holding their shares through financial intermediary networked accounts; wrap fee and omnibus accounts; accounts with active monthly 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 — Financial Intermediary Networked and Wrap Fee Accounts
The Funds may automatically redeem, at any time, financial intermediary networked accounts and wrap fee accounts that have account balances of $20 or less or have less than one share.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, the Funds may instruct the intermediary to automatically sell your Fund shares if the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
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 financial intermediaries, including participating life insurance companies and financial intermediaries that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, financial intermediaries 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.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy
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 financial intermediaries.
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Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Specific Buying and Exchanging Limitations — If the 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 purchase 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 reserves 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 financial intermediaries, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by financial intermediaries 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 financial intermediaries such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit financial intermediaries to aggregate their clients' transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identities of the financial intermediary clients that beneficially own Fund shares are often not known to the Fund.
Some financial intermediaries apply their own restrictions or policies to their clients’ transactions and 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 Fund 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; |
| ■ | 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. |
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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.
The Columbia Acorn Funds may invest in thinly traded 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 as of the Fund's valuation time. 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 only, or significantly, in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling these particular investments 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 non-redeeming shareholders.
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 financial intermediary. 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 financial intermediaries or institutions, and through certain qualified and non-qualified plans, wrap fee products or other investment products sponsored by financial intermediaries. You may buy, sell, or exchange shares through your financial intermediary. If you maintain your account directly with your financial intermediary, you must contact that agent to process your transaction.
Not all financial intermediaries offer the Funds (or all classes of Fund shares) and certain financial intermediaries that offer the Funds may not offer all Funds on all investment platforms or programs. Please consult with your financial intermediary to determine the availability of the Funds. If you set up an account at a financial intermediary 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 financial intermediary or find another financial intermediary with a selling agreement.
Financial intermediaries 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. An investor transacting in a class of Fund shares without any front-end sales charge, CDSC, or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution, such as a Rule 12b-1 fee, may be required to pay a commission to the financial intermediary for effecting such transactions. The Funds are offered in a number of different share classes that have different fees and expenses and other features. Some differences in the policies of different financial intermediaries may include different minimum investment amounts, exchange privileges, Fund/class choices and cutoff times for investments. Additionally, recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to your account may be performed by the financial intermediaries 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 intermediary through which you purchased or at which you maintain your shares of the Fund to make changes to your account, 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 any financial intermediary to carry out its obligations to its customers.
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Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
The Fund may engage financial intermediaries 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.
Direct-At-Fund Accounts (Accounts Held Directly with the Fund)
Fund shares can be held in a variety of ways. You can hold Fund shares through an account established and held through the financial intermediary through which you purchased Fund shares, or you or your financial intermediary can establish an account directly with the Fund, in which case you will receive Fund account transaction confirmations and statements from the Transfer Agent, and not your financial intermediary (Direct-at-Fund Accounts). Direct-at-Fund Accounts include accounts held at the Transfer Agent that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them.
To open a Direct-at-Fund Account, 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 columbiathreadneedleus.com 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 your transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), 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. 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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you have a Direct-at-Fund 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 your transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), not the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery.
Include in your transaction request letter: your name; the name of the Fund(s); your account number; the class of shares to be purchased, exchanged or sold; your SSN or other TIN; the dollar amount or number of shares you want to purchase, exchange or sell; specific instructions regarding delivery of any redemption proceeds or exchange destination (i.e., the Fund/class to be exchanged into); signature(s) of all 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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
For Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares, if you have a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may place orders to buy, sell or exchange shares by telephone through the Transfer Agent. To place orders by telephone, call 800.422.3737. Have your account number and SSN or TIN available when calling.
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You can sell Fund shares via telephone and receive redemption proceeds: by electronic funds transfer via ACH, by wire, or by check to the address of record, subject to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account. You can buy Fund shares via telephone by electronic funds transfer via ACH from your bank account up to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account, or by wire from your bank account without a maximum. See below for more information regarding wire and electronic fund transfer transactions. Certain restrictions apply, so please call the Transfer Agent at 800.422.3737 for this and other information in advance of any need to transact via telephone.
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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
For Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares, if you have a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may be able to place orders to buy, sell, or exchange shares online. Contact the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611 for more information on certain account trading restrictions and the special sign-up procedures required for online transactions. You can also go to columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/ to sign up for online transactions. The Transfer Agent has procedures in place to authenticate electronic orders you send through the internet. You will be required to accept the terms of an online agreement and to establish an online account and utilize a password in order to access online account services. You can sell a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account through your online account if you qualify for internet orders. Wire transactions are not permitted online.
Wire Transactions – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you hold a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may purchase or redeem Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares of a Fund by wiring money from (or to) your bank account to (or from) your Fund account. You must set up this feature prior to your request unless you are submitting your request in writing, which may require a Medallion Signature Guarantee. Please contact the Transfer Agent by calling 800.422.3737 to obtain the necessary forms and requirements. The Transfer Agent charges a fee for shares sold by wire. 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. When selling Fund shares via a telephone request, the maximum amount that can be redeemed via wire transfer is $100,000 per day, per Fund account. Wire transactions are not permitted online.
Electronic Funds Transfer via ACH – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you hold a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may purchase or redeem Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares of a Fund by electronically transferring money via Automated Clearing House (ACH) from (or to) your bank account to (or from) your Fund account subject to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account. You must set up this feature prior to your request, unless you are submitting your request in writing, which may require a Medallion Signature Guarantee. Please contact the Transfer Agent by calling 800.422.3737 to obtain the necessary forms and requirements. Your bank may take up to three business days to post an electronic funds transfer to (or from) your Fund account.
Buying Shares
Eligible Investors
Class A Shares
Class A shares are available to the general public for investment.
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Class Adv Shares
Class Adv shares are available only to (i) omnibus retirement plans, including self-directed brokerage accounts within omnibus retirement plans that clear through institutional no transaction fee (NTF) platforms, (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 financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Adv eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements, (iv) 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, (v) 529 plans, (vi) health savings accounts, (vii) investors participating in a fee-based advisory program sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity 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, and (viii) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform.
Class C Shares
Class C shares are available to the general public for investment, except that Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares; Class C share purchase orders received from Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund.
Class Inst Shares
Class Inst shares are available only to the categories of eligible investors described below under Class Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments. Financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares and omnibus retirement plans are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts, subject to certain exceptions described below.
Omnibus retirement plans that opened and, subject to certain exceptions, funded a Class Inst account with the Fund as of the close of business on March 28, 2013 and have continuously held Class Inst shares in such account after such date (each, a grandfathered plan), may generally continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst shares, open new Class Inst 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 Inst accounts in a Fund if the affiliated plan opened a Class Inst account on or before March 28, 2013. If an omnibus retirement plan invested in Class Inst shares changes recordkeepers after March 28, 2013, any new accounts established for that plan may not be established in Class Inst shares, but such a plan may establish new accounts in a different share class for which the plan is eligible.
Accounts of financial intermediaries (other than omnibus retirement plans, which are discussed above) that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares will not be permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts or make additional purchases of Class Inst shares (other than through reinvestment of distributions). Any such account may, at its holder’s option, exchange Class Inst shares of a Fund, without the payment of a sales charge, for Class A shares of the same Fund.
Class Inst2 Shares
Class Inst2 shares are available only to (i) certain registered investment advisers and family offices that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Inst2 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (ii) omnibus retirement plans; (iii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically
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authorizes offering Class Inst2 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (iv) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst2 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst2 shares within such platform. Prior to November 8, 2012, Class Inst2 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 Inst2 may not establish new Class Inst2 accounts but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares in accounts opened and funded prior to November 8, 2012; provided, however, that investment advisory programs and similar programs that opened a Class Inst2 account as of May 1, 2010, and continuously hold Class Inst2 shares in such account after such date, may generally not only continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares but also open new Class Inst2 accounts for such pre-existing programs and add new shareholders in the program.
Class Inst3 Shares
Class Inst3 shares are available to: (i) group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund (through the Transfer Agent); (ii) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; (iii) collective trust funds; (iv) affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); (v) fee-based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary that they trade through) that have an agreement with the Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform, provided also that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vi) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (viii) bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement.
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 financial intermediaries 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.
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, and may also waive certain eligibility requirements for operational and other reasons, including but not limited to any requirement to maintain Fund shares in networked or omnibus accounts.
Minimum Initial Investments
The table below shows the Fund’s minimum initial investment requirements, which may vary by class and type of account.
The Fund reserves the right to redeem your shares if your account falls below the Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement.
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| Minimum Initial Investments | ||
| Minimum Initial Investment(a) |
Minimum Initial Investment for Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans | |
| For all classes and account types except those listed below | $2,000 | $100 |
| Individual Retirement Accounts for all classes except those listed below | $1,000 | $100 |
| Group retirement plans | None | N/A |
| Class Adv and Class Inst | $0, $1,000 or $2,000(b) | $100(b) |
| Class Inst2 and Class R | None | N/A |
| Class Inst3 | $0, $1,000, $2,000 or $1 million(c) | $100(c) |
| (a) | If your Class A, Class Adv, Class C, Class Inst, or Class Inst3 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. There is no minimum initial investment in Class A shares for accounts held in an omnibus account on a mutual fund only platform offered through your financial intermediary. |
| (b) | The minimum initial investment in Class Adv shares is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customers, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform; for all other eligible Class Adv share investors (see Buying Shares – Eligible Investors – Class Adv Shares above), there is no minimum initial investment. The minimum initial investment amount for Class Inst shares is $0, $1,000 or $2,000 depending upon the category of eligible investor. See — Class Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments below. The minimum initial investment amount for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts is the same as the amount set forth in the first two rows of the table, as applicable. |
| (c) | There is no minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares for: group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund; collective trust funds; affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); and fee -based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary that they trade through) that have an agreement with the Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform and Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares is $1 million, unless waived in the discretion of the Distributor, for the following investors: institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; and bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The Distributor may, in its discretion, waive the $1 million minimum initial investment required for these Class Inst3 investors. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor, may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement. |
Additional Information about Minimum Initial Investments
The minimum initial investment requirements may be waived for accounts that are managed by an investment professional, or for accounts held in approved discretionary or non-discretionary wrap programs. 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 Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments
There is no minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors:
| ■ | Any health savings account sponsored by a third party platform. |
| ■ | Any investor participating in an account sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity (that provides services to the account) that is paid a fee-based advisory 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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| ■ | Any commissionable brokerage account, if a financial intermediary has received a written approval from the Distributor to waive the minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares. |
| ■ | Any Trustee (or family member) of Columbia Acorn Trust. |
| ■ | Any employee (or family member) of the Investment Manager. |
The minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors is $1,000:
| ■ | Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) on commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform. |
| ■ | Any current 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 are eligible to invest in Class Inst shares through an individual retirement account (IRA). 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 Inst shares. If Class Inst shares are not available at your financial intermediary, you may consider opening a Direct-at-Fund Account. It is your obligation to advise your financial intermediary or (in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts) the Transfer Agent that you qualify for Class Inst shares; be prepared to provide proof thereof. |
The minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors is $2,000:
| ■ | Investors (except investors in individual retirement accounts (IRAs)) who purchase Fund shares through commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary holds the shares in an omnibus account and, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform. |
| ■ | Any current 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 are eligible to invest in Class Inst shares (other than individual retirement accounts (IRAs), for which the minimum initial investment is $1,000). 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 Inst shares. If Class Inst shares are not available at your financial intermediary, you may consider opening a Direct-at-Fund Account. It is your obligation to advise your financial intermediary or (in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts) the Transfer Agent that you qualify for Class Inst shares; be prepared to provide proof thereof. |
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | Bank trust departments that assess their clients an asset-based fee. |
| ■ | Any trustee or director (or family member of a trustee or director) of a fund distributed by the Distributor (other than the Columbia Acorn Funds). |
| ■ | 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 financial intermediary to set up the plan. Systematic Investment Plans may not be available for all share classes. With the exception of Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Systematic Investment Plan purchases will be confirmed on your quarterly account statement. Columbia Government Money Market Fund Systematic Investment Plan purchases will be confirmed at the time of the purchase. If establishing a Systematic Investment Plan to reduce the initial fund minimum, the plan needs to be established monthly to avoid the small account fee.
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Dividend Diversification
Generally, you may automatically invest Fund distributions into the same class of shares (and in some cases certain other classes of shares) of another Fund without paying any applicable front-end sales charge. 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 financial intermediaries.
Other Purchase Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Once the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary receives your purchase order in “good form,” your purchase will be made at the Fund’s next calculated public offering price per share, which is the NAV per share plus any sales charge that applies (i.e., the trade date). |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your purchase request in “good form,” you cannot cancel it after the market closes. |
| ■ | You generally buy Class A 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 Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R shares at NAV 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 request if the Fund does not receive payment within two business days of receiving your purchase order request. The Fund will return any payment received for orders that have been cancelled, but no interest will be paid on that money. |
| ■ | Financial intermediaries are responsible for sending your purchase orders to the Transfer Agent and ensuring that the Fund receives your money on time. |
| ■ | Shares purchased are recorded on the books of the Fund. The Fund does not issue certificates. |
| ■ | You generally may make a purchase only into a Fund that is accepting investments. |
Please also read Appendix A and contact your financial intermediary for more information regarding any reductions and/or waivers described therein.
Selling Shares
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,” (i.e., the trade date) 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 Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, and Class Inst3 share accounts. Contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary 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. Note that a Medallion Signature Guarantee may be required if this service is established after your Fund account is opened.
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 redemption proceeds 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.
Satisfying Fund Redemption Requests
When you sell your Fund shares, the Fund is effectively buying them back from you. This is called a redemption. Except as noted below with respect to newly purchased shares, the Fund typically expects to send you payment for your shares within two business days after your trade date. The Fund can suspend redemptions and/or delay
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payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven days. The Fund can also suspend redemptions and/or delay payment of redemption proceeds in excess of seven days under certain circumstances, including when the NYSE is closed or trading thereon is restricted or during emergency or other circumstances, including as determined by the SEC.
The Fund typically seeks to satisfy redemption requests from cash or cash equivalents held by the Fund, from the proceeds of orders to purchase Fund shares or from the proceeds of sales of Fund holdings effected in the normal course of managing the Fund. However, the Fund may have to sell Fund holdings, including in down markets, to meet heavier than usual redemption requests. For example, under stressed or abnormal market conditions or circumstances, including circumstances adversely affecting the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, the Fund may be more likely to be forced to sell Fund holdings to meet redemptions than under normal market circumstances. In these situations, the Fund’s portfolio managers may have to sell Fund holdings that would not otherwise be sold because, among other reasons, the current price to be received is less than the value of the holdings perceived by the Fund’s portfolio managers. The Fund may also, under certain circumstances (likely under stressed or abnormal market conditions or circumstances), borrow money under a credit facility to which the Fund and certain other Columbia Funds are parties. The Fund and the other Columbia Funds are limited as to the amount that each may individually and collectively borrow under the credit facility. As a result, borrowings available to the Fund under the credit facility might be insufficient, alone or in combination with the other strategies described herein, to satisfy Fund redemption requests. Please see About Fund Investments – Borrowings in the SAI for more information about the credit facility. The Fund is also limited in the total amount it may borrow. Please see About Fund Investments – Fundamental and Non-Fundamental Investment Policies in the SAI for more information about borrowing.
In addition, the Fund reserves the right to honor redemption orders in whole or in part with in-kind distributions of Fund portfolio securities instead of cash. Such in-kind distributions typically represent a pro-rata portion of Fund portfolio assets subject to adjustments (e.g., for non-transferable securities, round lots, and derivatives, if any). In the event the Fund distributes portfolio securities in kind, you may incur brokerage and other transaction costs associated with converting the portfolio securities you receive into cash. Also, the portfolio securities you receive may increase or decrease in value after they are distributed but 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. The Trust has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, which means that for each redeeming shareholder, the first $250,000, or 1% of the Fund's net asset value, whichever is less, will be paid in cash or cash equivalents and the remainder may be paid in kind.
While the Fund is not required (and may refuse in its discretion) to pay a redemption with an in-kind distribution of Fund portfolio securities and reserves the right to pay the redemption proceeds in cash, if you wish to request an in-kind redemption, please call the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611. As a result of the operational steps needed to coordinate with the redeeming shareholder’s custodian, in-kind redemptions typically take several weeks to complete after a redemption request is received. The Fund and the redeeming shareholder will typically agree upon a redemption date. Since the Fund’s NAV may fluctuate during this time, the Fund’s NAV may be lower on the agreed-upon redemption date than on an earlier date on which the investment could have been redeemed for cash.
Redemption of Newly Purchased Shares
You may not redeem shares for which the Fund has not yet received payment. Shares purchased by check or electronically by ACH when the purchase payment is not guaranteed will be considered in “good form” for redemption only after they have been held in your account for 6 calendar days after the trade date of the purchase (Collected Shares). If you request a redemption for an amount that, based on the NAV next calculated after your redemption request is received, includes any shares that are not yet Collected Shares, the Fund will only process the redemption up to the amount of the value of Collected Shares available in your account. You must submit a new redemption request if you wish to redeem those shares that were not yet Collected Shares at the time the original redemption request was received by the Fund.
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Other Redemption Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Once the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary receives your redemption order in “good form,” your shares will be sold at the Fund’s next calculated NAV per share (i.e., the trade date). Any applicable CDSC will be deducted from the amount you're selling and the balance will be remitted to you. |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your redemption request in “good form,” you cannot cancel it after the market closes. |
| ■ | The Distributor, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to liquidate Fund shares (of any class of the Fund) held in an omnibus account of a financial intermediary that clears Fund share transactions through a clearing intermediary or platform that charges certain maintenance fees to the Fund if the value of the omnibus account, at the Fund share class (i.e., CUSIP) level, falls below $100,000 (a CUSIP Liquidation Event). The Distributor will provide at least 90 days’ notice of a CUSIP Liquidation Event to financial intermediaries with impacted omnibus accounts. Shareholders invested in the Fund through such omnibus accounts can request through their financial intermediary a tax-free exchange to Class A shares or shareholders can consider holding their Fund shares in a Direct-at-Fund Account, provided requirements to transfer the account are fulfilled. You should discuss your options with your financial intermediary. |
| ■ | If you sell your shares that are held in a Direct-at-Fund Account, we will normally send the redemption proceeds by mail or electronically transfer them to your bank account the next business day after the trade date. Note that your bank may take up to three business days to post an electronic funds transfer from your account. |
| ■ | If you sell your shares through a financial intermediary, the Funds will normally send the redemption proceeds to your financial intermediary within two business days after the trade date. |
| ■ | No interest will be paid on uncashed redemption checks. |
| ■ | 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 (subject to eligibility requirements), 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. 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. Please see Same-Fund Exchange Privilege below for more information.
You will be subject to a sales charge if, in a Direct-at-Fund Account, you exchange shares that have not previously paid a sales charge, including from Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not charge a front-end sales charge, into a Columbia Fund that does assess a sales charge. If you hold your Fund shares through certain financial intermediaries, you may have limited exchangeability among the Funds. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.
Systematic Exchanges
You may buy Class A, Class C, Class Inst and Class Inst3 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 financial intermediary to set up the plan.
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Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Exchanges will continue as long as your balance in the Fund you are exchanging shares from is sufficient to complete the systematic monthly exchange, 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.
Other Exchange Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Exchanges are made at the NAV next calculated (plus any applicable sales charge) after your exchange order is received in “good form” (i.e., the trade date). |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your exchange request in “good form,” 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 Government 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 Government 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 Government Money Market Fund or Class A shares of any other Fund. |
| ■ | A sales charge may apply when you exchange shares of a Fund that were not assessed a sales charge at the time you purchased such shares. If you invest through a Direct-at-Fund Account in Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund, Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not impose a front-end sales charge and then you exchange into a Fund that does assess a sales charge, 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 Columbia Funds. |
| ■ | If you purchased Class A shares of a Columbia Fund that imposes a front-end sales charge (and you paid any applicable sales charge) and you then exchange those shares into Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund, Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not impose a front-end sales charge, you may exchange that amount to Class A of another Fund in the future, 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. Any applicable CDSC charged 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 financial intermediary 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. |
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Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
| ■ | Class Inst shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Class A or Class Inst shares of another Fund. In certain circumstances, the front-end sales charge applicable to Class A shares may be waived on exchanges of Class Inst shares for Class A shares. See Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares — Eligible Investors — Class Inst Shares for details. |
Same-Fund Exchange Privilege
Shareholders may be eligible to invest in other classes of shares of the same Fund, and may exchange their current shares for another share class if deemed eligible and offered by the Fund. Such same-Fund exchanges could include an exchange of one class for another with higher expenses. Before making such an exchange, you should consider the expenses of each class. Shareholders should contact their financial intermediaries to learn more about the details of the same-Fund exchange privilege. Exchanges out of Class A and Class C shares will be subject to any applicable CDSC. Financial intermediaries that have a customized arrangement with regard to CDSCs are detailed in Appendix A.
Exchanges out of Class C shares to another share class of the same Fund are not permissible on Direct-at-Fund Accounts, except that the Transfer Agent seeks to convert Class C shares as soon as administratively feasible to Class A shares of the same Fund for Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them. Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares. Class C share purchase orders received by Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund. Exchanges out of Class C shares to another share class of the same Fund within commissionable brokerage accounts are permitted only (1) when the shareholder moves from a commissionable brokerage account to a fee-based advisory program or (2) when the exchange is part of a share class conversion (or a similar multiple shareholder transaction event) instituted by a financial intermediary and such conversion or similar type event is preapproved by the Distributor.
Ordinarily, shareholders will not recognize a gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon a same-Fund exchange. You should consult your tax advisor about your particular exchanges.
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Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Distributions and Taxes
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). |
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 (or be exposed to additional losses, if the Fund earns a negative return). 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 income or 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, the 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 NAV 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 financial intermediary 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
| Prospectus 2023 | 59 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
“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.
Taxes
You should be aware of the following considerations applicable to the Fund:
| ■ | 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 NAV 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. Certain events may require the Fund to sell significant amounts of appreciated securities and make large dividends relative to the Fund’s NAV. Such events may include large net shareholder redemptions, portfolio rebalancing or fund mergers. The Fund generally provides estimates of expected capital gain dividends (if any) prior to the distribution on columbiathreadneedleus.com. |
| ■ | From time to time, a distribution from the Fund could constitute a return of capital. A return of capital is a return of an amount of your original investment and is not a distribution of income or capital gain from the Fund. Therefore, a return of capital 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.” |
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | 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 capital gain or loss, as described further in the SAI. |
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Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | For sales, redemptions and exchanges of shares that were acquired in a non-qualified account after 2011, the Fund generally is required to report to shareholders and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cost basis information with respect to those shares. The Fund uses average cost basis as its default method of calculating cost basis. For more information regarding average cost basis reporting, other available cost basis methods, and selecting or changing to a different cost basis method, please see the SAI, columbiathreadneedleus.com, or contact the Fund at 800.345.6611. If you hold Fund shares through a financial intermediary (e.g., a brokerage firm), you should contact your financial intermediary to learn about its cost basis reporting default method and the reporting elections available to your account. |
| ■ | 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
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.
| Prospectus 2023 | 61 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The total return in the table represents the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total return does not reflect payment of sales charges, if any. Total return and portfolio turnover are not annualized for periods of less than one year. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated without regard to purchase and sales transactions of short-term instruments and certain derivatives, if any. If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate might be higher. The names of certain share classes may have changed during the periods shown below (see Appendix S to the SAI for details). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the Fund’s annual report, which is available upon request. The independent registered public accounting firm’s report and the Fund’s financial statements are also incorporated by reference into the SAI.
| Prospectus 2023 | 63 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, beginning of period |
Net investment income (loss) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
Total from investment operations |
Distributions from net investment income |
Total distributions to shareholders | |
| Class A | ||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $33.33 | 0.06(c) | (12.78) | (12.72) | — | — |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $27.49 | (0.14) | 6.04 | 5.90 | (0.06) | (0.06) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $22.52 | (0.12) | 5.22 | 5.10 | (0.13) | (0.13) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $15.56 | 0.06 | 7.09 | 7.15 | (0.19) | (0.19) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $19.27 | 0.11 | (3.70) | (3.59) | (0.12) | (0.12) |
| Advisor Class | ||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $33.68 | 0.11(c) | (12.92) | (12.81) | — | — |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $27.78 | (0.10) | 6.13 | 6.03 | (0.13) | (0.13) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $22.70 | (0.06) | 5.27 | 5.21 | (0.13) | (0.13) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $15.68 | 0.12 | 7.13 | 7.25 | (0.23) | (0.23) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $19.36 | 0.19 | (3.75) | (3.56) | (0.12) | (0.12) |
| Class C | ||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $32.35 | (0.10) (c) | (12.40) | (12.50) | — | — |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $26.83 | (0.36) | 5.88 | 5.52 | — | — |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $22.15 | (0.27) | 5.08 | 4.81 | (0.13) | (0.13) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $15.33 | (0.06) | 6.93 | 6.87 | (0.05) | (0.05) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $19.12 | (0.02) | (3.65) | (3.67) | (0.12) | (0.12) |
| Institutional Class | ||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $33.51 | 0.11(c) | (12.85) | (12.74) | — | — |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $27.64 | (0.06) | 6.06 | 6.00 | (0.13) | (0.13) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $22.59 | (0.06) | 5.24 | 5.18 | (0.13) | (0.13) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $15.60 | 0.12 | 7.10 | 7.22 | (0.23) | (0.23) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $19.27 | 0.15 | (3.70) | (3.55) | (0.12) | (0.12) |
| Institutional 2 Class | ||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $33.92 | 0.12(c) | (13.00) | (12.88) | — | — |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $27.98 | (0.12) | 6.21 | 6.09 | (0.15) | (0.15) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $22.84 | (0.05) | 5.32 | 5.27 | (0.13) | (0.13) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $15.78 | 0.14 | 7.17 | 7.31 | (0.25) | (0.25) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $19.46 | 0.19 | (3.75) | (3.56) | (0.12) | (0.12) |
| 64 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, end of period |
Total return(a) |
Total gross expense ratio to average net assets(b) |
Total net expense ratio to average net assets(b) |
Net investment income (loss) ratio to average net assets |
Portfolio turnover |
Net assets, end of period (000's) | |
| Class A | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $20.61 | (38.16%) | 1.80% (d), (e) | 1.45% (d), (e), (f) | 0.25% | 31% | $28,892 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $33.33 | 21.47% | 1.63% (e) | 1.44% (e), (f) | (0.45%) | 21% | $66,374 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $27.49 | 22.80% | 1.86% (e) | 1.45% (e) | (0.54%) | 45% | $42,059 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $22.52 | 45.96% | 1.88% | 1.44% | 0.33% | 30% | $33,361 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $15.56 | (18.78%) | 1.81% (e) | 1.45% (e) | 0.57% | 39% | $22,870 |
| Advisor Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $20.87 | (38.03%) | 1.55% (d), (e) | 1.20% (d), (e), (f) | 0.47% | 31% | $1,161 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $33.68 | 21.75% | 1.37% (e) | 1.19% (e), (f) | (0.32%) | 21% | $3,083 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $27.78 | 23.10% | 1.61% (e) | 1.20% (e) | (0.29%) | 45% | $1,781 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $22.70 | 46.30% | 1.63% | 1.19% | 0.60% | 30% | $1,906 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $15.68 | (18.53%) | 1.55% (e) | 1.19% (e) | 0.97% | 39% | $1,496 |
| Class C | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $19.85 | (38.64%) | 2.54% (d), (e) | 2.20% (d), (e), (f) | (0.47%) | 31% | $2,372 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $32.35 | 20.57% | 2.39% (e) | 2.19% (e), (f) | (1.20%) | 21% | $7,078 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $26.83 | 21.87% | 2.61% (e) | 2.20% (e) | (1.27%) | 45% | $5,705 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $22.15 | 44.79% | 2.64% | 2.19% | (0.30%) | 30% | $6,186 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $15.33 | (19.34%) | 2.56% (e) | 2.20% (e) | (0.12%) | 39% | $8,770 |
| Institutional Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $20.77 | (38.02%) | 1.54% (d), (e) | 1.20% (d), (e), (f) | 0.46% | 31% | $38,307 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $33.51 | 21.76% | 1.38% (e) | 1.19% (e), (f) | (0.21%) | 21% | $111,462 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $27.64 | 23.08% | 1.61% (e) | 1.20% (e) | (0.29%) | 45% | $55,171 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $22.59 | 46.35% | 1.63% | 1.19% | 0.64% | 30% | $49,616 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $15.60 | (18.57%) | 1.56% (e) | 1.20% (e) | 0.80% | 39% | $32,813 |
| Institutional 2 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $21.04 | (37.97%) | 1.40% (d), (e) | 1.14% (d), (e) | 0.48% | 31% | $2,863 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $33.92 | 21.80% | 1.32% (e) | 1.14% (e) | (0.38%) | 21% | $25,882 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $27.98 | 23.23% | 1.58% (e) | 1.14% (e) | (0.24%) | 45% | $3,855 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $22.84 | 46.33% | 1.60% | 1.13% | 0.73% | 30% | $2,175 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $15.78 | (18.44%) | 1.50% (e) | 1.13% (e) | 0.96% | 39% | $2,554 |
| Prospectus 2023 | 65 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, beginning of period |
Net investment income (loss) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
Total from investment operations |
Distributions from net investment income |
Total distributions to shareholders | |
| Institutional 3 Class | ||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $33.38 | 0.13(c) | (12.80) | (12.67) | — | — |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $27.54 | (0.05) | 6.05 | 6.00 | (0.16) | (0.16) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $22.48 | (0.02) | 5.21 | 5.19 | (0.13) | (0.13) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $15.53 | 0.14 | 7.06 | 7.20 | (0.25) | (0.25) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $19.17 | (0.04) | (3.48) | (3.52) | (0.12) | (0.12) |
| Notes to Financial Highlights | |
| (a) | Had the Investment Manager and/or Transfer Agent not waived fees and/or reimbursed a portion of expenses, total return would have been reduced. |
| (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, if any. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund's reported expense ratios. |
| (c) | Net investment income per share includes special dividends. The effect of these dividends amounted to $0.01 per share. |
| (d) | Ratios include Trustees’ fees deferred during the current period as well as any gains or losses on the Trustees’ deferred compensation balances as a result of market fluctuations. If these had been excluded, expenses would have been higher by 0.01%. |
| (e) | Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%. |
| (f) | The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%. |
| 66 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, end of period |
Total return(a) |
Total gross expense ratio to average net assets(b) |
Total net expense ratio to average net assets(b) |
Net investment income (loss) ratio to average net assets |
Portfolio turnover |
Net assets, end of period (000's) | |
| Institutional 3 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $20.71 | (37.96%) | 1.47% (d), (e) | 1.11% (d), (e) | 0.56% | 31% | $41 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $33.38 | 21.83% | 1.32% (e) | 1.10% (e) | (0.15%) | 21% | $60 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $27.54 | 23.24% | 1.52% (e) | 1.10% (e) | (0.08%) | 45% | $69 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $22.48 | 46.42% | 1.54% | 1.09% | 0.74% | 30% | $19 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $15.53 | (18.51%) | 1.41% (e) | 1.08% (e) | (0.21%) | 39% | $3 |
| Prospectus 2023 | 67 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges
As noted in the Choosing a Share Class section of the prospectus, the sales charge reductions and waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. This Appendix A describes financial intermediary-specific reductions and/or waiver policies applicable to Fund shares purchased and held through the particular financial intermediary. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to a particular financial intermediary is not available to Direct-at-Fund Accounts and does not apply in any case to non-omnibus positions wherever held. These reductions and/or waivers may apply to purchases, sales, and exchanges of Fund shares. A shareholder transacting in Fund shares through a financial intermediary identified below should carefully read the terms and conditions of the reductions and/or waivers. Please consult your financial intermediary with respect to any sales charge reduction/waiver described below.
The financial intermediary-specific information below may be provided by, or compiled from or based on information provided by, the financial intermediaries noted. While the Funds, the Investment Manager and the Distributor do not establish these financial intermediary-specific policies, our representatives are available to answer questions about these financial intermediary-specific policies and can direct you to the financial intermediary if you need help understanding them.
Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (Ameriprise Financial Services)
The following information has been provided by Ameriprise Financial Services:
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers Available at Ameriprise Financial Services:
The following information applies to Class A shares purchases if you have an account with or otherwise purchase Fund shares through Ameriprise Financial Services:
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Ameriprise Financial Services brokerage account are eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the Columbia Fund family). |
| ■ | Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 7-year anniversary of the purchase date. To the extent that the Fund’s Class C Shares – Conversion to Class A Shares policy (stated outside this Appendix A) provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares or the conversion of Class C shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial Services or its affiliates and their immediate family members. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise financial advisor and/or the advisor’s spouse, advisor’s lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), advisor’s lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another fund in the Columbia Fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement). |
| A-1 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (Baird)
The following information has been provided by Baird:
Effective June 30, 2020, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Baird platform or account that maintains an omnibus position with the Fund will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to Baird will not apply to non-omnibus positions.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Baird:
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same Columbia Fund. |
| ■ | Share purchases by employees and registered representatives of Baird or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Baird. |
| ■ | Shares purchased with the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same accounts, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights of reinstatement). |
| ■ | A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares of the same Columbia Fund if the shares are no longer subject to CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Baird. |
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage account at Baird, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares Available at Baird:
| ■ | Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares purchased due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulations which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Baird. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Columbia Funds through Baird, over a 13-month period of time. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-2 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (Edward Jones)
Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
The following information has been provided by Edward Jones:
Effective on or after January 15, 2021, the following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in Columbia Fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as "shareholders") purchasing Columbia Fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as "breakpoints") and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder's responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings of Columbia Funds and Future Scholars Program, or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.
Breakpoints
| ■ | Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in this prospectus. |
Rights of Accumulation (ROA)
| ■ | The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of Columbia Funds and Future Scholars Program held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations ("pricing groups"). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible Columbia Fund assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a sales charge. |
| ■ | The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level. |
| ■ | ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares x NAV). |
Letter of Intent (LOI)
| ■ | Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts for purchases shareholders intend to make over a 13-month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total amount. The inclusion of eligible Columbia Fund assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted if LOI is not met. |
| ■ | If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the employer. |
| A-3 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Sales Charge Waivers
Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
| ■ | Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and their family members who are in the same pricing group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associate's life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones' policies and procedures. |
| ■ | Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of Columbia Funds so long as the following conditions are met: 1) the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, and 2) the sale and purchase are made in the same share class and the same account or the purchase is made in an individual retirement account with proceeds from liquidations in a non-retirement account. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Exchanges from Class C shares to Class A shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones. |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) Waivers
If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:
| ■ | The death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimum Balances, as described below. |
Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
Minimum Purchase Amounts
| ■ | Initial purchase minimum: $250 |
| ■ | Subsequent purchase minimum: none |
Minimum Balances
| ■ | Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion Fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy: |
| ■ | A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform. |
| ■ | A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform. |
| ■ | An account with an active systematic investment plan or LOI. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-4 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Exchanging Share Classes
| ■ | At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV a shareholder's holdings in the Fund to Class A shares. |
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (Janney)
The following information has been provided by Janney:
Effective May 1, 2020, if you purchase Columbia Fund shares through a Janney brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC, or back-end sales charge, waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to Janney does not apply to non-omnibus positions.
Front-End Sales Charge* Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Janney
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other Columbia Fund). |
| ■ | Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Janney. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within ninety (90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement). |
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Class C shares that are no longer subject to a CDSC and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Janney’s policies and procedures. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Janney
| ■ | Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged into the same share class of a different fund. |
Front-End Sales Charge* Discounts Available at Janney: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation, and/or Letters of Intent
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulation (“ROA”), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Janney. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within the Columbia Funds, over a 13-month time period. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Janney may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| A-5 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
* Also referred to as an “initial sales charge”.
Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch)
The following information has been provided by Merrill Lynch:
Shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI:
Front-End Load Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch:
Merrill Lynch makes available breakpoint discounts on shares of the Fund through:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts as described in this prospectus will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts (including 529 program holdings, where applicable) within the purchaser’s household at Merrill Lynch. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of Intent (LOI) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Columbia Funds, through Merrill Lynch, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable). |
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Merrill Lynch:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by a 529 Plan (does not include 529 Plan units or 529-specific share classes or equivalents). |
| ■ | Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynch’s platform. |
| ■ | Shares of funds purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform (if applicable). |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other Columbia Fund). |
| ■ | Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e., level-load) shares of the same fund pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members. |
| ■ | Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Eligible shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). Automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are automatically sold to pay Merrill Lynch’s account maintenance fees are not eligible for reinstatement. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Merrill Lynch:
| ■ | Death or disability of the shareholder. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-6 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Merrill Lynch. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts, that are exchanged for a lower cost share class due to transfer to certain fee based accounts or platforms (applicable to Class A and Class C shares only). |
| ■ | Shares received through an exchange due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC (Morgan Stanley Wealth Management)
The following information has been provided by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management:
Effective July 1, 2018, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Effective July 1, 2018:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| ■ | Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s account linking rules. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account. |
| ■ | Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a CDSC and are exchanged for Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class exchange program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge. |
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and each entity’s affiliates (Raymond James)
The following information has been provided by Raymond James:
Intermediary-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies:
The availability of certain initial or deferred sales charge waivers and discounts may depend on the particular financial intermediary or type of account through which you purchase or hold Columbia Fund shares.
Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred (back-end) sales load (CDSC) waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any
| A-7 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Columbia Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts.
Raymond James:
Effective March 1, 2019, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account, or through an introducing broker-dealer or independent registered investment adviser for which Raymond James provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody services, will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Raymond James:
| ■ | Shares purchased in an investment advisory program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased within the Columbia Funds through a systematic reinvestment of capital gains and dividend distributions. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond James. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the Columbia Funds, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). |
| ■ | A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares Available at Raymond James:
| ■ | Death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
Front-End Load Discounts Available at Raymond James: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation and/or Letters of Intent:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Raymond James. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of rights of accumulation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within the Columbia Funds, over a 13-month time period. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
Stifel Financial Corp. (Stifel)
The following information has been provided by Stifel:
| Prospectus 2023 | A-8 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Effective June 30, 2020, Class C shares of Columbia Funds that were purchased through a Stifel platform or account that maintains an omnibus position with the Fund that are no longer subject to a CDSC are exchanged to Class A shares of the same Columbia Fund pursuant to Stifel’s policies and procedures. This does not apply to non-omnibus positions.
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. (USBI)
The following information has been provided by USBI:
Effective September of 2021, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a USBI platform or who own shares for which USBI is the broker-dealer, where the shares are held in an omnibus account, will only be eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
All other sales charge waivers and reduction described elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI still apply.
USBI Conversion of Class C shares
Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge are systematically converted to the Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to USBI’s share class exchange policy.
Additional Sales Charge Reductions and/or Waivers Available at Certain Financial Intermediaries
Shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a platform or account of RBC Capital Markets, LLC are eligible for the following sales charge waiver:
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waiver Available at RBC Capital Markets, LLC:
| ■ | For employer-sponsored retirement plans held through a commissionable brokerage account, Class A shares are available at NAV (i.e., without a sales charge). For this purpose, employer-sponsored retirement plans include, but are not limited to, 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| A-9 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn European FundSM
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
Columbia Acorn Family of Funds
Additional Information About the Fund
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI also provides additional information about the Fund and its policies. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is legally part of this prospectus (incorporated by reference). To obtain these documents free of charge, to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries, please contact the Fund as follows:
By Mail: Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
By Telephone: 800.345.6611
Online: columbiathreadneedleus.com
Shareholder Communications with the Board
The Fund’s Board of Trustees has adopted procedures by which shareholders may communicate with the Board. Shareholders who wish to communicate with the Board should send their written communications to the Board by mail, c/o Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606, Attention: Secretary. Shareholder communications must (i) be in writing, (ii) identify the Columbia Acorn Fund to which the communication relates and (iii) state the particular class of shares and number of shares held by the communicating shareholder.
Obtaining Additional Information from the SEC
Reports and other information about the Fund are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can receive copies of this information, for a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
The investment company registration number of Columbia Acorn Trust, of which the Fund is a series, is 811-01829.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.
The Fund is distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.
The Fund is distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.
© 2023 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. All rights reserved.
PRO109_12_N01_(05/23)
Prospectus
May 1, 2023
Columbia Acorn Family of Funds
Managed by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
Columbia
Acorn® Fund
Acorn® Fund
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Table of Contents
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2
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Summary of the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Acorn® Fund (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, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. 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 is available about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers from your financial intermediary, and can be found in the Choosing a Share Class section beginning on page 24 of the Fund’s prospectus, in Appendix A to the prospectus beginning on page A-1 and in Appendix S to the Statement of Additional Information (SAI) under Sales Charge Waivers beginning on page S-1.
| | |||
| Class A | Class C | Classes Adv, Inst, Inst2 and Inst3 | |
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a % of offering price) | |||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a % of the lower of the original purchase price or current net asset value) | |||
| | ||||||
| Class A | Class Adv | Class C | Class Inst | Class Inst2 | Class Inst3 | |
| Management fees | ||||||
| Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | ||||||
| Other expenses | ||||||
| Total annual Fund operating expenses | ||||||
| (a) | |
| (b) | |
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. |
Class C shares’ 10-year cost examples below reflect the Class C shares 8-year conversion policy. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
| 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | |
| Class A (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Adv (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class C (assuming redemption of all shares at the end of the period) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Prospectus 2023 | 3 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
| 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | |
| Class C (assuming no redemption of shares) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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 64 % 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 small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations generally in the range of market capitalizations in the Russell 2500 Growth Index, the Fund's benchmark, (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $5.5 million and $24 billion as of March 31, 2023). The market capitalization range and composition of companies in the Index are subject to change.
As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. The Fund determines a company’s market capitalization at the time of investment. As long as a majority of its net assets are invested in companies within the market capitalization range of the Index, the Fund may continue to hold and make new investments in a security even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the range of the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser (the Investment Manager), believes that stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, 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 Brazil). The Investment Manager from time to time emphasizes one or more sectors in selecting the Fund’s investments, including the consumer discretionary, health care, industrials, and information technology sectors.
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 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 risks, including those described below, among others. 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. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
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 and/or strategies.
| 4 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-cap companies often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established 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.
Market Risk. The Fund may incur losses due to declines in the value of one or more securities in which it invests. These declines may be due to factors affecting a particular issuer, or the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s) more generally. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to price or value hard-to-value assets in thinly traded and closed markets and could cause significant redemptions and operational challenges. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as terrorism, war, other conflicts, natural disasters, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other public health issues, recessions, depressions or other events – or the potential for such events – could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Underperformance of an issuer 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, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other events, conditions and factors.
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. Growth securities may also be sensitive to movements 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 an industry or related group of industries within one or more economic sectors , including the consumer discretionary, health care, industrials, and information technology sectors. Companies in the same 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 industry or group of industries or 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.
| ■ | Consumer Discretionary Sector. The Fund is 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 economies, 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, and changing demographics and consumer tastes. |
| ■ | Health Care Sector. The Fund is 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), among others. 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. |
| Prospectus 2023 | 5 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
| ■ | Industrials Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials 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, economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims. |
| ■ | Information Technology Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the information technology sector 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 information 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. Some companies in the information technology sector are facing increased government and regulatory scrutiny and may be subject to adverse government or regulatory action, which could negatively impact the value of their securities. |
Liquidity and Trading Volume Risk. Because the Fund may invest a percentage of its assets in foreign securities, including in emerging markets, it may be subject to the liquidity and trading volume risks associated with international investing, including in emerging markets. 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 and may affect the value of your investment in the Fund. 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. 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 or, conversely, if it faces significant redemption pressure, these considerations take on increasing significance and may adversely impact performance.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to securities of foreign companies may involve heightened risks relative to investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Investing in securities of foreign companies subjects the Fund to the risks associated with an issuer’s (and any of its related companies’) country of organization and places of business operations, including risks related to political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events (including, for example, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism and disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics) 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.
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
| 6 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
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 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, and may be more susceptible to market manipulation, 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. Due to the differences in the nature and quality of financial information of issuers of emerging market securities, including auditing and financial reporting standards, financial information and disclosures about such issuers may be unavailable or, if made available, may be considerably less reliable than publicly available information about other foreign securities.
Performance Information
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the Average Annual Total Returns table below includes the Fund’s Class Inst 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.
| Prospectus 2023 | 7 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
as of December 31 Each Year* |
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart | ||
 |
|||
| - | |||
| * | |
Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2022)
| Share Class Inception Date |
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | |
| Class Inst | ||||
| returns before taxes | - |
|||
| returns after taxes on distributions | - |
- |
||
| returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares | - |
|||
| Class A returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Class Adv returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Class C returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Class Inst2 returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Class Inst3 returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Russell 2500 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | - |
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
| Portfolio Management | Title | Role with Fund | Service with the Fund Since | |||
| Erika K. Maschmeyer, CFA | Head of Domestic Equity and Director of Domestic Research, Portfolio Manager and Analyst at the Investment Manager | Lead Portfolio Manager since February 2023 | 2016 | |||
| John L. Emerson, CFA | Portfolio Manager and Analyst at the Investment Manager | Portfolio Manager since 2021 | 2003 |
| 8 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by contacting the Fund in the ways described below:
| Online | Regular Mail | Express Mail | By Telephone | |||
| columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/ | Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. P.O. Box 219104 Kansas City, MO 64121-9104 |
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. c/o SS&C GIDS, Inc. 430 W 7th Street, Suite 219104 Kansas City, MO 64105-1407 |
800.422.3737 |
You may purchase shares and receive redemption proceeds by electronic funds transfer, by check or by wire. If you maintain your account with a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, you must contact that financial intermediary to buy, sell or exchange shares of the Fund through your account with the intermediary.
The minimum initial investment amounts for the share classes offered by the Fund are shown below:
Minimum Initial Investment
| Class | Category of eligible account | For accounts other than Systematic Investment Plan accounts (as described in the Fund’s Prospectus) |
For Systematic Investment Plan accounts |
| Classes A & C | All accounts other than IRAs | $2,000 | $100 |
| IRAs | $1,000 | $100 | |
| Classes Adv & Inst | All eligible accounts | $0, $1,000 or $2,000 depending upon the category of eligible investor |
$100 |
| Class Inst2 | All eligible accounts | None | N/A |
| Class Inst3 | All eligible accounts | $0, $1,000, $2,000 or $1 million depending upon the category of eligible investor |
$100 (for certain eligible investors) |
More information about these minimums can be found in the Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares - Buying Shares section of the prospectus. There is no minimum additional investment for any share class.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders. These distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, you may be taxed upon withdrawals from that account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies – including the Investment Manager, the Distributor and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) – may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Fund over another investment. These potential conflicts of interest may be heightened with respect to broker-dealers owned by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial) and/or its affiliates. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
| Prospectus 2023 | 9 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
More Information About the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Acorn® Fund (the Fund) seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy of the Fund and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board) without shareholder approval. There is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations generally in the range of market capitalizations in the Russell 2500 Growth Index, the Fund's benchmark, (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $5.5 million and $24 billion as of March 31, 2023). The market capitalization range and composition of companies in the Index are subject to change.
As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. The Fund determines a company’s market capitalization at the time of investment. As long as a majority of its net assets are invested in companies within the market capitalization range of the Index, the Fund may continue to hold and make new investments in a security even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the range of the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser (the Investment Manager), believes that stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, 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 Brazil). The Investment Manager from time to time emphasizes one or more sectors in selecting the Fund’s investments, including the consumer discretionary, health care, industrials, and information technology sectors.
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 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 risks, including those described below, among others. 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. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the Investment Manager to select investments and to make investment decisions that will achieve the Fund’s investment objective. 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 and/or strategies.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger, more established 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 and generally less experienced management
| 10 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
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 Fund investment losses that would affect the value of your investment in 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.
Market Risk. The Fund may incur losses due to declines in the value of one or more securities in which it invests. These declines may be due to factors affecting a particular issuer, or the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s) more generally. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to price or value hard-to-value assets in thinly traded and closed markets and could cause significant redemptions and operational challenges. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as terrorism, war, other conflicts, natural disasters, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other public health issues, recessions, depressions or other events – or the potential for such events – could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions.
The large-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 has resulted in sanctions and market disruptions, including declines in regional and global stock markets, unusual volatility in global commodity markets and significant devaluations of Russian currency. The extent and duration of the military action are impossible to predict but could be significant. Market disruption caused by the Russian military action, and any counter measures or responses thereto (including international sanctions, a downgrade in a country’s credit rating, purchasing and financing restrictions, boycotts, tariffs, changes in consumer or purchaser preferences, cyberattacks and espionage) could have severe adverse impacts on regional and/or global securities and commodities markets, including markets for oil and natural gas. These impacts may include reduced market liquidity, distress in credit markets, further disruption of global supply chains, increased risk of inflation, and limited access to investments in certain international markets and/or issuers. These developments and other related events could negatively impact Fund performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Underperformance of an issuer 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, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other events, conditions and factors.
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. Growth securities may also be sensitive to movements 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 an industry or related group of industries within one or more economic sectors , including the consumer discretionary, health care, industrials, and information technology sectors. Companies in the same 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 industry or group of industries or 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.
| ■ | Consumer Discretionary Sector. The Fund is 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 |
| Prospectus 2023 | 11 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
| performance of the overall domestic and international economies, 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, and changing demographics and consumer tastes. |
| ■ | Health Care Sector. The Fund is 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), among others. 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. |
| ■ | Industrials Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials 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, economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims. |
| ■ | Information Technology Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the information technology sector 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 information 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. Some companies in the information technology sector are facing increased government and regulatory scrutiny and may be subject to adverse government or regulatory action, which could negatively impact the value of their securities. |
Liquidity and Trading Volume Risk. Because the Fund may invest a percentage of its assets in foreign securities, including in emerging markets, it may be subject to the liquidity and trading volume risks associated with international investing, including in emerging markets. 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 and may affect the value of your investment in the Fund. 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. The Investment Manager will fair value in good faith any securities it deems to be illiquid under consistently applied procedures established by the Fund’s Board. Market conditions are always changing and vary by country and industry sector, and investing in international markets involves unique risks. Although it is difficult to accurately assess trends in trading volumes in foreign markets, a reduction in trading volumes poses challenges to the Fund. This is particularly so because the Fund focuses on small- and mid-cap companies that usually have lower trading volumes and often takes sizeable positions in portfolio companies. As a result of lower trading volumes, 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. If the Fund is forced to sell securities to meet redemption requests or other cash needs, or in the case of an event
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affecting liquidity in a particular market or markets, it may be forced to dispose of those securities under disadvantageous circumstances and at a loss. As the Fund grows in size or, conversely, if it faces significant redemption pressure, these considerations take on increasing significance and may adversely impact performance.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to securities of foreign companies may involve heightened risks relative to investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities may also be less liquid, making them more difficult to trade, 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 (including, for example, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism and disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics), possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; 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. Economic sanctions may be, and have been, imposed against certain countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals. Economic sanctions and other similar governmental actions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate the Fund’s ability to purchase or sell securities, and thus may make the Fund’s investments in such securities less liquid or more difficult to value. In addition, as a result of economic sanctions, the Fund may be forced to sell or otherwise dispose of investments at inopportune times or prices, which could result in losses to the Fund and increased transaction costs. These conditions may be in place for a substantial period of time and enacted with limited advance notice to the Fund. 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. Additionally, investments in certain countries may subject the Fund to a number of tax rules, the application of which may be uncertain. Countries may amend or revise their existing tax laws, regulations and/or procedures in the future, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in or uncertainties regarding the laws, regulations or procedures of a country could reduce the after-tax profits of the Fund, directly or indirectly, including by reducing the after-tax profits of companies located in such countries in which the Fund invests, or result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund.
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.
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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.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries 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, and may be more susceptible to market manipulation, 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. Due to the differences in the nature and quality of financial information of issuers of emerging market securities, including auditing and financial reporting standards, financial information and disclosures about such issuers may be unavailable or, if made available, may be considerably less reliable than publicly available information about other foreign securities.
Additional Investment Strategies and Policies
This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that the Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in the Fund. For information about risks associated with changing levels of Fund distributions, see the Fund’s SAI.
Changing the Fund’s Investment Objective and Policies
The Fund’s investment objective and non-fundamental investment policies (including its principal and additional investment strategies) can be changed by the Board without shareholder approval, but may require notice to shareholders in certain instances. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies, as identified in the SAI, may be changed only with Board and shareholder approval in accordance with the voting requirements of the 1940 Act. For additional information about changing the Fund’s fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies, see the SAI.
Investment Guidelines
As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies in this prospectus, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of the 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 based on the characteristics of a company at the time of initial purchase, and subsequent changes in a characteristic are not taken into account.
Holding Other Kinds of Investments
The Fund may hold other investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the SAI. The 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 the Fund’s holdings can be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports or by visiting columbiathreadneedleus.com.
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Transactions in Derivatives
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions or otherwise have exposure to derivative transactions through underlying investments. The Fund expects to enter into such transactions primarily in the form of stock index futures in order to obtain exposure to the overall sector of the market represented by a particular stock index or to invest the Fund’s uninvested cash balances in a manner that the Investment Manager believes aligns more closely with the Fund’s investment strategy than simply holding short-term fixed income investments or cash equivalents (known as cash equitization). 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 Secured Overnight Financing Rate (commonly known as SOFR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor’s 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 the Fund’s potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies typically expose the Fund to gains and losses in excess of the amount actually invested in the derivative. This characteristic of a derivative (known as "leverage") may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the 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 (including distressed) market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or the 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 the Fund’s potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund’s derivative positions at times when the 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. The 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 the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. The U.S. government and the European Union (and some other jurisdictions) have enacted regulations and similar requirements that prescribe clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These requirements are evolving and their ultimate impact on the Fund remains unclear, but such impact could include restricting and/or imposing significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. Additionally, in August 2022, regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies, such as the Fund, became effective. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, among other things, requires a fund that invests in derivative instruments beyond a specified limited amount to apply a value-at-risk-based limit to its portfolio and establish a comprehensive derivatives risk management program. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund is not required to maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program under Rule 18f-4 given its more limited use of derivatives. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.
LIBOR Phase-Out Risk. Many derivatives and other financial instruments utilize or are permitted to utilize a floating interest rate based on the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR). On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced its intention to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and the ICE Benchmark Administration have since announced that a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will cease publication after June 30, 2023. A subset of non-U.S. dollar LIBOR settings is continuing to be published on a “synthetic” basis and it is possible that a subset of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will also be published after June 30, 2023 on a “synthetic” basis. Any such publications are, or would be considered, non-representative of the underlying market. Uncertainty related to the liquidity impact of changes in reference rates, and how to appropriately adjust these rates at the time of transition, poses risks for the Fund. It is difficult to predict the full impact of the transition away from LIBOR on the Fund until new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new products, instruments and contracts are commercially accepted and market practices become more settled. The
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Columbia Acorn® Fund
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Investment Manager monitors the Fund’s LIBOR exposure risks, including the extent to which any derivative and/or debt investments allow for the utilization of alternative rate(s), such as the SOFR, which the U.S. Federal Reserve is promoting as the alternative reference rate to LIBOR.
Affiliated Fund Investing
The Investment Manager and its affiliate, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management), serve as investment advisers to mutual funds and ETFs using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including mutual funds 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 the 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 the Investment Manager and Columbia Management seek 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 the 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 to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Underlying Fund shares. Although the Investment Manager or Columbia Management 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 the Investment Manager or Columbia Management 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, the 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 investments (i.e., any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment) or less liquid securities. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Underlying Fund to implement its investment strategy. The Investment Manager or Columbia Management also has a 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
The Fund may invest cash, including cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending program, in shares of money market funds, including funds advised by affiliates of the Investment Manager. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which the Fund may invest.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries on a fully collateralized basis in order to earn additional income. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, the borrower does not return a loaned security and the proceeds from sale of the collateral are not sufficient to replace the borrowed security. The Fund invests collateral in a government money market fund.
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Columbia Acorn® Fund
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Investing Defensively
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions. These investment positions may include, 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 the Investment Manager deems necessary. During these times, the Investment Manager may make frequent portfolio changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and taxes, and decreased Fund performance.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of Fund portfolio securities is available in the SAI. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings on the Columbia Funds’ website, columbiathreadneedleus.com, as described below. Once posted, the portfolio holdings information will remain available on the website until at least the date on which such Fund files a Form N-CSR or publicly available Form N-PORT (forms filed with the SEC that include portfolio holdings information) for the period that includes the date as of which the information is current.
The Fund considers changes in its portfolio holdings to be confidential information. Consequently, Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information only after a certain amount of time has passed. The Fund’s complete portfolio holdings are disclosed approximately 30 to 40 days after each month-end. The top 15 holdings may be available sooner, approximately 15 calendar days after each month-end. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information available on the website may not always be current.
Cybersecurity
The Fund, like all companies, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks, including the risk of cyber attacks or failures. As a result, the Fund or its service providers, or the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, may experience disruptions in business operations that may potentially result in financial losses, the inability of the Fund or Fund shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. See the discussion of Cybersecurity Breaches and Technology and Related Systems Failure Risk in the SAI for further information.
Use of Benchmarks
Benchmarks are indices that provide some comparative guidance in assessing the Fund’s performance. The Investment Manager selects the benchmark(s) it believes provide meaningful comparisons for the Fund. However, there may be different or additional indices that more closely reflect the market sectors in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s benchmark(s) may change from time to time. The benchmark included in this prospectus is intended only as a guidepost for your assessment of the Fund’s performance.
FUNDamentals
Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks
The Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmarks, and accordingly the Fund's holdings may diverge significantly from those of the benchmarks selected by the Investment Manager. In addition, the Fund may invest in securities outside the industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmarks. The Fund's weightings in individual securities, and in industry and geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmarks.
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eDelivery and Mailings to Households
In order to reduce shareholder expenses, the Fund may mail only one copy of the Fund’s 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, as well as quarterly statements and supplements, by logging into your account at columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/.
Additional Information on Portfolio Turnover
A mutual fund that replaces, or turns over, more than 100% of its investments in a year may be considered to have a high portfolio turnover rate. A high portfolio turnover rate can generate larger distributions of short-term capital gains to shareholders, which for individuals are generally taxable at higher rates than long-term capital gains for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Also, a high portfolio turnover rate can mean higher brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which could reduce a fund’s returns. In general, the greater the volume of buying and selling by a fund, the greater the impact that brokerage commissions and other transaction costs will have on its returns. The Fund may sell securities regardless of how long they’ve been held. See the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus for the Fund's portfolio turnover rates for the past five years.
Cash Flows
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent the Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require the 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 the Fund’s performance.
Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund’s annual operating expenses, as presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, may vary by share class and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The expense ratios reflect the Fund’s fee arrangements as of the date of this prospectus and, unless indicated otherwise, are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year. The Fund’s assets will fluctuate, but unless indicated otherwise in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table, no adjustments have been or will be made to the expense ratios to reflect any differences in the Fund’s average net assets between the most recently completed fiscal year and the date of this prospectus or a later date. In general, the Fund’s expense ratios will increase as its net assets decrease, such that the 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 the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected, in part, to limit the impact of any increase in the Fund’s expense ratios that would otherwise result because of a decrease in the Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. The 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. Please see Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Arrangements below for information about commitments made by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates during the performance period covered by this prospectus.
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FUNDamentals
Other Expenses
“Other expenses” consist of the fees the Fund pays to its administrator, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. Generally, these expenses are allocated on a pro rata basis across all share classes. These expenses include certain sub-transfer agency and shareholder servicing fees. Transfer agency 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 agency and shareholder servicing fees applicable to each share class. For more information on these fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Financial Intermediary Compensation.
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Arrangements
The Investment Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse certain expenses of the Fund through April 30, 2025, so that ordinary operating expenses (excluding transaction costs and certain other investment-related expenses, interest and fees on borrowings, and expenses associated with the Fund’s investment in other investment companies, if any) do not exceed the annual rates of:
| Columbia Acorn Fund | |
| Class A | 1.08% |
| Class Adv | 0.83% |
| Class C | 1.83% |
| Class Inst | 0.83% |
| Class Inst2 | 0.80% |
| Class Inst3 | 0.75% |
This arrangement may only be amended or terminated with approval from the Board and the Investment Manager.
Effect of Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements on Past Performance. The Fund’s returns shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus reflect the effect of fee waivers and/or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates that were in place during the performance period shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus. Without such fee waivers/expense reimbursements, the Fund’s returns might have been lower.
Board of Trustees
The Fund is governed by the Board. More than 75% of the Fund's Trustees are independent (Independent Trustees), meaning that they are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. The Independent Trustees bring backgrounds in business and academia to their task of working with the Fund's officers to establish the Fund's policies and oversee its activities. Among the Trustees' responsibilities are: selecting the investment adviser for the Fund; approving the advisory agreement; reviewing other contracts; approving investment policies; monitoring Fund operations, performance, compliance and costs; and nominating or selecting new Trustees.
Each Trustee serves the Fund for an indefinite term until his or her retirement, resignation, death or removal in accordance with the organizational documents of Columbia Acorn Trust (the Trust). The Trust's Bylaws generally require that Trustees retire at the end of the calendar year in which they attain the age of 75 years. The last meeting to elect Trustees was held on February 27, 2015. Any Trustee may be removed at a shareholders' meeting by a vote representing two-thirds of the net asset value of all shares of the Columbia Acorn family of funds (Columbia Acorn Funds). The mailing address for the Trustees and officers is 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
For more detailed information about the Board, please refer to the SAI.
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Columbia Acorn® Fund
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Primary Service Provider Contracts
The Fund enters into contractual arrangements (Service Provider Contracts) with various parties, including, among others, the Investment Manager, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and the Fund’s custodian. The Fund’s Service Provider Contracts are solely among the parties thereto. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third-party beneficiaries of, any Service Provider Contracts. Further, this prospectus, the SAI and any Service Provider Contracts are not intended to give rise to any agreement, duty, special relationship or other obligation between the Fund and any investor, or give rise to any contractual, tort or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person, including any right to assert a fiduciary or other duty, enforce the Service Provider Contracts against the parties or to seek any remedy thereunder, either directly or on behalf of the Fund. Nothing in the previous sentence should be read to suggest any waiver of any rights under federal or state securities laws.
The Investment Manager, which also serves as the Fund's administrator (the Administrator), Columbia Management, which serves as the Fund's sub-administrator pursuant to an agreement with the Investment Manager (the Sub-Administrator), 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 the Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.
The Investment Manager
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC is located at 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60606. As of March 31, 2023, the Investment Manager had assets under management of approximately $6.8 billion. The Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Management, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to mutual funds, the Investment Manager acts as an investment manager for other private funds and institutional accounts.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Investment Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund, determining what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executing portfolio transactions. The Investment Manager may use the research and other capabilities of its affiliates and third parties in managing the Fund’s investments.
The Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee for its investment advisory services. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the daily net assets of the Fund and is paid monthly. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, aggregate fees paid to the Investment Manager by the Fund amounted to 0.68% of average daily net assets of the Fund, before any applicable reimbursements.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the renewal of the Fund’s investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2022.
The Investment Manager and its investment advisory affiliates, including Columbia Management (Affiliates), around the world may coordinate in providing services to their clients. From time to time, the Investment Manager may engage its Affiliates to provide a variety of services such as investment research, investment monitoring, trading, and discretionary investment management (including portfolio management and proxy voting) to certain accounts managed by the Investment Manager, including the Fund. These Affiliates will provide services to the Fund and other accounts of the Investment Manager either pursuant to delegation agreements, personnel-sharing agreements or similar inter-company or other arrangements or relationships and the Fund will pay no additional fees and expenses as a result of any such arrangements or relationships. These Affiliates, like the Investment Manager, are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Ameriprise Financial and are registered with the appropriate respective regulators and, where required, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in the United States.
Pursuant to some of these arrangements or relationships, certain personnel of Columbia Management and other Affiliates may serve as “associated persons” or officers 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 this prospectus and the Fund's SAI, and with the Investment Manager’s and the Fund's compliance policies and procedures, may provide such services to the Fund.
| 20 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
| Portfolio Management | Title | Role with Fund | Service with the Fund Since | |||
| Erika K. Maschmeyer, CFA | Head of Domestic Equity and Director of Domestic Research, Portfolio Manager and Analyst at the Investment Manager | Lead Portfolio Manager since February 2023 | 2016 | |||
| John L. Emerson, CFA | Portfolio Manager and Analyst at the Investment Manager | Portfolio Manager since 2021 | 2003 |
Ms. Maschmeyer has been associated with the Investment Manager as an investment professional since 2016. Ms. Maschmeyer heads the Investment Manager's U.S. equity research efforts and has been a Vice President of the Trust since March 2020. Prior to joining the Investment Manager, Ms. Maschmeyer was a research analyst at an investment advisory firm where she was responsible for U.S. consumer discretionary/staples investments. Ms. Maschmeyer began her investment career in 2001 and earned a B.A. from Denison University and an M.B.A from the University of Chicago.
Mr. Emerson has been associated with the Investment Manager or its predecessors as an investment professional since 2003 and has been a Vice President of the Trust since March 2020. Prior to joining the Investment Manager, Mr. Emerson was an analyst at an equity research firm. Mr. Emerson began his investment career in 2002 and earned a B.S. from the University of Missouri and an M.B.A from the University of Chicago.
The Administrator
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Fund’s operations, coordination of the Fund’s service providers, and the provision of office facilities and related clerical and administrative services. The Administrator retains the Sub-Administrator to perform many of these services (including fund accounting), and pays a fee for the services of the Sub-Administrator. The Fund pays the Administrator a fee for its services, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses. The fee is calculated as an annual percentage of the Trust’s aggregate average daily net assets and is paid monthly, as follows:
| Annual Administration Fee, as a % of Aggregate Daily Net Assets of the Trust: | |
| Up to $8 billion | 0.050% |
| $8 billion to $16 billion | 0.040% |
| $16 billion to $35 billion | 0.030% |
| $35 billion to $45 billion | 0.025% |
| $45 billion and over | 0.015% |
The Distributor
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. 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.
| Prospectus 2023 | 21 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
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 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, 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 SS&C GIDS, 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. Depending on the type of account, the Fund pays the Transfer Agent a per account fee for each open account and compensates the Transfer Agent for certain out-of-pocket expenses, including certain payments to financial intermediaries through which shares are held. In addition, subject to certain limitations, the Fund compensates the Transfer Agent for payments made to financial intermediaries for the shareholder services that the intermediaries provide, in amounts that vary by share class and with the type of intermediary and the type of shareholder services provided. The Transfer Agent is contractually obligated to oversee such intermediaries for the purpose of reasonably assuring their compliance with applicable law and the terms of their agreements to provide the shareholder services. For more information about Shareholder Services fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Financial Intermediary Compensation.
Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest
This section describes certain actual and potential conflicts of interest that arise from the financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including: insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management and financial services. As a consequence of these activities, Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates may have interests arising from their other business lines that conflict with the interests of the Fund. These activities may also, from time to time, place certain investment constraints on the management of the Fund that might not otherwise arise.
As described in More Information About the Fund - Primary Service Provider Contracts, the Investment Manager, Administrator, Sub-Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial. In addition to the services that they provide to the Fund, they also provide substantially similar services (for which they are compensated) to other clients and customers, including the Columbia Funds. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide services (for which they are compensated) to the Fund, other Columbia Funds or other clients and customers.
Examples of activities that could lead to conflicts of interest and/or impose limitations that could affect the Fund include the following:
| ■ | the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may receive compensation and other benefits related to the management/administration of the Fund and the other Columbia Funds and the sale of their shares; |
| ■ | there may be competition for limited investment opportunities that must be allocated among the Fund, the other Columbia Funds and other clients and customers of the Investment Manager (which can include affiliates of the Investment Manager) that may have the same or similar investment objectives as the Fund; |
| ■ | management of the Fund may diverge from other Columbia Funds or other clients and customers of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for example, advice given to the Fund may differ from, or conflict with, advice given to other funds or accounts; |
| ■ | there may be regulatory or investment restrictions imposed on the investment activities of the Investment Manager arising from the activities or holdings of other Columbia Funds or other clients or customers of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, for example, caps on the aggregate amount of certain types of investments or in holdings of particular portfolio companies that may be made by affiliated entities, including the Fund; |
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Columbia Acorn® Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
| ■ | Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates may have potentially conflicting relationships with companies and other entities in which the Fund invests; and |
| ■ | there may be regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, for example, if an affiliated entity were in possession of non-public information, the Investment Manager might be prohibited by law from using that information in connection with the management of the Fund. |
The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no absolute 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 Advisory and Other Services – Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and Affiliates – Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Fund 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 are involved in the normal course of business in legal proceedings which include regulatory inquiries, arbitration and litigation, including class actions concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their activities as part of a diversified financial services firm. Ameriprise Financial believes that the 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 the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in the 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 sec.gov.
| Prospectus 2023 | 23 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class
The Funds
The Columbia Acorn Funds and the other Columbia Funds generally share the same policies and procedures for investor services, as described below. Together, the Fund and the other Columbia Acorn Funds, along with the Columbia Funds, are referred to herein as the Funds.
Funds Contact Information
Additional information about the Funds, including sales charges and other class features and policies, can be obtained, free of charge, at columbiathreadneedleus.com,* by calling toll-free 800.345.6611, or by writing (regular mail) to Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., P.O. Box 219104, Kansas City, MO 64121-9104 or (express mail) Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., c/o SS&C GIDS, Inc., 430 W 7th Street, Ste 219104, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407.
| * | 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
Financial Intermediaries
The term “financial intermediary” refers to the selling and servicing agents that are authorized to sell and/or service shares of the Funds. Financial intermediaries include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other firms in the financial services industry.
Omnibus Accounts
The term “omnibus account” refers to a financial intermediary’s account with the Fund (held directly through the Transfer Agent) that represents the combined holdings of, and transactions in, Fund shares of one or more clients of the financial intermediary (beneficial Fund shareholders). Omnibus accounts are held in the name of the financial intermediaries and not in the name of the beneficial Fund 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), and non-qualified deferred compensation plans governed by Section 409A of the Code and similar plans, but does not refer to individual retirement plans, such as traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. The term “omnibus retirement plan” refers to a retirement plan that has a plan-level or omnibus account with the Transfer Agent.
Networked Accounts
Networking, offered by the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation’s Wealth Management Services (WMS), is the industry standard IT system for mutual fund account reconciliation and dividend processing.
Summary of Share Class Features
Each share class has its own investment eligibility criteria, cost structure and other features. You may not be eligible to invest in every share class. Your financial intermediary may not make every share class available or may cease to make available one or more share classes of the Fund. The share class you select through your financial intermediary may have higher fees and/or sales charges than other classes of shares available through other financial intermediaries. An investor transacting in a class of Fund shares without any front-end sales charge, contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC), or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution, such as a Rule 12b-1 fee, may be required to pay a commission to the financial intermediary for effecting such transactions. Each investor’s personal situation is different and you may wish to discuss with your financial intermediary the share classes the Fund offers, which share classes are available to you and which share class(es) is/are appropriate for you. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as
| 24 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts. The Fund, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent do not provide investment advice or make recommendations regarding Fund share classes. Your financial intermediary may provide advice and recommendations to you, such as which share class(es) is/are appropriate for 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 fees (e.g., sales charge or “load”) and expenses for each share class. |
| ■ | Whether you may be eligible for a reduction or waiver of sales charges when you buy or sell shares. |
FUNDamentals
Front-End Sales Charge Calculation
The front-end sales charge is calculated as a percentage of the offering price.
| ■ | The net asset value (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 (or load) that applies. |
The dollar amount of any applicable front-end sales charge is the difference between the offering price of the shares you buy and the NAV of those shares. To determine the front-end sales charge you will pay when you buy Class A 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 financial intermediary notifies the Fund) and base the sales charge on the aggregate amount. For information on account value aggregation, sales charge waivers and other important information, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.
FUNDamentals
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
A contingent deferred sales charge (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 can vary 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 Fund distribution reinvestments 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 are not 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.
Share Class Features
The following summarizes the primary features of Class A, Class Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, Class Inst3, and Class R shares.
Not all Funds offer every class of shares. The Fund offers the class(es) of shares set forth on the cover of this prospectus and may offer other share classes through a separate prospectus. Although certain share classes are generally closed to new and/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.
| Prospectus 2023 | 25 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
The sales charge reductions and waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. Appendix A describes financial intermediary-specific reductions and/or waiver policies. A shareholder transacting in Fund shares through a financial intermediary identified in Appendix A should carefully read the terms and conditions of Appendix A. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to a particular financial intermediary is not available to Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as defined below, or through another financial intermediary. The information in Appendix A may be provided by, or compiled from or based on information provided by the financial intermediaries identified in Appendix A. To obtain additional information regarding any sales charge reduction and/or waiver described in Appendix A, and to ensure that you receive any such reductions or waivers that may be available to you, please consult your financial intermediary.
| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| Class A | Eligibility: Available to the general public for investment Minimum Initial Investment: $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts (as described below)) |
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 | Reductions: yes, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges – Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Reductions Waivers: yes, on Fund distribution reinvestments. For additional waivers, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges – Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers, as well as Choosing a Share Class — CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C Financial intermediary-specific waivers are also available, see Appendix A |
Service Fee: 0.25% |
| Class Adv |
Eligibility: Available only to (i) omnibus retirement plans, including self-directed brokerage accounts within omnibus retirement plans that clear through institutional no transaction fee (NTF) platforms; 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 financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Adv eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (iv) 501(c)(3) charitable organizations; (v) 529 plans; (vi) health savings accounts; (vii) investors participating in a fee-based advisory program sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity that is not compensated by the Fund for those services, other than payments for shareholder servicing or sub-accounting performed in place | None | None | N/A | None |
| 26 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| of the Transfer Agent; and (viii) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform. Minimum Initial Investment: None, except in the case of (viii) above, which is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) |
|||||
| Class C | Eligibility: Available to the general public for investment Minimum Initial Investment: $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) Conversion Feature: Yes. Effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Prior to April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically converted to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 10-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date.(a) |
None | 1.00% on certain investments redeemed within one year of purchase | Waivers: yes, on Fund distribution reinvestments. For additional waivers, see Choosing a Share Class — CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C Financial intermediary-specific CDSC waivers are also available, see Appendix A |
Distribution Fee: 0.75% Service Fee: 0.25% |
| Class Inst |
Eligibility: Available only to certain eligible investors, which are subject to different minimum investment requirements, ranging from $0 to $2,000, including investors who purchase Fund shares through commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary holds the shares in an omnibus account and, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform; closed to (i) accounts of financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund | None | None | N/A | None |
| Prospectus 2023 | 27 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| trading platforms that have been given specific written notice from the Transfer Agent of the termination of their eligibility for new purchases of Class Inst shares and (ii) omnibus group retirement plans, subject to certain exceptions(d) Minimum Initial Investment: See Eligibility above |
|||||
| Class Inst2 |
Eligibility: Available only to (i) certain registered investment advisers and family offices that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Inst2 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (ii) omnibus retirement plans(d); (iii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst2 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (iv) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst2 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst2 shares within such platform. Minimum Initial Investment: None |
None | None | N/A | None |
| Class Inst3 |
Eligibility: Available to: (i) group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund(d); (ii) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; (iii) collective trust funds; (iv) affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); (v) fee-based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary they trade through) that have an agreement with the |
None | None | N/A | None |
| 28 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform, provided also that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vi) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (viii) bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor, may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement. Minimum Initial Investment: No minimum for the eligible investors described in (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) above; $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for the eligible investors described in (vi) above; and $1 million for all other eligible investors, unless waived in the discretion of the Distributor |
|||||
| 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 financial intermediaries approved by the Distributor Minimum Initial Investment: None |
None | None | N/A | Distribution Fee: 0.50% |
| (a) | For more information on the conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares, see Choosing a Share Class — Sales Charges and Commissions — Class C Shares —Conversion to Class A Shares. |
| (b) | 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. |
| Prospectus 2023 | 29 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
| (c) | These are the maximum applicable distribution and/or service fees under the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 plan. 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 service fees. For more information on distribution and service fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees. |
| (d) | These share classes are closed to new accounts generally or to new accounts of certain categories of investors, subject to certain conditions, as summarized below and described in more detail under Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares — Eligible Investors: |
• Class Inst Shares: Financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares and omnibus retirement plans are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts, subject to certain exceptions. Omnibus retirement plans that opened and, subject to exceptions, funded a Class Inst account as of close of business on March 28, 2013, and have continuously held Class Inst shares in such account after such date, may generally continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst shares, open new Class Inst 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 Inst accounts. Accounts of financial intermediaries (other than omnibus retirement plans) that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts or make additional purchases of Class Inst shares (other than through reinvestment of distributions).
• Class Inst2 Shares. Shareholders with Class Inst2 accounts funded before November 8, 2012 who do not satisfy the current eligibility criteria for Class Inst2 shares may not establish new Class Inst2 accounts but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares in existing accounts. In addition, investment advisory programs and similar programs that opened a Class Inst2 account as of May 1, 2010, and continuously hold Class Inst2 shares in such account after such date, may generally not only continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares but also open new Class Inst2 accounts and add new shareholders in the program.
• Class Inst3 Shares: Shareholders with Class Inst3 accounts funded before November 8, 2012 who do not satisfy the current eligibility criteria for Class Inst3 shares may not establish new accounts for such share class but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst3 shares in existing accounts.
Sales Charges and Commissions
Sales charges, commissions, and distribution fees compensate financial intermediaries (typically your financial advisor) for selling shares to you, and service fees compensate financial intermediaries for maintaining and servicing the shares held in your account with them. Distribution and service fees are discussed in a separate sub-section below. Depending on which share class you choose and the financial intermediary through which you purchase your shares, you may pay these charges at potentially different levels 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 distribution and/or service fees. You may be required to pay brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries when transacting in any class of Fund shares, including those that do not assess any front-end sales charge, contingent deferred sales charge, or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution. Such brokerage commissions and other fees are set by the financial intermediary.
As described in more detail below, Class A shares have a front-end sales charge, which is deducted from your purchase price when you buy your shares, and results in a smaller dollar amount being invested in the Fund than the purchase price you pay (unless you qualify for a waiver or reduction of the sales charge). The Fund’s other share classes do not have a front-end sales charge, so the full amount of your purchase price is invested in those classes. Class A shares have lower ongoing distribution and/or service fees than Class C and Class R shares of the Fund. Over time, Class C and Class R shares can incur distribution and/or service fees that are equal to or more than the front-end sales charge and the distribution and/or service fees you would pay for Class A shares. Although the full amount of your purchase price of Class C and Class R shares is invested in a Fund, your return on this money will be reduced by the expected higher annual expenses of Class C and Class R shares. In this regard, note that effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date (prior to April 1, 2021, the 10-year anniversary of such date). The Fund may convert Class C shares held through a financial intermediary to Class A shares sooner in connection with the withdrawal of Class C shares of the Fund from the financial intermediary’s platform or accounts. No sales charge or other charges will apply in connection with such conversions, and the conversions are free from U.S. federal income tax. Once your Class C shares convert to Class A shares, your total returns from an investment in the Fund may increase as a result of the lower operating costs of Class A shares. Class Adv, Class Inst, Class Inst2 and Class Inst3 shares of the Fund do not have distribution and/or service fees.
| 30 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Whether the ultimate cost is higher for one share class over another depends on the amount you invest, how long you hold your shares, the fees (i.e., sales charges) and expenses of the class and whether you are eligible for reduced or waived sales charges, if available. You are responsible for choosing the share class most appropriate for you after taking into account your share class eligibility, class-specific features, and any applicable reductions in, or waivers of, 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. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information about services, fees and expenses, and other important information about investing in the Fund, as well as with any questions you may have about your investing options. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts.
Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge
Unless your purchase qualifies for a waiver (e.g., you buy the shares through reinvested Fund dividends or distributions or subject to an applicable financial intermediary-specific waiver), you will pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class A shares, resulting in a smaller dollar amount being invested in a Fund than the purchase price you pay. The Class A shares sales charge is waived on Class C shares converted to Class A shares. For more information about sales charge waivers and reduction opportunities, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges and Appendix A.
The Distributor receives the sales charge and re-allows (or pays) a portion of the sales charge to the financial intermediary through which you purchased the shares. The Distributor retains the balance of the sales charge.
The front-end sales charge you will pay on Class A shares:
| ■ | depends on the amount you are 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 financial intermediary notifies the Fund). |
The table below presents the front-end sales charge as a percentage of both the offering price and the net amount invested.
| 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 financial intermediaries as a % of the offering price |
| Class A Shares | $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) | |
| (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 financial intermediary when you buy $1 million or more of Class A shares of a Fund, see Class A Shares — Commissions below. |
| Prospectus 2023 | 31 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Class A Shares — CDSC
In some cases, you'll pay a CDSC if you sell Class A shares that you purchased without a front-end sales charge.
| ■ | If you purchased Class A shares 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 the time periods noted above. |
Class A Shares — Commissions
The Distributor may pay your financial intermediary an up-front commission when you buy Class A shares. The Distributor generally funds the commission through the applicable sales charge you paid. For more information, see Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge above.
The Distributor may also pay your financial intermediary a cumulative commission when you buy Class A shares in amounts not subject to a front-end sales charge, according to the following schedules (assets initially purchased into Class A shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund that were purchased without the application of a front-end sales charge are excluded for purposes of calculating a financial intermediary’s commission under these schedules):
| Class A Shares — Commission Schedule (Paid by the Distributor to Financial Intermediaries) | |
| 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% |
| * | The commission level applies to the applicable asset level; therefore, for example, for a purchase of $5 million, the Distributor would pay a commission of 1.00% on the first $2,999,999 and 0.50% on the balance. |
Class C Shares — Front-End Sales Charge
You do not pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class C shares, but you may pay a CDSC when you sell 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.
Class C Shares — Conversion to Class A Shares
Effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares of a Fund generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Prior to April 1, 2021, Class C shares of a Fund generally automatically converted to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or in the month following the 10-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Class C shares held through a financial intermediary in an omnibus account will be converted (pursuant to the financial intermediary’s Class C conversion policy, including those disclosed in Appendix A, which may differ from the Fund’s policy described here) provided that the intermediary is able to track individual shareholders’ holding periods. It is the financial intermediary's (and not the Fund's) responsibility to keep records and to ensure that the shareholder holding period is calculated properly. Not all financial intermediaries are able to track individual shareholders' holding periods. For example, group retirement plans held through third-party intermediaries that hold Class C shares in an omnibus account may not track participant level share lot aging. Please consult with your financial intermediary about your
| 32 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
eligibility for Class C share conversion. The Fund may convert Class C shares held through a financial intermediary to Class A shares sooner in connection with the withdrawal of Class C shares of the Fund from the financial intermediary's platform or accounts. Once your Class C shares convert to Class A shares, your total returns from an investment in the Fund may increase as a result of the lower operating costs of Class A shares.
The following rules apply to the automatic conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares:
| ■ | Class C share accounts that are Direct-at-Fund Accounts and Networked Accounts for which the Transfer Agent (and not your financial intermediary) sends you Fund account transaction confirmations and statements, convert on or about the 15th day of the month (if the 15th is not a business day, then the next business day thereafter) that they become eligible for automatic conversion provided that the Fund has records that Class C shares have been held for the requisite time period. |
| ■ | For purposes of determining the month when your Class C shares are eligible for conversion, the start of the holding period is the first day of the month in which your purchase was made. Your financial intermediary may choose a different day of the month to convert Class C shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information on calculating the holding period. |
| ■ | 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 C shares that were automatically converted. Class C shares that you received from an exchange of Class C shares of another Fund will convert based on the day you bought the original shares. |
| ■ | In addition to the above automatic conversion of Class C to Class A shares policy, the Transfer Agent seeks to convert Class C shares as soon as administratively feasible, regardless of how long such shares have been owned, to Class A shares of the same Fund for Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below) that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them. Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares; Class C share purchase orders received by Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund. |
| ■ | No sales charge or other charges apply in connection with these automatic conversions, and the conversions are free from U.S. federal income tax. |
Class C Shares — CDSC
You will 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 (e.g., the shares you are selling were purchased with reinvested Fund distributions). Redemptions of Class C shares are not subject to a CDSC if redeemed after 12 months. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.
Class C Shares — Commissions
Although there is no front-end sales charge when you buy Class C shares, the Distributor makes an up-front payment (which includes a sales commission and an advance of service fees) directly to your financial intermediary of up to 1.00% of the NAV per share when you buy Class C shares. A portion of this payment may be passed along to your financial advisor. The Distributor seeks to recover this payment through distribution fees of up to 0.75% and shareholder service fees of up to 0.25% it receives under the Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan during the first 12 months following the sale of Class C shares, and any applicable CDSC when you sell your shares. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees.
Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges
The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund (i.e., a Direct-at-Fund Account, as defined below) or through a financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales charge and/or CDSC waivers. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund
| Prospectus 2023 | 33 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Accounts, as defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts. In order to obtain waivers and discounts not available through a particular financial intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund (if permitted) or through a different financial intermediary. For a description of financial intermediary-specific sales charge reductions and/or waivers, see Appendix A.
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Reductions
The Fund makes available two means of reducing the front-end sales charge that you may pay when you buy Class A 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 (as described in the Eligible Accounts section below) maintained by you and members of your immediate family to reach a breakpoint discount level and apply a lower front-end sales charge to your purchase. To calculate the combined value of your eligible 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 and your “immediate family” members' ownership (as described in the FUNDamentals box below) of certain 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 of Class A 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 enough to reach the first (or next) breakpoint of the Fund. The required form of LOI may vary by financial intermediary, 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 and not current market value) of the shares held in each eligible account; reinvested dividends or capital gains, or purchases made through the reinstatement privilege do not count as purchases made under an LOI. For purposes of making an LOI to purchase additional shares, you may aggregate eligible shares owned by you or your immediate family members in eligible accounts, valued as of the day immediately before the initiation of your LOI.
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 financial intermediary 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 financial intermediaries. You and your financial intermediary are responsible for ensuring that you receive discounts for which you are eligible. Please contact your financial intermediary with questions regarding application of the eligible discount to your account. You may be asked by your financial intermediary (or by the Fund if you hold your account directly with the Fund) for account statements or other records to verify your discount eligibility for new and subsequent purchases, including, when applicable, records for accounts opened with a different financial intermediary and records of accounts established by members of your immediate family.
The sales charge reductions available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge reductions, see Appendix A.
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Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
FUNDamentals
Your “Immediate Family” and Account Value Aggregation
For purposes of obtaining a breakpoint discount for Class A 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 retirement plan accounts are valued at the retirement plan level.
Eligible Accounts
The following accounts are eligible for account value aggregation as described above, provided that they are invested in Class A (excluding, in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts, Funds that do not assess a front-end sales charge, including Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund, unless such shares were purchased via an exchange from Class A shares of a Fund on which you paid the Class A share applicable front-end sales charge), Class C, Class E, Class Inst or Class V shares of a Fund, or non-retirement plan accounts invested in Class Adv, Class Inst2 or Class Inst3 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.
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 R shares of a Fund; and retirement plan accounts invested in Class Adv, Class Inst2 or Class Inst3 shares of a Fund.
Additionally, direct purchases of shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund may not be aggregated for account value aggregation purposes; however, shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund acquired by exchange from other Columbia Funds that assess a sales charge may be included in account value aggregation.
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers
There are no front-end sales charges on reinvested Fund distributions. The Class A shares sales charge is waived on conversions of Class C shares to Class A shares. The Distributor may waive front-end sales charges on purchases of Class A shares of the Funds by certain categories of investors, including Board members, certain employees of financial intermediaries, Fund portfolio managers, certain partners and employees of outside legal counsel to the Funds or the Board, separate accounts of an insurance company exempt from registration as an investment company under Section 3(c)(11) of the 1940 Act, registered broker-dealer firms that have an agreement with the Distributor purchasing Fund shares for their investment account only, and qualified employee benefit plan rollovers to Class A
| Prospectus 2023 | 35 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
shares in the same Fund (see Appendix S to the SAI for details). For a more complete description of categories of investors who may purchase Class A 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 shares may be made at NAV. The Distributor may waive front-end sales charges on (i) purchases (including exchanges) of Class A shares in accounts of financial intermediaries 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; (ii) exchanges of Class Inst shares of a Fund for Class A shares of the Fund; (iii) purchases of Class A shares on brokerage mutual fund-only platforms of financial intermediaries that have an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes the offering of Class A shares within such platform; (iv) purchases through certain wrap fee or other products or programs that involve fee-based compensation arrangements that have, or clear trades through a financial intermediary that has, a selling agreement with the Distributor; (v) purchases through state sponsored 529 Plans; (vi) purchases through banks, trust companies, and thrift institutions acting as fiduciaries; (vii) purchases through certain employee benefit plans and certain qualified deferred compensation plans; and (viii) purchases of Class A shares in Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below) that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them. For a more complete description of these eligible transactions, see Appendix S to the SAI.
The sales charge waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge waivers, see Appendix A.
CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C
You may be able to avoid an otherwise applicable CDSC when you sell Class A or Class C 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; for which no sales commission or transaction fee was paid to an authorized financial intermediary at the time of purchase; purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions; that result from required minimum distributions taken from retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations; that result from returns of excess contributions made to retirement plans or individual retirement accounts (subject to certain conditions); initially purchased by an employee benefit plan (for Class A shares) and that are not connected with a plan level termination (for Class C shares); in connection with the Fund's Small Account Policy (which is described in Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Transaction Rules and Policies); held within Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them; and by certain other investors and in certain other types of transactions or situations. 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 a more complete description of the available waivers of the CDSC on redemptions of Class A or Class C shares, see Appendix S to the SAI.
The sales charge waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge waivers, see Appendix A.
Repurchases (Reinstatements)
As noted in the table below, you can redeem shares of certain classes (see Redeemed Share Class below) and use such redemption proceeds to buy shares of the Corresponding Repurchase Class without paying an otherwise applicable sales charge and/or CDSC (other than, in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts, redemptions from Funds that do not assess a front-end sales charge, including Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S.
| 36 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Treasury Index Fund, unless such shares were purchased via an exchange from Class A shares of a Fund on which you paid the Class A share applicable front-end sales charge) within 90 days, up to the amount of the redemption proceeds.
| Repurchases (Reinstatements) | |
| Redeemed Share Class | Corresponding Repurchase Class |
| Class A | Class A |
| Class C | Class C |
Any CDSC paid upon redemption of your Class A or Class C shares of a Fund will not be reimbursed.
To be eligible for the repurchase (or 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 financial intermediary within 90 days after the shares are redeemed. The purchase of the Corresponding Repurchase Class (as noted in the table above) through this repurchase (or reinstatement) privilege will be made at the NAV of such shares next calculated after the request is received in “good form.” 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 and/or the Distributor may change or cancel these terms and conditions at any time. Unless you provide your financial intermediary with information in writing about all of the factors that may count toward available reductions or waivers of an applicable sales charge, there can be no assurance that you will receive all of the reductions and waivers for which you may be eligible. To the extent your Fund account is held directly with the Fund, you should provide this information to the Fund when placing your purchase or redemption order. Please see Appendix A to this prospectus and Appendix S of the SAI for more information about sales charge waivers.
Distribution and Service Fees
The Board has approved, and the Columbia Acorn Funds have adopted, a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that sets 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 financial intermediaries for, with regard to distribution fees, selling Fund shares and, with regard to service fees, 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.
The table below shows the maximum annual distribution and/or service fees (as an annual percentage of average daily net assets) and the combined amount of such fees applicable to each share class of the Columbia Acorn Funds:
| Distribution Fee |
Service Fee |
Combined Total | |
| Class A | None | 0.25% | 0.25% |
| Class Adv | None | None | None |
| Class C | 0.75% | 0.25% | 1.00% |
| Class Inst | None | None | None |
| Class Inst2 | None | None | None |
| Class Inst3 | None | None | None |
| Class R | 0.50% | None | 0.50% |
The distribution and/or service fees for Class A, Class C, and Class R shares, as applicable, are subject to the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Distributor may retain these fees otherwise payable to financial intermediaries if the amounts due are below an amount determined by the Distributor in its sole discretion.
| Prospectus 2023 | 37 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
For Class A shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees immediately after purchase, except in the following case, in which the Distributor begins to pay these fees 12 months after purchase: a purchase of Class A shares of $1 million or more that pay a Class A up-front commission to your financial intermediary and the financial intermediary has opted to receive such commission. The Distributor’s policy to otherwise begin to pay these fees immediately on Class A shares also applies to purchases of funds that do not pay an up-front sales commission on Class A shares, which includes Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund. For Class C shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees 12 months after purchase. However, for Class C shares, financial intermediaries may opt to decline the up-front payment described in Choosing a Share Class – Sales Charges and Commissions – Class C Shares – Commissions and instead may receive these fees immediately after purchase. If the intermediary opts to receive the up-front payment, the Distributor retains the distribution and service fee for the first 12 months following the sale of Class C shares in order to recover the up-front payment made to financial intermediaries and to pay for other related expenses. For Class R shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees immediately after purchase.
If you maintain shares of the Fund directly with the Fund, without working with a financial advisor or other financial intermediary, 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 financial intermediaries for as long as the distribution plan continues in effect, which is expected to be indefinitely. However, the Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time. Your financial intermediary may also charge you other additional fees for providing services to your account, which may be different from those described here.
Financial Intermediary Compensation
The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates make payments, from their own resources, to financial intermediaries, 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 attributable to that financial intermediary; gross sales of the Funds attributable to that financial intermediary; reimbursement of ticket charges (fees that a financial intermediary charges its representatives for effecting transactions in Fund shares); or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each financial intermediary, Marketing Support Payments to any one financial intermediary are generally between 0.01% and 0.40% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the financial intermediary, 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 financial intermediary. The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates make payments with respect to a Fund or the Columbia Funds generally on a basis other than those described above or in larger amounts when dealing with certain financial intermediaries. Not all financial intermediaries receive Marketing Support Payments. The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates do not make Marketing Support Payments with respect to Class Inst3 shares of the Columbia Acorn Funds.
In addition, the Transfer Agent has certain arrangements in place to compensate financial intermediaries, including other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, that hold Fund shares through networked and omnibus accounts, including omnibus retirement plans, for services that they provide to beneficial Fund shareholders (Shareholder Services). Shareholder Services and related fees vary by financial intermediary and according to distribution channel and 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, and are not intended to include services that are primarily intended to result in the sale of Fund shares. Payments for Shareholder Services vary by financial intermediary and according to distribution channel, but generally are not expected, with certain limited exceptions, to exceed 0.40% of the average aggregate value of the Fund’s shares. Payments to financial intermediaries in excess of the amounts paid by the Fund are borne by the Distributor, the Investment Manager and/or their affiliates.
| 38 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Generally, each of the Columbia Acorn Funds compensates the Transfer Agent for payments made for Shareholder Services, for each share class except Class Inst3. Effective July 1, 2017, the Columbia Acorn Funds compensate the Transfer Agent for payments made for Shareholder Services as follows:
| Financial Intermediary Distribution Channel | Fee Rate |
| Retirement | up to 0.18% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $18 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Fund supermarket transaction fee (TF) | up to 0.12% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $16 per account held for intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Fund supermarket no-transaction fee (NTF) | up to 0.18% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $18 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Bank | up to 0.10% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $20 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Broker-dealer | up to 0.13% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $16 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
With respect to Class Inst2 and Class Inst3 shares of the Fund, total annual compensation payable to the Transfer Agent may not exceed, respectively, 0.07% and 0.02% of the average daily net assets of the Class. For additional details about the application of the Columbia Acorn Funds’ fee limits, please refer to the SAI.
The Transfer Agent does not pay financial intermediaries for Shareholder Services, and the Fund does not compensate the Transfer Agent for any Shareholder Services provided by financial intermediaries with respect to Class Inst3 shares of the Columbia Acorn Funds. The Fund believes that the fee levels paid to the Transfer Agent are reasonably related to the Shareholder Services provided, but payments may vary and there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify with specificity the costs or particular Shareholder Services for which compensation is paid.
In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates typically make other payments or allow promotional incentives to certain broker-dealers to the extent permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 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 financial intermediaries, 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 financial intermediary may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described in this prospectus. You should consult with your financial intermediary and review carefully any disclosure your financial intermediary provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a financial intermediary and its financial advisors may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive for recommending the Fund or a particular share class over others.
| Prospectus 2023 | 39 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares
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, with the value of the Fund's shares based on the total value of all of the securities and other assets that it holds as of such specified time.
FUNDamentals
NAV Calculation
Each of the Fund's share classes calculates its NAV per share as follows:
NAV per share = (Value of assets of the share class) – (Liabilities of the share class)
Number of outstanding shares of the class
Number of outstanding shares of the class
FUNDamentals
Business Days
A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at (i) the scheduled close of the NYSE for such day (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or such other time as the NYSE may schedule), (ii) the scheduled close of the NYSE (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on any business day on which the NYSE has an unscheduled close or intraday trading halt or other disruption, regardless of the time of such unscheduled close, halt or disruption or whether trading resumes, or (iii) such other time as the Board may from time to time determine. 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 listed on an exchange are typically valued at the closing price or last trade on their primary exchange at the close of business of the NYSE. Equity securities without a readily available closing price or that are not listed on any exchange are typically valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices. Other equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are fair valued unless market quotations are readily available, 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 based on prices obtained from a pricing service, if available (which may represent market values or fair values). Investments in other open-end funds are valued at their published NAVs. The value of the Fund’s portfolio securities is determined in accordance with the valuation policy approved by the Board (the Valuation Policy). Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board has designated the Investment Manager as the Fund’s valuation designee. The Investment Manager, in turn, has authorized its Valuation Committee to make fair value determinations and to carry out supervisory and certain other functions relating to the valuation of Fund portfolio securities, pursuant to the Valuation Policy.
If a market price is not readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value for a portfolio security, the Investment Manager will determine the price based on a determination of the security's fair value pursuant to the Valuation Policy. In addition, the Investment Manager may use fair valuation techniques 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 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
| 40 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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.
Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Investment Manager uses fair valuation to price equity securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund or manager would. Also, fair valuation of Fund holdings may cause the Fund's performance to diverge to a greater degree from the performance of various benchmark indices used to compare the Fund's performance because indices 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.
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. Your financial intermediary may have rules and policies in place that are in addition to or different than those described below.
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 financial intermediary before the end of a business day are priced at the NAV per share (plus any applicable sales charge) 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 (plus any applicable sales charge). For Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below), 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 transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), 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 financial intermediary has received payment (in the case of purchases) and all of the information and documentation it deems necessary to effect your order. For example, when you sell shares, “good form” means that your request (i) has complete instructions and written requests include the signatures of all account owners, (ii) is for an amount that is less than or equal to the shares in your account for which payment has been received and collected, (iii) has a Medallion Signature Guarantee for amounts greater than $100,000 and certain other transactions, as described below, and (iv) includes 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, including 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; or (vi) you are changing legal ownership of your account.
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
| Prospectus 2023 | 41 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Signature Program (MSP). For other transactions, the Transfer Agent may require a signature guarantee. 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.
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 C, and Class Inst 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. Any otherwise applicable CDSC will not be imposed on such an automatic sale of your shares. Generally, you may avoid such an automatic sale by raising your account balance to at least $250 or consolidating your multiple accounts you may have with the Funds through an exchange (so as to maintain at least $250 in each of your accounts). The minimum account balance varies among share classes and types of accounts, as follows:
| Minimum Account Balance | |
| Minimum Account Balance | |
| For all classes and account types except those listed below | $250 (None for accounts with Systematic Investment Plans) |
| Individual Retirement Accounts for all classes except those listed below | None |
| Class Adv, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R | None |
For shares held directly with the Funds’ Transfer Agent, if your shares are sold, the Transfer Agent will remit the sale proceeds to you. 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 to at least $250, consolidating your multiple accounts you may have with the Funds through an exchange (so as to maintain at least $250 in each of your accounts), or setting up a Systematic Investment Plan. For more information, contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary. 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.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, the Funds may instruct the intermediary to automatically sell your Fund shares if the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
Small Account Policy — Class A, Class C, and Class Inst 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 could be subject to a $20 annual fee. 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 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 or for other reasons.
| 42 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
For shares held directly with the Funds’ Transfer Agent, 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 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 multiple accounts you may have with the Funds, or setting up a Systematic Investment Plan that invests at least monthly. For more information, contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary. 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.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, this fee could be assessed through the automatic sale of Fund shares in your account if instructed by the Fund and the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
Exceptions to the Small Account Policy (Accounts Below Minimum Account Balance) and Minimum Balance Fee
The automatic sale of Fund shares in accounts under $250 and the annual minimum balance fee described above do not apply to shareholders of Class Adv, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R shares; shareholders holding their shares through financial intermediary networked accounts; wrap fee and omnibus accounts; accounts with active monthly 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 — Financial Intermediary Networked and Wrap Fee Accounts
The Funds may automatically redeem, at any time, financial intermediary networked accounts and wrap fee accounts that have account balances of $20 or less or have less than one share.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, the Funds may instruct the intermediary to automatically sell your Fund shares if the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
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 financial intermediaries, including participating life insurance companies and financial intermediaries that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, financial intermediaries 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.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy
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 financial intermediaries.
| Prospectus 2023 | 43 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Specific Buying and Exchanging Limitations — If the 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 purchase 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 reserves 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 financial intermediaries, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by financial intermediaries 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 financial intermediaries such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit financial intermediaries to aggregate their clients' transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identities of the financial intermediary clients that beneficially own Fund shares are often not known to the Fund.
Some financial intermediaries apply their own restrictions or policies to their clients’ transactions and 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 Fund 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; |
| ■ | 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. |
| 44 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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.
The Columbia Acorn Funds may invest in thinly traded 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 as of the Fund's valuation time. 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 only, or significantly, in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling these particular investments 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 non-redeeming shareholders.
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 financial intermediary. 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 financial intermediaries or institutions, and through certain qualified and non-qualified plans, wrap fee products or other investment products sponsored by financial intermediaries. You may buy, sell, or exchange shares through your financial intermediary. If you maintain your account directly with your financial intermediary, you must contact that agent to process your transaction.
Not all financial intermediaries offer the Funds (or all classes of Fund shares) and certain financial intermediaries that offer the Funds may not offer all Funds on all investment platforms or programs. Please consult with your financial intermediary to determine the availability of the Funds. If you set up an account at a financial intermediary 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 financial intermediary or find another financial intermediary with a selling agreement.
Financial intermediaries 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. An investor transacting in a class of Fund shares without any front-end sales charge, CDSC, or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution, such as a Rule 12b-1 fee, may be required to pay a commission to the financial intermediary for effecting such transactions. The Funds are offered in a number of different share classes that have different fees and expenses and other features. Some differences in the policies of different financial intermediaries may include different minimum investment amounts, exchange privileges, Fund/class choices and cutoff times for investments. Additionally, recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to your account may be performed by the financial intermediaries 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 intermediary through which you purchased or at which you maintain your shares of the Fund to make changes to your account, 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 any financial intermediary to carry out its obligations to its customers.
| Prospectus 2023 | 45 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
The Fund may engage financial intermediaries 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.
Direct-At-Fund Accounts (Accounts Held Directly with the Fund)
Fund shares can be held in a variety of ways. You can hold Fund shares through an account established and held through the financial intermediary through which you purchased Fund shares, or you or your financial intermediary can establish an account directly with the Fund, in which case you will receive Fund account transaction confirmations and statements from the Transfer Agent, and not your financial intermediary (Direct-at-Fund Accounts). Direct-at-Fund Accounts include accounts held at the Transfer Agent that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them.
To open a Direct-at-Fund Account, 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 columbiathreadneedleus.com 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 your transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), 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. 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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you have a Direct-at-Fund 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 your transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), not the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery.
Include in your transaction request letter: your name; the name of the Fund(s); your account number; the class of shares to be purchased, exchanged or sold; your SSN or other TIN; the dollar amount or number of shares you want to purchase, exchange or sell; specific instructions regarding delivery of any redemption proceeds or exchange destination (i.e., the Fund/class to be exchanged into); signature(s) of all 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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
For Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares, if you have a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may place orders to buy, sell or exchange shares by telephone through the Transfer Agent. To place orders by telephone, call 800.422.3737. Have your account number and SSN or TIN available when calling.
| 46 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
You can sell Fund shares via telephone and receive redemption proceeds: by electronic funds transfer via ACH, by wire, or by check to the address of record, subject to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account. You can buy Fund shares via telephone by electronic funds transfer via ACH from your bank account up to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account, or by wire from your bank account without a maximum. See below for more information regarding wire and electronic fund transfer transactions. Certain restrictions apply, so please call the Transfer Agent at 800.422.3737 for this and other information in advance of any need to transact via telephone.
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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
For Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares, if you have a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may be able to place orders to buy, sell, or exchange shares online. Contact the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611 for more information on certain account trading restrictions and the special sign-up procedures required for online transactions. You can also go to columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/ to sign up for online transactions. The Transfer Agent has procedures in place to authenticate electronic orders you send through the internet. You will be required to accept the terms of an online agreement and to establish an online account and utilize a password in order to access online account services. You can sell a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account through your online account if you qualify for internet orders. Wire transactions are not permitted online.
Wire Transactions – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you hold a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may purchase or redeem Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares of a Fund by wiring money from (or to) your bank account to (or from) your Fund account. You must set up this feature prior to your request unless you are submitting your request in writing, which may require a Medallion Signature Guarantee. Please contact the Transfer Agent by calling 800.422.3737 to obtain the necessary forms and requirements. The Transfer Agent charges a fee for shares sold by wire. 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. When selling Fund shares via a telephone request, the maximum amount that can be redeemed via wire transfer is $100,000 per day, per Fund account. Wire transactions are not permitted online.
Electronic Funds Transfer via ACH – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you hold a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may purchase or redeem Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares of a Fund by electronically transferring money via Automated Clearing House (ACH) from (or to) your bank account to (or from) your Fund account subject to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account. You must set up this feature prior to your request, unless you are submitting your request in writing, which may require a Medallion Signature Guarantee. Please contact the Transfer Agent by calling 800.422.3737 to obtain the necessary forms and requirements. Your bank may take up to three business days to post an electronic funds transfer to (or from) your Fund account.
Buying Shares
Eligible Investors
Class A Shares
Class A shares are available to the general public for investment.
| Prospectus 2023 | 47 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Class Adv Shares
Class Adv shares are available only to (i) omnibus retirement plans, including self-directed brokerage accounts within omnibus retirement plans that clear through institutional no transaction fee (NTF) platforms, (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 financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Adv eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements, (iv) 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, (v) 529 plans, (vi) health savings accounts, (vii) investors participating in a fee-based advisory program sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity 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, and (viii) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform.
Class C Shares
Class C shares are available to the general public for investment, except that Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares; Class C share purchase orders received from Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund.
Class Inst Shares
Class Inst shares are available only to the categories of eligible investors described below under Class Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments. Financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares and omnibus retirement plans are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts, subject to certain exceptions described below.
Omnibus retirement plans that opened and, subject to certain exceptions, funded a Class Inst account with the Fund as of the close of business on March 28, 2013 and have continuously held Class Inst shares in such account after such date (each, a grandfathered plan), may generally continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst shares, open new Class Inst 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 Inst accounts in a Fund if the affiliated plan opened a Class Inst account on or before March 28, 2013. If an omnibus retirement plan invested in Class Inst shares changes recordkeepers after March 28, 2013, any new accounts established for that plan may not be established in Class Inst shares, but such a plan may establish new accounts in a different share class for which the plan is eligible.
Accounts of financial intermediaries (other than omnibus retirement plans, which are discussed above) that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares will not be permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts or make additional purchases of Class Inst shares (other than through reinvestment of distributions). Any such account may, at its holder’s option, exchange Class Inst shares of a Fund, without the payment of a sales charge, for Class A shares of the same Fund.
Class Inst2 Shares
Class Inst2 shares are available only to (i) certain registered investment advisers and family offices that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Inst2 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (ii) omnibus retirement plans; (iii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically
| 48 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
authorizes offering Class Inst2 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (iv) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst2 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst2 shares within such platform. Prior to November 8, 2012, Class Inst2 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 Inst2 may not establish new Class Inst2 accounts but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares in accounts opened and funded prior to November 8, 2012; provided, however, that investment advisory programs and similar programs that opened a Class Inst2 account as of May 1, 2010, and continuously hold Class Inst2 shares in such account after such date, may generally not only continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares but also open new Class Inst2 accounts for such pre-existing programs and add new shareholders in the program.
Class Inst3 Shares
Class Inst3 shares are available to: (i) group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund (through the Transfer Agent); (ii) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; (iii) collective trust funds; (iv) affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); (v) fee-based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary that they trade through) that have an agreement with the Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform, provided also that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vi) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (viii) bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement.
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 financial intermediaries 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.
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, and may also waive certain eligibility requirements for operational and other reasons, including but not limited to any requirement to maintain Fund shares in networked or omnibus accounts.
Minimum Initial Investments
The table below shows the Fund’s minimum initial investment requirements, which may vary by class and type of account.
The Fund reserves the right to redeem your shares if your account falls below the Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement.
| Prospectus 2023 | 49 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
| Minimum Initial Investments | ||
| Minimum Initial Investment(a) |
Minimum Initial Investment for Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans | |
| For all classes and account types except those listed below | $2,000 | $100 |
| Individual Retirement Accounts for all classes except those listed below | $1,000 | $100 |
| Group retirement plans | None | N/A |
| Class Adv and Class Inst | $0, $1,000 or $2,000(b) | $100(b) |
| Class Inst2 and Class R | None | N/A |
| Class Inst3 | $0, $1,000, $2,000 or $1 million(c) | $100(c) |
| (a) | If your Class A, Class Adv, Class C, Class Inst, or Class Inst3 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. There is no minimum initial investment in Class A shares for accounts held in an omnibus account on a mutual fund only platform offered through your financial intermediary. |
| (b) | The minimum initial investment in Class Adv shares is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customers, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform; for all other eligible Class Adv share investors (see Buying Shares – Eligible Investors – Class Adv Shares above), there is no minimum initial investment. The minimum initial investment amount for Class Inst shares is $0, $1,000 or $2,000 depending upon the category of eligible investor. See — Class Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments below. The minimum initial investment amount for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts is the same as the amount set forth in the first two rows of the table, as applicable. |
| (c) | There is no minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares for: group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund; collective trust funds; affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); and fee -based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary that they trade through) that have an agreement with the Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform and Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares is $1 million, unless waived in the discretion of the Distributor, for the following investors: institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; and bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The Distributor may, in its discretion, waive the $1 million minimum initial investment required for these Class Inst3 investors. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor, may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement. |
Additional Information about Minimum Initial Investments
The minimum initial investment requirements may be waived for accounts that are managed by an investment professional, or for accounts held in approved discretionary or non-discretionary wrap programs. 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 Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments
There is no minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors:
| ■ | Any health savings account sponsored by a third party platform. |
| ■ | Any investor participating in an account sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity (that provides services to the account) that is paid a fee-based advisory 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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Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
| ■ | Any commissionable brokerage account, if a financial intermediary has received a written approval from the Distributor to waive the minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares. |
| ■ | Any Trustee (or family member) of Columbia Acorn Trust. |
| ■ | Any employee (or family member) of the Investment Manager. |
The minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors is $1,000:
| ■ | Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) on commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform. |
| ■ | Any current 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 are eligible to invest in Class Inst shares through an individual retirement account (IRA). 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 Inst shares. If Class Inst shares are not available at your financial intermediary, you may consider opening a Direct-at-Fund Account. It is your obligation to advise your financial intermediary or (in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts) the Transfer Agent that you qualify for Class Inst shares; be prepared to provide proof thereof. |
The minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors is $2,000:
| ■ | Investors (except investors in individual retirement accounts (IRAs)) who purchase Fund shares through commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary holds the shares in an omnibus account and, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform. |
| ■ | Any current 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 are eligible to invest in Class Inst shares (other than individual retirement accounts (IRAs), for which the minimum initial investment is $1,000). 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 Inst shares. If Class Inst shares are not available at your financial intermediary, you may consider opening a Direct-at-Fund Account. It is your obligation to advise your financial intermediary or (in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts) the Transfer Agent that you qualify for Class Inst shares; be prepared to provide proof thereof. |
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | Bank trust departments that assess their clients an asset-based fee. |
| ■ | Any trustee or director (or family member of a trustee or director) of a fund distributed by the Distributor (other than the Columbia Acorn Funds). |
| ■ | 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 financial intermediary to set up the plan. Systematic Investment Plans may not be available for all share classes. With the exception of Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Systematic Investment Plan purchases will be confirmed on your quarterly account statement. Columbia Government Money Market Fund Systematic Investment Plan purchases will be confirmed at the time of the purchase. If establishing a Systematic Investment Plan to reduce the initial fund minimum, the plan needs to be established monthly to avoid the small account fee.
| Prospectus 2023 | 51 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Dividend Diversification
Generally, you may automatically invest Fund distributions into the same class of shares (and in some cases certain other classes of shares) of another Fund without paying any applicable front-end sales charge. 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 financial intermediaries.
Other Purchase Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Once the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary receives your purchase order in “good form,” your purchase will be made at the Fund’s next calculated public offering price per share, which is the NAV per share plus any sales charge that applies (i.e., the trade date). |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your purchase request in “good form,” you cannot cancel it after the market closes. |
| ■ | You generally buy Class A 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 Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R shares at NAV 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 request if the Fund does not receive payment within two business days of receiving your purchase order request. The Fund will return any payment received for orders that have been cancelled, but no interest will be paid on that money. |
| ■ | Financial intermediaries are responsible for sending your purchase orders to the Transfer Agent and ensuring that the Fund receives your money on time. |
| ■ | Shares purchased are recorded on the books of the Fund. The Fund does not issue certificates. |
| ■ | You generally may make a purchase only into a Fund that is accepting investments. |
Please also read Appendix A and contact your financial intermediary for more information regarding any reductions and/or waivers described therein.
Selling Shares
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,” (i.e., the trade date) 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 Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, and Class Inst3 share accounts. Contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary 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. Note that a Medallion Signature Guarantee may be required if this service is established after your Fund account is opened.
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 redemption proceeds 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.
Satisfying Fund Redemption Requests
When you sell your Fund shares, the Fund is effectively buying them back from you. This is called a redemption. Except as noted below with respect to newly purchased shares, the Fund typically expects to send you payment for your shares within two business days after your trade date. The Fund can suspend redemptions and/or delay
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Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven days. The Fund can also suspend redemptions and/or delay payment of redemption proceeds in excess of seven days under certain circumstances, including when the NYSE is closed or trading thereon is restricted or during emergency or other circumstances, including as determined by the SEC.
The Fund typically seeks to satisfy redemption requests from cash or cash equivalents held by the Fund, from the proceeds of orders to purchase Fund shares or from the proceeds of sales of Fund holdings effected in the normal course of managing the Fund. However, the Fund may have to sell Fund holdings, including in down markets, to meet heavier than usual redemption requests. For example, under stressed or abnormal market conditions or circumstances, including circumstances adversely affecting the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, the Fund may be more likely to be forced to sell Fund holdings to meet redemptions than under normal market circumstances. In these situations, the Fund’s portfolio managers may have to sell Fund holdings that would not otherwise be sold because, among other reasons, the current price to be received is less than the value of the holdings perceived by the Fund’s portfolio managers. The Fund may also, under certain circumstances (likely under stressed or abnormal market conditions or circumstances), borrow money under a credit facility to which the Fund and certain other Columbia Funds are parties. The Fund and the other Columbia Funds are limited as to the amount that each may individually and collectively borrow under the credit facility. As a result, borrowings available to the Fund under the credit facility might be insufficient, alone or in combination with the other strategies described herein, to satisfy Fund redemption requests. Please see About Fund Investments – Borrowings in the SAI for more information about the credit facility. The Fund is also limited in the total amount it may borrow. Please see About Fund Investments – Fundamental and Non-Fundamental Investment Policies in the SAI for more information about borrowing.
In addition, the Fund reserves the right to honor redemption orders in whole or in part with in-kind distributions of Fund portfolio securities instead of cash. Such in-kind distributions typically represent a pro-rata portion of Fund portfolio assets subject to adjustments (e.g., for non-transferable securities, round lots, and derivatives, if any). In the event the Fund distributes portfolio securities in kind, you may incur brokerage and other transaction costs associated with converting the portfolio securities you receive into cash. Also, the portfolio securities you receive may increase or decrease in value after they are distributed but 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. The Trust has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, which means that for each redeeming shareholder, the first $250,000, or 1% of the Fund's net asset value, whichever is less, will be paid in cash or cash equivalents and the remainder may be paid in kind.
While the Fund is not required (and may refuse in its discretion) to pay a redemption with an in-kind distribution of Fund portfolio securities and reserves the right to pay the redemption proceeds in cash, if you wish to request an in-kind redemption, please call the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611. As a result of the operational steps needed to coordinate with the redeeming shareholder’s custodian, in-kind redemptions typically take several weeks to complete after a redemption request is received. The Fund and the redeeming shareholder will typically agree upon a redemption date. Since the Fund’s NAV may fluctuate during this time, the Fund’s NAV may be lower on the agreed-upon redemption date than on an earlier date on which the investment could have been redeemed for cash.
Redemption of Newly Purchased Shares
You may not redeem shares for which the Fund has not yet received payment. Shares purchased by check or electronically by ACH when the purchase payment is not guaranteed will be considered in “good form” for redemption only after they have been held in your account for 6 calendar days after the trade date of the purchase (Collected Shares). If you request a redemption for an amount that, based on the NAV next calculated after your redemption request is received, includes any shares that are not yet Collected Shares, the Fund will only process the redemption up to the amount of the value of Collected Shares available in your account. You must submit a new redemption request if you wish to redeem those shares that were not yet Collected Shares at the time the original redemption request was received by the Fund.
| Prospectus 2023 | 53 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Other Redemption Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Once the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary receives your redemption order in “good form,” your shares will be sold at the Fund’s next calculated NAV per share (i.e., the trade date). Any applicable CDSC will be deducted from the amount you're selling and the balance will be remitted to you. |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your redemption request in “good form,” you cannot cancel it after the market closes. |
| ■ | The Distributor, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to liquidate Fund shares (of any class of the Fund) held in an omnibus account of a financial intermediary that clears Fund share transactions through a clearing intermediary or platform that charges certain maintenance fees to the Fund if the value of the omnibus account, at the Fund share class (i.e., CUSIP) level, falls below $100,000 (a CUSIP Liquidation Event). The Distributor will provide at least 90 days’ notice of a CUSIP Liquidation Event to financial intermediaries with impacted omnibus accounts. Shareholders invested in the Fund through such omnibus accounts can request through their financial intermediary a tax-free exchange to Class A shares or shareholders can consider holding their Fund shares in a Direct-at-Fund Account, provided requirements to transfer the account are fulfilled. You should discuss your options with your financial intermediary. |
| ■ | If you sell your shares that are held in a Direct-at-Fund Account, we will normally send the redemption proceeds by mail or electronically transfer them to your bank account the next business day after the trade date. Note that your bank may take up to three business days to post an electronic funds transfer from your account. |
| ■ | If you sell your shares through a financial intermediary, the Funds will normally send the redemption proceeds to your financial intermediary within two business days after the trade date. |
| ■ | No interest will be paid on uncashed redemption checks. |
| ■ | 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 (subject to eligibility requirements), 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. 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. Please see Same-Fund Exchange Privilege below for more information.
You will be subject to a sales charge if, in a Direct-at-Fund Account, you exchange shares that have not previously paid a sales charge, including from Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not charge a front-end sales charge, into a Columbia Fund that does assess a sales charge. If you hold your Fund shares through certain financial intermediaries, you may have limited exchangeability among the Funds. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.
Systematic Exchanges
You may buy Class A, Class C, Class Inst and Class Inst3 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 financial intermediary to set up the plan.
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Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Exchanges will continue as long as your balance in the Fund you are exchanging shares from is sufficient to complete the systematic monthly exchange, 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.
Other Exchange Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Exchanges are made at the NAV next calculated (plus any applicable sales charge) after your exchange order is received in “good form” (i.e., the trade date). |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your exchange request in “good form,” 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 Government 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 Government 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 Government Money Market Fund or Class A shares of any other Fund. |
| ■ | A sales charge may apply when you exchange shares of a Fund that were not assessed a sales charge at the time you purchased such shares. If you invest through a Direct-at-Fund Account in Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund, Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not impose a front-end sales charge and then you exchange into a Fund that does assess a sales charge, 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 Columbia Funds. |
| ■ | If you purchased Class A shares of a Columbia Fund that imposes a front-end sales charge (and you paid any applicable sales charge) and you then exchange those shares into Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund, Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not impose a front-end sales charge, you may exchange that amount to Class A of another Fund in the future, 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. Any applicable CDSC charged 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 financial intermediary 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. |
| Prospectus 2023 | 55 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
| ■ | Class Inst shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Class A or Class Inst shares of another Fund. In certain circumstances, the front-end sales charge applicable to Class A shares may be waived on exchanges of Class Inst shares for Class A shares. See Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares — Eligible Investors — Class Inst Shares for details. |
Same-Fund Exchange Privilege
Shareholders may be eligible to invest in other classes of shares of the same Fund, and may exchange their current shares for another share class if deemed eligible and offered by the Fund. Such same-Fund exchanges could include an exchange of one class for another with higher expenses. Before making such an exchange, you should consider the expenses of each class. Shareholders should contact their financial intermediaries to learn more about the details of the same-Fund exchange privilege. Exchanges out of Class A and Class C shares will be subject to any applicable CDSC. Financial intermediaries that have a customized arrangement with regard to CDSCs are detailed in Appendix A.
Exchanges out of Class C shares to another share class of the same Fund are not permissible on Direct-at-Fund Accounts, except that the Transfer Agent seeks to convert Class C shares as soon as administratively feasible to Class A shares of the same Fund for Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them. Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares. Class C share purchase orders received by Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund. Exchanges out of Class C shares to another share class of the same Fund within commissionable brokerage accounts are permitted only (1) when the shareholder moves from a commissionable brokerage account to a fee-based advisory program or (2) when the exchange is part of a share class conversion (or a similar multiple shareholder transaction event) instituted by a financial intermediary and such conversion or similar type event is preapproved by the Distributor.
Ordinarily, shareholders will not recognize a gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon a same-Fund exchange. You should consult your tax advisor about your particular exchanges.
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Columbia Acorn® Fund
Distributions and Taxes
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). |
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 (or be exposed to additional losses, if the Fund earns a negative return). 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 income or 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, the 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 NAV 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 financial intermediary 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
| Prospectus 2023 | 57 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
“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.
Taxes
You should be aware of the following considerations applicable to the Fund:
| ■ | 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 NAV 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. Certain events may require the Fund to sell significant amounts of appreciated securities and make large dividends relative to the Fund’s NAV. Such events may include large net shareholder redemptions, portfolio rebalancing or fund mergers. The Fund generally provides estimates of expected capital gain dividends (if any) prior to the distribution on columbiathreadneedleus.com. |
| ■ | From time to time, a distribution from the Fund could constitute a return of capital. A return of capital is a return of an amount of your original investment and is not a distribution of income or capital gain from the Fund. Therefore, a return of capital 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.” |
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | 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 capital gain or loss, as described further in the SAI. |
| 58 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | For sales, redemptions and exchanges of shares that were acquired in a non-qualified account after 2011, the Fund generally is required to report to shareholders and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cost basis information with respect to those shares. The Fund uses average cost basis as its default method of calculating cost basis. For more information regarding average cost basis reporting, other available cost basis methods, and selecting or changing to a different cost basis method, please see the SAI, columbiathreadneedleus.com, or contact the Fund at 800.345.6611. If you hold Fund shares through a financial intermediary (e.g., a brokerage firm), you should contact your financial intermediary to learn about its cost basis reporting default method and the reporting elections available to your account. |
| ■ | 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
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.
| Prospectus 2023 | 59 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The total return in the table represents the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total return does not reflect payment of sales charges, if any. Total return and portfolio turnover are not annualized for periods of less than one year. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated without regard to purchase and sales transactions of short-term instruments and certain derivatives, if any. If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate might be higher. The names of certain share classes may have changed during the periods shown below (see Appendix S to the SAI for details). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the Fund’s annual report, which is available upon request. The independent registered public accounting firm’s report and the Fund’s financial statements are also incorporated by reference into the SAI.
| Prospectus 2023 | 61 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, beginning of period |
Net investment income (loss) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
Total from investment operations |
Distributions from net investment income |
Distributions from net realized gains |
Total distributions to shareholders | |
| Class A | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $10.01 | (0.04) | (3.34) | (3.38) | — | (0.47) | (0.47) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $12.69 | (0.10) | 1.07 | 0.97 | (0.14) | (3.51) | (3.65) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $11.71 | (0.06) | 3.24 | 3.18 | — | (2.20) | (2.20) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $10.65 | (0.04) | 2.78 | 2.74 | — | (1.68) | (1.68) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $12.92 | (0.03) | (0.48) | (0.51) | — | (1.76) | (1.76) |
| Advisor Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $15.37 | (0.03) | (5.14) | (5.17) | — | (0.47) | (0.47) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $17.65 | (0.10) | 1.54 | 1.44 | (0.13) | (3.59) | (3.72) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $15.52 | (0.05) | 4.38 | 4.33 | — | (2.20) | (2.20) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $13.63 | (0.01) | 3.58 | 3.57 | — | (1.68) | (1.68) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $16.06 | 0.01 | (0.64) | (0.63) | — | (1.80) | (1.80) |
| Class C(e) | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $13.72 | (0.13) | (4.57) | (4.70) | — | (0.41) | (0.41) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $16.14 | (0.26) | 1.40 | 1.14 | (0.13) | (3.43) | (3.56) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $16.57 | (0.20) | 4.08 | 3.88 | — | (4.31) | (4.31) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $18.75 | (0.20) | 4.74 | 4.54 | — | (6.72) | (6.72) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $26.34 | (0.24) | (0.71) | (0.95) | — | (6.64) | (6.64) |
| Institutional Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $14.22 | (0.03) | (4.75) | (4.78) | — | (0.47) | (0.47) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $16.60 | (0.09) | 1.43 | 1.34 | (0.13) | (3.59) | (3.72) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $14.70 | (0.04) | 4.14 | 4.10 | — | (2.20) | (2.20) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $12.98 | (0.01) | 3.41 | 3.40 | — | (1.68) | (1.68) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $15.39 | 0.01 | (0.62) | (0.61) | — | (1.80) | (1.80) |
| Institutional 2 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $15.62 | (0.03) | (5.23) | (5.26) | — | (0.47) | (0.47) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $17.88 | (0.10) | 1.57 | 1.47 | (0.13) | (3.60) | (3.73) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $15.69 | (0.04) | 4.43 | 4.39 | — | (2.20) | (2.20) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $13.76 | (0.00) (f) | 3.61 | 3.61 | — | (1.68) | (1.68) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $16.20 | 0.01 | (0.65) | (0.64) | — | (1.80) | (1.80) |
| Institutional 3 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $15.88 | (0.02) | (5.32) | (5.34) | — | (0.47) | (0.47) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $18.12 | (0.09) | 1.60 | 1.51 | (0.14) | (3.61) | (3.75) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $15.87 | (0.04) | 4.49 | 4.45 | — | (2.20) | (2.20) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $13.89 | 0.00(f) | 3.66 | 3.66 | — | (1.68) | (1.68) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $16.34 | 0.02 | (0.66) | (0.64) | — | (1.81) | (1.81) |
| Notes to Financial Highlights | |
| (a) | 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, if any. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund's reported expense ratios. |
| (b) | Ratios include Trustees’ fees deferred during the current period as well as any gains or losses on the Trustees’ deferred compensation balances as a result of market fluctuations. If these had been excluded, expenses would have been higher by 0.03%. |
| (c) | The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%. |
| (d) | Had the Investment Manager and/or Transfer Agent not waived fees and/or reimbursed a portion of expenses, total return would have been reduced. |
| (e) | Per share amounts have been adjusted on a retroactive basis to reflect a 4 to 1 reverse stock split completed after the close of business on September 11, 2020. |
| (f) | Rounds to zero. |
| 62 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, end of period |
Total return |
Total gross expense ratio to average net assets(a) |
Total net expense ratio to average net assets(a) |
Net investment income (loss) ratio to average net assets |
Portfolio turnover |
Net assets, end of period (000's) | |
| Class A | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $6.16 | (34.01%) | 1.08% (b) | 1.08% (b), (c) | (0.53%) | 64% | $521,243 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $10.01 | 8.79% | 1.08% | 1.08% (c) | (0.80%) | 75% | $919,643 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $12.69 | 29.18% (d) | 1.11% | 1.11% (c) | (0.56%) | 86% | $983,709 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $11.71 | 26.21% (d) | 1.11% | 1.10% (c) | (0.30%) | 101% | $810,966 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $10.65 | (5.22%) (d) | 1.10% | 1.08% (c) | (0.20%) | 66% | $768,031 |
| Advisor Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $9.73 | (33.79%) | 0.83% (b) | 0.83% (b), (c) | (0.27%) | 64% | $21,946 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $15.37 | 9.03% | 0.83% | 0.83% (c) | (0.55%) | 75% | $39,676 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $17.65 | 29.44% (d) | 0.86% | 0.86% (c) | (0.30%) | 86% | $44,139 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $15.52 | 26.58% (d) | 0.86% | 0.85% (c) | (0.05%) | 101% | $44,248 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $13.63 | (5.00%) (d) | 0.85% | 0.83% (c) | 0.05% | 66% | $40,425 |
| Class C(e) | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $8.61 | (34.48%) | 1.83% (b) | 1.83% (b), (c) | (1.29%) | 64% | $9,153 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $13.72 | 7.95% | 1.83% | 1.83% (c) | (1.54%) | 75% | $24,546 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $16.14 | 28.27% (d) | 1.86% | 1.86% (c) | (1.30%) | 86% | $55,861 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $16.57 | 25.12% (d) | 1.86% | 1.85% (c) | (1.05%) | 101% | $69,471 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $18.75 | (5.86%) (d) | 1.85% | 1.82% (c) | (0.94%) | 66% | $81,149 |
| Institutional Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $8.97 | (33.78%) | 0.83% (b) | 0.83% (b), (c) | (0.28%) | 64% | $1,865,518 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $14.22 | 8.99% | 0.83% | 0.83% (c) | (0.55%) | 75% | $3,413,006 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $16.60 | 29.51% (d) | 0.86% | 0.86% (c) | (0.30%) | 86% | $3,569,794 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $14.70 | 26.60% (d) | 0.86% | 0.85% (c) | (0.05%) | 101% | $3,117,486 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $12.98 | (5.09%) (d) | 0.85% | 0.83% (c) | 0.05% | 66% | $2,816,948 |
| Institutional 2 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $9.89 | (33.83%) (d) | 0.81% (b) | 0.80% (b) | (0.26%) | 64% | $23,445 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $15.62 | 9.09% (d) | 0.80% | 0.80% | (0.52%) | 75% | $52,797 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $17.88 | 29.50% (d) | 0.83% | 0.82% | (0.27%) | 86% | $61,000 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $15.69 | 26.63% (d) | 0.83% | 0.82% | (0.02%) | 101% | $51,584 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $13.76 | (5.00%) (d) | 0.81% | 0.80% | 0.08% | 66% | $37,124 |
| Institutional 3 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $10.07 | (33.77%) | 0.77% (b) | 0.77% (b) | (0.23%) | 64% | $47,945 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $15.88 | 9.16% | 0.75% | 0.75% | (0.46%) | 75% | $78,955 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $18.12 | 29.54% (d) | 0.78% | 0.78% | (0.25%) | 86% | $155,338 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $15.87 | 26.74% (d) | 0.78% | 0.77% | 0.03% | 101% | $65,408 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $13.89 | (4.98%) (d) | 0.76% | 0.76% | 0.13% | 66% | $54,688 |
| Prospectus 2023 | 63 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges
As noted in the Choosing a Share Class section of the prospectus, the sales charge reductions and waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. This Appendix A describes financial intermediary-specific reductions and/or waiver policies applicable to Fund shares purchased and held through the particular financial intermediary. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to a particular financial intermediary is not available to Direct-at-Fund Accounts and does not apply in any case to non-omnibus positions wherever held. These reductions and/or waivers may apply to purchases, sales, and exchanges of Fund shares. A shareholder transacting in Fund shares through a financial intermediary identified below should carefully read the terms and conditions of the reductions and/or waivers. Please consult your financial intermediary with respect to any sales charge reduction/waiver described below.
The financial intermediary-specific information below may be provided by, or compiled from or based on information provided by, the financial intermediaries noted. While the Funds, the Investment Manager and the Distributor do not establish these financial intermediary-specific policies, our representatives are available to answer questions about these financial intermediary-specific policies and can direct you to the financial intermediary if you need help understanding them.
Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (Ameriprise Financial Services)
The following information has been provided by Ameriprise Financial Services:
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers Available at Ameriprise Financial Services:
The following information applies to Class A shares purchases if you have an account with or otherwise purchase Fund shares through Ameriprise Financial Services:
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Ameriprise Financial Services brokerage account are eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the Columbia Fund family). |
| ■ | Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 7-year anniversary of the purchase date. To the extent that the Fund’s Class C Shares – Conversion to Class A Shares policy (stated outside this Appendix A) provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares or the conversion of Class C shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial Services or its affiliates and their immediate family members. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise financial advisor and/or the advisor’s spouse, advisor’s lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), advisor’s lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another fund in the Columbia Fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement). |
| A-1 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (Baird)
The following information has been provided by Baird:
Effective June 30, 2020, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Baird platform or account that maintains an omnibus position with the Fund will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to Baird will not apply to non-omnibus positions.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Baird:
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same Columbia Fund. |
| ■ | Share purchases by employees and registered representatives of Baird or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Baird. |
| ■ | Shares purchased with the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same accounts, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights of reinstatement). |
| ■ | A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares of the same Columbia Fund if the shares are no longer subject to CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Baird. |
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage account at Baird, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares Available at Baird:
| ■ | Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares purchased due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulations which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Baird. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Columbia Funds through Baird, over a 13-month period of time. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-2 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (Edward Jones)
Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
The following information has been provided by Edward Jones:
Effective on or after January 15, 2021, the following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in Columbia Fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as "shareholders") purchasing Columbia Fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as "breakpoints") and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder's responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings of Columbia Funds and Future Scholars Program, or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.
Breakpoints
| ■ | Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in this prospectus. |
Rights of Accumulation (ROA)
| ■ | The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of Columbia Funds and Future Scholars Program held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations ("pricing groups"). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible Columbia Fund assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a sales charge. |
| ■ | The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level. |
| ■ | ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares x NAV). |
Letter of Intent (LOI)
| ■ | Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts for purchases shareholders intend to make over a 13-month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total amount. The inclusion of eligible Columbia Fund assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted if LOI is not met. |
| ■ | If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the employer. |
| A-3 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Sales Charge Waivers
Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
| ■ | Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and their family members who are in the same pricing group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associate's life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones' policies and procedures. |
| ■ | Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of Columbia Funds so long as the following conditions are met: 1) the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, and 2) the sale and purchase are made in the same share class and the same account or the purchase is made in an individual retirement account with proceeds from liquidations in a non-retirement account. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Exchanges from Class C shares to Class A shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones. |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) Waivers
If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:
| ■ | The death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimum Balances, as described below. |
Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
Minimum Purchase Amounts
| ■ | Initial purchase minimum: $250 |
| ■ | Subsequent purchase minimum: none |
Minimum Balances
| ■ | Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion Fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy: |
| ■ | A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform. |
| ■ | A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform. |
| ■ | An account with an active systematic investment plan or LOI. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-4 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Exchanging Share Classes
| ■ | At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV a shareholder's holdings in the Fund to Class A shares. |
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (Janney)
The following information has been provided by Janney:
Effective May 1, 2020, if you purchase Columbia Fund shares through a Janney brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC, or back-end sales charge, waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to Janney does not apply to non-omnibus positions.
Front-End Sales Charge* Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Janney
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other Columbia Fund). |
| ■ | Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Janney. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within ninety (90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement). |
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Class C shares that are no longer subject to a CDSC and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Janney’s policies and procedures. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Janney
| ■ | Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged into the same share class of a different fund. |
Front-End Sales Charge* Discounts Available at Janney: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation, and/or Letters of Intent
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulation (“ROA”), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Janney. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within the Columbia Funds, over a 13-month time period. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Janney may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| A-5 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
* Also referred to as an “initial sales charge”.
Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch)
The following information has been provided by Merrill Lynch:
Shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI:
Front-End Load Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch:
Merrill Lynch makes available breakpoint discounts on shares of the Fund through:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts as described in this prospectus will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts (including 529 program holdings, where applicable) within the purchaser’s household at Merrill Lynch. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of Intent (LOI) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Columbia Funds, through Merrill Lynch, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable). |
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Merrill Lynch:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by a 529 Plan (does not include 529 Plan units or 529-specific share classes or equivalents). |
| ■ | Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynch’s platform. |
| ■ | Shares of funds purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform (if applicable). |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other Columbia Fund). |
| ■ | Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e., level-load) shares of the same fund pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members. |
| ■ | Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Eligible shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). Automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are automatically sold to pay Merrill Lynch’s account maintenance fees are not eligible for reinstatement. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Merrill Lynch:
| ■ | Death or disability of the shareholder. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-6 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Merrill Lynch. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts, that are exchanged for a lower cost share class due to transfer to certain fee based accounts or platforms (applicable to Class A and Class C shares only). |
| ■ | Shares received through an exchange due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC (Morgan Stanley Wealth Management)
The following information has been provided by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management:
Effective July 1, 2018, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Effective July 1, 2018:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| ■ | Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s account linking rules. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account. |
| ■ | Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a CDSC and are exchanged for Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class exchange program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge. |
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and each entity’s affiliates (Raymond James)
The following information has been provided by Raymond James:
Intermediary-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies:
The availability of certain initial or deferred sales charge waivers and discounts may depend on the particular financial intermediary or type of account through which you purchase or hold Columbia Fund shares.
Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred (back-end) sales load (CDSC) waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any
| A-7 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Columbia Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts.
Raymond James:
Effective March 1, 2019, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account, or through an introducing broker-dealer or independent registered investment adviser for which Raymond James provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody services, will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Raymond James:
| ■ | Shares purchased in an investment advisory program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased within the Columbia Funds through a systematic reinvestment of capital gains and dividend distributions. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond James. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the Columbia Funds, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). |
| ■ | A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares Available at Raymond James:
| ■ | Death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
Front-End Load Discounts Available at Raymond James: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation and/or Letters of Intent:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Raymond James. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of rights of accumulation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within the Columbia Funds, over a 13-month time period. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
Stifel Financial Corp. (Stifel)
The following information has been provided by Stifel:
| Prospectus 2023 | A-8 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Effective June 30, 2020, Class C shares of Columbia Funds that were purchased through a Stifel platform or account that maintains an omnibus position with the Fund that are no longer subject to a CDSC are exchanged to Class A shares of the same Columbia Fund pursuant to Stifel’s policies and procedures. This does not apply to non-omnibus positions.
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. (USBI)
The following information has been provided by USBI:
Effective September of 2021, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a USBI platform or who own shares for which USBI is the broker-dealer, where the shares are held in an omnibus account, will only be eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
All other sales charge waivers and reduction described elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI still apply.
USBI Conversion of Class C shares
Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge are systematically converted to the Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to USBI’s share class exchange policy.
Additional Sales Charge Reductions and/or Waivers Available at Certain Financial Intermediaries
Shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a platform or account of RBC Capital Markets, LLC are eligible for the following sales charge waiver:
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waiver Available at RBC Capital Markets, LLC:
| ■ | For employer-sponsored retirement plans held through a commissionable brokerage account, Class A shares are available at NAV (i.e., without a sales charge). For this purpose, employer-sponsored retirement plans include, but are not limited to, 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| A-9 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn® Fund
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
Columbia Acorn Family of Funds
Additional Information About the Fund
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI also provides additional information about the Fund and its policies. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is legally part of this prospectus (incorporated by reference). To obtain these documents free of charge, to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries, please contact the Fund as follows:
By Mail: Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
By Telephone: 800.345.6611
Online: columbiathreadneedleus.com
Shareholder Communications with the Board
The Fund’s Board of Trustees has adopted procedures by which shareholders may communicate with the Board. Shareholders who wish to communicate with the Board should send their written communications to the Board by mail, c/o Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606, Attention: Secretary. Shareholder communications must (i) be in writing, (ii) identify the Columbia Acorn Fund to which the communication relates and (iii) state the particular class of shares and number of shares held by the communicating shareholder.
Obtaining Additional Information from the SEC
Reports and other information about the Fund are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can receive copies of this information, for a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
The investment company registration number of Columbia Acorn Trust, of which the Fund is a series, is 811-01829.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.
The Fund is distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.
The Fund is distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.
© 2023 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. All rights reserved.
PRO110_12_N01_(05/23)
Prospectus
May 1, 2023
Columbia Acorn Family of Funds
Managed by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
Columbia
Acorn International®
Acorn International®
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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A-1 |
2
Columbia Acorn International®
Summary of the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Acorn International® (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, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. 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 is available about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers from your financial intermediary, and can be found in the Choosing a Share Class section beginning on page 28 of the Fund’s prospectus, in Appendix A to the prospectus beginning on page A-1 and in Appendix S to the Statement of Additional Information (SAI) under Sales Charge Waivers beginning on page S-1.
| | |||
| Class A | Class C | Classes Adv, Inst, Inst2, Inst3 and R | |
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a % of offering price) | |||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a % of the lower of the original purchase price or current net asset value) | |||
| | |||||||
| Class A | Class Adv | Class C | Class Inst | Class Inst2 | Class Inst3 | Class R | |
| Management fees | |||||||
| Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | |||||||
| Other expenses | |||||||
| Total annual Fund operating expenses | |||||||
| Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements(c) | ( |
( |
( |
( |
( |
( |
( |
| Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements | |||||||
| (a) | |
| (b) | |
| (c) | |
| Prospectus 2023 | 3 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Summary of the Fund (continued)
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. |
Class C shares’ 10-year cost examples below reflect the Class C shares 8-year conversion policy.
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:
| 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | |
| Class A (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Adv (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class C (assuming redemption of all shares at the end of the period) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class C (assuming no redemption of shares) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class R (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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 29 % of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 75% of its net assets in foreign companies in developed markets (for example, Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom) and in emerging markets (for example, China, India and Brazil).
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations generally in the range of market capitalizations in the MSCI ACWI ex USA SMID Cap Growth Index (Net), the Fund's primary benchmark, (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $92 million and $9.9 billion as of March 31, 2023). The market capitalization range and composition of companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. The Fund determines a company’s market capitalization at the time of investment. As long as a majority of its net assets are invested in companies within the market capitalization range of the Index, the Fund may continue to hold and make new investments in a security even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the range of the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index. The Investment Manager from time to time emphasizes one or more sectors in selecting the Fund’s investments, including the health care, industrials, and information technology sectors.
| 4 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser (the Investment Manager), believes that stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, 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 also may invest in larger-sized companies.
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 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 risks, including those described below, among others. 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. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
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 and/or strategies.
Market Risk. The Fund may incur losses due to declines in the value of one or more securities in which it invests. These declines may be due to factors affecting a particular issuer, or the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s) more generally. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to price or value hard-to-value assets in thinly traded and closed markets and could cause significant redemptions and operational challenges. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as terrorism, war, other conflicts, natural disasters, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other public health issues, recessions, depressions or other events – or the potential for such events – could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-cap companies often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established 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.
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. Growth securities may also be sensitive to movements in interest rates.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to securities of foreign companies may involve heightened risks relative to investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Investing in securities of foreign companies subjects the Fund to the risks associated with an issuer’s (and any of its related companies’) country of organization and places of business operations, including risks related to political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and
| Prospectus 2023 | 5 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Summary of the Fund (continued)
other conditions or events (including, for example, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism and disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics) 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.
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, and may be more susceptible to market manipulation, 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. Due to the differences in the nature and quality of financial information of issuers of emerging market securities, including auditing and financial reporting standards, financial information and disclosures about such issuers may be unavailable or, if made available, may be considerably less reliable than publicly available information about other foreign securities.
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 have an active trading market 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.
| 6 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Liquidity and Trading Volume Risk. Due to market conditions, including uncertainty regarding the price of a security, it may be difficult for the Fund to buy or sell 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. The Fund may also be limited in its ability to execute favorable trades in 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 or, conversely, if it faces significant redemption pressure, these considerations take on increasing significance and may adversely impact performance.
Geographic Focus Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to risks related 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.
| ■ | Asia Pacific Region. 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. |
| ■ | Europe. The Fund is particularly susceptible to risks related to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions, including acts of war or other conflicts in the region, affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Countries in Europe are often closely connected and interdependent, and events in one European country can have an adverse impact on, and potentially spread to, other European countries. In addition, significant private or public debt problems in a single European Union (EU) country can pose 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 focus their investments in this region of the world. Any uncertainty caused by the departure of the United Kingdom (UK) from the EU, which occurred in January 2020, could have negative impacts on the UK and EU, as well as other European economies and the broader global economy. These could include negative impacts on currencies and financial markets as well as increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth in markets in Europe, which could adversely affect the value of your investment in the Fund. |
| ■ | Japan. The Fund is particularly susceptible to the social, political, economic, regulatory and other conditions or events that may affect Japan’s economy. The Japanese economy is heavily dependent upon international trade, including, among other things, the export of finished goods and the import of oil and other commodities and raw materials. Because of its trade dependence, the Japanese economy is particularly exposed to the risks of currency fluctuation, foreign trade policy and regional and global economic disruption, including the risk of increased tariffs, embargoes, and other trade limitations or factors. Strained relationships between Japan and its neighboring countries, including China, South Korea and North Korea, based on historical grievances, territorial disputes, and defense concerns, may also cause uncertainty in Japanese markets. As a result, additional tariffs, other trade barriers, or boycotts may have an adverse impact on the Japanese economy. Japanese government policy has been characterized by economic regulation, intervention, protectionism and large government deficits. The Japanese economy is also challenged by an unstable financial services sector, highly leveraged corporate balance sheets and extensive cross-ownership among major corporations. Structural social and labor market changes, including an aging workforce, population decline and traditional aversion to labor mobility may adversely affect Japan’s economic competitiveness and growth potential. The potential for natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and tsunamis, could also have significant negative effects on Japan’s economy. As a result of the Fund’s investment in Japanese securities, the Fund’s NAV may be more volatile than the NAV of a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Japan fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not focus their investments in Japan. |
| Prospectus 2023 | 7 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in an industry or related group of industries within one or more economic sectors , including the health care, industrials, and information technology sectors. Companies in the same 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 industry or group of industries or 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.
| ■ | Health Care Sector. The Fund is 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), among others. 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. |
| ■ | Industrials Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials 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, economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims. |
| ■ | Information Technology Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the information technology sector 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 information 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. Some companies in the information technology sector are facing increased government and regulatory scrutiny and may be subject to adverse government or regulatory action, which could negatively impact the value of their securities. |
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.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Underperformance of an issuer 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, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other events, conditions and factors.
Performance Information
| 8 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Summary of the Fund (continued)
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the Average Annual Total Returns table below includes the Fund’s Class Inst 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.
as of December 31 Each Year* |
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart | ||
 |
|||
| - | |||
| * | |
| Prospectus 2023 | 9 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2022)
| Share Class Inception Date |
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | |
| Class Inst | ||||
| returns before taxes | - |
- |
||
| returns after taxes on distributions | - |
- |
||
| returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares | - |
- |
||
| Class A returns before taxes | - |
- |
||
| Class Adv returns before taxes | - |
- |
||
| Class C returns before taxes | - |
- |
||
| Class Inst2 returns before taxes | - |
- |
||
| Class Inst3 returns before taxes | - |
- |
||
| Class R returns before taxes | - |
- |
||
| MSCI ACWI ex USA SMID Cap Growth Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes) | - |
|||
| MSCI ACWI ex USA SMID Cap Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes) | - |
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
| Portfolio Management | Title | Role with Fund | Service with the Fund Since | |||
| Tae Han (Simon) Kim, CFA | Director of International Research, Portfolio Manager and Analyst | Co-Portfolio Manager since 2017 |
2011 | |||
| Hans F. Stege | Portfolio Manager and Analyst | Co-Portfolio Manager since 2020 |
2017 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by contacting the Fund in the ways described below:
| Online | Regular Mail | Express Mail | By Telephone | |||
| columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/ | Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. P.O. Box 219104 Kansas City, MO 64121-9104 |
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. c/o SS&C GIDS, Inc. 430 W 7th Street, Suite 219104 Kansas City, MO 64105-1407 |
800.422.3737 |
You may purchase shares and receive redemption proceeds by electronic funds transfer, by check or by wire. If you maintain your account with a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, you must contact that financial intermediary to buy, sell or exchange shares of the Fund through your account with the intermediary.
| 10 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Summary of the Fund (continued)
The minimum initial investment amounts for the share classes offered by the Fund are shown below:
Minimum Initial Investment
| Class | Category of eligible account | For accounts other than Systematic Investment Plan accounts (as described in the Fund’s Prospectus) |
For Systematic Investment Plan accounts |
| Classes A & C | All accounts other than IRAs | $2,000 | $100 |
| IRAs | $1,000 | $100 | |
| Classes Adv & Inst | All eligible accounts | $0, $1,000 or $2,000 depending upon the category of eligible investor |
$100 |
| Classes Inst2 & R | All eligible accounts | None | N/A |
| Class Inst3 | All eligible accounts | $0, $1,000, $2,000 or $1 million depending upon the category of eligible investor |
$100 (for certain eligible investors) |
More information about these minimums can be found in the Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares - Buying Shares section of the prospectus. There is no minimum additional investment for any share class.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders. These distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, you may be taxed upon withdrawals from that account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies – including the Investment Manager, the Distributor and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) – may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Fund over another investment. These potential conflicts of interest may be heightened with respect to broker-dealers owned by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial) and/or its affiliates. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
| Prospectus 2023 | 11 |
Columbia Acorn International®
More Information About the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Acorn International® (the Fund) seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy of the Fund and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board) without shareholder approval. There is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 75% of its net assets in foreign companies in developed markets (for example, Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom) and in emerging markets (for example, China, India and Brazil).
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations generally in the range of market capitalizations in the MSCI ACWI ex USA SMID Cap Growth Index (Net), the Fund's primary benchmark, (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $92 million and $9.9 billion as of March 31, 2023). The market capitalization range and composition of companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. The Fund determines a company’s market capitalization at the time of investment. As long as a majority of its net assets are invested in companies within the market capitalization range of the Index, the Fund may continue to hold and make new investments in a security even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the range of the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index. The Investment Manager from time to time emphasizes one or more sectors in selecting the Fund’s investments, including the health care, industrials, and information technology sectors.
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser (the Investment Manager), believes that stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, 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 also may invest in larger-sized companies.
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 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 risks, including those described below, among others. 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. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the Investment Manager to select investments and to make investment decisions that will achieve the Fund’s investment objective. 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 and/or strategies.
Market Risk. The Fund may incur losses due to declines in the value of one or more securities in which it invests. These declines may be due to factors affecting a particular issuer, or the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s) more generally. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively
| 12 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
More Information About the Fund (continued)
affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to price or value hard-to-value assets in thinly traded and closed markets and could cause significant redemptions and operational challenges. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as terrorism, war, other conflicts, natural disasters, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other public health issues, recessions, depressions or other events – or the potential for such events – could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions.
The large-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 has resulted in sanctions and market disruptions, including declines in regional and global stock markets, unusual volatility in global commodity markets and significant devaluations of Russian currency. The extent and duration of the military action are impossible to predict but could be significant. Market disruption caused by the Russian military action, and any counter measures or responses thereto (including international sanctions, a downgrade in a country’s credit rating, purchasing and financing restrictions, boycotts, tariffs, changes in consumer or purchaser preferences, cyberattacks and espionage) could have severe adverse impacts on regional and/or global securities and commodities markets, including markets for oil and natural gas. These impacts may include reduced market liquidity, distress in credit markets, further disruption of global supply chains, increased risk of inflation, and limited access to investments in certain international markets and/or issuers. These developments and other related events could negatively impact Fund performance.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger, more established 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 and generally less experienced 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 Fund investment losses that would affect the value of your investment in 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.
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. Growth securities may also be sensitive to movements in interest rates.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to securities of foreign companies may involve heightened risks relative to investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities may also be less liquid, making them more difficult to trade, 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 (including, for example, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism and disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics), possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be
| Prospectus 2023 | 13 |
Columbia Acorn International®
More Information About the Fund (continued)
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. Economic sanctions may be, and have been, imposed against certain countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals. Economic sanctions and other similar governmental actions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate the Fund’s ability to purchase or sell securities, and thus may make the Fund’s investments in such securities less liquid or more difficult to value. In addition, as a result of economic sanctions, the Fund may be forced to sell or otherwise dispose of investments at inopportune times or prices, which could result in losses to the Fund and increased transaction costs. These conditions may be in place for a substantial period of time and enacted with limited advance notice to the Fund. 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. Additionally, investments in certain countries may subject the Fund to a number of tax rules, the application of which may be uncertain. Countries may amend or revise their existing tax laws, regulations and/or procedures in the future, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in or uncertainties regarding the laws, regulations or procedures of a country could reduce the after-tax profits of the Fund, directly or indirectly, including by reducing the after-tax profits of companies located in such countries in which the Fund invests, or result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund.
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.
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, and may be more susceptible to market manipulation, than securities in more developed markets.
| 14 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
More Information About the Fund (continued)
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. Due to the differences in the nature and quality of financial information of issuers of emerging market securities, including auditing and financial reporting standards, financial information and disclosures about such issuers may be unavailable or, if made available, may be considerably less reliable than publicly available information about other foreign securities.
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 have an active trading market 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 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.
Liquidity and Trading Volume Risk. Due to market conditions, including uncertainty regarding the price of a security, it may be difficult for the Fund to buy or sell 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. The Investment Manager will fair value in good faith any securities it deems to be illiquid under consistently applied procedures established by the Fund’s Board. Market conditions are always changing and vary by country and industry sector, and investing in international markets involves unique risks. Although it is difficult to accurately assess trends in trading volumes in foreign markets, a reduction in trading volumes poses challenges to the Fund. This is particularly so because the Fund focuses on small- and mid-cap companies that usually have lower trading volumes and often takes sizeable positions in portfolio companies. As a result of lower trading volumes, it may take longer to buy or sell 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 portfolio securities in response to changes in share prices and fundamentals. If the Fund is forced to sell securities to meet redemption requests or other cash needs, or in the
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case of an event affecting liquidity in a particular market or markets, it may be forced to dispose of those securities under disadvantageous circumstances and at a loss. As the Fund grows in size or, conversely, if it faces significant redemption pressure, these considerations take on increasing significance and may adversely impact performance.
Geographic Focus Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to risks related 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.
| ■ | Asia Pacific Region. A number of 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 that country, 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 in a region with more developed countries and economies. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses for the Fund. Continued growth of economies and securities markets in the region will require sustained economic and fiscal discipline, as well as continued commitment to governmental and regulatory reforms. Development also may be influenced by international economic conditions, including those in the United States and Japan, and by world demand for goods or natural resources produced in countries in the Asia Pacific region. Securities markets in the region are generally smaller and have a lower trading volume than those in the United States, which may result in the securities of some companies in the region being less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities. Some currencies, inflation rates or interest rates in the Asia Pacific region are or can be volatile, and some countries in the region may restrict the flow of money in and out of the country. The risks described under “Emerging Market Securities Risk” and “Foreign Securities Risk” may be more pronounced due to the Fund’s focus on investments in the region. |
| ■ | Europe. The Fund is particularly susceptible to risks related to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions, including acts of war or other conflicts in the region, affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Countries in Europe are often closely connected and interdependent, and events in one European country can have an adverse impact on, and potentially spread to, other European countries. Most developed countries in Western Europe are members of the EU, and many are also members of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). European countries can be significantly affected by the tight fiscal and monetary controls that the EMU imposes on its members and with which candidates for EMU membership are required to comply. In addition, significant private or public debt problems in a single EU country can pose economic risks to the EU as a whole. Unemployment in Europe has historically been higher than in the United States and public deficits are an ongoing concern in many European countries. 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 focus their investments in this region of the world. Any uncertainty caused by the departure of the UK from the EU, which occurred in January 2020, could have negative impacts on the UK and EU, as well as other European economies and the broader global economy. These could include negative impacts on currencies and financial markets as well as increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth in markets in the UK, Europe and globally, which could adversely affect the value of your investment in the Fund. Any attempt by the Fund to hedge against or otherwise protect its portfolio or to profit from such circumstances may fail and, accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. |
| ■ | Japan. The Fund is particularly susceptible to the social, political, economic, regulatory and other conditions or events that may affect Japan’s economy. The Japanese economy is heavily dependent upon international trade, including, among other things, the export of finished goods and the import of oil and other commodities and raw materials. Because of its trade dependence, the Japanese economy is particularly exposed to the risks of currency fluctuation, foreign trade policy and regional and global economic disruption, including the risk of increased tariffs, embargoes, and other trade limitations or factors. Strained relationships between Japan and its neighboring countries, including China, South Korea and North Korea, based on historical grievances, territorial disputes, and defense concerns, may also cause uncertainty in Japanese markets. As a result, additional tariffs, other trade |
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| barriers, or boycotts may have an adverse impact on the Japanese economy. Japanese government policy has been characterized by economic regulation, intervention, protectionism and large government deficits. The Japanese economy is also challenged by an unstable financial services sector, highly leveraged corporate balance sheets and extensive cross-ownership among major corporations. Structural social and labor market changes, including an aging workforce, population decline and traditional aversion to labor mobility may adversely affect Japan’s economic competitiveness and growth potential. The potential for natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and tsunamis, could also have significant negative effects on Japan’s economy. A significant portion of Japan's trade is conducted with developing nations in East and Southeast Asia and its economy can be affected by conditions and currency fluctuations in these and other countries. For a number of years, Japan’s economic growth rate has remained relatively low, and it may remain low in the future. Securities in Japan are denominated and quoted in yen. As a result, the value of the Fund's Japanese securities as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected by fluctuations in the value of the Japanese yen relative to the U.S. dollar. Securities traded on Japanese stock exchanges have exhibited significant volatility in recent years. As a result of the Fund’s investment in Japanese securities, the Fund’s NAV may be more volatile than the NAV of a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Japan fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not focus their investments in Japan. |
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in an industry or related group of industries within one or more economic sectors , including the health care, industrials, and information technology sectors. Companies in the same 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 industry or group of industries or 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.
| ■ | Health Care Sector. The Fund is 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), among others. 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. |
| ■ | Industrials Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials 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, economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims. |
| ■ | Information Technology Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the information technology sector 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 information technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been |
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| more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term. Some companies in the information technology sector are facing increased government and regulatory scrutiny and may be subject to adverse government or regulatory action, which could negatively impact the value of their securities. |
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. Restrictions on currency trading may be imposed by foreign countries, which may adversely affect the value of your investment in the Fund. Even though the currencies of some countries may be pegged to the U.S. dollar, the conversion rate may be controlled by government regulation or intervention at levels significantly different than what would normally prevail in a free market. Significant revaluations of the U.S. dollar exchange rate of these currencies could cause substantial reductions in the Fund’s NAV.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Underperformance of an issuer 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, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other events, conditions and factors.
Additional Investment Strategies and Policies
This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that the Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in the Fund. For information about risks associated with changing levels of Fund distributions, see the Fund’s SAI.
Changing the Fund’s Investment Objective and Policies
The Fund’s investment objective and non-fundamental investment policies (including its principal and additional investment strategies) can be changed by the Board without shareholder approval, but may require notice to shareholders in certain instances. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies, as identified in the SAI, may be changed only with Board and shareholder approval in accordance with the voting requirements of the 1940 Act. For additional information about changing the Fund’s fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies, see the SAI.
Investment Guidelines
As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies in this prospectus, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of the 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 based on the characteristics of a company at the time of initial purchase, and subsequent changes in a characteristic are not taken into account.
Holding Other Kinds of Investments
The Fund may hold other investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the SAI. The 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 the Fund’s holdings can be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports or by visiting columbiathreadneedleus.com.
Transactions in Derivatives
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions or otherwise have exposure to derivative transactions through underlying investments. The Fund expects to enter into such transactions primarily in the form of stock index futures in order to obtain exposure to the overall sector of the market represented by a particular stock index or to invest the Fund’s uninvested cash balances in a manner that the Investment Manager believes aligns more closely with the Fund’s investment strategy than simply holding short-term fixed income investments or cash equivalents (known as
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cash equitization). 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 Secured Overnight Financing Rate (commonly known as SOFR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor’s 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 the Fund’s potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies typically expose the Fund to gains and losses in excess of the amount actually invested in the derivative. This characteristic of a derivative (known as "leverage") may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the 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 (including distressed) market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or the 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 the Fund’s potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund’s derivative positions at times when the 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. The 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 the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. The U.S. government and the European Union (and some other jurisdictions) have enacted regulations and similar requirements that prescribe clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These requirements are evolving and their ultimate impact on the Fund remains unclear, but such impact could include restricting and/or imposing significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. Additionally, in August 2022, regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies, such as the Fund, became effective. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, among other things, requires a fund that invests in derivative instruments beyond a specified limited amount to apply a value-at-risk-based limit to its portfolio and establish a comprehensive derivatives risk management program. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund is not required to maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program under Rule 18f-4 given its more limited use of derivatives. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.
LIBOR Phase-Out Risk. Many derivatives and other financial instruments utilize or are permitted to utilize a floating interest rate based on the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR). On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced its intention to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and the ICE Benchmark Administration have since announced that a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will cease publication after June 30, 2023. A subset of non-U.S. dollar LIBOR settings is continuing to be published on a “synthetic” basis and it is possible that a subset of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will also be published after June 30, 2023 on a “synthetic” basis. Any such publications are, or would be considered, non-representative of the underlying market. Uncertainty related to the liquidity impact of changes in reference rates, and how to appropriately adjust these rates at the time of transition, poses risks for the Fund. It is difficult to predict the full impact of the transition away from LIBOR on the Fund until new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new products, instruments and contracts are commercially accepted and market practices become more settled. The Investment Manager monitors the Fund’s LIBOR exposure risks, including the extent to which any derivative and/or debt investments allow for the utilization of alternative rate(s), such as the SOFR, which the U.S. Federal Reserve is promoting as the alternative reference rate to LIBOR.
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Affiliated Fund Investing
The Investment Manager and its affiliate, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management), serve as investment advisers to mutual funds and ETFs using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including mutual funds 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 the 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 the Investment Manager and Columbia Management seek 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 the 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 to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Underlying Fund shares. Although the Investment Manager or Columbia Management 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 the Investment Manager or Columbia Management 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, the 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 investments (i.e., any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment) or less liquid securities. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Underlying Fund to implement its investment strategy. The Investment Manager or Columbia Management also has a 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
The Fund may invest cash, including cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending program, in shares of money market funds, including funds advised by affiliates of the Investment Manager. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which the Fund may invest.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries on a fully collateralized basis in order to earn additional income. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, the borrower does not return a loaned security and the proceeds from sale of the collateral are not sufficient to replace the borrowed security. The Fund invests collateral in a government money market fund.
Investing Defensively
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions. These investment positions may include, without limitation, investing some or all of its assets in money
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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 the Investment Manager deems necessary. During these times, the Investment Manager may make frequent portfolio changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and taxes, and decreased Fund performance.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of Fund portfolio securities is available in the SAI. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings on the Columbia Funds’ website, columbiathreadneedleus.com, as described below. Once posted, the portfolio holdings information will remain available on the website until at least the date on which such Fund files a Form N-CSR or publicly available Form N-PORT (forms filed with the SEC that include portfolio holdings information) for the period that includes the date as of which the information is current.
The Fund considers changes in its portfolio holdings to be confidential information. Consequently, Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information only after a certain amount of time has passed. The Fund’s complete portfolio holdings are disclosed approximately 30 to 40 days after each month-end. The top 15 holdings may be available sooner, approximately 15 calendar days after each month-end. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information available on the website may not always be current.
Cybersecurity
The Fund, like all companies, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks, including the risk of cyber attacks or failures. As a result, the Fund or its service providers, or the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, may experience disruptions in business operations that may potentially result in financial losses, the inability of the Fund or Fund shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. See the discussion of Cybersecurity Breaches and Technology and Related Systems Failure Risk in the SAI for further information.
Use of Benchmarks
Benchmarks are indices that provide some comparative guidance in assessing the Fund’s performance. The Investment Manager selects the benchmark(s) it believes provide meaningful comparisons for the Fund. However, there may be different or additional indices that more closely reflect the market sectors in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s benchmark(s) may change from time to time. The benchmarks included in this prospectus are intended only as guideposts for your assessment of the Fund’s performance.
FUNDamentals
Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks
The Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmarks, and accordingly the Fund's holdings may diverge significantly from those of the benchmarks selected by the Investment Manager. In addition, the Fund may invest in securities outside the industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmarks. The Fund's weightings in individual securities, and in industry and geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmarks.
eDelivery and Mailings to Households
In order to reduce shareholder expenses, the Fund may mail only one copy of the Fund’s 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
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intermediary directly. Additionally, you may elect to enroll in eDelivery to receive electronic versions of these documents, as well as quarterly statements and supplements, by logging into your account at columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/.
Additional Information on Portfolio Turnover
A mutual fund that replaces, or turns over, more than 100% of its investments in a year may be considered to have a high portfolio turnover rate. A high portfolio turnover rate can generate larger distributions of short-term capital gains to shareholders, which for individuals are generally taxable at higher rates than long-term capital gains for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Also, a high portfolio turnover rate can mean higher brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which could reduce a fund’s returns. In general, the greater the volume of buying and selling by a fund, the greater the impact that brokerage commissions and other transaction costs will have on its returns. The Fund may sell securities regardless of how long they’ve been held. See the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus for the Fund's portfolio turnover rates for the past five years.
Cash Flows
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent the Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require the 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 the Fund’s performance.
Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund’s annual operating expenses, as presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, may vary by share class and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The expense ratios reflect the Fund’s fee arrangements as of the date of this prospectus and, unless indicated otherwise, are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year. The Fund’s assets will fluctuate, but unless indicated otherwise in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table, no adjustments have been or will be made to the expense ratios to reflect any differences in the Fund’s average net assets between the most recently completed fiscal year and the date of this prospectus or a later date. In general, the Fund’s expense ratios will increase as its net assets decrease, such that the 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 the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected, in part, to limit the impact of any increase in the Fund’s expense ratios that would otherwise result because of a decrease in the Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. The 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. Please see Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Arrangements below for information about commitments made by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates during the performance period covered by this prospectus.
FUNDamentals
Other Expenses
“Other expenses” consist of the fees the Fund pays to its administrator, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. Generally, these expenses are allocated on a pro rata basis across all share classes. These expenses include certain sub-transfer agency and shareholder servicing fees. Transfer agency 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 agency and shareholder servicing fees applicable to each share class. For more information on these fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Financial Intermediary Compensation.
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Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Arrangements
The Investment Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse certain expenses of the Fund through April 30, 2024, so that ordinary operating expenses (excluding transaction costs and certain other investment-related expenses, interest and fees on borrowings, and expenses associated with the Fund’s investment in other investment companies, if any) do not exceed the annual rates of:
| Columbia Acorn International | |
| Class A | 1.23% |
| Class Adv | 0.98% |
| Class C | 1.98% |
| Class Inst | 0.98% |
| Class Inst2 | 0.92% |
| Class Inst3 | 0.88% |
| Class R | 1.48% |
This arrangement may only be amended or terminated with approval from the Board and the Investment Manager.
The fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements shown in the table above also reflect the contractual agreement of the Fund's Transfer Agent to waive a portion of its fees through April 30, 2024, such that the Fund's transfer agency fees do not exceed the annual rate of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of Class Inst2 shares. This arrangement may be terminated at the sole discretion of the Board.
Effect of Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements on Past Performance. The Fund’s returns shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus reflect the effect of fee waivers and/or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates that were in place during the performance period shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus. Without such fee waivers/expense reimbursements, the Fund’s returns might have been lower.
Board of Trustees
The Fund is governed by the Board. More than 75% of the Fund's Trustees are independent (Independent Trustees), meaning that they are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. The Independent Trustees bring backgrounds in business and academia to their task of working with the Fund's officers to establish the Fund's policies and oversee its activities. Among the Trustees' responsibilities are: selecting the investment adviser for the Fund; approving the advisory agreement; reviewing other contracts; approving investment policies; monitoring Fund operations, performance, compliance and costs; and nominating or selecting new Trustees.
Each Trustee serves the Fund for an indefinite term until his or her retirement, resignation, death or removal in accordance with the organizational documents of Columbia Acorn Trust (the Trust). The Trust's Bylaws generally require that Trustees retire at the end of the calendar year in which they attain the age of 75 years. The last meeting to elect Trustees was held on February 27, 2015. Any Trustee may be removed at a shareholders' meeting by a vote representing two-thirds of the net asset value of all shares of the Columbia Acorn family of funds (Columbia Acorn Funds). The mailing address for the Trustees and officers is 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
For more detailed information about the Board, please refer to the SAI.
Primary Service Provider Contracts
The Fund enters into contractual arrangements (Service Provider Contracts) with various parties, including, among others, the Investment Manager, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and the Fund’s custodian. The Fund’s Service Provider Contracts are solely among the parties thereto. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third-party beneficiaries of, any Service Provider Contracts. Further, this prospectus, the SAI and any Service Provider Contracts are not intended to give rise to any agreement, duty, special relationship or other obligation between the Fund and any investor, or give rise to any contractual, tort or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or
| Prospectus 2023 | 23 |
Columbia Acorn International®
More Information About the Fund (continued)
other person, including any right to assert a fiduciary or other duty, enforce the Service Provider Contracts against the parties or to seek any remedy thereunder, either directly or on behalf of the Fund. Nothing in the previous sentence should be read to suggest any waiver of any rights under federal or state securities laws.
The Investment Manager, which also serves as the Fund's administrator (the Administrator), Columbia Management, which serves as the Fund's sub-administrator pursuant to an agreement with the Investment Manager (the Sub-Administrator), 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 the Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.
The Investment Manager
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC is located at 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60606. As of March 31, 2023, the Investment Manager had assets under management of approximately $6.8 billion. The Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Management, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to mutual funds, the Investment Manager acts as an investment manager for other private funds and institutional accounts.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Investment Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund, determining what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executing portfolio transactions. The Investment Manager may use the research and other capabilities of its affiliates and third parties in managing the Fund’s investments.
The Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee for its investment advisory services. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the daily net assets of the Fund and is paid monthly. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, aggregate fees paid to the Investment Manager by the Fund amounted to 0.82% of average daily net assets of the Fund, before any applicable reimbursements.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the renewal of the Fund’s investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2022.
The Investment Manager and its investment advisory affiliates, including Columbia Management (Affiliates), around the world may coordinate in providing services to their clients. From time to time, the Investment Manager may engage its Affiliates to provide a variety of services such as investment research, investment monitoring, trading, and discretionary investment management (including portfolio management and proxy voting) to certain accounts managed by the Investment Manager, including the Fund. These Affiliates will provide services to the Fund and other accounts of the Investment Manager either pursuant to delegation agreements, personnel-sharing agreements or similar inter-company or other arrangements or relationships and the Fund will pay no additional fees and expenses as a result of any such arrangements or relationships. These Affiliates, like the Investment Manager, are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Ameriprise Financial and are registered with the appropriate respective regulators and, where required, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in the United States.
Pursuant to some of these arrangements or relationships, certain personnel of Columbia Management and other Affiliates may serve as “associated persons” or officers 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 this prospectus and the Fund's SAI, and with the Investment Manager’s and the Fund's compliance policies and procedures, may provide such services to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
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Columbia Acorn International®
More Information About the Fund (continued)
| Portfolio Management | Title | Role with Fund | Service with the Fund Since | |||
| Tae Han (Simon) Kim, CFA | Director of International Research, Portfolio Manager and Analyst | Co-Portfolio Manager since 2017 |
2011 | |||
| Hans F. Stege | Portfolio Manager and Analyst | Co-Portfolio Manager since 2020 |
2017 |
Mr. Kim has been associated with the Investment Manager as an investment professional since 2011, and has served as a Vice President of the Trust since March 2018. Mr. Kim began his investment career in 2007 and earned a B.A. from Boston College and an M.B.A from the University of Oxford.
Mr. Stege has been associated with the Investment Manager or its predecessors as an investment professional since 2017 and has been a Vice President of the Trust since March 2020. Prior to joining the Investment Manager, Mr. Stege was a partner and research analyst at another investment firm, and also worked as a senior analyst for an energy consulting firm. Mr. Stege began his investment career in 2014 and earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
The Administrator
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Fund’s operations, coordination of the Fund’s service providers, and the provision of office facilities and related clerical and administrative services. The Administrator retains the Sub-Administrator to perform many of these services (including fund accounting), and pays a fee for the services of the Sub-Administrator. The Fund pays the Administrator a fee for its services, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses. The fee is calculated as an annual percentage of the Trust’s aggregate average daily net assets and is paid monthly, as follows:
| Annual Administration Fee, as a % of Aggregate Daily Net Assets of the Trust: | |
| Up to $8 billion | 0.050% |
| $8 billion to $16 billion | 0.040% |
| $16 billion to $35 billion | 0.030% |
| $35 billion to $45 billion | 0.025% |
| $45 billion and over | 0.015% |
The Distributor
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. 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 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, 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 SS&C GIDS, 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. Depending on the type of account, the Fund pays the Transfer Agent a per account fee for each open account and compensates the Transfer Agent for certain out-of-pocket expenses, including certain payments to financial intermediaries through which shares are held. In addition, subject to certain limitations, the Fund compensates the Transfer Agent for payments made to financial intermediaries for the shareholder services that the intermediaries provide, in amounts that vary by share class and with the type of intermediary and the type of
| Prospectus 2023 | 25 |
Columbia Acorn International®
More Information About the Fund (continued)
shareholder services provided. The Transfer Agent is contractually obligated to oversee such intermediaries for the purpose of reasonably assuring their compliance with applicable law and the terms of their agreements to provide the shareholder services. For more information about Shareholder Services fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Financial Intermediary Compensation.
Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest
This section describes certain actual and potential conflicts of interest that arise from the financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including: insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management and financial services. As a consequence of these activities, Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates may have interests arising from their other business lines that conflict with the interests of the Fund. These activities may also, from time to time, place certain investment constraints on the management of the Fund that might not otherwise arise.
As described in More Information About the Fund - Primary Service Provider Contracts, the Investment Manager, Administrator, Sub-Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial. In addition to the services that they provide to the Fund, they also provide substantially similar services (for which they are compensated) to other clients and customers, including the Columbia Funds. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide services (for which they are compensated) to the Fund, other Columbia Funds or other clients and customers.
Examples of activities that could lead to conflicts of interest and/or impose limitations that could affect the Fund include the following:
| ■ | the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may receive compensation and other benefits related to the management/administration of the Fund and the other Columbia Funds and the sale of their shares; |
| ■ | there may be competition for limited investment opportunities that must be allocated among the Fund, the other Columbia Funds and other clients and customers of the Investment Manager (which can include affiliates of the Investment Manager) that may have the same or similar investment objectives as the Fund; |
| ■ | management of the Fund may diverge from other Columbia Funds or other clients and customers of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for example, advice given to the Fund may differ from, or conflict with, advice given to other funds or accounts; |
| ■ | there may be regulatory or investment restrictions imposed on the investment activities of the Investment Manager arising from the activities or holdings of other Columbia Funds or other clients or customers of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, for example, caps on the aggregate amount of certain types of investments or in holdings of particular portfolio companies that may be made by affiliated entities, including the Fund; |
| ■ | Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates may have potentially conflicting relationships with companies and other entities in which the Fund invests; and |
| ■ | there may be regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, for example, if an affiliated entity were in possession of non-public information, the Investment Manager might be prohibited by law from using that information in connection with the management of the Fund. |
The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no absolute assurance that these policies, procedures and disclosures will be effective.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Additional information about Ameriprise Financial and the types of conflicts of interest and other matters referenced above is set forth in the Investment Advisory and Other Services – Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and Affiliates – Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Fund 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 are involved in the normal course of business in legal proceedings which include regulatory inquiries, arbitration and litigation, including class actions concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their activities as part of a diversified financial services firm. Ameriprise Financial believes that the 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 the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in the 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 sec.gov.
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Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class
The Funds
The Columbia Acorn Funds and the other Columbia Funds generally share the same policies and procedures for investor services, as described below. Together, the Fund and the other Columbia Acorn Funds, along with the Columbia Funds, are referred to herein as the Funds.
Funds Contact Information
Additional information about the Funds, including sales charges and other class features and policies, can be obtained, free of charge, at columbiathreadneedleus.com,* by calling toll-free 800.345.6611, or by writing (regular mail) to Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., P.O. Box 219104, Kansas City, MO 64121-9104 or (express mail) Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., c/o SS&C GIDS, Inc., 430 W 7th Street, Ste 219104, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407.
| * | 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
Financial Intermediaries
The term “financial intermediary” refers to the selling and servicing agents that are authorized to sell and/or service shares of the Funds. Financial intermediaries include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other firms in the financial services industry.
Omnibus Accounts
The term “omnibus account” refers to a financial intermediary’s account with the Fund (held directly through the Transfer Agent) that represents the combined holdings of, and transactions in, Fund shares of one or more clients of the financial intermediary (beneficial Fund shareholders). Omnibus accounts are held in the name of the financial intermediaries and not in the name of the beneficial Fund 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), and non-qualified deferred compensation plans governed by Section 409A of the Code and similar plans, but does not refer to individual retirement plans, such as traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. The term “omnibus retirement plan” refers to a retirement plan that has a plan-level or omnibus account with the Transfer Agent.
Networked Accounts
Networking, offered by the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation’s Wealth Management Services (WMS), is the industry standard IT system for mutual fund account reconciliation and dividend processing.
Summary of Share Class Features
Each share class has its own investment eligibility criteria, cost structure and other features. You may not be eligible to invest in every share class. Your financial intermediary may not make every share class available or may cease to make available one or more share classes of the Fund. The share class you select through your financial intermediary may have higher fees and/or sales charges than other classes of shares available through other financial intermediaries. An investor transacting in a class of Fund shares without any front-end sales charge, contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC), or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution, such as a Rule 12b-1 fee, may be required to pay a commission to the financial intermediary for effecting such transactions. Each investor’s personal situation is different and you may wish to discuss with your financial intermediary the share classes the Fund offers, which share classes are available to you and which share class(es) is/are appropriate for you. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as
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Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts. The Fund, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent do not provide investment advice or make recommendations regarding Fund share classes. Your financial intermediary may provide advice and recommendations to you, such as which share class(es) is/are appropriate for 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 fees (e.g., sales charge or “load”) and expenses for each share class. |
| ■ | Whether you may be eligible for a reduction or waiver of sales charges when you buy or sell shares. |
FUNDamentals
Front-End Sales Charge Calculation
The front-end sales charge is calculated as a percentage of the offering price.
| ■ | The net asset value (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 (or load) that applies. |
The dollar amount of any applicable front-end sales charge is the difference between the offering price of the shares you buy and the NAV of those shares. To determine the front-end sales charge you will pay when you buy Class A 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 financial intermediary notifies the Fund) and base the sales charge on the aggregate amount. For information on account value aggregation, sales charge waivers and other important information, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.
FUNDamentals
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
A contingent deferred sales charge (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 can vary 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 Fund distribution reinvestments 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 are not 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.
Share Class Features
The following summarizes the primary features of Class A, Class Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, Class Inst3, and Class R shares.
Not all Funds offer every class of shares. The Fund offers the class(es) of shares set forth on the cover of this prospectus and may offer other share classes through a separate prospectus. Although certain share classes are generally closed to new and/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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Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
The sales charge reductions and waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. Appendix A describes financial intermediary-specific reductions and/or waiver policies. A shareholder transacting in Fund shares through a financial intermediary identified in Appendix A should carefully read the terms and conditions of Appendix A. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to a particular financial intermediary is not available to Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as defined below, or through another financial intermediary. The information in Appendix A may be provided by, or compiled from or based on information provided by the financial intermediaries identified in Appendix A. To obtain additional information regarding any sales charge reduction and/or waiver described in Appendix A, and to ensure that you receive any such reductions or waivers that may be available to you, please consult your financial intermediary.
| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| Class A | Eligibility: Available to the general public for investment Minimum Initial Investment: $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts (as described below)) |
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 | Reductions: yes, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges – Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Reductions Waivers: yes, on Fund distribution reinvestments. For additional waivers, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges – Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers, as well as Choosing a Share Class — CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C Financial intermediary-specific waivers are also available, see Appendix A |
Service Fee: 0.25% |
| Class Adv |
Eligibility: Available only to (i) omnibus retirement plans, including self-directed brokerage accounts within omnibus retirement plans that clear through institutional no transaction fee (NTF) platforms; 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 financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Adv eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (iv) 501(c)(3) charitable organizations; (v) 529 plans; (vi) health savings accounts; (vii) investors participating in a fee-based advisory program sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity that is not compensated by the Fund for those services, other than payments for shareholder servicing or sub-accounting performed in place | None | None | N/A | None |
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| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| of the Transfer Agent; and (viii) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform. Minimum Initial Investment: None, except in the case of (viii) above, which is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) |
|||||
| Class C | Eligibility: Available to the general public for investment Minimum Initial Investment: $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) Conversion Feature: Yes. Effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Prior to April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically converted to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 10-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date.(a) |
None | 1.00% on certain investments redeemed within one year of purchase | Waivers: yes, on Fund distribution reinvestments. For additional waivers, see Choosing a Share Class — CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C Financial intermediary-specific CDSC waivers are also available, see Appendix A |
Distribution Fee: 0.75% Service Fee: 0.25% |
| Class Inst |
Eligibility: Available only to certain eligible investors, which are subject to different minimum investment requirements, ranging from $0 to $2,000, including investors who purchase Fund shares through commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary holds the shares in an omnibus account and, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform; closed to (i) accounts of financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund | None | None | N/A | None |
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Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| trading platforms that have been given specific written notice from the Transfer Agent of the termination of their eligibility for new purchases of Class Inst shares and (ii) omnibus group retirement plans, subject to certain exceptions(d) Minimum Initial Investment: See Eligibility above |
|||||
| Class Inst2 |
Eligibility: Available only to (i) certain registered investment advisers and family offices that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Inst2 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (ii) omnibus retirement plans(d); (iii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst2 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (iv) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst2 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst2 shares within such platform. Minimum Initial Investment: None |
None | None | N/A | None |
| Class Inst3 |
Eligibility: Available to: (i) group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund(d); (ii) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; (iii) collective trust funds; (iv) affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); (v) fee-based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary they trade through) that have an agreement with the |
None | None | N/A | None |
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Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform, provided also that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vi) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (viii) bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor, may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement. Minimum Initial Investment: No minimum for the eligible investors described in (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) above; $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for the eligible investors described in (vi) above; and $1 million for all other eligible investors, unless waived in the discretion of the Distributor |
|||||
| 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 financial intermediaries approved by the Distributor Minimum Initial Investment: None |
None | None | N/A | Distribution Fee: 0.50% |
| (a) | For more information on the conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares, see Choosing a Share Class — Sales Charges and Commissions — Class C Shares —Conversion to Class A Shares. |
| (b) | 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. |
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Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
| (c) | These are the maximum applicable distribution and/or service fees under the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 plan. 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 service fees. For more information on distribution and service fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees. |
| (d) | These share classes are closed to new accounts generally or to new accounts of certain categories of investors, subject to certain conditions, as summarized below and described in more detail under Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares — Eligible Investors: |
• Class Inst Shares: Financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares and omnibus retirement plans are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts, subject to certain exceptions. Omnibus retirement plans that opened and, subject to exceptions, funded a Class Inst account as of close of business on March 28, 2013, and have continuously held Class Inst shares in such account after such date, may generally continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst shares, open new Class Inst 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 Inst accounts. Accounts of financial intermediaries (other than omnibus retirement plans) that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts or make additional purchases of Class Inst shares (other than through reinvestment of distributions).
• Class Inst2 Shares. Shareholders with Class Inst2 accounts funded before November 8, 2012 who do not satisfy the current eligibility criteria for Class Inst2 shares may not establish new Class Inst2 accounts but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares in existing accounts. In addition, investment advisory programs and similar programs that opened a Class Inst2 account as of May 1, 2010, and continuously hold Class Inst2 shares in such account after such date, may generally not only continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares but also open new Class Inst2 accounts and add new shareholders in the program.
• Class Inst3 Shares: Shareholders with Class Inst3 accounts funded before November 8, 2012 who do not satisfy the current eligibility criteria for Class Inst3 shares may not establish new accounts for such share class but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst3 shares in existing accounts.
Sales Charges and Commissions
Sales charges, commissions, and distribution fees compensate financial intermediaries (typically your financial advisor) for selling shares to you, and service fees compensate financial intermediaries for maintaining and servicing the shares held in your account with them. Distribution and service fees are discussed in a separate sub-section below. Depending on which share class you choose and the financial intermediary through which you purchase your shares, you may pay these charges at potentially different levels 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 distribution and/or service fees. You may be required to pay brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries when transacting in any class of Fund shares, including those that do not assess any front-end sales charge, contingent deferred sales charge, or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution. Such brokerage commissions and other fees are set by the financial intermediary.
As described in more detail below, Class A shares have a front-end sales charge, which is deducted from your purchase price when you buy your shares, and results in a smaller dollar amount being invested in the Fund than the purchase price you pay (unless you qualify for a waiver or reduction of the sales charge). The Fund’s other share classes do not have a front-end sales charge, so the full amount of your purchase price is invested in those classes. Class A shares have lower ongoing distribution and/or service fees than Class C and Class R shares of the Fund. Over time, Class C and Class R shares can incur distribution and/or service fees that are equal to or more than the front-end sales charge and the distribution and/or service fees you would pay for Class A shares. Although the full amount of your purchase price of Class C and Class R shares is invested in a Fund, your return on this money will be reduced by the expected higher annual expenses of Class C and Class R shares. In this regard, note that effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date (prior to April 1, 2021, the 10-year anniversary of such date). The Fund may convert Class C shares held through a financial intermediary to Class A shares sooner in connection with the withdrawal of Class C shares of the Fund from the financial intermediary’s platform or accounts. No sales charge or other charges will apply in connection with such conversions, and the conversions are free from U.S. federal income tax. Once your Class C shares convert to Class A shares, your total returns from an investment in the Fund may increase as a result of the lower operating costs of Class A shares. Class Adv, Class Inst, Class Inst2 and Class Inst3 shares of the Fund do not have distribution and/or service fees.
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Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Whether the ultimate cost is higher for one share class over another depends on the amount you invest, how long you hold your shares, the fees (i.e., sales charges) and expenses of the class and whether you are eligible for reduced or waived sales charges, if available. You are responsible for choosing the share class most appropriate for you after taking into account your share class eligibility, class-specific features, and any applicable reductions in, or waivers of, 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. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information about services, fees and expenses, and other important information about investing in the Fund, as well as with any questions you may have about your investing options. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts.
Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge
Unless your purchase qualifies for a waiver (e.g., you buy the shares through reinvested Fund dividends or distributions or subject to an applicable financial intermediary-specific waiver), you will pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class A shares, resulting in a smaller dollar amount being invested in a Fund than the purchase price you pay. The Class A shares sales charge is waived on Class C shares converted to Class A shares. For more information about sales charge waivers and reduction opportunities, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges and Appendix A.
The Distributor receives the sales charge and re-allows (or pays) a portion of the sales charge to the financial intermediary through which you purchased the shares. The Distributor retains the balance of the sales charge.
The front-end sales charge you will pay on Class A shares:
| ■ | depends on the amount you are 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 financial intermediary notifies the Fund). |
The table below presents the front-end sales charge as a percentage of both the offering price and the net amount invested.
| 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 financial intermediaries as a % of the offering price |
| Class A Shares | $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) | |
| (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 financial intermediary when you buy $1 million or more of Class A shares of a Fund, see Class A Shares — Commissions below. |
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Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Class A Shares — CDSC
In some cases, you'll pay a CDSC if you sell Class A shares that you purchased without a front-end sales charge.
| ■ | If you purchased Class A shares 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 the time periods noted above. |
Class A Shares — Commissions
The Distributor may pay your financial intermediary an up-front commission when you buy Class A shares. The Distributor generally funds the commission through the applicable sales charge you paid. For more information, see Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge above.
The Distributor may also pay your financial intermediary a cumulative commission when you buy Class A shares in amounts not subject to a front-end sales charge, according to the following schedules (assets initially purchased into Class A shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund that were purchased without the application of a front-end sales charge are excluded for purposes of calculating a financial intermediary’s commission under these schedules):
| Class A Shares — Commission Schedule (Paid by the Distributor to Financial Intermediaries) | |
| 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% |
| * | The commission level applies to the applicable asset level; therefore, for example, for a purchase of $5 million, the Distributor would pay a commission of 1.00% on the first $2,999,999 and 0.50% on the balance. |
Class C Shares — Front-End Sales Charge
You do not pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class C shares, but you may pay a CDSC when you sell 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.
Class C Shares — Conversion to Class A Shares
Effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares of a Fund generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Prior to April 1, 2021, Class C shares of a Fund generally automatically converted to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or in the month following the 10-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Class C shares held through a financial intermediary in an omnibus account will be converted (pursuant to the financial intermediary’s Class C conversion policy, including those disclosed in Appendix A, which may differ from the Fund’s policy described here) provided that the intermediary is able to track individual shareholders’ holding periods. It is the financial intermediary's (and not the Fund's) responsibility to keep records and to ensure that the shareholder holding period is calculated properly. Not all financial intermediaries are able to track individual shareholders' holding periods. For example, group retirement plans held through third-party intermediaries that hold Class C shares in an omnibus account may not track participant level share lot aging. Please consult with your financial intermediary about your
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Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
eligibility for Class C share conversion. The Fund may convert Class C shares held through a financial intermediary to Class A shares sooner in connection with the withdrawal of Class C shares of the Fund from the financial intermediary's platform or accounts. Once your Class C shares convert to Class A shares, your total returns from an investment in the Fund may increase as a result of the lower operating costs of Class A shares.
The following rules apply to the automatic conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares:
| ■ | Class C share accounts that are Direct-at-Fund Accounts and Networked Accounts for which the Transfer Agent (and not your financial intermediary) sends you Fund account transaction confirmations and statements, convert on or about the 15th day of the month (if the 15th is not a business day, then the next business day thereafter) that they become eligible for automatic conversion provided that the Fund has records that Class C shares have been held for the requisite time period. |
| ■ | For purposes of determining the month when your Class C shares are eligible for conversion, the start of the holding period is the first day of the month in which your purchase was made. Your financial intermediary may choose a different day of the month to convert Class C shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information on calculating the holding period. |
| ■ | 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 C shares that were automatically converted. Class C shares that you received from an exchange of Class C shares of another Fund will convert based on the day you bought the original shares. |
| ■ | In addition to the above automatic conversion of Class C to Class A shares policy, the Transfer Agent seeks to convert Class C shares as soon as administratively feasible, regardless of how long such shares have been owned, to Class A shares of the same Fund for Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below) that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them. Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares; Class C share purchase orders received by Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund. |
| ■ | No sales charge or other charges apply in connection with these automatic conversions, and the conversions are free from U.S. federal income tax. |
Class C Shares — CDSC
You will 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 (e.g., the shares you are selling were purchased with reinvested Fund distributions). Redemptions of Class C shares are not subject to a CDSC if redeemed after 12 months. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.
Class C Shares — Commissions
Although there is no front-end sales charge when you buy Class C shares, the Distributor makes an up-front payment (which includes a sales commission and an advance of service fees) directly to your financial intermediary of up to 1.00% of the NAV per share when you buy Class C shares. A portion of this payment may be passed along to your financial advisor. The Distributor seeks to recover this payment through distribution fees of up to 0.75% and shareholder service fees of up to 0.25% it receives under the Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan during the first 12 months following the sale of Class C shares, and any applicable CDSC when you sell your shares. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees.
Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges
The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund (i.e., a Direct-at-Fund Account, as defined below) or through a financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales charge and/or CDSC waivers. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund
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Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Accounts, as defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts. In order to obtain waivers and discounts not available through a particular financial intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund (if permitted) or through a different financial intermediary. For a description of financial intermediary-specific sales charge reductions and/or waivers, see Appendix A.
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Reductions
The Fund makes available two means of reducing the front-end sales charge that you may pay when you buy Class A 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 (as described in the Eligible Accounts section below) maintained by you and members of your immediate family to reach a breakpoint discount level and apply a lower front-end sales charge to your purchase. To calculate the combined value of your eligible 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 and your “immediate family” members' ownership (as described in the FUNDamentals box below) of certain 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 of Class A 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 enough to reach the first (or next) breakpoint of the Fund. The required form of LOI may vary by financial intermediary, 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 and not current market value) of the shares held in each eligible account; reinvested dividends or capital gains, or purchases made through the reinstatement privilege do not count as purchases made under an LOI. For purposes of making an LOI to purchase additional shares, you may aggregate eligible shares owned by you or your immediate family members in eligible accounts, valued as of the day immediately before the initiation of your LOI.
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 financial intermediary 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 financial intermediaries. You and your financial intermediary are responsible for ensuring that you receive discounts for which you are eligible. Please contact your financial intermediary with questions regarding application of the eligible discount to your account. You may be asked by your financial intermediary (or by the Fund if you hold your account directly with the Fund) for account statements or other records to verify your discount eligibility for new and subsequent purchases, including, when applicable, records for accounts opened with a different financial intermediary and records of accounts established by members of your immediate family.
The sales charge reductions available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge reductions, see Appendix A.
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Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
FUNDamentals
Your “Immediate Family” and Account Value Aggregation
For purposes of obtaining a breakpoint discount for Class A 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 retirement plan accounts are valued at the retirement plan level.
Eligible Accounts
The following accounts are eligible for account value aggregation as described above, provided that they are invested in Class A (excluding, in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts, Funds that do not assess a front-end sales charge, including Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund, unless such shares were purchased via an exchange from Class A shares of a Fund on which you paid the Class A share applicable front-end sales charge), Class C, Class E, Class Inst or Class V shares of a Fund, or non-retirement plan accounts invested in Class Adv, Class Inst2 or Class Inst3 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.
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 R shares of a Fund; and retirement plan accounts invested in Class Adv, Class Inst2 or Class Inst3 shares of a Fund.
Additionally, direct purchases of shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund may not be aggregated for account value aggregation purposes; however, shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund acquired by exchange from other Columbia Funds that assess a sales charge may be included in account value aggregation.
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers
There are no front-end sales charges on reinvested Fund distributions. The Class A shares sales charge is waived on conversions of Class C shares to Class A shares. The Distributor may waive front-end sales charges on purchases of Class A shares of the Funds by certain categories of investors, including Board members, certain employees of financial intermediaries, Fund portfolio managers, certain partners and employees of outside legal counsel to the Funds or the Board, separate accounts of an insurance company exempt from registration as an investment company under Section 3(c)(11) of the 1940 Act, registered broker-dealer firms that have an agreement with the Distributor purchasing Fund shares for their investment account only, and qualified employee benefit plan rollovers to Class A
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Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
shares in the same Fund (see Appendix S to the SAI for details). For a more complete description of categories of investors who may purchase Class A 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 shares may be made at NAV. The Distributor may waive front-end sales charges on (i) purchases (including exchanges) of Class A shares in accounts of financial intermediaries 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; (ii) exchanges of Class Inst shares of a Fund for Class A shares of the Fund; (iii) purchases of Class A shares on brokerage mutual fund-only platforms of financial intermediaries that have an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes the offering of Class A shares within such platform; (iv) purchases through certain wrap fee or other products or programs that involve fee-based compensation arrangements that have, or clear trades through a financial intermediary that has, a selling agreement with the Distributor; (v) purchases through state sponsored 529 Plans; (vi) purchases through banks, trust companies, and thrift institutions acting as fiduciaries; (vii) purchases through certain employee benefit plans and certain qualified deferred compensation plans; and (viii) purchases of Class A shares in Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below) that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them. For a more complete description of these eligible transactions, see Appendix S to the SAI.
The sales charge waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge waivers, see Appendix A.
CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C
You may be able to avoid an otherwise applicable CDSC when you sell Class A or Class C 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; for which no sales commission or transaction fee was paid to an authorized financial intermediary at the time of purchase; purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions; that result from required minimum distributions taken from retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations; that result from returns of excess contributions made to retirement plans or individual retirement accounts (subject to certain conditions); initially purchased by an employee benefit plan (for Class A shares) and that are not connected with a plan level termination (for Class C shares); in connection with the Fund's Small Account Policy (which is described in Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Transaction Rules and Policies); held within Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them; and by certain other investors and in certain other types of transactions or situations. 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 a more complete description of the available waivers of the CDSC on redemptions of Class A or Class C shares, see Appendix S to the SAI.
The sales charge waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge waivers, see Appendix A.
Repurchases (Reinstatements)
As noted in the table below, you can redeem shares of certain classes (see Redeemed Share Class below) and use such redemption proceeds to buy shares of the Corresponding Repurchase Class without paying an otherwise applicable sales charge and/or CDSC (other than, in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts, redemptions from Funds that do not assess a front-end sales charge, including Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S.
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Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Treasury Index Fund, unless such shares were purchased via an exchange from Class A shares of a Fund on which you paid the Class A share applicable front-end sales charge) within 90 days, up to the amount of the redemption proceeds.
| Repurchases (Reinstatements) | |
| Redeemed Share Class | Corresponding Repurchase Class |
| Class A | Class A |
| Class C | Class C |
Any CDSC paid upon redemption of your Class A or Class C shares of a Fund will not be reimbursed.
To be eligible for the repurchase (or 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 financial intermediary within 90 days after the shares are redeemed. The purchase of the Corresponding Repurchase Class (as noted in the table above) through this repurchase (or reinstatement) privilege will be made at the NAV of such shares next calculated after the request is received in “good form.” 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 and/or the Distributor may change or cancel these terms and conditions at any time. Unless you provide your financial intermediary with information in writing about all of the factors that may count toward available reductions or waivers of an applicable sales charge, there can be no assurance that you will receive all of the reductions and waivers for which you may be eligible. To the extent your Fund account is held directly with the Fund, you should provide this information to the Fund when placing your purchase or redemption order. Please see Appendix A to this prospectus and Appendix S of the SAI for more information about sales charge waivers.
Distribution and Service Fees
The Board has approved, and the Columbia Acorn Funds have adopted, a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that sets 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 financial intermediaries for, with regard to distribution fees, selling Fund shares and, with regard to service fees, 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.
The table below shows the maximum annual distribution and/or service fees (as an annual percentage of average daily net assets) and the combined amount of such fees applicable to each share class of the Columbia Acorn Funds:
| Distribution Fee |
Service Fee |
Combined Total | |
| Class A | None | 0.25% | 0.25% |
| Class Adv | None | None | None |
| Class C | 0.75% | 0.25% | 1.00% |
| Class Inst | None | None | None |
| Class Inst2 | None | None | None |
| Class Inst3 | None | None | None |
| Class R | 0.50% | None | 0.50% |
The distribution and/or service fees for Class A, Class C, and Class R shares, as applicable, are subject to the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Distributor may retain these fees otherwise payable to financial intermediaries if the amounts due are below an amount determined by the Distributor in its sole discretion.
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Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
For Class A shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees immediately after purchase, except in the following case, in which the Distributor begins to pay these fees 12 months after purchase: a purchase of Class A shares of $1 million or more that pay a Class A up-front commission to your financial intermediary and the financial intermediary has opted to receive such commission. The Distributor’s policy to otherwise begin to pay these fees immediately on Class A shares also applies to purchases of funds that do not pay an up-front sales commission on Class A shares, which includes Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund. For Class C shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees 12 months after purchase. However, for Class C shares, financial intermediaries may opt to decline the up-front payment described in Choosing a Share Class – Sales Charges and Commissions – Class C Shares – Commissions and instead may receive these fees immediately after purchase. If the intermediary opts to receive the up-front payment, the Distributor retains the distribution and service fee for the first 12 months following the sale of Class C shares in order to recover the up-front payment made to financial intermediaries and to pay for other related expenses. For Class R shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees immediately after purchase.
If you maintain shares of the Fund directly with the Fund, without working with a financial advisor or other financial intermediary, 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 financial intermediaries for as long as the distribution plan continues in effect, which is expected to be indefinitely. However, the Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time. Your financial intermediary may also charge you other additional fees for providing services to your account, which may be different from those described here.
Financial Intermediary Compensation
The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates make payments, from their own resources, to financial intermediaries, 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 attributable to that financial intermediary; gross sales of the Funds attributable to that financial intermediary; reimbursement of ticket charges (fees that a financial intermediary charges its representatives for effecting transactions in Fund shares); or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each financial intermediary, Marketing Support Payments to any one financial intermediary are generally between 0.01% and 0.40% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the financial intermediary, 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 financial intermediary. The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates make payments with respect to a Fund or the Columbia Funds generally on a basis other than those described above or in larger amounts when dealing with certain financial intermediaries. Not all financial intermediaries receive Marketing Support Payments. The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates do not make Marketing Support Payments with respect to Class Inst3 shares of the Columbia Acorn Funds.
In addition, the Transfer Agent has certain arrangements in place to compensate financial intermediaries, including other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, that hold Fund shares through networked and omnibus accounts, including omnibus retirement plans, for services that they provide to beneficial Fund shareholders (Shareholder Services). Shareholder Services and related fees vary by financial intermediary and according to distribution channel and 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, and are not intended to include services that are primarily intended to result in the sale of Fund shares. Payments for Shareholder Services vary by financial intermediary and according to distribution channel, but generally are not expected, with certain limited exceptions, to exceed 0.40% of the average aggregate value of the Fund’s shares. Payments to financial intermediaries in excess of the amounts paid by the Fund are borne by the Distributor, the Investment Manager and/or their affiliates.
| 42 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Generally, each of the Columbia Acorn Funds compensates the Transfer Agent for payments made for Shareholder Services, for each share class except Class Inst3. Effective July 1, 2017, the Columbia Acorn Funds compensate the Transfer Agent for payments made for Shareholder Services as follows:
| Financial Intermediary Distribution Channel | Fee Rate |
| Retirement | up to 0.18% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $18 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Fund supermarket transaction fee (TF) | up to 0.12% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $16 per account held for intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Fund supermarket no-transaction fee (NTF) | up to 0.18% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $18 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Bank | up to 0.10% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $20 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Broker-dealer | up to 0.13% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $16 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
With respect to Class Inst2 and Class Inst3 shares of the Fund, total annual compensation payable to the Transfer Agent may not exceed, respectively, 0.07% and 0.02% of the average daily net assets of the Class. For additional details about the application of the Columbia Acorn Funds’ fee limits, please refer to the SAI.
The Transfer Agent does not pay financial intermediaries for Shareholder Services, and the Fund does not compensate the Transfer Agent for any Shareholder Services provided by financial intermediaries with respect to Class Inst3 shares of the Columbia Acorn Funds. The Fund believes that the fee levels paid to the Transfer Agent are reasonably related to the Shareholder Services provided, but payments may vary and there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify with specificity the costs or particular Shareholder Services for which compensation is paid.
In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates typically make other payments or allow promotional incentives to certain broker-dealers to the extent permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 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 financial intermediaries, 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 financial intermediary may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described in this prospectus. You should consult with your financial intermediary and review carefully any disclosure your financial intermediary provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a financial intermediary and its financial advisors may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive for recommending the Fund or a particular share class over others.
| Prospectus 2023 | 43 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares
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, with the value of the Fund's shares based on the total value of all of the securities and other assets that it holds as of such specified time.
FUNDamentals
NAV Calculation
Each of the Fund's share classes calculates its NAV per share as follows:
NAV per share = (Value of assets of the share class) – (Liabilities of the share class)
Number of outstanding shares of the class
Number of outstanding shares of the class
FUNDamentals
Business Days
A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at (i) the scheduled close of the NYSE for such day (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or such other time as the NYSE may schedule), (ii) the scheduled close of the NYSE (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on any business day on which the NYSE has an unscheduled close or intraday trading halt or other disruption, regardless of the time of such unscheduled close, halt or disruption or whether trading resumes, or (iii) such other time as the Board may from time to time determine. 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 listed on an exchange are typically valued at the closing price or last trade on their primary exchange at the close of business of the NYSE. Equity securities without a readily available closing price or that are not listed on any exchange are typically valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices. Other equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are fair valued unless market quotations are readily available, 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 based on prices obtained from a pricing service, if available (which may represent market values or fair values). Investments in other open-end funds are valued at their published NAVs. The value of the Fund’s portfolio securities is determined in accordance with the valuation policy approved by the Board (the Valuation Policy). Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board has designated the Investment Manager as the Fund’s valuation designee. The Investment Manager, in turn, has authorized its Valuation Committee to make fair value determinations and to carry out supervisory and certain other functions relating to the valuation of Fund portfolio securities, pursuant to the Valuation Policy.
If a market price is not readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value for a portfolio security, the Investment Manager will determine the price based on a determination of the security's fair value pursuant to the Valuation Policy. In addition, the Investment Manager may use fair valuation techniques 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 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
| 44 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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.
Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Investment Manager uses fair valuation to price equity securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund or manager would. Also, fair valuation of Fund holdings may cause the Fund's performance to diverge to a greater degree from the performance of various benchmark indices used to compare the Fund's performance because indices 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.
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. Your financial intermediary may have rules and policies in place that are in addition to or different than those described below.
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 financial intermediary before the end of a business day are priced at the NAV per share (plus any applicable sales charge) 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 (plus any applicable sales charge). For Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below), 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 transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), 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 financial intermediary has received payment (in the case of purchases) and all of the information and documentation it deems necessary to effect your order. For example, when you sell shares, “good form” means that your request (i) has complete instructions and written requests include the signatures of all account owners, (ii) is for an amount that is less than or equal to the shares in your account for which payment has been received and collected, (iii) has a Medallion Signature Guarantee for amounts greater than $100,000 and certain other transactions, as described below, and (iv) includes 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, including 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; or (vi) you are changing legal ownership of your account.
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
| Prospectus 2023 | 45 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Signature Program (MSP). For other transactions, the Transfer Agent may require a signature guarantee. 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.
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 C, and Class Inst 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. Any otherwise applicable CDSC will not be imposed on such an automatic sale of your shares. Generally, you may avoid such an automatic sale by raising your account balance to at least $250 or consolidating your multiple accounts you may have with the Funds through an exchange (so as to maintain at least $250 in each of your accounts). The minimum account balance varies among share classes and types of accounts, as follows:
| Minimum Account Balance | |
| Minimum Account Balance | |
| For all classes and account types except those listed below | $250 (None for accounts with Systematic Investment Plans) |
| Individual Retirement Accounts for all classes except those listed below | None |
| Class Adv, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R | None |
For shares held directly with the Funds’ Transfer Agent, if your shares are sold, the Transfer Agent will remit the sale proceeds to you. 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 to at least $250, consolidating your multiple accounts you may have with the Funds through an exchange (so as to maintain at least $250 in each of your accounts), or setting up a Systematic Investment Plan. For more information, contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary. 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.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, the Funds may instruct the intermediary to automatically sell your Fund shares if the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
Small Account Policy — Class A, Class C, and Class Inst 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 could be subject to a $20 annual fee. 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 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 or for other reasons.
| 46 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
For shares held directly with the Funds’ Transfer Agent, 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 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 multiple accounts you may have with the Funds, or setting up a Systematic Investment Plan that invests at least monthly. For more information, contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary. 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.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, this fee could be assessed through the automatic sale of Fund shares in your account if instructed by the Fund and the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
Exceptions to the Small Account Policy (Accounts Below Minimum Account Balance) and Minimum Balance Fee
The automatic sale of Fund shares in accounts under $250 and the annual minimum balance fee described above do not apply to shareholders of Class Adv, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R shares; shareholders holding their shares through financial intermediary networked accounts; wrap fee and omnibus accounts; accounts with active monthly 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 — Financial Intermediary Networked and Wrap Fee Accounts
The Funds may automatically redeem, at any time, financial intermediary networked accounts and wrap fee accounts that have account balances of $20 or less or have less than one share.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, the Funds may instruct the intermediary to automatically sell your Fund shares if the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
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 financial intermediaries, including participating life insurance companies and financial intermediaries that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, financial intermediaries 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.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy
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 financial intermediaries.
| Prospectus 2023 | 47 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Specific Buying and Exchanging Limitations — If the 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 purchase 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 reserves 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 financial intermediaries, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by financial intermediaries 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 financial intermediaries such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit financial intermediaries to aggregate their clients' transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identities of the financial intermediary clients that beneficially own Fund shares are often not known to the Fund.
Some financial intermediaries apply their own restrictions or policies to their clients’ transactions and 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 Fund 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; |
| ■ | 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. |
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Columbia Acorn International®
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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.
The Columbia Acorn Funds may invest in thinly traded 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 as of the Fund's valuation time. 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 only, or significantly, in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling these particular investments 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 non-redeeming shareholders.
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 financial intermediary. 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 financial intermediaries or institutions, and through certain qualified and non-qualified plans, wrap fee products or other investment products sponsored by financial intermediaries. You may buy, sell, or exchange shares through your financial intermediary. If you maintain your account directly with your financial intermediary, you must contact that agent to process your transaction.
Not all financial intermediaries offer the Funds (or all classes of Fund shares) and certain financial intermediaries that offer the Funds may not offer all Funds on all investment platforms or programs. Please consult with your financial intermediary to determine the availability of the Funds. If you set up an account at a financial intermediary 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 financial intermediary or find another financial intermediary with a selling agreement.
Financial intermediaries 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. An investor transacting in a class of Fund shares without any front-end sales charge, CDSC, or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution, such as a Rule 12b-1 fee, may be required to pay a commission to the financial intermediary for effecting such transactions. The Funds are offered in a number of different share classes that have different fees and expenses and other features. Some differences in the policies of different financial intermediaries may include different minimum investment amounts, exchange privileges, Fund/class choices and cutoff times for investments. Additionally, recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to your account may be performed by the financial intermediaries 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 intermediary through which you purchased or at which you maintain your shares of the Fund to make changes to your account, 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 any financial intermediary to carry out its obligations to its customers.
| Prospectus 2023 | 49 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
The Fund may engage financial intermediaries 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.
Direct-At-Fund Accounts (Accounts Held Directly with the Fund)
Fund shares can be held in a variety of ways. You can hold Fund shares through an account established and held through the financial intermediary through which you purchased Fund shares, or you or your financial intermediary can establish an account directly with the Fund, in which case you will receive Fund account transaction confirmations and statements from the Transfer Agent, and not your financial intermediary (Direct-at-Fund Accounts). Direct-at-Fund Accounts include accounts held at the Transfer Agent that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them.
To open a Direct-at-Fund Account, 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 columbiathreadneedleus.com 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 your transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), 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. 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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you have a Direct-at-Fund 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 your transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), not the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery.
Include in your transaction request letter: your name; the name of the Fund(s); your account number; the class of shares to be purchased, exchanged or sold; your SSN or other TIN; the dollar amount or number of shares you want to purchase, exchange or sell; specific instructions regarding delivery of any redemption proceeds or exchange destination (i.e., the Fund/class to be exchanged into); signature(s) of all 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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
For Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares, if you have a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may place orders to buy, sell or exchange shares by telephone through the Transfer Agent. To place orders by telephone, call 800.422.3737. Have your account number and SSN or TIN available when calling.
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Columbia Acorn International®
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
You can sell Fund shares via telephone and receive redemption proceeds: by electronic funds transfer via ACH, by wire, or by check to the address of record, subject to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account. You can buy Fund shares via telephone by electronic funds transfer via ACH from your bank account up to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account, or by wire from your bank account without a maximum. See below for more information regarding wire and electronic fund transfer transactions. Certain restrictions apply, so please call the Transfer Agent at 800.422.3737 for this and other information in advance of any need to transact via telephone.
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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
For Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares, if you have a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may be able to place orders to buy, sell, or exchange shares online. Contact the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611 for more information on certain account trading restrictions and the special sign-up procedures required for online transactions. You can also go to columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/ to sign up for online transactions. The Transfer Agent has procedures in place to authenticate electronic orders you send through the internet. You will be required to accept the terms of an online agreement and to establish an online account and utilize a password in order to access online account services. You can sell a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account through your online account if you qualify for internet orders. Wire transactions are not permitted online.
Wire Transactions – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you hold a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may purchase or redeem Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares of a Fund by wiring money from (or to) your bank account to (or from) your Fund account. You must set up this feature prior to your request unless you are submitting your request in writing, which may require a Medallion Signature Guarantee. Please contact the Transfer Agent by calling 800.422.3737 to obtain the necessary forms and requirements. The Transfer Agent charges a fee for shares sold by wire. 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. When selling Fund shares via a telephone request, the maximum amount that can be redeemed via wire transfer is $100,000 per day, per Fund account. Wire transactions are not permitted online.
Electronic Funds Transfer via ACH – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you hold a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may purchase or redeem Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares of a Fund by electronically transferring money via Automated Clearing House (ACH) from (or to) your bank account to (or from) your Fund account subject to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account. You must set up this feature prior to your request, unless you are submitting your request in writing, which may require a Medallion Signature Guarantee. Please contact the Transfer Agent by calling 800.422.3737 to obtain the necessary forms and requirements. Your bank may take up to three business days to post an electronic funds transfer to (or from) your Fund account.
Buying Shares
Eligible Investors
Class A Shares
Class A shares are available to the general public for investment.
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Class Adv Shares
Class Adv shares are available only to (i) omnibus retirement plans, including self-directed brokerage accounts within omnibus retirement plans that clear through institutional no transaction fee (NTF) platforms, (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 financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Adv eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements, (iv) 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, (v) 529 plans, (vi) health savings accounts, (vii) investors participating in a fee-based advisory program sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity 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, and (viii) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform.
Class C Shares
Class C shares are available to the general public for investment, except that Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares; Class C share purchase orders received from Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund.
Class Inst Shares
Class Inst shares are available only to the categories of eligible investors described below under Class Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments. Financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares and omnibus retirement plans are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts, subject to certain exceptions described below.
Omnibus retirement plans that opened and, subject to certain exceptions, funded a Class Inst account with the Fund as of the close of business on March 28, 2013 and have continuously held Class Inst shares in such account after such date (each, a grandfathered plan), may generally continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst shares, open new Class Inst 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 Inst accounts in a Fund if the affiliated plan opened a Class Inst account on or before March 28, 2013. If an omnibus retirement plan invested in Class Inst shares changes recordkeepers after March 28, 2013, any new accounts established for that plan may not be established in Class Inst shares, but such a plan may establish new accounts in a different share class for which the plan is eligible.
Accounts of financial intermediaries (other than omnibus retirement plans, which are discussed above) that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares will not be permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts or make additional purchases of Class Inst shares (other than through reinvestment of distributions). Any such account may, at its holder’s option, exchange Class Inst shares of a Fund, without the payment of a sales charge, for Class A shares of the same Fund.
Class Inst2 Shares
Class Inst2 shares are available only to (i) certain registered investment advisers and family offices that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Inst2 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (ii) omnibus retirement plans; (iii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
authorizes offering Class Inst2 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (iv) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst2 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst2 shares within such platform. Prior to November 8, 2012, Class Inst2 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 Inst2 may not establish new Class Inst2 accounts but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares in accounts opened and funded prior to November 8, 2012; provided, however, that investment advisory programs and similar programs that opened a Class Inst2 account as of May 1, 2010, and continuously hold Class Inst2 shares in such account after such date, may generally not only continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares but also open new Class Inst2 accounts for such pre-existing programs and add new shareholders in the program.
Class Inst3 Shares
Class Inst3 shares are available to: (i) group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund (through the Transfer Agent); (ii) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; (iii) collective trust funds; (iv) affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); (v) fee-based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary that they trade through) that have an agreement with the Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform, provided also that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vi) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (viii) bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement.
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 financial intermediaries 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.
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, and may also waive certain eligibility requirements for operational and other reasons, including but not limited to any requirement to maintain Fund shares in networked or omnibus accounts.
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Minimum Initial Investments
The table below shows the Fund’s minimum initial investment requirements, which may vary by class and type of account.
The Fund reserves the right to redeem your shares if your account falls below the Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement.
| Minimum Initial Investments | ||
| Minimum Initial Investment(a) |
Minimum Initial Investment for Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans | |
| For all classes and account types except those listed below | $2,000 | $100 |
| Individual Retirement Accounts for all classes except those listed below | $1,000 | $100 |
| Group retirement plans | None | N/A |
| Class Adv and Class Inst | $0, $1,000 or $2,000(b) | $100(b) |
| Class Inst2 and Class R | None | N/A |
| Class Inst3 | $0, $1,000, $2,000 or $1 million(c) | $100(c) |
| (a) | If your Class A, Class Adv, Class C, Class Inst, or Class Inst3 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. There is no minimum initial investment in Class A shares for accounts held in an omnibus account on a mutual fund only platform offered through your financial intermediary. |
| (b) | The minimum initial investment in Class Adv shares is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customers, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform; for all other eligible Class Adv share investors (see Buying Shares – Eligible Investors – Class Adv Shares above), there is no minimum initial investment. The minimum initial investment amount for Class Inst shares is $0, $1,000 or $2,000 depending upon the category of eligible investor. See — Class Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments below. The minimum initial investment amount for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts is the same as the amount set forth in the first two rows of the table, as applicable. |
| (c) | There is no minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares for: group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund; collective trust funds; affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); and fee -based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary that they trade through) that have an agreement with the Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform and Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares is $1 million, unless waived in the discretion of the Distributor, for the following investors: institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; and bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The Distributor may, in its discretion, waive the $1 million minimum initial investment required for these Class Inst3 investors. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor, may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement. |
Additional Information about Minimum Initial Investments
The minimum initial investment requirements may be waived for accounts that are managed by an investment professional, or for accounts held in approved discretionary or non-discretionary wrap programs. 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.
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Class Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments
There is no minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors:
| ■ | Any health savings account sponsored by a third party platform. |
| ■ | Any investor participating in an account sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity (that provides services to the account) that is paid a fee-based advisory 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. |
| ■ | Any commissionable brokerage account, if a financial intermediary has received a written approval from the Distributor to waive the minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares. |
| ■ | Any Trustee (or family member) of Columbia Acorn Trust. |
| ■ | Any employee (or family member) of the Investment Manager. |
The minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors is $1,000:
| ■ | Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) on commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform. |
| ■ | Any current 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 are eligible to invest in Class Inst shares through an individual retirement account (IRA). 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 Inst shares. If Class Inst shares are not available at your financial intermediary, you may consider opening a Direct-at-Fund Account. It is your obligation to advise your financial intermediary or (in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts) the Transfer Agent that you qualify for Class Inst shares; be prepared to provide proof thereof. |
The minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors is $2,000:
| ■ | Investors (except investors in individual retirement accounts (IRAs)) who purchase Fund shares through commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary holds the shares in an omnibus account and, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform. |
| ■ | Any current 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 are eligible to invest in Class Inst shares (other than individual retirement accounts (IRAs), for which the minimum initial investment is $1,000). 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 Inst shares. If Class Inst shares are not available at your financial intermediary, you may consider opening a Direct-at-Fund Account. It is your obligation to advise your financial intermediary or (in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts) the Transfer Agent that you qualify for Class Inst shares; be prepared to provide proof thereof. |
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | Bank trust departments that assess their clients an asset-based fee. |
| ■ | Any trustee or director (or family member of a trustee or director) of a fund distributed by the Distributor (other than the Columbia Acorn Funds). |
| ■ | Certain other investors as set forth in more detail in the SAI. |
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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 financial intermediary to set up the plan. Systematic Investment Plans may not be available for all share classes. With the exception of Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Systematic Investment Plan purchases will be confirmed on your quarterly account statement. Columbia Government Money Market Fund Systematic Investment Plan purchases will be confirmed at the time of the purchase. If establishing a Systematic Investment Plan to reduce the initial fund minimum, the plan needs to be established monthly to avoid the small account fee.
Dividend Diversification
Generally, you may automatically invest Fund distributions into the same class of shares (and in some cases certain other classes of shares) of another Fund without paying any applicable front-end sales charge. 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 financial intermediaries.
Other Purchase Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Once the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary receives your purchase order in “good form,” your purchase will be made at the Fund’s next calculated public offering price per share, which is the NAV per share plus any sales charge that applies (i.e., the trade date). |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your purchase request in “good form,” you cannot cancel it after the market closes. |
| ■ | You generally buy Class A 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 Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R shares at NAV 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 request if the Fund does not receive payment within two business days of receiving your purchase order request. The Fund will return any payment received for orders that have been cancelled, but no interest will be paid on that money. |
| ■ | Financial intermediaries are responsible for sending your purchase orders to the Transfer Agent and ensuring that the Fund receives your money on time. |
| ■ | Shares purchased are recorded on the books of the Fund. The Fund does not issue certificates. |
| ■ | You generally may make a purchase only into a Fund that is accepting investments. |
Please also read Appendix A and contact your financial intermediary for more information regarding any reductions and/or waivers described therein.
Selling Shares
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,” (i.e., the trade date) 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 Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, and Class Inst3 share accounts. Contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary 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. Note that a Medallion Signature Guarantee may be required if this service is established after your Fund account is opened.
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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 redemption proceeds 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.
Satisfying Fund Redemption Requests
When you sell your Fund shares, the Fund is effectively buying them back from you. This is called a redemption. Except as noted below with respect to newly purchased shares, the Fund typically expects to send you payment for your shares within two business days after your trade date. The Fund can suspend redemptions and/or delay payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven days. The Fund can also suspend redemptions and/or delay payment of redemption proceeds in excess of seven days under certain circumstances, including when the NYSE is closed or trading thereon is restricted or during emergency or other circumstances, including as determined by the SEC.
The Fund typically seeks to satisfy redemption requests from cash or cash equivalents held by the Fund, from the proceeds of orders to purchase Fund shares or from the proceeds of sales of Fund holdings effected in the normal course of managing the Fund. However, the Fund may have to sell Fund holdings, including in down markets, to meet heavier than usual redemption requests. For example, under stressed or abnormal market conditions or circumstances, including circumstances adversely affecting the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, the Fund may be more likely to be forced to sell Fund holdings to meet redemptions than under normal market circumstances. In these situations, the Fund’s portfolio managers may have to sell Fund holdings that would not otherwise be sold because, among other reasons, the current price to be received is less than the value of the holdings perceived by the Fund’s portfolio managers. The Fund may also, under certain circumstances (likely under stressed or abnormal market conditions or circumstances), borrow money under a credit facility to which the Fund and certain other Columbia Funds are parties. The Fund and the other Columbia Funds are limited as to the amount that each may individually and collectively borrow under the credit facility. As a result, borrowings available to the Fund under the credit facility might be insufficient, alone or in combination with the other strategies described herein, to satisfy Fund redemption requests. Please see About Fund Investments – Borrowings in the SAI for more information about the credit facility. The Fund is also limited in the total amount it may borrow. Please see About Fund Investments – Fundamental and Non-Fundamental Investment Policies in the SAI for more information about borrowing.
In addition, the Fund reserves the right to honor redemption orders in whole or in part with in-kind distributions of Fund portfolio securities instead of cash. Such in-kind distributions typically represent a pro-rata portion of Fund portfolio assets subject to adjustments (e.g., for non-transferable securities, round lots, and derivatives, if any). In the event the Fund distributes portfolio securities in kind, you may incur brokerage and other transaction costs associated with converting the portfolio securities you receive into cash. Also, the portfolio securities you receive may increase or decrease in value after they are distributed but 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. The Trust has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, which means that for each redeeming shareholder, the first $250,000, or 1% of the Fund's net asset value, whichever is less, will be paid in cash or cash equivalents and the remainder may be paid in kind.
While the Fund is not required (and may refuse in its discretion) to pay a redemption with an in-kind distribution of Fund portfolio securities and reserves the right to pay the redemption proceeds in cash, if you wish to request an in-kind redemption, please call the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611. As a result of the operational steps needed to coordinate with the redeeming shareholder’s custodian, in-kind redemptions typically take several weeks to complete after a redemption request is received. The Fund and the redeeming shareholder will typically agree upon a redemption date. Since the Fund’s NAV may fluctuate during this time, the Fund’s NAV may be lower on the agreed-upon redemption date than on an earlier date on which the investment could have been redeemed for cash.
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Redemption of Newly Purchased Shares
You may not redeem shares for which the Fund has not yet received payment. Shares purchased by check or electronically by ACH when the purchase payment is not guaranteed will be considered in “good form” for redemption only after they have been held in your account for 6 calendar days after the trade date of the purchase (Collected Shares). If you request a redemption for an amount that, based on the NAV next calculated after your redemption request is received, includes any shares that are not yet Collected Shares, the Fund will only process the redemption up to the amount of the value of Collected Shares available in your account. You must submit a new redemption request if you wish to redeem those shares that were not yet Collected Shares at the time the original redemption request was received by the Fund.
Other Redemption Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Once the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary receives your redemption order in “good form,” your shares will be sold at the Fund’s next calculated NAV per share (i.e., the trade date). Any applicable CDSC will be deducted from the amount you're selling and the balance will be remitted to you. |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your redemption request in “good form,” you cannot cancel it after the market closes. |
| ■ | The Distributor, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to liquidate Fund shares (of any class of the Fund) held in an omnibus account of a financial intermediary that clears Fund share transactions through a clearing intermediary or platform that charges certain maintenance fees to the Fund if the value of the omnibus account, at the Fund share class (i.e., CUSIP) level, falls below $100,000 (a CUSIP Liquidation Event). The Distributor will provide at least 90 days’ notice of a CUSIP Liquidation Event to financial intermediaries with impacted omnibus accounts. Shareholders invested in the Fund through such omnibus accounts can request through their financial intermediary a tax-free exchange to Class A shares or shareholders can consider holding their Fund shares in a Direct-at-Fund Account, provided requirements to transfer the account are fulfilled. You should discuss your options with your financial intermediary. |
| ■ | If you sell your shares that are held in a Direct-at-Fund Account, we will normally send the redemption proceeds by mail or electronically transfer them to your bank account the next business day after the trade date. Note that your bank may take up to three business days to post an electronic funds transfer from your account. |
| ■ | If you sell your shares through a financial intermediary, the Funds will normally send the redemption proceeds to your financial intermediary within two business days after the trade date. |
| ■ | No interest will be paid on uncashed redemption checks. |
| ■ | 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 (subject to eligibility requirements), 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. 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. Please see Same-Fund Exchange Privilege below for more information.
You will be subject to a sales charge if, in a Direct-at-Fund Account, you exchange shares that have not previously paid a sales charge, including from Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia U.S.
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Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not charge a front-end sales charge, into a Columbia Fund that does assess a sales charge. If you hold your Fund shares through certain financial intermediaries, you may have limited exchangeability among the Funds. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.
Systematic Exchanges
You may buy Class A, Class C, Class Inst and Class Inst3 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 financial intermediary to set up the plan.
Exchanges will continue as long as your balance in the Fund you are exchanging shares from is sufficient to complete the systematic monthly exchange, 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.
Other Exchange Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Exchanges are made at the NAV next calculated (plus any applicable sales charge) after your exchange order is received in “good form” (i.e., the trade date). |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your exchange request in “good form,” 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 Government 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 Government 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 Government Money Market Fund or Class A shares of any other Fund. |
| ■ | A sales charge may apply when you exchange shares of a Fund that were not assessed a sales charge at the time you purchased such shares. If you invest through a Direct-at-Fund Account in Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund, Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not impose a front-end sales charge and then you exchange into a Fund that does assess a sales charge, 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 Columbia Funds. |
| ■ | If you purchased Class A shares of a Columbia Fund that imposes a front-end sales charge (and you paid any applicable sales charge) and you then exchange those shares into Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund, Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not impose a front-end sales charge, you may exchange that amount to Class A of another Fund in the future, 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. Any applicable CDSC charged 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 financial intermediary for more information. |
| Prospectus 2023 | 59 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
| ■ | 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 Inst shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Class A or Class Inst shares of another Fund. In certain circumstances, the front-end sales charge applicable to Class A shares may be waived on exchanges of Class Inst shares for Class A shares. See Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares — Eligible Investors — Class Inst Shares for details. |
Same-Fund Exchange Privilege
Shareholders may be eligible to invest in other classes of shares of the same Fund, and may exchange their current shares for another share class if deemed eligible and offered by the Fund. Such same-Fund exchanges could include an exchange of one class for another with higher expenses. Before making such an exchange, you should consider the expenses of each class. Shareholders should contact their financial intermediaries to learn more about the details of the same-Fund exchange privilege. Exchanges out of Class A and Class C shares will be subject to any applicable CDSC. Financial intermediaries that have a customized arrangement with regard to CDSCs are detailed in Appendix A.
Exchanges out of Class C shares to another share class of the same Fund are not permissible on Direct-at-Fund Accounts, except that the Transfer Agent seeks to convert Class C shares as soon as administratively feasible to Class A shares of the same Fund for Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them. Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares. Class C share purchase orders received by Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund. Exchanges out of Class C shares to another share class of the same Fund within commissionable brokerage accounts are permitted only (1) when the shareholder moves from a commissionable brokerage account to a fee-based advisory program or (2) when the exchange is part of a share class conversion (or a similar multiple shareholder transaction event) instituted by a financial intermediary and such conversion or similar type event is preapproved by the Distributor.
Ordinarily, shareholders will not recognize a gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon a same-Fund exchange. You should consult your tax advisor about your particular exchanges.
| 60 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Distributions and Taxes
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). |
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 (or be exposed to additional losses, if the Fund earns a negative return). 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 income or 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, the 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 NAV 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 financial intermediary 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
| Prospectus 2023 | 61 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
“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.
Taxes
You should be aware of the following considerations applicable to the Fund:
| ■ | 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 NAV 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. Certain events may require the Fund to sell significant amounts of appreciated securities and make large dividends relative to the Fund’s NAV. Such events may include large net shareholder redemptions, portfolio rebalancing or fund mergers. The Fund generally provides estimates of expected capital gain dividends (if any) prior to the distribution on columbiathreadneedleus.com. |
| ■ | From time to time, a distribution from the Fund could constitute a return of capital. A return of capital is a return of an amount of your original investment and is not a distribution of income or capital gain from the Fund. Therefore, a return of capital 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.” |
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | 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 capital gain or loss, as described further in the SAI. |
| 62 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | For sales, redemptions and exchanges of shares that were acquired in a non-qualified account after 2011, the Fund generally is required to report to shareholders and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cost basis information with respect to those shares. The Fund uses average cost basis as its default method of calculating cost basis. For more information regarding average cost basis reporting, other available cost basis methods, and selecting or changing to a different cost basis method, please see the SAI, columbiathreadneedleus.com, or contact the Fund at 800.345.6611. If you hold Fund shares through a financial intermediary (e.g., a brokerage firm), you should contact your financial intermediary to learn about its cost basis reporting default method and the reporting elections available to your account. |
| ■ | 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
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.
| Prospectus 2023 | 63 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The total return in the table represents the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total return does not reflect payment of sales charges, if any. Total return and portfolio turnover are not annualized for periods of less than one year. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated without regard to purchase and sales transactions of short-term instruments and certain derivatives, if any. If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate might be higher. The names of certain share classes may have changed during the periods shown below (see Appendix S to the SAI for details). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the Fund’s annual report, which is available upon request. The independent registered public accounting firm’s report and the Fund’s financial statements are also incorporated by reference into the SAI.
| Prospectus 2023 | 65 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, beginning of period |
Net investment income (loss) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
Total from investment operations |
Distributions from net investment income |
Distributions from net realized gains |
Total distributions to shareholders | |
| Class A | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $33.19 | 0.17(c) | (11.35) | (11.18) | — | (0.67) | (0.67) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $34.31 | 0.01 | 4.08 | 4.09 | (0.38) | (4.83) | (5.21) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.20 | 0.06 | 4.51 | 4.57 | (0.20) | (4.26) | (4.46) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $29.48 | 0.25 | 8.19 | 8.44 | (0.65) | (3.07) | (3.72) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $46.51 | 0.23 | (7.41) | (7.18) | (0.29) | (9.56) | (9.85) |
| Advisor Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $33.82 | 0.22(c) | (11.55) | (11.33) | — | (0.67) | (0.67) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $34.95 | 0.05 | 4.20 | 4.25 | (0.55) | (4.83) | (5.38) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.67 | 0.16 | 4.58 | 4.74 | (0.20) | (4.26) | (4.46) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $29.84 | 0.33 | 8.30 | 8.63 | (0.73) | (3.07) | (3.80) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $46.95 | 0.46 | (7.61) | (7.15) | (0.40) | (9.56) | (9.96) |
| Class C | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $30.07 | (0.02) (c) | (10.25) | (10.27) | — | (0.67) | (0.67) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $31.43 | (0.24) | 3.72 | 3.48 | (0.01) | (4.83) | (4.84) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $31.92 | (0.17) | 4.14 | 3.97 | (0.20) | (4.26) | (4.46) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $27.63 | 0.00(h) | 7.65 | 7.65 | (0.29) | (3.07) | (3.36) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $44.57 | (0.05) | (7.09) | (7.14) | (0.24) | (9.56) | (9.80) |
| Institutional Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $33.28 | 0.23(c) | (11.38) | (11.15) | — | (0.67) | (0.67) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $34.47 | 0.10 | 4.09 | 4.19 | (0.55) | (4.83) | (5.38) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.25 | 0.14 | 4.54 | 4.68 | (0.20) | (4.26) | (4.46) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $29.51 | 0.33 | 8.21 | 8.54 | (0.73) | (3.07) | (3.80) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $46.57 | 0.34 | (7.44) | (7.10) | (0.40) | (9.56) | (9.96) |
| Institutional 2 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $33.25 | 0.24(c) | (11.37) | (11.13) | — | (0.67) | (0.67) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $34.46 | 0.12 | 4.09 | 4.21 | (0.59) | (4.83) | (5.42) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.22 | 0.16 | 4.54 | 4.70 | (0.20) | (4.26) | (4.46) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $29.49 | 0.35 | 8.20 | 8.55 | (0.75) | (3.07) | (3.82) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $46.54 | 0.37 | (7.43) | (7.06) | (0.43) | (9.56) | (9.99) |
| Institutional 3 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $33.83 | 0.26(c) | (11.58) | (11.32) | — | (0.67) | (0.67) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $34.99 | 0.15 | 4.14 | 4.29 | (0.62) | (4.83) | (5.45) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.67 | 0.19 | 4.59 | 4.78 | (0.20) | (4.26) | (4.46) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $29.83 | 0.37 | 8.30 | 8.67 | (0.76) | (3.07) | (3.83) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $46.95 | 0.51 | (7.62) | (7.11) | (0.45) | (9.56) | (10.01) |
| Class R | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $33.19 | 0.11(c) | (11.34) | (11.23) | — | (0.67) | (0.67) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $34.24 | (0.08) | 4.07 | 3.99 | (0.21) | (4.83) | (5.04) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.22 | (0.01) | 4.49 | 4.48 | (0.20) | (4.26) | (4.46) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $29.44 | 0.06 | 8.27 | 8.33 | (0.48) | (3.07) | (3.55) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $46.51 | 0.12 | (7.39) | (7.27) | (0.24) | (9.56) | (9.80) |
| Notes to Financial Highlights | |
| (a) | Had the Investment Manager and/or Transfer Agent not waived fees and/or reimbursed a portion of expenses, total return would have been reduced. |
| (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, if any. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund's reported expense ratios. |
| (c) | Net investment income per share includes European Union tax reclaims. The effect of these reclaims amounted to $0.02 per share. |
| (d) | Ratios include Trustees’ fees deferred during the current period as well as any gains or losses on the Trustees’ deferred compensation balances as a result of market fluctuations. If these had been excluded, expenses would have been higher by 0.03%. |
| (e) | Ratios include interest on collateral expense which is less than 0.01%. |
| (f) | Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%. |
| (g) | The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%. |
| (h) | Rounds to zero. |
| 66 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, end of period |
Total return(a) |
Total gross expense ratio to average net assets(b) |
Total net expense ratio to average net assets(b) |
Net investment income (loss) ratio to average net assets |
Portfolio turnover |
Net assets, end of period (000's) | |
| Class A | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $21.34 | (33.81%) | 1.27% (d), (e), (f) | 1.23% (d), (e), (f), (g) | 0.71% | 29% | $151,725 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $33.19 | 12.63% | 1.24% | 1.23% (g) | 0.03% | 27% | $282,125 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.31 | 14.68% | 1.28% (f) | 1.24% (f), (g) | 0.21% | 55% | $283,478 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $34.20 | 29.56% | 1.27% (f) | 1.24% (f), (g) | 0.76% | 32% | $307,872 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $29.48 | (16.13%) | 1.25% (f) | 1.24% (f), (g) | 0.51% | 32% | $296,349 |
| Advisor Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $21.82 | (33.62%) | 1.04% (d), (e), (f) | 0.98% (d), (e), (f), (g) | 0.96% | 29% | $6,644 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $33.82 | 12.88% | 0.99% | 0.98% (g) | 0.14% | 27% | $9,279 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.95 | 14.98% | 1.03% (f) | 0.99% (f), (g) | 0.52% | 55% | $22,549 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $34.67 | 29.86% | 1.02% (f) | 0.99% (f), (g) | 1.00% | 32% | $12,733 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $29.84 | (15.90%) | 1.00% (f) | 0.99% (f), (g) | 0.97% | 32% | $12,740 |
| Class C | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $19.13 | (34.30%) | 2.02% (d), (e), (f) | 1.98% (d), (e), (f), (g) | (0.07%) | 29% | $4,070 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $30.07 | 11.76% | 1.99% | 1.98% (g) | (0.74%) | 27% | $10,687 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $31.43 | 13.82% | 2.02% (f) | 1.99% (f), (g) | (0.57%) | 55% | $19,998 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $31.92 | 28.61% | 2.02% (f) | 2.00% (f), (g) | 0.01% | 32% | $18,749 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $27.63 | (16.76%) | 2.00% (f) | 1.99% (f), (g) | (0.11%) | 32% | $22,817 |
| Institutional Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $21.46 | (33.63%) | 1.03% (d), (e), (f) | 0.98% (d), (e), (f), (g) | 0.96% | 29% | $906,415 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $33.28 | 12.89% | 0.99% | 0.98% (g) | 0.28% | 27% | $1,727,042 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.47 | 14.99% | 1.03% (f) | 0.99% (f), (g) | 0.46% | 55% | $1,760,927 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $34.25 | 29.89% | 1.02% (f) | 0.99% (f), (g) | 1.01% | 32% | $1,947,995 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $29.51 | (15.93%) | 1.00% (f) | 0.99% (f), (g) | 0.76% | 32% | $1,824,055 |
| Institutional 2 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $21.45 | (33.60%) | 0.97% (d), (e), (f) | 0.92% (d), (e), (f) | 1.04% | 29% | $80,059 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $33.25 | 12.97% | 0.95% | 0.92% | 0.34% | 27% | $126,973 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.46 | 15.06% | 0.97% (f) | 0.92% (f) | 0.53% | 55% | $129,576 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $34.22 | 29.95% | 0.97% (f) | 0.93% (f) | 1.06% | 32% | $183,763 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $29.49 | (15.85%) | 0.93% (f) | 0.93% (f) | 0.81% | 32% | $160,488 |
| Institutional 3 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $21.84 | (33.58%) | 0.92% (d), (e), (f) | 0.88% (d), (e), (f) | 1.10% | 29% | $133,738 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $33.83 | 13.00% | 0.90% | 0.88% | 0.40% | 27% | $179,991 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.99 | 15.10% | 0.93% (f) | 0.88% (f) | 0.60% | 55% | $277,614 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $34.67 | 30.04% | 0.92% (f) | 0.89% (f) | 1.12% | 32% | $239,441 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $29.83 | (15.82%) | 0.88% (f) | 0.88% (f) | 1.10% | 32% | $198,933 |
| Class R | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $21.29 | (33.96%) | 1.52% (d), (e), (f) | 1.48% (d), (e), (f), (g) | 0.47% | 29% | $2,077 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $33.19 | 12.34% | 1.49% | 1.48% (g) | (0.22%) | 27% | $3,691 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.24 | 14.40% | 1.53% (f) | 1.49% (f), (g) | (0.04%) | 55% | $3,398 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $34.22 | 29.21% | 1.52% (f) | 1.50% (f), (g) | 0.19% | 32% | $3,696 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $29.44 | (16.32%) | 1.50% (f) | 1.49% (f), (g) | 0.26% | 32% | $10,049 |
| Prospectus 2023 | 67 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges
As noted in the Choosing a Share Class section of the prospectus, the sales charge reductions and waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. This Appendix A describes financial intermediary-specific reductions and/or waiver policies applicable to Fund shares purchased and held through the particular financial intermediary. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to a particular financial intermediary is not available to Direct-at-Fund Accounts and does not apply in any case to non-omnibus positions wherever held. These reductions and/or waivers may apply to purchases, sales, and exchanges of Fund shares. A shareholder transacting in Fund shares through a financial intermediary identified below should carefully read the terms and conditions of the reductions and/or waivers. Please consult your financial intermediary with respect to any sales charge reduction/waiver described below.
The financial intermediary-specific information below may be provided by, or compiled from or based on information provided by, the financial intermediaries noted. While the Funds, the Investment Manager and the Distributor do not establish these financial intermediary-specific policies, our representatives are available to answer questions about these financial intermediary-specific policies and can direct you to the financial intermediary if you need help understanding them.
Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (Ameriprise Financial Services)
The following information has been provided by Ameriprise Financial Services:
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers Available at Ameriprise Financial Services:
The following information applies to Class A shares purchases if you have an account with or otherwise purchase Fund shares through Ameriprise Financial Services:
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Ameriprise Financial Services brokerage account are eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the Columbia Fund family). |
| ■ | Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 7-year anniversary of the purchase date. To the extent that the Fund’s Class C Shares – Conversion to Class A Shares policy (stated outside this Appendix A) provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares or the conversion of Class C shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial Services or its affiliates and their immediate family members. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise financial advisor and/or the advisor’s spouse, advisor’s lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), advisor’s lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another fund in the Columbia Fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement). |
| A-1 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (Baird)
The following information has been provided by Baird:
Effective June 30, 2020, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Baird platform or account that maintains an omnibus position with the Fund will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to Baird will not apply to non-omnibus positions.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Baird:
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same Columbia Fund. |
| ■ | Share purchases by employees and registered representatives of Baird or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Baird. |
| ■ | Shares purchased with the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same accounts, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights of reinstatement). |
| ■ | A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares of the same Columbia Fund if the shares are no longer subject to CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Baird. |
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage account at Baird, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares Available at Baird:
| ■ | Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares purchased due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulations which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Baird. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Columbia Funds through Baird, over a 13-month period of time. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-2 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (Edward Jones)
Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
The following information has been provided by Edward Jones:
Effective on or after January 15, 2021, the following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in Columbia Fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as "shareholders") purchasing Columbia Fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as "breakpoints") and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder's responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings of Columbia Funds and Future Scholars Program, or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.
Breakpoints
| ■ | Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in this prospectus. |
Rights of Accumulation (ROA)
| ■ | The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of Columbia Funds and Future Scholars Program held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations ("pricing groups"). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible Columbia Fund assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a sales charge. |
| ■ | The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level. |
| ■ | ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares x NAV). |
Letter of Intent (LOI)
| ■ | Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts for purchases shareholders intend to make over a 13-month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total amount. The inclusion of eligible Columbia Fund assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted if LOI is not met. |
| ■ | If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the employer. |
| A-3 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Sales Charge Waivers
Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
| ■ | Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and their family members who are in the same pricing group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associate's life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones' policies and procedures. |
| ■ | Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of Columbia Funds so long as the following conditions are met: 1) the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, and 2) the sale and purchase are made in the same share class and the same account or the purchase is made in an individual retirement account with proceeds from liquidations in a non-retirement account. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Exchanges from Class C shares to Class A shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones. |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) Waivers
If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:
| ■ | The death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimum Balances, as described below. |
Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
Minimum Purchase Amounts
| ■ | Initial purchase minimum: $250 |
| ■ | Subsequent purchase minimum: none |
Minimum Balances
| ■ | Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion Fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy: |
| ■ | A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform. |
| ■ | A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform. |
| ■ | An account with an active systematic investment plan or LOI. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-4 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Exchanging Share Classes
| ■ | At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV a shareholder's holdings in the Fund to Class A shares. |
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (Janney)
The following information has been provided by Janney:
Effective May 1, 2020, if you purchase Columbia Fund shares through a Janney brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC, or back-end sales charge, waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to Janney does not apply to non-omnibus positions.
Front-End Sales Charge* Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Janney
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other Columbia Fund). |
| ■ | Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Janney. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within ninety (90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement). |
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Class C shares that are no longer subject to a CDSC and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Janney’s policies and procedures. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Janney
| ■ | Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged into the same share class of a different fund. |
Front-End Sales Charge* Discounts Available at Janney: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation, and/or Letters of Intent
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulation (“ROA”), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Janney. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within the Columbia Funds, over a 13-month time period. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Janney may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| A-5 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
* Also referred to as an “initial sales charge”.
Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch)
The following information has been provided by Merrill Lynch:
Shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI:
Front-End Load Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch:
Merrill Lynch makes available breakpoint discounts on shares of the Fund through:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts as described in this prospectus will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts (including 529 program holdings, where applicable) within the purchaser’s household at Merrill Lynch. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of Intent (LOI) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Columbia Funds, through Merrill Lynch, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable). |
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Merrill Lynch:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by a 529 Plan (does not include 529 Plan units or 529-specific share classes or equivalents). |
| ■ | Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynch’s platform. |
| ■ | Shares of funds purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform (if applicable). |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other Columbia Fund). |
| ■ | Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e., level-load) shares of the same fund pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members. |
| ■ | Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Eligible shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). Automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are automatically sold to pay Merrill Lynch’s account maintenance fees are not eligible for reinstatement. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Merrill Lynch:
| ■ | Death or disability of the shareholder. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-6 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Merrill Lynch. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts, that are exchanged for a lower cost share class due to transfer to certain fee based accounts or platforms (applicable to Class A and Class C shares only). |
| ■ | Shares received through an exchange due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC (Morgan Stanley Wealth Management)
The following information has been provided by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management:
Effective July 1, 2018, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Effective July 1, 2018:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| ■ | Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s account linking rules. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account. |
| ■ | Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a CDSC and are exchanged for Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class exchange program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge. |
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and each entity’s affiliates (Raymond James)
The following information has been provided by Raymond James:
Intermediary-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies:
The availability of certain initial or deferred sales charge waivers and discounts may depend on the particular financial intermediary or type of account through which you purchase or hold Columbia Fund shares.
Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred (back-end) sales load (CDSC) waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any
| A-7 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Columbia Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts.
Raymond James:
Effective March 1, 2019, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account, or through an introducing broker-dealer or independent registered investment adviser for which Raymond James provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody services, will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Raymond James:
| ■ | Shares purchased in an investment advisory program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased within the Columbia Funds through a systematic reinvestment of capital gains and dividend distributions. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond James. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the Columbia Funds, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). |
| ■ | A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares Available at Raymond James:
| ■ | Death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
Front-End Load Discounts Available at Raymond James: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation and/or Letters of Intent:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Raymond James. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of rights of accumulation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within the Columbia Funds, over a 13-month time period. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-8 |
Columbia Acorn International®
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Stifel Financial Corp. (Stifel)
The following information has been provided by Stifel:
Effective June 30, 2020, Class C shares of Columbia Funds that were purchased through a Stifel platform or account that maintains an omnibus position with the Fund that are no longer subject to a CDSC are exchanged to Class A shares of the same Columbia Fund pursuant to Stifel’s policies and procedures. This does not apply to non-omnibus positions.
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. (USBI)
The following information has been provided by USBI:
Effective September of 2021, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a USBI platform or who own shares for which USBI is the broker-dealer, where the shares are held in an omnibus account, will only be eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
All other sales charge waivers and reduction described elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI still apply.
USBI Conversion of Class C shares
Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge are systematically converted to the Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to USBI’s share class exchange policy.
Additional Sales Charge Reductions and/or Waivers Available at Certain Financial Intermediaries
Shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a platform or account of RBC Capital Markets, LLC are eligible for the following sales charge waiver:
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waiver Available at RBC Capital Markets, LLC:
| ■ | For employer-sponsored retirement plans held through a commissionable brokerage account, Class A shares are available at NAV (i.e., without a sales charge). For this purpose, employer-sponsored retirement plans include, but are not limited to, 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| A-9 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International®
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
Columbia Acorn Family of Funds
Additional Information About the Fund
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI also provides additional information about the Fund and its policies. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is legally part of this prospectus (incorporated by reference). To obtain these documents free of charge, to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries, please contact the Fund as follows:
By Mail: Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
By Telephone: 800.345.6611
Online: columbiathreadneedleus.com
Shareholder Communications with the Board
The Fund’s Board of Trustees has adopted procedures by which shareholders may communicate with the Board. Shareholders who wish to communicate with the Board should send their written communications to the Board by mail, c/o Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606, Attention: Secretary. Shareholder communications must (i) be in writing, (ii) identify the Columbia Acorn Fund to which the communication relates and (iii) state the particular class of shares and number of shares held by the communicating shareholder.
Obtaining Additional Information from the SEC
Reports and other information about the Fund are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can receive copies of this information, for a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
The investment company registration number of Columbia Acorn Trust, of which the Fund is a series, is 811-01829.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.
The Fund is distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.
The Fund is distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.
© 2023 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. All rights reserved.
PRO111_12_N01_(05/23)
Prospectus
May 1, 2023
Columbia Acorn Family of Funds
Managed by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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A-1 |
2
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Summary of the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Acorn International 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, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. 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 is available about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers from your financial intermediary, and can be found in the Choosing a Share Class section beginning on page 28 of the Fund’s prospectus, in Appendix A to the prospectus beginning on page A-1 and in Appendix S to the Statement of Additional Information (SAI) under Sales Charge Waivers beginning on page S-1.
| Class A | Class C | Classes Adv, Inst, Inst2 and Inst3 | |
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a % of offering price) | |||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a % of the lower of the original purchase price or current net asset value) | |||
| Class A | Class Adv | Class C | Class Inst | Class Inst2 | Class Inst3 | |
| Management fees | ||||||
| Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | ||||||
| Other expenses | ||||||
| Total annual Fund operating expenses | ||||||
| Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements(c) | ( |
( |
( |
( |
( |
( |
| Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements | ||||||
| (a) | |
| (b) |
| (c) |
| Prospectus 2023 | 3 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
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. |
Class C shares’ 10-year cost examples below reflect the Class C shares 8-year conversion policy.
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:
| 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | |
| Class A (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Adv (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class C (assuming redemption of all shares at the end of the period) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class C (assuming no redemption of shares) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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 21 % of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 65% of its net assets in foreign companies in developed markets (for example, Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom).
The Fund also may invest up to 35% of its total assets in companies in emerging markets (for example, China, India and Brazil). The Fund generally invests in at least three countries other than the United States but may invest up to 25% of its total assets in securities of U.S. issuers.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations generally in the range of market capitalizations in the MSCI ACWI ex USA Growth Index (Net), the Fund's primary benchmark, (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $635 million and $1.9 trillion as of March 31, 2023). The market capitalization range and composition of companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. The Fund determines a company’s market capitalization at the time of investment. As long as a majority of its net assets are invested in companies within the market capitalization range of the Index, the Fund may continue to hold and make new investments in a security even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the range of the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
| 4 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser (the Investment Manager), believes that stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, 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 also may invest in larger-sized companies. The Investment Manager from time to time emphasizes one or more sectors in selecting the Fund’s investments, including the health care, industrials, and information technology sectors.
The Fund invests in a limited number of foreign 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 will take advantage of the research and stock-picking capabilities of the Investment Manager and will generally concentrate the Fund’s investments in those sectors, companies, geographic regions or industries that the portfolio managers believe offer the best investment return 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 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 risks, including those described below, among others. 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. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
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 and/or strategies.
Market Risk. The Fund may incur losses due to declines in the value of one or more securities in which it invests. These declines may be due to factors affecting a particular issuer, or the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s) more generally. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to price or value hard-to-value assets in thinly traded and closed markets and could cause significant redemptions and operational challenges. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as terrorism, war, other conflicts, natural disasters, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other public health issues, recessions, depressions or other events – or the potential for such events – could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions.
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. The Fund accordingly may be more susceptible to economic, political and regulatory developments than a fund that invests in a greater number of companies. 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.
| Prospectus 2023 | 5 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
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. Growth securities may also be sensitive to movements in interest rates.
Geographic Focus Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to risks related 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.
| ■ | Asia Pacific Region. 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. |
| ■ | Europe. The Fund is particularly susceptible to risks related to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions, including acts of war or other conflicts in the region, affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Countries in Europe are often closely connected and interdependent, and events in one European country can have an adverse impact on, and potentially spread to, other European countries. In addition, significant private or public debt problems in a single European Union (EU) country can pose 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 focus their investments in this region of the world. Any uncertainty caused by the departure of the United Kingdom (UK) from the EU, which occurred in January 2020, could have negative impacts on the UK and EU, as well as other European economies and the broader global economy. These could include negative impacts on currencies and financial markets as well as increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth in markets in Europe, which could adversely affect the value of your investment in the Fund. |
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in an industry or related group of industries within one or more economic sectors , including the health care, industrials, and information technology sectors. Companies in the same 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 industry or group of industries or 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.
| ■ | Health Care Sector. The Fund is 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), among others. 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. |
| ■ | Industrials Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials 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 |
| 6 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
| technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including government regulation, world events, economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims. |
| ■ | Information Technology Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the information technology sector 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 information 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. Some companies in the information technology sector are facing increased government and regulatory scrutiny and may be subject to adverse government or regulatory action, which could negatively impact the value of their securities. |
Liquidity and Trading Volume Risk. Due to market conditions, including uncertainty regarding the price of a security, it may be difficult for the Fund to buy or sell 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. The Fund may also be limited in its ability to execute favorable trades in 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 or, conversely, if it faces significant redemption pressure, these considerations take on increasing significance and may adversely impact performance.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to securities of foreign companies may involve heightened risks relative to investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Investing in securities of foreign companies subjects the Fund to the risks associated with an issuer’s (and any of its related companies’) country of organization and places of business operations, including risks related to political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events (including, for example, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism and disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics) 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.
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.
| Prospectus 2023 | 7 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
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, and may be more susceptible to market manipulation, 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. Due to the differences in the nature and quality of financial information of issuers of emerging market securities, including auditing and financial reporting standards, financial information and disclosures about such issuers may be unavailable or, if made available, may be considerably less reliable than publicly available information about other foreign securities.
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 have an active trading market 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.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-cap companies often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established 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.
Large-Cap Company Securities Risk. Larger, more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in consumer tastes or innovative smaller competitors. Also, large-cap companies are sometimes unable to attain the high growth rates of successful, smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Underperformance of an issuer 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, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other events, conditions and factors.
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.
| 8 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Performance Information
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the Average Annual Total Returns table below includes the Fund’s Class Inst 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.
as of December 31 Each Year* |
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart | ||
 |
|||
| - | |||
| * |
| Prospectus 2023 | 9 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2022)
| Share Class Inception Date |
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | |
| Class Inst | ||||
| returns before taxes | - |
- |
||
| returns after taxes on distributions | - |
- |
||
| returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares | - |
- |
||
| Class A returns before taxes | - |
- |
||
| Class Adv returns before taxes | - |
- |
||
| Class C returns before taxes | - |
- |
||
| Class Inst2 returns before taxes | - |
- |
||
| Class Inst3 returns before taxes | - |
- |
||
| MSCI ACWI ex USA Growth Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes) | - |
|||
| MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes) | - |
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
| Portfolio Management | Title | Role with Fund | Service with the Fund Since | |||
| Stephen Kusmierczak, CFA | International Team Head, Portfolio Manager and Analyst | Lead Portfolio Manager or Co-Portfolio Manager since 2016 |
2001 | |||
| Hans F. Stege | Portfolio Manager and Analyst | Co-Portfolio Manager since 2019 |
2017 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by contacting the Fund in the ways described below:
| Online | Regular Mail | Express Mail | By Telephone | |||
| columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/ | Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. P.O. Box 219104 Kansas City, MO 64121-9104 |
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. c/o SS&C GIDS, Inc. 430 W 7th Street, Suite 219104 Kansas City, MO 64105-1407 |
800.422.3737 |
You may purchase shares and receive redemption proceeds by electronic funds transfer, by check or by wire. If you maintain your account with a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, you must contact that financial intermediary to buy, sell or exchange shares of the Fund through your account with the intermediary.
| 10 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
The minimum initial investment amounts for the share classes offered by the Fund are shown below:
Minimum Initial Investment
| Class | Category of eligible account | For accounts other than Systematic Investment Plan accounts (as described in the Fund’s Prospectus) |
For Systematic Investment Plan accounts |
| Classes A & C | All accounts other than IRAs | $2,000 | $100 |
| IRAs | $1,000 | $100 | |
| Classes Adv & Inst | All eligible accounts | $0, $1,000 or $2,000 depending upon the category of eligible investor |
$100 |
| Class Inst2 | All eligible accounts | None | N/A |
| Class Inst3 | All eligible accounts | $0, $1,000, $2,000 or $1 million depending upon the category of eligible investor |
$100 (for certain eligible investors) |
More information about these minimums can be found in the Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares - Buying Shares section of the prospectus. There is no minimum additional investment for any share class.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders. These distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, you may be taxed upon withdrawals from that account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies – including the Investment Manager, the Distributor and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) – may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Fund over another investment. These potential conflicts of interest may be heightened with respect to broker-dealers owned by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial) and/or its affiliates. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
| Prospectus 2023 | 11 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
More Information About the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM (the Fund) seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy of the Fund and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board) without shareholder approval. There is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 65% of its net assets in foreign companies in developed markets (for example, Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom).
The Fund also may invest up to 35% of its total assets in companies in emerging markets (for example, China, India and Brazil). The Fund generally invests in at least three countries other than the United States but may invest up to 25% of its total assets in securities of U.S. issuers.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations generally in the range of market capitalizations in the MSCI ACWI ex USA Growth Index (Net), the Fund's primary benchmark, (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $635 million and $1.9 trillion as of March 31, 2023). The market capitalization range and composition of companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. The Fund determines a company’s market capitalization at the time of investment. As long as a majority of its net assets are invested in companies within the market capitalization range of the Index, the Fund may continue to hold and make new investments in a security even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the range of the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser (the Investment Manager), believes that stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, 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 also may invest in larger-sized companies. The Investment Manager from time to time emphasizes one or more sectors in selecting the Fund’s investments, including the health care, industrials, and information technology sectors.
The Fund invests in a limited number of foreign 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 will take advantage of the research and stock-picking capabilities of the Investment Manager and will generally concentrate the Fund’s investments in those sectors, companies, geographic regions or industries that the portfolio managers believe offer the best investment return 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 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 risks, including those described below, among others. 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. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
| 12 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
More Information About the Fund (continued)
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the Investment Manager to select investments and to make investment decisions that will achieve the Fund’s investment objective. 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 and/or strategies.
Market Risk. The Fund may incur losses due to declines in the value of one or more securities in which it invests. These declines may be due to factors affecting a particular issuer, or the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s) more generally. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to price or value hard-to-value assets in thinly traded and closed markets and could cause significant redemptions and operational challenges. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as terrorism, war, other conflicts, natural disasters, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other public health issues, recessions, depressions or other events – or the potential for such events – could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions.
The large-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 has resulted in sanctions and market disruptions, including declines in regional and global stock markets, unusual volatility in global commodity markets and significant devaluations of Russian currency. The extent and duration of the military action are impossible to predict but could be significant. Market disruption caused by the Russian military action, and any counter measures or responses thereto (including international sanctions, a downgrade in a country’s credit rating, purchasing and financing restrictions, boycotts, tariffs, changes in consumer or purchaser preferences, cyberattacks and espionage) could have severe adverse impacts on regional and/or global securities and commodities markets, including markets for oil and natural gas. These impacts may include reduced market liquidity, distress in credit markets, further disruption of global supply chains, increased risk of inflation, and limited access to investments in certain international markets and/or issuers. These developments and other related events could negatively impact Fund performance.
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. The Fund accordingly may be more susceptible to economic, political and regulatory developments than a fund that invests in a greater number of companies. 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.
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. Growth securities may also be sensitive to movements in interest rates.
Geographic Focus Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to risks related 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.
| ■ | Asia Pacific Region. A number of 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 that country, 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 |
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| more geographically diversified in a region with more developed countries and economies. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses for the Fund. Continued growth of economies and securities markets in the region will require sustained economic and fiscal discipline, as well as continued commitment to governmental and regulatory reforms. Development also may be influenced by international economic conditions, including those in the United States and Japan, and by world demand for goods or natural resources produced in countries in the Asia Pacific region. Securities markets in the region are generally smaller and have a lower trading volume than those in the United States, which may result in the securities of some companies in the region being less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities. Some currencies, inflation rates or interest rates in the Asia Pacific region are or can be volatile, and some countries in the region may restrict the flow of money in and out of the country. The risks described under “Emerging Market Securities Risk” and “Foreign Securities Risk” may be more pronounced due to the Fund’s focus on investments in the region. |
| ■ | Europe. The Fund is particularly susceptible to risks related to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions, including acts of war or other conflicts in the region, affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Countries in Europe are often closely connected and interdependent, and events in one European country can have an adverse impact on, and potentially spread to, other European countries. Most developed countries in Western Europe are members of the EU, and many are also members of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). European countries can be significantly affected by the tight fiscal and monetary controls that the EMU imposes on its members and with which candidates for EMU membership are required to comply. In addition, significant private or public debt problems in a single EU country can pose economic risks to the EU as a whole. Unemployment in Europe has historically been higher than in the United States and public deficits are an ongoing concern in many European countries. 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 focus their investments in this region of the world. Any uncertainty caused by the departure of the UK from the EU, which occurred in January 2020, could have negative impacts on the UK and EU, as well as other European economies and the broader global economy. These could include negative impacts on currencies and financial markets as well as increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth in markets in the UK, Europe and globally, which could adversely affect the value of your investment in the Fund. Any attempt by the Fund to hedge against or otherwise protect its portfolio or to profit from such circumstances may fail and, accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. |
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in an industry or related group of industries within one or more economic sectors , including the health care, industrials, and information technology sectors. Companies in the same 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 industry or group of industries or 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.
| ■ | Health Care Sector. The Fund is 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), among others. 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. |
| ■ | Industrials Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials 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 |
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| technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including government regulation, world events, economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims. |
| ■ | Information Technology Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the information technology sector 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 information 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. Some companies in the information technology sector are facing increased government and regulatory scrutiny and may be subject to adverse government or regulatory action, which could negatively impact the value of their securities. |
Liquidity and Trading Volume Risk. Due to market conditions, including uncertainty regarding the price of a security, it may be difficult for the Fund to buy or sell 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. The Investment Manager will fair value in good faith any securities it deems to be illiquid under consistently applied procedures established by the Fund’s Board. Market conditions are always changing and vary by country and industry sector, and investing in international markets involves unique risks. Although it is difficult to accurately assess trends in trading volumes in foreign markets, a reduction in trading volumes poses challenges to the Fund. This is particularly so because the Fund focuses on small- and mid-cap companies that usually have lower trading volumes and often takes sizeable positions in portfolio companies. As a result of lower trading volumes, it may take longer to buy or sell 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 portfolio securities in response to changes in share prices and fundamentals. If the Fund is forced to sell securities to meet redemption requests or other cash needs, or in the case of an event affecting liquidity in a particular market or markets, it may be forced to dispose of those securities under disadvantageous circumstances and at a loss. As the Fund grows in size or, conversely, if it faces significant redemption pressure, these considerations take on increasing significance and may adversely impact performance.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to securities of foreign companies may involve heightened risks relative to investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities may also be less liquid, making them more difficult to trade, 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 (including, for example, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism and disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics), possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; 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
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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. Economic sanctions may be, and have been, imposed against certain countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals. Economic sanctions and other similar governmental actions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate the Fund’s ability to purchase or sell securities, and thus may make the Fund’s investments in such securities less liquid or more difficult to value. In addition, as a result of economic sanctions, the Fund may be forced to sell or otherwise dispose of investments at inopportune times or prices, which could result in losses to the Fund and increased transaction costs. These conditions may be in place for a substantial period of time and enacted with limited advance notice to the Fund. 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. Additionally, investments in certain countries may subject the Fund to a number of tax rules, the application of which may be uncertain. Countries may amend or revise their existing tax laws, regulations and/or procedures in the future, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in or uncertainties regarding the laws, regulations or procedures of a country could reduce the after-tax profits of the Fund, directly or indirectly, including by reducing the after-tax profits of companies located in such countries in which the Fund invests, or result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund.
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.
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, and may be more susceptible to market manipulation, 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
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high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries. Due to the differences in the nature and quality of financial information of issuers of emerging market securities, including auditing and financial reporting standards, financial information and disclosures about such issuers may be unavailable or, if made available, may be considerably less reliable than publicly available information about other foreign securities.
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 have an active trading market 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 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.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger, more established 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 and generally less experienced 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 Fund investment losses that would affect the value of your investment in 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.
Large-Cap Company Securities Risk. Larger, more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in consumer tastes or innovative smaller competitors. Also, large-cap companies are sometimes unable to attain the high growth rates of successful, smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.
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Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Underperformance of an issuer 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, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other events, conditions and factors.
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. Restrictions on currency trading may be imposed by foreign countries, which may adversely affect the value of your investment in the Fund. Even though the currencies of some countries may be pegged to the U.S. dollar, the conversion rate may be controlled by government regulation or intervention at levels significantly different than what would normally prevail in a free market. Significant revaluations of the U.S. dollar exchange rate of these currencies could cause substantial reductions in the Fund’s NAV.
Additional Investment Strategies and Policies
This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that the Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in the Fund. For information about risks associated with changing levels of Fund distributions, see the Fund’s SAI.
Changing the Fund’s Investment Objective and Policies
The Fund’s investment objective and non-fundamental investment policies (including its principal and additional investment strategies) can be changed by the Board without shareholder approval, but may require notice to shareholders in certain instances. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies, as identified in the SAI, may be changed only with Board and shareholder approval in accordance with the voting requirements of the 1940 Act. For additional information about changing the Fund’s fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies, see the SAI.
Investment Guidelines
As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies in this prospectus, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of the 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 based on the characteristics of a company at the time of initial purchase, and subsequent changes in a characteristic are not taken into account.
Holding Other Kinds of Investments
The Fund may hold other investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the SAI. The 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 the Fund’s holdings can be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports or by visiting columbiathreadneedleus.com.
Transactions in Derivatives
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions or otherwise have exposure to derivative transactions through underlying investments. The Fund expects to enter into such transactions in the form of stock index futures in order to obtain exposure to the overall sector of the market represented by a particular stock index or to invest the Fund’s uninvested cash balances in a manner that the Investment Manager believes aligns more closely with the Fund’s investment strategy than simply holding short-term fixed income investments or cash equivalents (known as cash equitization). The Fund may also use forward foreign currency contracts to manage currency risk and exposures, including to obtain, maintain, or hedge currency exposures, including relative to Fund benchmarks. Derivatives are financial contracts whose values are, for example, based on (or “derived” from) traditional securities (such as a stock
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or bond), assets (such as a commodity like gold or a foreign currency), reference rates (such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (commonly known as SOFR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor’s 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 the Fund’s potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies typically expose the Fund to gains and losses in excess of the amount actually invested in the derivative. This characteristic of a derivative (known as "leverage") may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the 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 (including distressed) market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or the 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 the Fund’s potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund’s derivative positions at times when the 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. The 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 the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. The U.S. government and the European Union (and some other jurisdictions) have enacted regulations and similar requirements that prescribe clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These requirements are evolving and their ultimate impact on the Fund remains unclear, but such impact could include restricting and/or imposing significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. Additionally, in August 2022, regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies, such as the Fund, became effective. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, among other things, requires a fund that invests in derivative instruments beyond a specified limited amount to apply a value-at-risk-based limit to its portfolio and establish a comprehensive derivatives risk management program. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund is not required to maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program under Rule 18f-4 given its more limited use of derivatives. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.
LIBOR Phase-Out Risk. Many derivatives and other financial instruments utilize or are permitted to utilize a floating interest rate based on the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR). On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced its intention to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and the ICE Benchmark Administration have since announced that a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will cease publication after June 30, 2023. A subset of non-U.S. dollar LIBOR settings is continuing to be published on a “synthetic” basis and it is possible that a subset of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will also be published after June 30, 2023 on a “synthetic” basis. Any such publications are, or would be considered, non-representative of the underlying market. Uncertainty related to the liquidity impact of changes in reference rates, and how to appropriately adjust these rates at the time of transition, poses risks for the Fund. It is difficult to predict the full impact of the transition away from LIBOR on the Fund until new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new products, instruments and contracts are commercially accepted and market practices become more settled. The Investment Manager monitors the Fund’s LIBOR exposure risks, including the extent to which any derivative and/or debt investments allow for the utilization of alternative rate(s), such as the SOFR, which the U.S. Federal Reserve is promoting as the alternative reference rate to LIBOR.
Affiliated Fund Investing
The Investment Manager and its affiliate, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management), serve as investment advisers to mutual funds and ETFs using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including mutual funds that are structured as “fund-of-funds”, and provides asset-allocation services to (i) shareholders by investing in
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shares of other Columbia Funds, which may include the 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 the Investment Manager and Columbia Management seek 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 the 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 to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Underlying Fund shares. Although the Investment Manager or Columbia Management 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 the Investment Manager or Columbia Management 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, the 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 investments (i.e., any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment) or less liquid securities. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Underlying Fund to implement its investment strategy. The Investment Manager or Columbia Management also has a 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
The Fund may invest cash, including cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending program, in shares of money market funds, including funds advised by affiliates of the Investment Manager. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which the Fund may invest.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries on a fully collateralized basis in order to earn additional income. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, the borrower does not return a loaned security and the proceeds from sale of the collateral are not sufficient to replace the borrowed security. The Fund invests collateral in a government money market fund.
Investing Defensively
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions. These investment positions may include, 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 the Investment Manager deems necessary. During these times, the Investment Manager may make frequent portfolio changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and taxes, and decreased Fund performance.
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Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of Fund portfolio securities is available in the SAI. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings on the Columbia Funds’ website, columbiathreadneedleus.com, as described below. Once posted, the portfolio holdings information will remain available on the website until at least the date on which such Fund files a Form N-CSR or publicly available Form N-PORT (forms filed with the SEC that include portfolio holdings information) for the period that includes the date as of which the information is current.
The Fund considers changes in its portfolio holdings to be confidential information. Consequently, Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information only after a certain amount of time has passed. The Fund’s complete portfolio holdings are disclosed approximately 30 to 40 days after each month-end. The top 15 holdings may be available sooner, approximately 15 calendar days after each month-end. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information available on the website may not always be current.
Cybersecurity
The Fund, like all companies, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks, including the risk of cyber attacks or failures. As a result, the Fund or its service providers, or the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, may experience disruptions in business operations that may potentially result in financial losses, the inability of the Fund or Fund shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. See the discussion of Cybersecurity Breaches and Technology and Related Systems Failure Risk in the SAI for further information.
Use of Benchmarks
Benchmarks are indices that provide some comparative guidance in assessing the Fund’s performance. The Investment Manager selects the benchmark(s) it believes provide meaningful comparisons for the Fund. However, there may be different or additional indices that more closely reflect the market sectors in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s benchmark(s) may change from time to time. The benchmarks included in this prospectus are intended only as guideposts for your assessment of the Fund’s performance.
FUNDamentals
Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks
The Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmarks, and accordingly the Fund's holdings may diverge significantly from those of the benchmarks selected by the Investment Manager. In addition, the Fund may invest in securities outside the industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmarks. The Fund's weightings in individual securities, and in industry and geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmarks.
eDelivery and Mailings to Households
In order to reduce shareholder expenses, the Fund may mail only one copy of the Fund’s 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, as well as quarterly statements and supplements, by logging into your account at columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/.
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Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
More Information About the Fund (continued)
Additional Information on Portfolio Turnover
A mutual fund that replaces, or turns over, more than 100% of its investments in a year may be considered to have a high portfolio turnover rate. A high portfolio turnover rate can generate larger distributions of short-term capital gains to shareholders, which for individuals are generally taxable at higher rates than long-term capital gains for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Also, a high portfolio turnover rate can mean higher brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which could reduce a fund’s returns. In general, the greater the volume of buying and selling by a fund, the greater the impact that brokerage commissions and other transaction costs will have on its returns. The Fund may sell securities regardless of how long they’ve been held. See the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus for the Fund's portfolio turnover rates for the past five years.
Cash Flows
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent the Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require the 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 the Fund’s performance.
Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund’s annual operating expenses, as presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, may vary by share class and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The expense ratios reflect the Fund’s fee arrangements as of the date of this prospectus and, unless indicated otherwise, are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year. The Fund’s assets will fluctuate, but unless indicated otherwise in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table, no adjustments have been or will be made to the expense ratios to reflect any differences in the Fund’s average net assets between the most recently completed fiscal year and the date of this prospectus or a later date. In general, the Fund’s expense ratios will increase as its net assets decrease, such that the 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 the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected, in part, to limit the impact of any increase in the Fund’s expense ratios that would otherwise result because of a decrease in the Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. The 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. Please see Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Arrangements below for information about commitments made by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates during the performance period covered by this prospectus.
FUNDamentals
Other Expenses
“Other expenses” consist of the fees the Fund pays to its administrator, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. Generally, these expenses are allocated on a pro rata basis across all share classes. These expenses include certain sub-transfer agency and shareholder servicing fees. Transfer agency 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 agency and shareholder servicing fees applicable to each share class. For more information on these fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Financial Intermediary Compensation.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Arrangements
Effective July 1, 2016, the Investment Manager has contractually agreed to permanently reduce the investment advisory fee payable to it by the Fund by 0.05% at all net asset levels.
The Investment Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse certain expenses of the Fund through April 30, 2024, so that ordinary operating expenses (excluding transaction costs and certain other investment-related expenses, interest and fees on borrowings, and expenses associated with the Fund’s investment in other investment companies, if any) do not exceed the annual rates of:
| Columbia Acorn International Select | |
| Class A | 1.24% |
| Class Adv | 0.99% |
| Class C | 1.99% |
| Class Inst | 0.99% |
| Class Inst2 | 0.84% |
| Class Inst3 | 0.79% |
This arrangement may only be amended or terminated with approval from the Board and the Investment Manager.
In addition to the contractual agreement, the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates have voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses (other than the exclusions listed above) so that Fund level expenses (expenses directly attributable to the Fund and not to a specific share class) are waived proportionately across all share classes, but the Fund’s net operating expenses shall not exceed the contractual annual rates listed in the table above. This arrangement may be revised or discontinued at any time.
Effect of Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements on Past Performance. The Fund’s returns shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus reflect the effect of fee waivers and/or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates that were in place during the performance period shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus. Without such fee waivers/expense reimbursements, the Fund’s returns might have been lower.
Board of Trustees
The Fund is governed by the Board. More than 75% of the Fund's Trustees are independent (Independent Trustees), meaning that they are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. The Independent Trustees bring backgrounds in business and academia to their task of working with the Fund's officers to establish the Fund's policies and oversee its activities. Among the Trustees' responsibilities are: selecting the investment adviser for the Fund; approving the advisory agreement; reviewing other contracts; approving investment policies; monitoring Fund operations, performance, compliance and costs; and nominating or selecting new Trustees.
Each Trustee serves the Fund for an indefinite term until his or her retirement, resignation, death or removal in accordance with the organizational documents of Columbia Acorn Trust (the Trust). The Trust's Bylaws generally require that Trustees retire at the end of the calendar year in which they attain the age of 75 years. The last meeting to elect Trustees was held on February 27, 2015. Any Trustee may be removed at a shareholders' meeting by a vote representing two-thirds of the net asset value of all shares of the Columbia Acorn family of funds (Columbia Acorn Funds). The mailing address for the Trustees and officers is 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
For more detailed information about the Board, please refer to the SAI.
Primary Service Provider Contracts
The Fund enters into contractual arrangements (Service Provider Contracts) with various parties, including, among others, the Investment Manager, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and the Fund’s custodian. The Fund’s Service Provider Contracts are solely among the parties thereto. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third-party beneficiaries of, any Service Provider Contracts. Further, this prospectus, the SAI and any Service Provider Contracts
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
are not intended to give rise to any agreement, duty, special relationship or other obligation between the Fund and any investor, or give rise to any contractual, tort or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person, including any right to assert a fiduciary or other duty, enforce the Service Provider Contracts against the parties or to seek any remedy thereunder, either directly or on behalf of the Fund. Nothing in the previous sentence should be read to suggest any waiver of any rights under federal or state securities laws.
The Investment Manager, which also serves as the Fund's administrator (the Administrator), Columbia Management, which serves as the Fund's sub-administrator pursuant to an agreement with the Investment Manager (the Sub-Administrator), 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 the Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.
The Investment Manager
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC is located at 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60606. As of March 31, 2023, the Investment Manager had assets under management of approximately $6.8 billion. The Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Management, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to mutual funds, the Investment Manager acts as an investment manager for other private funds and institutional accounts.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Investment Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund, determining what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executing portfolio transactions. The Investment Manager may use the research and other capabilities of its affiliates and third parties in managing the Fund’s investments.
The Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee for its investment advisory services. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the daily net assets of the Fund and is paid monthly. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, aggregate fees paid to the Investment Manager by the Fund amounted to 0.89% of average daily net assets of the Fund, before any applicable reimbursements.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the renewal of the Fund’s investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2022.
The Investment Manager and its investment advisory affiliates, including Columbia Management (Affiliates), around the world may coordinate in providing services to their clients. From time to time, the Investment Manager may engage its Affiliates to provide a variety of services such as investment research, investment monitoring, trading, and discretionary investment management (including portfolio management and proxy voting) to certain accounts managed by the Investment Manager, including the Fund. These Affiliates will provide services to the Fund and other accounts of the Investment Manager either pursuant to delegation agreements, personnel-sharing agreements or similar inter-company or other arrangements or relationships and the Fund will pay no additional fees and expenses as a result of any such arrangements or relationships. These Affiliates, like the Investment Manager, are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Ameriprise Financial and are registered with the appropriate respective regulators and, where required, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in the United States.
Pursuant to some of these arrangements or relationships, certain personnel of Columbia Management and other Affiliates may serve as “associated persons” or officers 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 this prospectus and the Fund's SAI, and with the Investment Manager’s and the Fund's compliance policies and procedures, may provide such services to the Fund.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
| Portfolio Management | Title | Role with Fund | Service with the Fund Since | |||
| Stephen Kusmierczak, CFA | International Team Head, Portfolio Manager and Analyst | Lead Portfolio Manager or Co-Portfolio Manager since 2016 |
2001 | |||
| Hans F. Stege | Portfolio Manager and Analyst | Co-Portfolio Manager since 2019 |
2017 |
Mr. Kusmierczak has been associated with the Investment Manager or its predecessors as an investment professional since 2001, has been President or Co-President of the Trust since 2020, and was a Vice President of the Trust from 2011-2020. Mr. Kusmierczak began his investment career in 1999 and earned a B.A. from Bowdoin College and an M.P.A. from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.
Mr. Stege has been associated with the Investment Manager or its predecessors as an investment professional since 2017 and has been a Vice President of the Trust since March 2020. Prior to joining the Investment Manager, Mr. Stege was a partner and research analyst at another investment firm, and also worked as a senior analyst for an energy consulting firm. Mr. Stege began his investment career in 2014 and earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
The Administrator
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Fund’s operations, coordination of the Fund’s service providers, and the provision of office facilities and related clerical and administrative services. The Administrator retains the Sub-Administrator to perform many of these services (including fund accounting), and pays a fee for the services of the Sub-Administrator. The Fund pays the Administrator a fee for its services, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses. The fee is calculated as an annual percentage of the Trust’s aggregate average daily net assets and is paid monthly, as follows:
| Annual Administration Fee, as a % of Aggregate Daily Net Assets of the Trust: | |
| Up to $8 billion | 0.050% |
| $8 billion to $16 billion | 0.040% |
| $16 billion to $35 billion | 0.030% |
| $35 billion to $45 billion | 0.025% |
| $45 billion and over | 0.015% |
The Distributor
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. 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 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, 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 SS&C GIDS, 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
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Fund shares, pursuant to which the Transfer Agent pays these financial intermediaries for providing certain shareholder services. Depending on the type of account, the Fund pays the Transfer Agent a per account fee for each open account and compensates the Transfer Agent for certain out-of-pocket expenses, including certain payments to financial intermediaries through which shares are held. In addition, subject to certain limitations, the Fund compensates the Transfer Agent for payments made to financial intermediaries for the shareholder services that the intermediaries provide, in amounts that vary by share class and with the type of intermediary and the type of shareholder services provided. The Transfer Agent is contractually obligated to oversee such intermediaries for the purpose of reasonably assuring their compliance with applicable law and the terms of their agreements to provide the shareholder services. For more information about Shareholder Services fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Financial Intermediary Compensation.
Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest
This section describes certain actual and potential conflicts of interest that arise from the financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including: insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management and financial services. As a consequence of these activities, Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates may have interests arising from their other business lines that conflict with the interests of the Fund. These activities may also, from time to time, place certain investment constraints on the management of the Fund that might not otherwise arise.
As described in More Information About the Fund - Primary Service Provider Contracts, the Investment Manager, Administrator, Sub-Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial. In addition to the services that they provide to the Fund, they also provide substantially similar services (for which they are compensated) to other clients and customers, including the Columbia Funds. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide services (for which they are compensated) to the Fund, other Columbia Funds or other clients and customers.
Examples of activities that could lead to conflicts of interest and/or impose limitations that could affect the Fund include the following:
| ■ | the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may receive compensation and other benefits related to the management/administration of the Fund and the other Columbia Funds and the sale of their shares; |
| ■ | there may be competition for limited investment opportunities that must be allocated among the Fund, the other Columbia Funds and other clients and customers of the Investment Manager (which can include affiliates of the Investment Manager) that may have the same or similar investment objectives as the Fund; |
| ■ | management of the Fund may diverge from other Columbia Funds or other clients and customers of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for example, advice given to the Fund may differ from, or conflict with, advice given to other funds or accounts; |
| ■ | there may be regulatory or investment restrictions imposed on the investment activities of the Investment Manager arising from the activities or holdings of other Columbia Funds or other clients or customers of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, for example, caps on the aggregate amount of certain types of investments or in holdings of particular portfolio companies that may be made by affiliated entities, including the Fund; |
| ■ | Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates may have potentially conflicting relationships with companies and other entities in which the Fund invests; and |
| ■ | there may be regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, for example, if an affiliated entity were in possession of non-public information, the Investment Manager might be prohibited by law from using that information in connection with the management of the Fund. |
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no absolute 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 Advisory and Other Services – Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and Affiliates – Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Fund 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 are involved in the normal course of business in legal proceedings which include regulatory inquiries, arbitration and litigation, including class actions concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their activities as part of a diversified financial services firm. Ameriprise Financial believes that the 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 the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in the 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 sec.gov.
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Choosing a Share Class
The Funds
The Columbia Acorn Funds and the other Columbia Funds generally share the same policies and procedures for investor services, as described below. Together, the Fund and the other Columbia Acorn Funds, along with the Columbia Funds, are referred to herein as the Funds.
Funds Contact Information
Additional information about the Funds, including sales charges and other class features and policies, can be obtained, free of charge, at columbiathreadneedleus.com,* by calling toll-free 800.345.6611, or by writing (regular mail) to Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., P.O. Box 219104, Kansas City, MO 64121-9104 or (express mail) Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., c/o SS&C GIDS, Inc., 430 W 7th Street, Ste 219104, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407.
| * | 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
Financial Intermediaries
The term “financial intermediary” refers to the selling and servicing agents that are authorized to sell and/or service shares of the Funds. Financial intermediaries include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other firms in the financial services industry.
Omnibus Accounts
The term “omnibus account” refers to a financial intermediary’s account with the Fund (held directly through the Transfer Agent) that represents the combined holdings of, and transactions in, Fund shares of one or more clients of the financial intermediary (beneficial Fund shareholders). Omnibus accounts are held in the name of the financial intermediaries and not in the name of the beneficial Fund 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), and non-qualified deferred compensation plans governed by Section 409A of the Code and similar plans, but does not refer to individual retirement plans, such as traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. The term “omnibus retirement plan” refers to a retirement plan that has a plan-level or omnibus account with the Transfer Agent.
Networked Accounts
Networking, offered by the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation’s Wealth Management Services (WMS), is the industry standard IT system for mutual fund account reconciliation and dividend processing.
Summary of Share Class Features
Each share class has its own investment eligibility criteria, cost structure and other features. You may not be eligible to invest in every share class. Your financial intermediary may not make every share class available or may cease to make available one or more share classes of the Fund. The share class you select through your financial intermediary may have higher fees and/or sales charges than other classes of shares available through other financial intermediaries. An investor transacting in a class of Fund shares without any front-end sales charge, contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC), or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution, such as a Rule 12b-1 fee, may be required to pay a commission to the financial intermediary for effecting such transactions. Each investor’s personal situation is different and you may wish to discuss with your financial intermediary the share classes the Fund offers, which share classes are available to you and which share class(es) is/are appropriate for you. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as
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Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts. The Fund, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent do not provide investment advice or make recommendations regarding Fund share classes. Your financial intermediary may provide advice and recommendations to you, such as which share class(es) is/are appropriate for 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 fees (e.g., sales charge or “load”) and expenses for each share class. |
| ■ | Whether you may be eligible for a reduction or waiver of sales charges when you buy or sell shares. |
FUNDamentals
Front-End Sales Charge Calculation
The front-end sales charge is calculated as a percentage of the offering price.
| ■ | The net asset value (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 (or load) that applies. |
The dollar amount of any applicable front-end sales charge is the difference between the offering price of the shares you buy and the NAV of those shares. To determine the front-end sales charge you will pay when you buy Class A 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 financial intermediary notifies the Fund) and base the sales charge on the aggregate amount. For information on account value aggregation, sales charge waivers and other important information, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.
FUNDamentals
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
A contingent deferred sales charge (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 can vary 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 Fund distribution reinvestments 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 are not 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.
Share Class Features
The following summarizes the primary features of Class A, Class Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, Class Inst3, and Class R shares.
Not all Funds offer every class of shares. The Fund offers the class(es) of shares set forth on the cover of this prospectus and may offer other share classes through a separate prospectus. Although certain share classes are generally closed to new and/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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Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Choosing a Share Class (continued)
The sales charge reductions and waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. Appendix A describes financial intermediary-specific reductions and/or waiver policies. A shareholder transacting in Fund shares through a financial intermediary identified in Appendix A should carefully read the terms and conditions of Appendix A. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to a particular financial intermediary is not available to Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as defined below, or through another financial intermediary. The information in Appendix A may be provided by, or compiled from or based on information provided by the financial intermediaries identified in Appendix A. To obtain additional information regarding any sales charge reduction and/or waiver described in Appendix A, and to ensure that you receive any such reductions or waivers that may be available to you, please consult your financial intermediary.
| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| Class A | Eligibility: Available to the general public for investment Minimum Initial Investment: $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts (as described below)) |
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 | Reductions: yes, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges – Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Reductions Waivers: yes, on Fund distribution reinvestments. For additional waivers, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges – Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers, as well as Choosing a Share Class — CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C Financial intermediary-specific waivers are also available, see Appendix A |
Service Fee: 0.25% |
| Class Adv |
Eligibility: Available only to (i) omnibus retirement plans, including self-directed brokerage accounts within omnibus retirement plans that clear through institutional no transaction fee (NTF) platforms; 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 financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Adv eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (iv) 501(c)(3) charitable organizations; (v) 529 plans; (vi) health savings accounts; (vii) investors participating in a fee-based advisory program sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity that is not compensated by the Fund for those services, other than payments for shareholder servicing or sub-accounting performed in place | None | None | N/A | None |
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| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| of the Transfer Agent; and (viii) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform. Minimum Initial Investment: None, except in the case of (viii) above, which is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) |
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| Class C | Eligibility: Available to the general public for investment Minimum Initial Investment: $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) Conversion Feature: Yes. Effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Prior to April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically converted to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 10-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date.(a) |
None | 1.00% on certain investments redeemed within one year of purchase | Waivers: yes, on Fund distribution reinvestments. For additional waivers, see Choosing a Share Class — CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C Financial intermediary-specific CDSC waivers are also available, see Appendix A |
Distribution Fee: 0.75% Service Fee: 0.25% |
| Class Inst |
Eligibility: Available only to certain eligible investors, which are subject to different minimum investment requirements, ranging from $0 to $2,000, including investors who purchase Fund shares through commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary holds the shares in an omnibus account and, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform; closed to (i) accounts of financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund | None | None | N/A | None |
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| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| trading platforms that have been given specific written notice from the Transfer Agent of the termination of their eligibility for new purchases of Class Inst shares and (ii) omnibus group retirement plans, subject to certain exceptions(d) Minimum Initial Investment: See Eligibility above |
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| Class Inst2 |
Eligibility: Available only to (i) certain registered investment advisers and family offices that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Inst2 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (ii) omnibus retirement plans(d); (iii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst2 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (iv) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst2 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst2 shares within such platform. Minimum Initial Investment: None |
None | None | N/A | None |
| Class Inst3 |
Eligibility: Available to: (i) group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund(d); (ii) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; (iii) collective trust funds; (iv) affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); (v) fee-based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary they trade through) that have an agreement with the |
None | None | N/A | None |
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| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform, provided also that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vi) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (viii) bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor, may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement. Minimum Initial Investment: No minimum for the eligible investors described in (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) above; $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for the eligible investors described in (vi) above; and $1 million for all other eligible investors, unless waived in the discretion of the Distributor |
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| 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 financial intermediaries approved by the Distributor Minimum Initial Investment: None |
None | None | N/A | Distribution Fee: 0.50% |
| (a) | For more information on the conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares, see Choosing a Share Class — Sales Charges and Commissions — Class C Shares —Conversion to Class A Shares. |
| (b) | 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. |
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| (c) | These are the maximum applicable distribution and/or service fees under the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 plan. 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 service fees. For more information on distribution and service fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees. |
| (d) | These share classes are closed to new accounts generally or to new accounts of certain categories of investors, subject to certain conditions, as summarized below and described in more detail under Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares — Eligible Investors: |
• Class Inst Shares: Financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares and omnibus retirement plans are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts, subject to certain exceptions. Omnibus retirement plans that opened and, subject to exceptions, funded a Class Inst account as of close of business on March 28, 2013, and have continuously held Class Inst shares in such account after such date, may generally continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst shares, open new Class Inst 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 Inst accounts. Accounts of financial intermediaries (other than omnibus retirement plans) that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts or make additional purchases of Class Inst shares (other than through reinvestment of distributions).
• Class Inst2 Shares. Shareholders with Class Inst2 accounts funded before November 8, 2012 who do not satisfy the current eligibility criteria for Class Inst2 shares may not establish new Class Inst2 accounts but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares in existing accounts. In addition, investment advisory programs and similar programs that opened a Class Inst2 account as of May 1, 2010, and continuously hold Class Inst2 shares in such account after such date, may generally not only continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares but also open new Class Inst2 accounts and add new shareholders in the program.
• Class Inst3 Shares: Shareholders with Class Inst3 accounts funded before November 8, 2012 who do not satisfy the current eligibility criteria for Class Inst3 shares may not establish new accounts for such share class but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst3 shares in existing accounts.
Sales Charges and Commissions
Sales charges, commissions, and distribution fees compensate financial intermediaries (typically your financial advisor) for selling shares to you, and service fees compensate financial intermediaries for maintaining and servicing the shares held in your account with them. Distribution and service fees are discussed in a separate sub-section below. Depending on which share class you choose and the financial intermediary through which you purchase your shares, you may pay these charges at potentially different levels 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 distribution and/or service fees. You may be required to pay brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries when transacting in any class of Fund shares, including those that do not assess any front-end sales charge, contingent deferred sales charge, or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution. Such brokerage commissions and other fees are set by the financial intermediary.
As described in more detail below, Class A shares have a front-end sales charge, which is deducted from your purchase price when you buy your shares, and results in a smaller dollar amount being invested in the Fund than the purchase price you pay (unless you qualify for a waiver or reduction of the sales charge). The Fund’s other share classes do not have a front-end sales charge, so the full amount of your purchase price is invested in those classes. Class A shares have lower ongoing distribution and/or service fees than Class C and Class R shares of the Fund. Over time, Class C and Class R shares can incur distribution and/or service fees that are equal to or more than the front-end sales charge and the distribution and/or service fees you would pay for Class A shares. Although the full amount of your purchase price of Class C and Class R shares is invested in a Fund, your return on this money will be reduced by the expected higher annual expenses of Class C and Class R shares. In this regard, note that effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date (prior to April 1, 2021, the 10-year anniversary of such date). The Fund may convert Class C shares held through a financial intermediary to Class A shares sooner in connection with the withdrawal of Class C shares of the Fund from the financial intermediary’s platform or accounts. No sales charge or other charges will apply in connection with such conversions, and the conversions are free from U.S. federal income tax. Once your Class C shares convert to Class A shares, your total returns from an investment in the Fund may increase as a result of the lower operating costs of Class A shares. Class Adv, Class Inst, Class Inst2 and Class Inst3 shares of the Fund do not have distribution and/or service fees.
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Whether the ultimate cost is higher for one share class over another depends on the amount you invest, how long you hold your shares, the fees (i.e., sales charges) and expenses of the class and whether you are eligible for reduced or waived sales charges, if available. You are responsible for choosing the share class most appropriate for you after taking into account your share class eligibility, class-specific features, and any applicable reductions in, or waivers of, 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. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information about services, fees and expenses, and other important information about investing in the Fund, as well as with any questions you may have about your investing options. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts.
Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge
Unless your purchase qualifies for a waiver (e.g., you buy the shares through reinvested Fund dividends or distributions or subject to an applicable financial intermediary-specific waiver), you will pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class A shares, resulting in a smaller dollar amount being invested in a Fund than the purchase price you pay. The Class A shares sales charge is waived on Class C shares converted to Class A shares. For more information about sales charge waivers and reduction opportunities, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges and Appendix A.
The Distributor receives the sales charge and re-allows (or pays) a portion of the sales charge to the financial intermediary through which you purchased the shares. The Distributor retains the balance of the sales charge.
The front-end sales charge you will pay on Class A shares:
| ■ | depends on the amount you are 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 financial intermediary notifies the Fund). |
The table below presents the front-end sales charge as a percentage of both the offering price and the net amount invested.
| 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 financial intermediaries as a % of the offering price |
| Class A Shares | $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) | |
| (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 financial intermediary when you buy $1 million or more of Class A shares of a Fund, see Class A Shares — Commissions below. |
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Class A Shares — CDSC
In some cases, you'll pay a CDSC if you sell Class A shares that you purchased without a front-end sales charge.
| ■ | If you purchased Class A shares 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 the time periods noted above. |
Class A Shares — Commissions
The Distributor may pay your financial intermediary an up-front commission when you buy Class A shares. The Distributor generally funds the commission through the applicable sales charge you paid. For more information, see Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge above.
The Distributor may also pay your financial intermediary a cumulative commission when you buy Class A shares in amounts not subject to a front-end sales charge, according to the following schedules (assets initially purchased into Class A shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund that were purchased without the application of a front-end sales charge are excluded for purposes of calculating a financial intermediary’s commission under these schedules):
| Class A Shares — Commission Schedule (Paid by the Distributor to Financial Intermediaries) | |
| 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% |
| * | The commission level applies to the applicable asset level; therefore, for example, for a purchase of $5 million, the Distributor would pay a commission of 1.00% on the first $2,999,999 and 0.50% on the balance. |
Class C Shares — Front-End Sales Charge
You do not pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class C shares, but you may pay a CDSC when you sell 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.
Class C Shares — Conversion to Class A Shares
Effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares of a Fund generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Prior to April 1, 2021, Class C shares of a Fund generally automatically converted to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or in the month following the 10-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Class C shares held through a financial intermediary in an omnibus account will be converted (pursuant to the financial intermediary’s Class C conversion policy, including those disclosed in Appendix A, which may differ from the Fund’s policy described here) provided that the intermediary is able to track individual shareholders’ holding periods. It is the financial intermediary's (and not the Fund's) responsibility to keep records and to ensure that the shareholder holding period is calculated properly. Not all financial intermediaries are able to track individual shareholders' holding periods. For example, group retirement plans held through third-party intermediaries that hold Class C shares in an omnibus account may not track participant level share lot aging. Please consult with your financial intermediary about your
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Choosing a Share Class (continued)
eligibility for Class C share conversion. The Fund may convert Class C shares held through a financial intermediary to Class A shares sooner in connection with the withdrawal of Class C shares of the Fund from the financial intermediary's platform or accounts. Once your Class C shares convert to Class A shares, your total returns from an investment in the Fund may increase as a result of the lower operating costs of Class A shares.
The following rules apply to the automatic conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares:
| ■ | Class C share accounts that are Direct-at-Fund Accounts and Networked Accounts for which the Transfer Agent (and not your financial intermediary) sends you Fund account transaction confirmations and statements, convert on or about the 15th day of the month (if the 15th is not a business day, then the next business day thereafter) that they become eligible for automatic conversion provided that the Fund has records that Class C shares have been held for the requisite time period. |
| ■ | For purposes of determining the month when your Class C shares are eligible for conversion, the start of the holding period is the first day of the month in which your purchase was made. Your financial intermediary may choose a different day of the month to convert Class C shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information on calculating the holding period. |
| ■ | 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 C shares that were automatically converted. Class C shares that you received from an exchange of Class C shares of another Fund will convert based on the day you bought the original shares. |
| ■ | In addition to the above automatic conversion of Class C to Class A shares policy, the Transfer Agent seeks to convert Class C shares as soon as administratively feasible, regardless of how long such shares have been owned, to Class A shares of the same Fund for Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below) that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them. Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares; Class C share purchase orders received by Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund. |
| ■ | No sales charge or other charges apply in connection with these automatic conversions, and the conversions are free from U.S. federal income tax. |
Class C Shares — CDSC
You will 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 (e.g., the shares you are selling were purchased with reinvested Fund distributions). Redemptions of Class C shares are not subject to a CDSC if redeemed after 12 months. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.
Class C Shares — Commissions
Although there is no front-end sales charge when you buy Class C shares, the Distributor makes an up-front payment (which includes a sales commission and an advance of service fees) directly to your financial intermediary of up to 1.00% of the NAV per share when you buy Class C shares. A portion of this payment may be passed along to your financial advisor. The Distributor seeks to recover this payment through distribution fees of up to 0.75% and shareholder service fees of up to 0.25% it receives under the Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan during the first 12 months following the sale of Class C shares, and any applicable CDSC when you sell your shares. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees.
Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges
The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund (i.e., a Direct-at-Fund Account, as defined below) or through a financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales charge and/or CDSC waivers. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund
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Accounts, as defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts. In order to obtain waivers and discounts not available through a particular financial intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund (if permitted) or through a different financial intermediary. For a description of financial intermediary-specific sales charge reductions and/or waivers, see Appendix A.
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Reductions
The Fund makes available two means of reducing the front-end sales charge that you may pay when you buy Class A 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 (as described in the Eligible Accounts section below) maintained by you and members of your immediate family to reach a breakpoint discount level and apply a lower front-end sales charge to your purchase. To calculate the combined value of your eligible 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 and your “immediate family” members' ownership (as described in the FUNDamentals box below) of certain 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 of Class A 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 enough to reach the first (or next) breakpoint of the Fund. The required form of LOI may vary by financial intermediary, 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 and not current market value) of the shares held in each eligible account; reinvested dividends or capital gains, or purchases made through the reinstatement privilege do not count as purchases made under an LOI. For purposes of making an LOI to purchase additional shares, you may aggregate eligible shares owned by you or your immediate family members in eligible accounts, valued as of the day immediately before the initiation of your LOI.
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 financial intermediary 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 financial intermediaries. You and your financial intermediary are responsible for ensuring that you receive discounts for which you are eligible. Please contact your financial intermediary with questions regarding application of the eligible discount to your account. You may be asked by your financial intermediary (or by the Fund if you hold your account directly with the Fund) for account statements or other records to verify your discount eligibility for new and subsequent purchases, including, when applicable, records for accounts opened with a different financial intermediary and records of accounts established by members of your immediate family.
The sales charge reductions available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge reductions, see Appendix A.
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FUNDamentals
Your “Immediate Family” and Account Value Aggregation
For purposes of obtaining a breakpoint discount for Class A 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 retirement plan accounts are valued at the retirement plan level.
Eligible Accounts
The following accounts are eligible for account value aggregation as described above, provided that they are invested in Class A (excluding, in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts, Funds that do not assess a front-end sales charge, including Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund, unless such shares were purchased via an exchange from Class A shares of a Fund on which you paid the Class A share applicable front-end sales charge), Class C, Class E, Class Inst or Class V shares of a Fund, or non-retirement plan accounts invested in Class Adv, Class Inst2 or Class Inst3 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.
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 R shares of a Fund; and retirement plan accounts invested in Class Adv, Class Inst2 or Class Inst3 shares of a Fund.
Additionally, direct purchases of shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund may not be aggregated for account value aggregation purposes; however, shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund acquired by exchange from other Columbia Funds that assess a sales charge may be included in account value aggregation.
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers
There are no front-end sales charges on reinvested Fund distributions. The Class A shares sales charge is waived on conversions of Class C shares to Class A shares. The Distributor may waive front-end sales charges on purchases of Class A shares of the Funds by certain categories of investors, including Board members, certain employees of financial intermediaries, Fund portfolio managers, certain partners and employees of outside legal counsel to the Funds or the Board, separate accounts of an insurance company exempt from registration as an investment company under Section 3(c)(11) of the 1940 Act, registered broker-dealer firms that have an agreement with the Distributor purchasing Fund shares for their investment account only, and qualified employee benefit plan rollovers to Class A
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shares in the same Fund (see Appendix S to the SAI for details). For a more complete description of categories of investors who may purchase Class A 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 shares may be made at NAV. The Distributor may waive front-end sales charges on (i) purchases (including exchanges) of Class A shares in accounts of financial intermediaries 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; (ii) exchanges of Class Inst shares of a Fund for Class A shares of the Fund; (iii) purchases of Class A shares on brokerage mutual fund-only platforms of financial intermediaries that have an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes the offering of Class A shares within such platform; (iv) purchases through certain wrap fee or other products or programs that involve fee-based compensation arrangements that have, or clear trades through a financial intermediary that has, a selling agreement with the Distributor; (v) purchases through state sponsored 529 Plans; (vi) purchases through banks, trust companies, and thrift institutions acting as fiduciaries; (vii) purchases through certain employee benefit plans and certain qualified deferred compensation plans; and (viii) purchases of Class A shares in Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below) that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them. For a more complete description of these eligible transactions, see Appendix S to the SAI.
The sales charge waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge waivers, see Appendix A.
CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C
You may be able to avoid an otherwise applicable CDSC when you sell Class A or Class C 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; for which no sales commission or transaction fee was paid to an authorized financial intermediary at the time of purchase; purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions; that result from required minimum distributions taken from retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations; that result from returns of excess contributions made to retirement plans or individual retirement accounts (subject to certain conditions); initially purchased by an employee benefit plan (for Class A shares) and that are not connected with a plan level termination (for Class C shares); in connection with the Fund's Small Account Policy (which is described in Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Transaction Rules and Policies); held within Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them; and by certain other investors and in certain other types of transactions or situations. 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 a more complete description of the available waivers of the CDSC on redemptions of Class A or Class C shares, see Appendix S to the SAI.
The sales charge waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge waivers, see Appendix A.
Repurchases (Reinstatements)
As noted in the table below, you can redeem shares of certain classes (see Redeemed Share Class below) and use such redemption proceeds to buy shares of the Corresponding Repurchase Class without paying an otherwise applicable sales charge and/or CDSC (other than, in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts, redemptions from Funds that do not assess a front-end sales charge, including Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S.
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Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Treasury Index Fund, unless such shares were purchased via an exchange from Class A shares of a Fund on which you paid the Class A share applicable front-end sales charge) within 90 days, up to the amount of the redemption proceeds.
| Repurchases (Reinstatements) | |
| Redeemed Share Class | Corresponding Repurchase Class |
| Class A | Class A |
| Class C | Class C |
Any CDSC paid upon redemption of your Class A or Class C shares of a Fund will not be reimbursed.
To be eligible for the repurchase (or 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 financial intermediary within 90 days after the shares are redeemed. The purchase of the Corresponding Repurchase Class (as noted in the table above) through this repurchase (or reinstatement) privilege will be made at the NAV of such shares next calculated after the request is received in “good form.” 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 and/or the Distributor may change or cancel these terms and conditions at any time. Unless you provide your financial intermediary with information in writing about all of the factors that may count toward available reductions or waivers of an applicable sales charge, there can be no assurance that you will receive all of the reductions and waivers for which you may be eligible. To the extent your Fund account is held directly with the Fund, you should provide this information to the Fund when placing your purchase or redemption order. Please see Appendix A to this prospectus and Appendix S of the SAI for more information about sales charge waivers.
Distribution and Service Fees
The Board has approved, and the Columbia Acorn Funds have adopted, a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that sets 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 financial intermediaries for, with regard to distribution fees, selling Fund shares and, with regard to service fees, 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.
The table below shows the maximum annual distribution and/or service fees (as an annual percentage of average daily net assets) and the combined amount of such fees applicable to each share class of the Columbia Acorn Funds:
| Distribution Fee |
Service Fee |
Combined Total | |
| Class A | None | 0.25% | 0.25% |
| Class Adv | None | None | None |
| Class C | 0.75% | 0.25% | 1.00% |
| Class Inst | None | None | None |
| Class Inst2 | None | None | None |
| Class Inst3 | None | None | None |
| Class R | 0.50% | None | 0.50% |
The distribution and/or service fees for Class A, Class C, and Class R shares, as applicable, are subject to the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Distributor may retain these fees otherwise payable to financial intermediaries if the amounts due are below an amount determined by the Distributor in its sole discretion.
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Choosing a Share Class (continued)
For Class A shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees immediately after purchase, except in the following case, in which the Distributor begins to pay these fees 12 months after purchase: a purchase of Class A shares of $1 million or more that pay a Class A up-front commission to your financial intermediary and the financial intermediary has opted to receive such commission. The Distributor’s policy to otherwise begin to pay these fees immediately on Class A shares also applies to purchases of funds that do not pay an up-front sales commission on Class A shares, which includes Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund. For Class C shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees 12 months after purchase. However, for Class C shares, financial intermediaries may opt to decline the up-front payment described in Choosing a Share Class – Sales Charges and Commissions – Class C Shares – Commissions and instead may receive these fees immediately after purchase. If the intermediary opts to receive the up-front payment, the Distributor retains the distribution and service fee for the first 12 months following the sale of Class C shares in order to recover the up-front payment made to financial intermediaries and to pay for other related expenses. For Class R shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees immediately after purchase.
If you maintain shares of the Fund directly with the Fund, without working with a financial advisor or other financial intermediary, 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 financial intermediaries for as long as the distribution plan continues in effect, which is expected to be indefinitely. However, the Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time. Your financial intermediary may also charge you other additional fees for providing services to your account, which may be different from those described here.
Financial Intermediary Compensation
The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates make payments, from their own resources, to financial intermediaries, 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 attributable to that financial intermediary; gross sales of the Funds attributable to that financial intermediary; reimbursement of ticket charges (fees that a financial intermediary charges its representatives for effecting transactions in Fund shares); or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each financial intermediary, Marketing Support Payments to any one financial intermediary are generally between 0.01% and 0.40% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the financial intermediary, 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 financial intermediary. The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates make payments with respect to a Fund or the Columbia Funds generally on a basis other than those described above or in larger amounts when dealing with certain financial intermediaries. Not all financial intermediaries receive Marketing Support Payments. The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates do not make Marketing Support Payments with respect to Class Inst3 shares of the Columbia Acorn Funds.
In addition, the Transfer Agent has certain arrangements in place to compensate financial intermediaries, including other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, that hold Fund shares through networked and omnibus accounts, including omnibus retirement plans, for services that they provide to beneficial Fund shareholders (Shareholder Services). Shareholder Services and related fees vary by financial intermediary and according to distribution channel and 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, and are not intended to include services that are primarily intended to result in the sale of Fund shares. Payments for Shareholder Services vary by financial intermediary and according to distribution channel, but generally are not expected, with certain limited exceptions, to exceed 0.40% of the average aggregate value of the Fund’s shares. Payments to financial intermediaries in excess of the amounts paid by the Fund are borne by the Distributor, the Investment Manager and/or their affiliates.
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Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Generally, each of the Columbia Acorn Funds compensates the Transfer Agent for payments made for Shareholder Services, for each share class except Class Inst3. Effective July 1, 2017, the Columbia Acorn Funds compensate the Transfer Agent for payments made for Shareholder Services as follows:
| Financial Intermediary Distribution Channel | Fee Rate |
| Retirement | up to 0.18% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $18 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Fund supermarket transaction fee (TF) | up to 0.12% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $16 per account held for intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Fund supermarket no-transaction fee (NTF) | up to 0.18% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $18 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Bank | up to 0.10% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $20 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Broker-dealer | up to 0.13% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $16 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
With respect to Class Inst2 and Class Inst3 shares of the Fund, total annual compensation payable to the Transfer Agent may not exceed, respectively, 0.07% and 0.02% of the average daily net assets of the Class. For additional details about the application of the Columbia Acorn Funds’ fee limits, please refer to the SAI.
The Transfer Agent does not pay financial intermediaries for Shareholder Services, and the Fund does not compensate the Transfer Agent for any Shareholder Services provided by financial intermediaries with respect to Class Inst3 shares of the Columbia Acorn Funds. The Fund believes that the fee levels paid to the Transfer Agent are reasonably related to the Shareholder Services provided, but payments may vary and there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify with specificity the costs or particular Shareholder Services for which compensation is paid.
In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates typically make other payments or allow promotional incentives to certain broker-dealers to the extent permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 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 financial intermediaries, 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 financial intermediary may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described in this prospectus. You should consult with your financial intermediary and review carefully any disclosure your financial intermediary provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a financial intermediary and its financial advisors may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive for recommending the Fund or a particular share class over others.
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares
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, with the value of the Fund's shares based on the total value of all of the securities and other assets that it holds as of such specified time.
FUNDamentals
NAV Calculation
Each of the Fund's share classes calculates its NAV per share as follows:
NAV per share = (Value of assets of the share class) – (Liabilities of the share class)
Number of outstanding shares of the class
Number of outstanding shares of the class
FUNDamentals
Business Days
A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at (i) the scheduled close of the NYSE for such day (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or such other time as the NYSE may schedule), (ii) the scheduled close of the NYSE (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on any business day on which the NYSE has an unscheduled close or intraday trading halt or other disruption, regardless of the time of such unscheduled close, halt or disruption or whether trading resumes, or (iii) such other time as the Board may from time to time determine. 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 listed on an exchange are typically valued at the closing price or last trade on their primary exchange at the close of business of the NYSE. Equity securities without a readily available closing price or that are not listed on any exchange are typically valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices. Other equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are fair valued unless market quotations are readily available, 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 based on prices obtained from a pricing service, if available (which may represent market values or fair values). Investments in other open-end funds are valued at their published NAVs. The value of the Fund’s portfolio securities is determined in accordance with the valuation policy approved by the Board (the Valuation Policy). Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board has designated the Investment Manager as the Fund’s valuation designee. The Investment Manager, in turn, has authorized its Valuation Committee to make fair value determinations and to carry out supervisory and certain other functions relating to the valuation of Fund portfolio securities, pursuant to the Valuation Policy.
If a market price is not readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value for a portfolio security, the Investment Manager will determine the price based on a determination of the security's fair value pursuant to the Valuation Policy. In addition, the Investment Manager may use fair valuation techniques 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 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
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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.
Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Investment Manager uses fair valuation to price equity securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund or manager would. Also, fair valuation of Fund holdings may cause the Fund's performance to diverge to a greater degree from the performance of various benchmark indices used to compare the Fund's performance because indices 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.
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. Your financial intermediary may have rules and policies in place that are in addition to or different than those described below.
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 financial intermediary before the end of a business day are priced at the NAV per share (plus any applicable sales charge) 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 (plus any applicable sales charge). For Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below), 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 transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), 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 financial intermediary has received payment (in the case of purchases) and all of the information and documentation it deems necessary to effect your order. For example, when you sell shares, “good form” means that your request (i) has complete instructions and written requests include the signatures of all account owners, (ii) is for an amount that is less than or equal to the shares in your account for which payment has been received and collected, (iii) has a Medallion Signature Guarantee for amounts greater than $100,000 and certain other transactions, as described below, and (iv) includes 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, including 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; or (vi) you are changing legal ownership of your account.
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
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Signature Program (MSP). For other transactions, the Transfer Agent may require a signature guarantee. 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.
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 C, and Class Inst 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. Any otherwise applicable CDSC will not be imposed on such an automatic sale of your shares. Generally, you may avoid such an automatic sale by raising your account balance to at least $250 or consolidating your multiple accounts you may have with the Funds through an exchange (so as to maintain at least $250 in each of your accounts). The minimum account balance varies among share classes and types of accounts, as follows:
| Minimum Account Balance | |
| Minimum Account Balance | |
| For all classes and account types except those listed below | $250 (None for accounts with Systematic Investment Plans) |
| Individual Retirement Accounts for all classes except those listed below | None |
| Class Adv, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R | None |
For shares held directly with the Funds’ Transfer Agent, if your shares are sold, the Transfer Agent will remit the sale proceeds to you. 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 to at least $250, consolidating your multiple accounts you may have with the Funds through an exchange (so as to maintain at least $250 in each of your accounts), or setting up a Systematic Investment Plan. For more information, contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary. 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.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, the Funds may instruct the intermediary to automatically sell your Fund shares if the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
Small Account Policy — Class A, Class C, and Class Inst 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 could be subject to a $20 annual fee. 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 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 or for other reasons.
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
For shares held directly with the Funds’ Transfer Agent, 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 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 multiple accounts you may have with the Funds, or setting up a Systematic Investment Plan that invests at least monthly. For more information, contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary. 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.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, this fee could be assessed through the automatic sale of Fund shares in your account if instructed by the Fund and the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
Exceptions to the Small Account Policy (Accounts Below Minimum Account Balance) and Minimum Balance Fee
The automatic sale of Fund shares in accounts under $250 and the annual minimum balance fee described above do not apply to shareholders of Class Adv, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R shares; shareholders holding their shares through financial intermediary networked accounts; wrap fee and omnibus accounts; accounts with active monthly 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 — Financial Intermediary Networked and Wrap Fee Accounts
The Funds may automatically redeem, at any time, financial intermediary networked accounts and wrap fee accounts that have account balances of $20 or less or have less than one share.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, the Funds may instruct the intermediary to automatically sell your Fund shares if the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
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 financial intermediaries, including participating life insurance companies and financial intermediaries that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, financial intermediaries 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.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy
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 financial intermediaries.
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Specific Buying and Exchanging Limitations — If the 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 purchase 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 reserves 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 financial intermediaries, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by financial intermediaries 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 financial intermediaries such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit financial intermediaries to aggregate their clients' transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identities of the financial intermediary clients that beneficially own Fund shares are often not known to the Fund.
Some financial intermediaries apply their own restrictions or policies to their clients’ transactions and 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 Fund 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; |
| ■ | 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. |
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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.
The Columbia Acorn Funds may invest in thinly traded 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 as of the Fund's valuation time. 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 only, or significantly, in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling these particular investments 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 non-redeeming shareholders.
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 financial intermediary. 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 financial intermediaries or institutions, and through certain qualified and non-qualified plans, wrap fee products or other investment products sponsored by financial intermediaries. You may buy, sell, or exchange shares through your financial intermediary. If you maintain your account directly with your financial intermediary, you must contact that agent to process your transaction.
Not all financial intermediaries offer the Funds (or all classes of Fund shares) and certain financial intermediaries that offer the Funds may not offer all Funds on all investment platforms or programs. Please consult with your financial intermediary to determine the availability of the Funds. If you set up an account at a financial intermediary 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 financial intermediary or find another financial intermediary with a selling agreement.
Financial intermediaries 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. An investor transacting in a class of Fund shares without any front-end sales charge, CDSC, or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution, such as a Rule 12b-1 fee, may be required to pay a commission to the financial intermediary for effecting such transactions. The Funds are offered in a number of different share classes that have different fees and expenses and other features. Some differences in the policies of different financial intermediaries may include different minimum investment amounts, exchange privileges, Fund/class choices and cutoff times for investments. Additionally, recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to your account may be performed by the financial intermediaries 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 intermediary through which you purchased or at which you maintain your shares of the Fund to make changes to your account, 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 any financial intermediary to carry out its obligations to its customers.
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
The Fund may engage financial intermediaries 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.
Direct-At-Fund Accounts (Accounts Held Directly with the Fund)
Fund shares can be held in a variety of ways. You can hold Fund shares through an account established and held through the financial intermediary through which you purchased Fund shares, or you or your financial intermediary can establish an account directly with the Fund, in which case you will receive Fund account transaction confirmations and statements from the Transfer Agent, and not your financial intermediary (Direct-at-Fund Accounts). Direct-at-Fund Accounts include accounts held at the Transfer Agent that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them.
To open a Direct-at-Fund Account, 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 columbiathreadneedleus.com 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 your transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), 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. 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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you have a Direct-at-Fund 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 your transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), not the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery.
Include in your transaction request letter: your name; the name of the Fund(s); your account number; the class of shares to be purchased, exchanged or sold; your SSN or other TIN; the dollar amount or number of shares you want to purchase, exchange or sell; specific instructions regarding delivery of any redemption proceeds or exchange destination (i.e., the Fund/class to be exchanged into); signature(s) of all 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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
For Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares, if you have a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may place orders to buy, sell or exchange shares by telephone through the Transfer Agent. To place orders by telephone, call 800.422.3737. Have your account number and SSN or TIN available when calling.
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You can sell Fund shares via telephone and receive redemption proceeds: by electronic funds transfer via ACH, by wire, or by check to the address of record, subject to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account. You can buy Fund shares via telephone by electronic funds transfer via ACH from your bank account up to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account, or by wire from your bank account without a maximum. See below for more information regarding wire and electronic fund transfer transactions. Certain restrictions apply, so please call the Transfer Agent at 800.422.3737 for this and other information in advance of any need to transact via telephone.
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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
For Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares, if you have a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may be able to place orders to buy, sell, or exchange shares online. Contact the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611 for more information on certain account trading restrictions and the special sign-up procedures required for online transactions. You can also go to columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/ to sign up for online transactions. The Transfer Agent has procedures in place to authenticate electronic orders you send through the internet. You will be required to accept the terms of an online agreement and to establish an online account and utilize a password in order to access online account services. You can sell a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account through your online account if you qualify for internet orders. Wire transactions are not permitted online.
Wire Transactions – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you hold a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may purchase or redeem Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares of a Fund by wiring money from (or to) your bank account to (or from) your Fund account. You must set up this feature prior to your request unless you are submitting your request in writing, which may require a Medallion Signature Guarantee. Please contact the Transfer Agent by calling 800.422.3737 to obtain the necessary forms and requirements. The Transfer Agent charges a fee for shares sold by wire. 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. When selling Fund shares via a telephone request, the maximum amount that can be redeemed via wire transfer is $100,000 per day, per Fund account. Wire transactions are not permitted online.
Electronic Funds Transfer via ACH – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you hold a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may purchase or redeem Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares of a Fund by electronically transferring money via Automated Clearing House (ACH) from (or to) your bank account to (or from) your Fund account subject to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account. You must set up this feature prior to your request, unless you are submitting your request in writing, which may require a Medallion Signature Guarantee. Please contact the Transfer Agent by calling 800.422.3737 to obtain the necessary forms and requirements. Your bank may take up to three business days to post an electronic funds transfer to (or from) your Fund account.
Buying Shares
Eligible Investors
Class A Shares
Class A shares are available to the general public for investment.
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Class Adv Shares
Class Adv shares are available only to (i) omnibus retirement plans, including self-directed brokerage accounts within omnibus retirement plans that clear through institutional no transaction fee (NTF) platforms, (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 financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Adv eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements, (iv) 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, (v) 529 plans, (vi) health savings accounts, (vii) investors participating in a fee-based advisory program sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity 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, and (viii) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform.
Class C Shares
Class C shares are available to the general public for investment, except that Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares; Class C share purchase orders received from Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund.
Class Inst Shares
Class Inst shares are available only to the categories of eligible investors described below under Class Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments. Financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares and omnibus retirement plans are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts, subject to certain exceptions described below.
Omnibus retirement plans that opened and, subject to certain exceptions, funded a Class Inst account with the Fund as of the close of business on March 28, 2013 and have continuously held Class Inst shares in such account after such date (each, a grandfathered plan), may generally continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst shares, open new Class Inst 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 Inst accounts in a Fund if the affiliated plan opened a Class Inst account on or before March 28, 2013. If an omnibus retirement plan invested in Class Inst shares changes recordkeepers after March 28, 2013, any new accounts established for that plan may not be established in Class Inst shares, but such a plan may establish new accounts in a different share class for which the plan is eligible.
Accounts of financial intermediaries (other than omnibus retirement plans, which are discussed above) that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares will not be permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts or make additional purchases of Class Inst shares (other than through reinvestment of distributions). Any such account may, at its holder’s option, exchange Class Inst shares of a Fund, without the payment of a sales charge, for Class A shares of the same Fund.
Class Inst2 Shares
Class Inst2 shares are available only to (i) certain registered investment advisers and family offices that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Inst2 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (ii) omnibus retirement plans; (iii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically
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authorizes offering Class Inst2 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (iv) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst2 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst2 shares within such platform. Prior to November 8, 2012, Class Inst2 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 Inst2 may not establish new Class Inst2 accounts but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares in accounts opened and funded prior to November 8, 2012; provided, however, that investment advisory programs and similar programs that opened a Class Inst2 account as of May 1, 2010, and continuously hold Class Inst2 shares in such account after such date, may generally not only continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares but also open new Class Inst2 accounts for such pre-existing programs and add new shareholders in the program.
Class Inst3 Shares
Class Inst3 shares are available to: (i) group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund (through the Transfer Agent); (ii) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; (iii) collective trust funds; (iv) affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); (v) fee-based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary that they trade through) that have an agreement with the Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform, provided also that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vi) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (viii) bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement.
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 financial intermediaries 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.
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, and may also waive certain eligibility requirements for operational and other reasons, including but not limited to any requirement to maintain Fund shares in networked or omnibus accounts.
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Minimum Initial Investments
The table below shows the Fund’s minimum initial investment requirements, which may vary by class and type of account.
The Fund reserves the right to redeem your shares if your account falls below the Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement.
| Minimum Initial Investments | ||
| Minimum Initial Investment(a) |
Minimum Initial Investment for Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans | |
| For all classes and account types except those listed below | $2,000 | $100 |
| Individual Retirement Accounts for all classes except those listed below | $1,000 | $100 |
| Group retirement plans | None | N/A |
| Class Adv and Class Inst | $0, $1,000 or $2,000(b) | $100(b) |
| Class Inst2 and Class R | None | N/A |
| Class Inst3 | $0, $1,000, $2,000 or $1 million(c) | $100(c) |
| (a) | If your Class A, Class Adv, Class C, Class Inst, or Class Inst3 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. There is no minimum initial investment in Class A shares for accounts held in an omnibus account on a mutual fund only platform offered through your financial intermediary. |
| (b) | The minimum initial investment in Class Adv shares is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customers, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform; for all other eligible Class Adv share investors (see Buying Shares – Eligible Investors – Class Adv Shares above), there is no minimum initial investment. The minimum initial investment amount for Class Inst shares is $0, $1,000 or $2,000 depending upon the category of eligible investor. See — Class Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments below. The minimum initial investment amount for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts is the same as the amount set forth in the first two rows of the table, as applicable. |
| (c) | There is no minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares for: group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund; collective trust funds; affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); and fee -based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary that they trade through) that have an agreement with the Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform and Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares is $1 million, unless waived in the discretion of the Distributor, for the following investors: institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; and bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The Distributor may, in its discretion, waive the $1 million minimum initial investment required for these Class Inst3 investors. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor, may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement. |
Additional Information about Minimum Initial Investments
The minimum initial investment requirements may be waived for accounts that are managed by an investment professional, or for accounts held in approved discretionary or non-discretionary wrap programs. 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.
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Class Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments
There is no minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors:
| ■ | Any health savings account sponsored by a third party platform. |
| ■ | Any investor participating in an account sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity (that provides services to the account) that is paid a fee-based advisory 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. |
| ■ | Any commissionable brokerage account, if a financial intermediary has received a written approval from the Distributor to waive the minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares. |
| ■ | Any Trustee (or family member) of Columbia Acorn Trust. |
| ■ | Any employee (or family member) of the Investment Manager. |
The minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors is $1,000:
| ■ | Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) on commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform. |
| ■ | Any current 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 are eligible to invest in Class Inst shares through an individual retirement account (IRA). 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 Inst shares. If Class Inst shares are not available at your financial intermediary, you may consider opening a Direct-at-Fund Account. It is your obligation to advise your financial intermediary or (in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts) the Transfer Agent that you qualify for Class Inst shares; be prepared to provide proof thereof. |
The minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors is $2,000:
| ■ | Investors (except investors in individual retirement accounts (IRAs)) who purchase Fund shares through commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary holds the shares in an omnibus account and, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform. |
| ■ | Any current 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 are eligible to invest in Class Inst shares (other than individual retirement accounts (IRAs), for which the minimum initial investment is $1,000). 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 Inst shares. If Class Inst shares are not available at your financial intermediary, you may consider opening a Direct-at-Fund Account. It is your obligation to advise your financial intermediary or (in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts) the Transfer Agent that you qualify for Class Inst shares; be prepared to provide proof thereof. |
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | Bank trust departments that assess their clients an asset-based fee. |
| ■ | Any trustee or director (or family member of a trustee or director) of a fund distributed by the Distributor (other than the Columbia Acorn Funds). |
| ■ | Certain other investors as set forth in more detail in the SAI. |
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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 financial intermediary to set up the plan. Systematic Investment Plans may not be available for all share classes. With the exception of Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Systematic Investment Plan purchases will be confirmed on your quarterly account statement. Columbia Government Money Market Fund Systematic Investment Plan purchases will be confirmed at the time of the purchase. If establishing a Systematic Investment Plan to reduce the initial fund minimum, the plan needs to be established monthly to avoid the small account fee.
Dividend Diversification
Generally, you may automatically invest Fund distributions into the same class of shares (and in some cases certain other classes of shares) of another Fund without paying any applicable front-end sales charge. 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 financial intermediaries.
Other Purchase Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Once the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary receives your purchase order in “good form,” your purchase will be made at the Fund’s next calculated public offering price per share, which is the NAV per share plus any sales charge that applies (i.e., the trade date). |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your purchase request in “good form,” you cannot cancel it after the market closes. |
| ■ | You generally buy Class A 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 Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R shares at NAV 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 request if the Fund does not receive payment within two business days of receiving your purchase order request. The Fund will return any payment received for orders that have been cancelled, but no interest will be paid on that money. |
| ■ | Financial intermediaries are responsible for sending your purchase orders to the Transfer Agent and ensuring that the Fund receives your money on time. |
| ■ | Shares purchased are recorded on the books of the Fund. The Fund does not issue certificates. |
| ■ | You generally may make a purchase only into a Fund that is accepting investments. |
Please also read Appendix A and contact your financial intermediary for more information regarding any reductions and/or waivers described therein.
Selling Shares
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,” (i.e., the trade date) 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 Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, and Class Inst3 share accounts. Contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary 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. Note that a Medallion Signature Guarantee may be required if this service is established after your Fund account is opened.
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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 redemption proceeds 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.
Satisfying Fund Redemption Requests
When you sell your Fund shares, the Fund is effectively buying them back from you. This is called a redemption. Except as noted below with respect to newly purchased shares, the Fund typically expects to send you payment for your shares within two business days after your trade date. The Fund can suspend redemptions and/or delay payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven days. The Fund can also suspend redemptions and/or delay payment of redemption proceeds in excess of seven days under certain circumstances, including when the NYSE is closed or trading thereon is restricted or during emergency or other circumstances, including as determined by the SEC.
The Fund typically seeks to satisfy redemption requests from cash or cash equivalents held by the Fund, from the proceeds of orders to purchase Fund shares or from the proceeds of sales of Fund holdings effected in the normal course of managing the Fund. However, the Fund may have to sell Fund holdings, including in down markets, to meet heavier than usual redemption requests. For example, under stressed or abnormal market conditions or circumstances, including circumstances adversely affecting the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, the Fund may be more likely to be forced to sell Fund holdings to meet redemptions than under normal market circumstances. In these situations, the Fund’s portfolio managers may have to sell Fund holdings that would not otherwise be sold because, among other reasons, the current price to be received is less than the value of the holdings perceived by the Fund’s portfolio managers. The Fund may also, under certain circumstances (likely under stressed or abnormal market conditions or circumstances), borrow money under a credit facility to which the Fund and certain other Columbia Funds are parties. The Fund and the other Columbia Funds are limited as to the amount that each may individually and collectively borrow under the credit facility. As a result, borrowings available to the Fund under the credit facility might be insufficient, alone or in combination with the other strategies described herein, to satisfy Fund redemption requests. Please see About Fund Investments – Borrowings in the SAI for more information about the credit facility. The Fund is also limited in the total amount it may borrow. Please see About Fund Investments – Fundamental and Non-Fundamental Investment Policies in the SAI for more information about borrowing.
In addition, the Fund reserves the right to honor redemption orders in whole or in part with in-kind distributions of Fund portfolio securities instead of cash. Such in-kind distributions typically represent a pro-rata portion of Fund portfolio assets subject to adjustments (e.g., for non-transferable securities, round lots, and derivatives, if any). In the event the Fund distributes portfolio securities in kind, you may incur brokerage and other transaction costs associated with converting the portfolio securities you receive into cash. Also, the portfolio securities you receive may increase or decrease in value after they are distributed but 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. The Trust has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, which means that for each redeeming shareholder, the first $250,000, or 1% of the Fund's net asset value, whichever is less, will be paid in cash or cash equivalents and the remainder may be paid in kind.
While the Fund is not required (and may refuse in its discretion) to pay a redemption with an in-kind distribution of Fund portfolio securities and reserves the right to pay the redemption proceeds in cash, if you wish to request an in-kind redemption, please call the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611. As a result of the operational steps needed to coordinate with the redeeming shareholder’s custodian, in-kind redemptions typically take several weeks to complete after a redemption request is received. The Fund and the redeeming shareholder will typically agree upon a redemption date. Since the Fund’s NAV may fluctuate during this time, the Fund’s NAV may be lower on the agreed-upon redemption date than on an earlier date on which the investment could have been redeemed for cash.
| Prospectus 2023 | 57 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Redemption of Newly Purchased Shares
You may not redeem shares for which the Fund has not yet received payment. Shares purchased by check or electronically by ACH when the purchase payment is not guaranteed will be considered in “good form” for redemption only after they have been held in your account for 6 calendar days after the trade date of the purchase (Collected Shares). If you request a redemption for an amount that, based on the NAV next calculated after your redemption request is received, includes any shares that are not yet Collected Shares, the Fund will only process the redemption up to the amount of the value of Collected Shares available in your account. You must submit a new redemption request if you wish to redeem those shares that were not yet Collected Shares at the time the original redemption request was received by the Fund.
Other Redemption Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Once the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary receives your redemption order in “good form,” your shares will be sold at the Fund’s next calculated NAV per share (i.e., the trade date). Any applicable CDSC will be deducted from the amount you're selling and the balance will be remitted to you. |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your redemption request in “good form,” you cannot cancel it after the market closes. |
| ■ | The Distributor, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to liquidate Fund shares (of any class of the Fund) held in an omnibus account of a financial intermediary that clears Fund share transactions through a clearing intermediary or platform that charges certain maintenance fees to the Fund if the value of the omnibus account, at the Fund share class (i.e., CUSIP) level, falls below $100,000 (a CUSIP Liquidation Event). The Distributor will provide at least 90 days’ notice of a CUSIP Liquidation Event to financial intermediaries with impacted omnibus accounts. Shareholders invested in the Fund through such omnibus accounts can request through their financial intermediary a tax-free exchange to Class A shares or shareholders can consider holding their Fund shares in a Direct-at-Fund Account, provided requirements to transfer the account are fulfilled. You should discuss your options with your financial intermediary. |
| ■ | If you sell your shares that are held in a Direct-at-Fund Account, we will normally send the redemption proceeds by mail or electronically transfer them to your bank account the next business day after the trade date. Note that your bank may take up to three business days to post an electronic funds transfer from your account. |
| ■ | If you sell your shares through a financial intermediary, the Funds will normally send the redemption proceeds to your financial intermediary within two business days after the trade date. |
| ■ | No interest will be paid on uncashed redemption checks. |
| ■ | 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 (subject to eligibility requirements), 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. 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. Please see Same-Fund Exchange Privilege below for more information.
You will be subject to a sales charge if, in a Direct-at-Fund Account, you exchange shares that have not previously paid a sales charge, including from Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia U.S.
| 58 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not charge a front-end sales charge, into a Columbia Fund that does assess a sales charge. If you hold your Fund shares through certain financial intermediaries, you may have limited exchangeability among the Funds. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.
Systematic Exchanges
You may buy Class A, Class C, Class Inst and Class Inst3 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 financial intermediary to set up the plan.
Exchanges will continue as long as your balance in the Fund you are exchanging shares from is sufficient to complete the systematic monthly exchange, 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.
Other Exchange Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Exchanges are made at the NAV next calculated (plus any applicable sales charge) after your exchange order is received in “good form” (i.e., the trade date). |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your exchange request in “good form,” 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 Government 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 Government 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 Government Money Market Fund or Class A shares of any other Fund. |
| ■ | A sales charge may apply when you exchange shares of a Fund that were not assessed a sales charge at the time you purchased such shares. If you invest through a Direct-at-Fund Account in Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund, Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not impose a front-end sales charge and then you exchange into a Fund that does assess a sales charge, 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 Columbia Funds. |
| ■ | If you purchased Class A shares of a Columbia Fund that imposes a front-end sales charge (and you paid any applicable sales charge) and you then exchange those shares into Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund, Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not impose a front-end sales charge, you may exchange that amount to Class A of another Fund in the future, 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. Any applicable CDSC charged 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 financial intermediary for more information. |
| Prospectus 2023 | 59 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
| ■ | 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 Inst shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Class A or Class Inst shares of another Fund. In certain circumstances, the front-end sales charge applicable to Class A shares may be waived on exchanges of Class Inst shares for Class A shares. See Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares — Eligible Investors — Class Inst Shares for details. |
Same-Fund Exchange Privilege
Shareholders may be eligible to invest in other classes of shares of the same Fund, and may exchange their current shares for another share class if deemed eligible and offered by the Fund. Such same-Fund exchanges could include an exchange of one class for another with higher expenses. Before making such an exchange, you should consider the expenses of each class. Shareholders should contact their financial intermediaries to learn more about the details of the same-Fund exchange privilege. Exchanges out of Class A and Class C shares will be subject to any applicable CDSC. Financial intermediaries that have a customized arrangement with regard to CDSCs are detailed in Appendix A.
Exchanges out of Class C shares to another share class of the same Fund are not permissible on Direct-at-Fund Accounts, except that the Transfer Agent seeks to convert Class C shares as soon as administratively feasible to Class A shares of the same Fund for Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them. Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares. Class C share purchase orders received by Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund. Exchanges out of Class C shares to another share class of the same Fund within commissionable brokerage accounts are permitted only (1) when the shareholder moves from a commissionable brokerage account to a fee-based advisory program or (2) when the exchange is part of a share class conversion (or a similar multiple shareholder transaction event) instituted by a financial intermediary and such conversion or similar type event is preapproved by the Distributor.
Ordinarily, shareholders will not recognize a gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon a same-Fund exchange. You should consult your tax advisor about your particular exchanges.
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Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Distributions and Taxes
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). |
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 (or be exposed to additional losses, if the Fund earns a negative return). 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 income or 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, the 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 NAV 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 financial intermediary 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
| Prospectus 2023 | 61 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
“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.
Taxes
You should be aware of the following considerations applicable to the Fund:
| ■ | 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 NAV 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. Certain events may require the Fund to sell significant amounts of appreciated securities and make large dividends relative to the Fund’s NAV. Such events may include large net shareholder redemptions, portfolio rebalancing or fund mergers. The Fund generally provides estimates of expected capital gain dividends (if any) prior to the distribution on columbiathreadneedleus.com. |
| ■ | From time to time, a distribution from the Fund could constitute a return of capital. A return of capital is a return of an amount of your original investment and is not a distribution of income or capital gain from the Fund. Therefore, a return of capital 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.” |
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | 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 capital gain or loss, as described further in the SAI. |
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Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | For sales, redemptions and exchanges of shares that were acquired in a non-qualified account after 2011, the Fund generally is required to report to shareholders and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cost basis information with respect to those shares. The Fund uses average cost basis as its default method of calculating cost basis. For more information regarding average cost basis reporting, other available cost basis methods, and selecting or changing to a different cost basis method, please see the SAI, columbiathreadneedleus.com, or contact the Fund at 800.345.6611. If you hold Fund shares through a financial intermediary (e.g., a brokerage firm), you should contact your financial intermediary to learn about its cost basis reporting default method and the reporting elections available to your account. |
| ■ | 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
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.
| Prospectus 2023 | 63 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The total return in the table represents the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total return does not reflect payment of sales charges, if any. Total return and portfolio turnover are not annualized for periods of less than one year. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated without regard to purchase and sales transactions of short-term instruments and certain derivatives, if any. If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate might be higher. The names of certain share classes may have changed during the periods shown below (see Appendix S to the SAI for details). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the Fund’s annual report, which is available upon request. The independent registered public accounting firm’s report and the Fund’s financial statements are also incorporated by reference into the SAI.
| Prospectus 2023 | 65 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, beginning of period |
Net investment income (loss) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
Total from investment operations |
Distributions from net investment income |
Distributions from net realized gains |
Total distributions to shareholders | |
| Class A | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $35.43 | 0.12(c) | (13.06) | (12.94) | — | (0.92) | (0.92) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $33.67 | (0.05) | 3.50 | 3.45 | (0.28) | (1.41) | (1.69) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $28.58 | (0.03) | 5.21 | 5.18 | (0.09) | — | (0.09) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $23.44 | 0.09 | 7.67 | 7.76 | (0.28) | (2.34) | (2.62) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $28.89 | 0.06 | (3.66) | (3.60) | — | (1.85) | (1.85) |
| Advisor Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $36.35 | 0.18(c) | (13.40) | (13.22) | — | (0.92) | (0.92) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $34.56 | 0.04 | 3.59 | 3.63 | (0.43) | (1.41) | (1.84) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $29.26 | 0.04 | 5.35 | 5.39 | (0.09) | — | (0.09) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $24.00 | 0.18 | 7.84 | 8.02 | (0.42) | (2.34) | (2.76) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $29.46 | 0.09 | (3.70) | (3.61) | — | (1.85) | (1.85) |
| Class C | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $31.86 | (0.06) (c) | (11.72) | (11.78) | — | (0.92) | (0.92) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $30.40 | (0.30) | 3.17 | 2.87 | — | (1.41) | (1.41) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $26.00 | (0.23) | 4.72 | 4.49 | (0.09) | — | (0.09) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $21.48 | (0.10) | 6.99 | 6.89 | (0.03) | (2.34) | (2.37) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $26.85 | (0.12) | (3.40) | (3.52) | — | (1.85) | (1.85) |
| Institutional Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $36.01 | 0.18(c) | (13.28) | (13.10) | — | (0.92) | (0.92) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $34.25 | 0.04 | 3.56 | 3.60 | (0.43) | (1.41) | (1.84) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $29.00 | 0.03 | 5.31 | 5.34 | (0.09) | — | (0.09) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $23.81 | 0.17 | 7.78 | 7.95 | (0.42) | (2.34) | (2.76) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $29.25 | 0.14 | (3.73) | (3.59) | — | (1.85) | (1.85) |
| Institutional 2 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $36.33 | 0.20(c) | (13.39) | (13.19) | — | (0.92) | (0.92) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $34.57 | 0.06 | 3.60 | 3.66 | (0.49) | (1.41) | (1.90) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $29.24 | 0.08 | 5.34 | 5.42 | (0.09) | — | (0.09) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $24.01 | 0.18 | 7.86 | 8.04 | (0.47) | (2.34) | (2.81) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $29.44 | 0.11 | (3.69) | (3.58) | — | (1.85) | (1.85) |
| Institutional 3 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $36.31 | 0.21(c) | (13.39) | (13.18) | — | (0.92) | (0.92) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $34.56 | 0.09 | 3.59 | 3.68 | (0.52) | (1.41) | (1.93) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $29.22 | 0.07 | 5.36 | 5.43 | (0.09) | — | (0.09) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $24.00 | 0.20 | 7.86 | 8.06 | (0.50) | (2.34) | (2.84) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $29.42 | 0.17 | (3.74) | (3.57) | — | (1.85) | (1.85) |
| Notes to Financial Highlights | |
| (a) | Had the Investment Manager and/or Transfer Agent not waived fees and/or reimbursed a portion of expenses, total return would have been reduced. |
| (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, if any. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund's reported expense ratios. |
| (c) | Net investment income per share includes European Union tax reclaims. The effect of these reclaims amounted to $0.02 per share. |
| (d) | Ratios include Trustees’ fees deferred during the current period as well as any gains or losses on the Trustees’ deferred compensation balances as a result of market fluctuations. If these had been excluded, expenses would have been higher by 0.02%. |
| (e) | Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%. |
| (f) | The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%. |
| 66 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, end of period |
Total return(a) |
Total gross expense ratio to average net assets(b) |
Total net expense ratio to average net assets(b) |
Net investment income (loss) ratio to average net assets |
Portfolio turnover |
Net assets, end of period (000's) | |
| Class A | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $21.57 | (36.80%) | 1.50% (d), (e) | 1.24% (d), (e), (f) | 0.48% | 21% | $124,963 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $35.43 | 10.49% | 1.44% (e) | 1.23% (e), (f) | (0.15%) | 27% | $235,103 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $33.67 | 18.21% | 1.48% | 1.26% (f) | (0.10%) | 68% | $230,519 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $28.58 | 33.37% | 1.54% (e) | 1.35% (e), (f) | 0.34% | 46% | $37,461 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $23.44 | (12.46%) | 1.54% | 1.40% (f) | 0.20% | 48% | $26,073 |
| Advisor Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $22.21 | (36.63%) | 1.24% (d), (e) | 0.99% (d), (e), (f) | 0.71% | 21% | $924 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $36.35 | 10.78% | 1.19% (e) | 0.98% (e), (f) | 0.11% | 27% | $2,462 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.56 | 18.51% | 1.23% | 1.02% (f) | 0.12% | 68% | $2,748 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $29.26 | 33.73% | 1.29% (e) | 1.10% (e), (f) | 0.63% | 46% | $2,030 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $24.00 | (12.26%) | 1.29% | 1.15% (f) | 0.31% | 48% | $1,201 |
| Class C | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $19.16 | (37.29%) | 2.25% (d), (e) | 1.99% (d), (e), (f) | (0.27%) | 21% | $1,085 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $31.86 | 9.68% | 2.19% (e) | 1.98% (e), (f) | (0.93%) | 27% | $2,146 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $30.40 | 17.37% | 2.23% | 2.02% (f) | (0.88%) | 68% | $3,251 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $26.00 | 32.31% | 2.29% (e) | 2.10% (e), (f) | (0.42%) | 46% | $2,493 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $21.48 | (13.11%) | 2.28% | 2.15% (f) | (0.43%) | 48% | $2,752 |
| Institutional Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $21.99 | (36.65%) | 1.25% (d), (e) | 0.99% (d), (e), (f) | 0.73% | 21% | $79,829 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $36.01 | 10.79% | 1.19% (e) | 0.98% (e), (f) | 0.10% | 27% | $159,876 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.25 | 18.50% | 1.23% | 1.02% (f) | 0.12% | 68% | $155,133 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $29.00 | 33.71% | 1.29% (e) | 1.10% (e), (f) | 0.59% | 46% | $88,922 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $23.81 | (12.28%) | 1.28% | 1.15% (f) | 0.47% | 48% | $69,413 |
| Institutional 2 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $22.22 | (36.57%) | 1.11% (d), (e) | 0.89% (d), (e) | 0.78% | 21% | $9,225 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $36.33 | 10.87% | 1.10% (e) | 0.89% (e) | 0.17% | 27% | $51,805 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.57 | 18.63% | 1.15% | 0.93% | 0.27% | 68% | $77,420 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $29.24 | 33.82% | 1.22% (e) | 1.00% (e) | 0.65% | 46% | $3,392 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $24.01 | (12.16%) | 1.21% | 1.06% | 0.36% | 48% | $1,200 |
| Institutional 3 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $22.21 | (36.56%) | 1.06% (d), (e) | 0.84% (d), (e) | 0.81% | 21% | $11,188 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $36.31 | 10.93% | 1.05% (e) | 0.84% (e) | 0.24% | 27% | $28,694 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $34.56 | 18.67% | 1.09% | 0.89% | 0.24% | 68% | $27,064 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $29.22 | 33.90% | 1.16% (e) | 0.96% (e) | 0.72% | 46% | $13,861 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $24.00 | (12.14%) | 1.14% | 1.02% | 0.58% | 48% | $8,627 |
| Prospectus 2023 | 67 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges
As noted in the Choosing a Share Class section of the prospectus, the sales charge reductions and waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. This Appendix A describes financial intermediary-specific reductions and/or waiver policies applicable to Fund shares purchased and held through the particular financial intermediary. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to a particular financial intermediary is not available to Direct-at-Fund Accounts and does not apply in any case to non-omnibus positions wherever held. These reductions and/or waivers may apply to purchases, sales, and exchanges of Fund shares. A shareholder transacting in Fund shares through a financial intermediary identified below should carefully read the terms and conditions of the reductions and/or waivers. Please consult your financial intermediary with respect to any sales charge reduction/waiver described below.
The financial intermediary-specific information below may be provided by, or compiled from or based on information provided by, the financial intermediaries noted. While the Funds, the Investment Manager and the Distributor do not establish these financial intermediary-specific policies, our representatives are available to answer questions about these financial intermediary-specific policies and can direct you to the financial intermediary if you need help understanding them.
Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (Ameriprise Financial Services)
The following information has been provided by Ameriprise Financial Services:
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers Available at Ameriprise Financial Services:
The following information applies to Class A shares purchases if you have an account with or otherwise purchase Fund shares through Ameriprise Financial Services:
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Ameriprise Financial Services brokerage account are eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the Columbia Fund family). |
| ■ | Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 7-year anniversary of the purchase date. To the extent that the Fund’s Class C Shares – Conversion to Class A Shares policy (stated outside this Appendix A) provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares or the conversion of Class C shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial Services or its affiliates and their immediate family members. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise financial advisor and/or the advisor’s spouse, advisor’s lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), advisor’s lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another fund in the Columbia Fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement). |
| A-1 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (Baird)
The following information has been provided by Baird:
Effective June 30, 2020, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Baird platform or account that maintains an omnibus position with the Fund will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to Baird will not apply to non-omnibus positions.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Baird:
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same Columbia Fund. |
| ■ | Share purchases by employees and registered representatives of Baird or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Baird. |
| ■ | Shares purchased with the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same accounts, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights of reinstatement). |
| ■ | A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares of the same Columbia Fund if the shares are no longer subject to CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Baird. |
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage account at Baird, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares Available at Baird:
| ■ | Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares purchased due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulations which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Baird. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Columbia Funds through Baird, over a 13-month period of time. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-2 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (Edward Jones)
Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
The following information has been provided by Edward Jones:
Effective on or after January 15, 2021, the following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in Columbia Fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as "shareholders") purchasing Columbia Fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as "breakpoints") and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder's responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings of Columbia Funds and Future Scholars Program, or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.
Breakpoints
| ■ | Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in this prospectus. |
Rights of Accumulation (ROA)
| ■ | The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of Columbia Funds and Future Scholars Program held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations ("pricing groups"). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible Columbia Fund assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a sales charge. |
| ■ | The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level. |
| ■ | ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares x NAV). |
Letter of Intent (LOI)
| ■ | Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts for purchases shareholders intend to make over a 13-month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total amount. The inclusion of eligible Columbia Fund assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted if LOI is not met. |
| ■ | If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the employer. |
| A-3 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Sales Charge Waivers
Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
| ■ | Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and their family members who are in the same pricing group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associate's life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones' policies and procedures. |
| ■ | Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of Columbia Funds so long as the following conditions are met: 1) the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, and 2) the sale and purchase are made in the same share class and the same account or the purchase is made in an individual retirement account with proceeds from liquidations in a non-retirement account. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Exchanges from Class C shares to Class A shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones. |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) Waivers
If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:
| ■ | The death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimum Balances, as described below. |
Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
Minimum Purchase Amounts
| ■ | Initial purchase minimum: $250 |
| ■ | Subsequent purchase minimum: none |
Minimum Balances
| ■ | Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion Fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy: |
| ■ | A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform. |
| ■ | A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform. |
| ■ | An account with an active systematic investment plan or LOI. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-4 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Exchanging Share Classes
| ■ | At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV a shareholder's holdings in the Fund to Class A shares. |
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (Janney)
The following information has been provided by Janney:
Effective May 1, 2020, if you purchase Columbia Fund shares through a Janney brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC, or back-end sales charge, waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to Janney does not apply to non-omnibus positions.
Front-End Sales Charge* Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Janney
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other Columbia Fund). |
| ■ | Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Janney. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within ninety (90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement). |
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Class C shares that are no longer subject to a CDSC and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Janney’s policies and procedures. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Janney
| ■ | Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged into the same share class of a different fund. |
Front-End Sales Charge* Discounts Available at Janney: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation, and/or Letters of Intent
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulation (“ROA”), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Janney. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within the Columbia Funds, over a 13-month time period. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Janney may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| A-5 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
* Also referred to as an “initial sales charge”.
Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch)
The following information has been provided by Merrill Lynch:
Shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI:
Front-End Load Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch:
Merrill Lynch makes available breakpoint discounts on shares of the Fund through:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts as described in this prospectus will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts (including 529 program holdings, where applicable) within the purchaser’s household at Merrill Lynch. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of Intent (LOI) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Columbia Funds, through Merrill Lynch, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable). |
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Merrill Lynch:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by a 529 Plan (does not include 529 Plan units or 529-specific share classes or equivalents). |
| ■ | Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynch’s platform. |
| ■ | Shares of funds purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform (if applicable). |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other Columbia Fund). |
| ■ | Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e., level-load) shares of the same fund pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members. |
| ■ | Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Eligible shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). Automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are automatically sold to pay Merrill Lynch’s account maintenance fees are not eligible for reinstatement. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Merrill Lynch:
| ■ | Death or disability of the shareholder. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-6 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Merrill Lynch. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts, that are exchanged for a lower cost share class due to transfer to certain fee based accounts or platforms (applicable to Class A and Class C shares only). |
| ■ | Shares received through an exchange due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC (Morgan Stanley Wealth Management)
The following information has been provided by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management:
Effective July 1, 2018, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Effective July 1, 2018:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| ■ | Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s account linking rules. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account. |
| ■ | Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a CDSC and are exchanged for Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class exchange program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge. |
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and each entity’s affiliates (Raymond James)
The following information has been provided by Raymond James:
Intermediary-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies:
The availability of certain initial or deferred sales charge waivers and discounts may depend on the particular financial intermediary or type of account through which you purchase or hold Columbia Fund shares.
Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred (back-end) sales load (CDSC) waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any
| A-7 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Columbia Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts.
Raymond James:
Effective March 1, 2019, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account, or through an introducing broker-dealer or independent registered investment adviser for which Raymond James provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody services, will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Raymond James:
| ■ | Shares purchased in an investment advisory program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased within the Columbia Funds through a systematic reinvestment of capital gains and dividend distributions. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond James. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the Columbia Funds, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). |
| ■ | A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares Available at Raymond James:
| ■ | Death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
Front-End Load Discounts Available at Raymond James: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation and/or Letters of Intent:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Raymond James. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of rights of accumulation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within the Columbia Funds, over a 13-month time period. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-8 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Stifel Financial Corp. (Stifel)
The following information has been provided by Stifel:
Effective June 30, 2020, Class C shares of Columbia Funds that were purchased through a Stifel platform or account that maintains an omnibus position with the Fund that are no longer subject to a CDSC are exchanged to Class A shares of the same Columbia Fund pursuant to Stifel’s policies and procedures. This does not apply to non-omnibus positions.
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. (USBI)
The following information has been provided by USBI:
Effective September of 2021, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a USBI platform or who own shares for which USBI is the broker-dealer, where the shares are held in an omnibus account, will only be eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
All other sales charge waivers and reduction described elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI still apply.
USBI Conversion of Class C shares
Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge are systematically converted to the Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to USBI’s share class exchange policy.
Additional Sales Charge Reductions and/or Waivers Available at Certain Financial Intermediaries
Shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a platform or account of RBC Capital Markets, LLC are eligible for the following sales charge waiver:
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waiver Available at RBC Capital Markets, LLC:
| ■ | For employer-sponsored retirement plans held through a commissionable brokerage account, Class A shares are available at NAV (i.e., without a sales charge). For this purpose, employer-sponsored retirement plans include, but are not limited to, 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| A-9 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Acorn International SelectSM
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
Columbia Acorn Family of Funds
Additional Information About the Fund
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI also provides additional information about the Fund and its policies. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is legally part of this prospectus (incorporated by reference). To obtain these documents free of charge, to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries, please contact the Fund as follows:
By Mail: Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
By Telephone: 800.345.6611
Online: columbiathreadneedleus.com
Shareholder Communications with the Board
The Fund’s Board of Trustees has adopted procedures by which shareholders may communicate with the Board. Shareholders who wish to communicate with the Board should send their written communications to the Board by mail, c/o Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606, Attention: Secretary. Shareholder communications must (i) be in writing, (ii) identify the Columbia Acorn Fund to which the communication relates and (iii) state the particular class of shares and number of shares held by the communicating shareholder.
Obtaining Additional Information from the SEC
Reports and other information about the Fund are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can receive copies of this information, for a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
The investment company registration number of Columbia Acorn Trust, of which the Fund is a series, is 811-01829.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.
The Fund is distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.
The Fund is distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.
© 2023 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. All rights reserved.
PRO112_12_N01_(05/23)
Prospectus
May 1, 2023
Columbia Acorn Family of Funds
Managed by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
Columbia
Thermostat FundSM
Thermostat FundSM
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Table of Contents
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A-1 |
2
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Summary of the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Thermostat FundSM (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, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. 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 is available about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers from your financial intermediary, and can be found in the Choosing a Share Class section beginning on page 49 of the Fund’s prospectus, in Appendix A to the prospectus beginning on page A-1 and in Appendix S to the Statement of Additional Information (SAI) under Sales Charge Waivers beginning on page S-1.
| Class A | Class C | Classes Adv, Inst, Inst2 and Inst3 | |
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a % of offering price) | |||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a % of the lower of the original purchase price or current net asset value) | |||
| Class A | Class Adv | Class C | Class Inst | Class Inst2 | Class Inst3 | |
| Management fees | ||||||
| Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | ||||||
| Other expenses | ||||||
| Acquired fund fees and expenses | ||||||
| Total annual Fund operating expenses(c) | ||||||
| Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements(d) | ( |
( |
( |
( |
( |
( |
| Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements | ||||||
| (a) | |
| (b) | |
| (c) |
| (d) |
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, |
| Prospectus 2023 | 3 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
| ■ | 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. |
Class C shares’ 10-year cost examples below reflect the Class C shares 8-year conversion policy.
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:
| 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | |
| Class A (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Adv (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class C (assuming redemption of all shares at the end of the period) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class C (assuming no redemption of shares) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Class Inst3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund will indirectly bear the expenses associated with portfolio turnover of the Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests. Each Portfolio Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A Portfolio Fund’s higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when its 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 88 % of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund is primarily managed as a fund that invests in other funds (i.e., a “fund-of-funds”) that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing its assets among a selected group of underlying stock and bond mutual funds and exchanged-traded funds (ETFs) for which Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser (the Investment Manager) or its affiliates, including Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management), serves as investment adviser or principal underwriter (the Portfolio Funds). Under normal circumstances, the Fund allocates at least 95% of its net assets (stock/bond assets) among the Portfolio Funds according to an asset allocation table based on the current level of the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500® Index.
Generally, the Fund’s allocation to stock funds increases as the S&P 500® Index declines and decreases as the S&P 500® Index rises. When the S&P 500® Index goes up in relation to trading range bands that are predetermined by the Investment Manager, the Fund sells a portion of its stock Portfolio Funds and invests more in the bond Portfolio Funds, and when the S&P 500® Index goes down in relation to the predetermined bands, the Fund increases its investment in the stock Portfolio Funds. Under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 5% of net assets plus any cash received that day in cash, high quality short-term paper and government securities.
Although many asset allocation funds follow a basic approach of moving assets from stocks to bonds when the equity market goes up, and from bonds to stocks when the equity market goes down, some are run by investment managers who allocate fund assets by making subjective decisions based on complicated economic and financial models and complex graphs of market behavior. By contrast, the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund are made according to a single predetermined allocation table. The temperature in your house is run by a single rule: your thermostat turns on the furnace if your house is too cold or turns on the air conditioner if your house is too warm. This Fund works the same way, so it is named Columbia Thermostat Fund.
| 4 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Just as a thermostat may be set at different ranges for different seasons, the structure and allocation ranges of the Fund’s asset allocation table may be changed from time to time between two forms, based on the Investment Manager’s determination of whether it expects the equity market to be moving over the next year in a side-ways or non-directional pattern, which the Investment Manager terms an “expensive” market, or to be trending upward, which the Investment Manager terms a “normal” market. The Investment Manager’s process and methodology for determining whether the current market is “expensive” or “normal” and the structure of each form of allocation table are described in more detail in the Principal Investment Strategies section of the Fund's statutory prospectus. Such determination will be made on at least an annual basis and will be reflected in the asset allocation table disclosed in the Fund’s statutory prospectus. In general, the two different forms of allocation table are intended to maximize the capture of value under the two different sets of market conditions.
The Fund’s current form of asset allocation table, which is set forth in the Principal Investment Strategies section of the Fund's statutory prospectus, has been in place since the Fund’s inception, except for the period from May 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021. The current form of asset allocation table reflects the Investment Manager’s determination that the equity market is currently “expensive.” The “expensive” form of table may result in equity investment allocations as low as 10% or as high as 90% of Fund assets. The Investment Manager evaluates the appropriate form of asset allocation table and updates the S&P 500® Index trading range bands within the table at least annually. From May 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021, the form of asset allocation table in place for the Fund reflected the Investment Manager’s determination that the equity market was “normal.” With the “normal” form of table, the Fund’s equity investment allocations could be no less than 50% of Fund assets.
The Investment Manager chooses the Portfolio Funds to be generally consistent with the composition of the Fund’s primary stock and bond benchmarks and to allow the Fund to participate in strategies the Investment Manager believes can provide additional return due to active management.
The stock and bond Portfolio Funds that the Fund currently uses in its “fund-of-funds” structure, and the current target percentage for each Portfolio Fund within the stock or bond asset class, is set forth in the More Information – PIS section of the statutory prospectus for the Fund. The Investment Manager may substitute or add additional Portfolio Funds at any time, including funds introduced after the date of this prospectus.
See the Portfolio Funds Summary section of the Fund’s statutory prospectus for information about the Portfolio Funds’ investment objectives and principal investment strategies. Each of the Portfolio Funds is managed by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. The Fund does not pay any sales load on its purchases of shares of the Portfolio Funds.
The Investment Manager will conduct the market state review at least annually prior to the annual updating of this prospectus, and may, in its discretion, assess the market state on an “emergency” basis and make any changes deemed necessary to reflect, for example, a very significant move in market levels or a structural change affecting the markets.
Any such “emergency” changes by the Investment Manager, which are expected to be infrequent, would be disclosed in this prospectus.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risks, including general risks, as described below, relating to the Fund’s investment process and its “fund-of-funds” structure. An investment in the Fund also involves specific risks related to the individual Portfolio Funds, including but not limited to those in which it invests. These risks are listed below, which in the aggregate are considered principal risks of investing in the Fund. More information about the Portfolio Funds, including their principal risks, is available in their prospectuses. This prospectus is not an offer for any of the Portfolio Funds. 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. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
| Prospectus 2023 | 5 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Allocation Risk. The Investment Manager uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective, there is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes or investments will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Fund-of-Funds Risk. Determinations regarding asset classes or Portfolio Funds and the Fund’s allocations thereto may not successfully achieve the Fund’s investment objective, in whole or in part. The selected Portfolio 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 Portfolio Funds that could have been selected to represent the asset class. The Fund also is exposed to the same risks as the Portfolio Funds in direct proportion to the allocation of its assets among the Portfolio Funds. By investing in a combination of Portfolio Funds, the Fund has exposure to the risks of many areas of the market. The ability of the Fund to realize its investment objective will depend, in large part, on the extent to which the Portfolio Funds realize their investment objectives. There is no guarantee that the Portfolio Funds will achieve their respective investment objectives. The performance of Portfolio Funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same Portfolio Funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such Portfolio 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 Portfolio Fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in a Portfolio 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 a Portfolio Fund. This risk may be particularly important when one investor owns a substantial portion of a Portfolio 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 Portfolio Funds may be higher than the fees paid by other Portfolio Funds. Columbia Thermostat Fund currently invests only in affiliated Portfolio Funds.
Market Risk. The Fund may incur losses due to declines in the value of one or more securities in which it invests. These declines may be due to factors affecting a particular issuer, or the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s) more generally. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to price or value hard-to-value assets in thinly traded and closed markets and could cause significant redemptions and operational challenges. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as terrorism, war, other conflicts, natural disasters, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other public health issues, recessions, depressions or other events – or the potential for such events – could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions.
The Fund is subject indirectly to the risks of the Portfolio Funds in which it invests. These risks are listed below. Please see the Portfolio Funds Summary and the More Information About the Fund sections of the Fund's statutory prospectus for information about the risks that apply to the Portfolio Funds.
| ■ | Active Management Risk |
| ■ | Interest Rate Risk |
| ■ | Credit Risk |
| ■ | Preferred Stock Risk |
| ■ | High-Yield Investments Risk |
| ■ | Value Securities Risk |
| ■ | Growth Securities Risk |
| ■ | Sector Risk (including Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk, Financial Services Sector Risk, and Information Technology Sector Risk) |
| 6 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
| ■ | Foreign Securities Risk |
| ■ | Emerging Market Securities Risk |
| ■ | Sovereign Debt Risk |
| ■ | Foreign Currency Risk |
| ■ | Liquidity and Trading Volume Risk |
| ■ | Issuer Risk (including Small- and Mid-Cap Stock Risk, and Large-Cap Stock Risk) |
| ■ | U.S. Government Obligations Risk |
| ■ | Derivatives Risk (including Forward Contracts Risk) |
| ■ | Convertible Securities Risk |
| ■ | Forward Commitments on Mortgage-Backed Securities (including Dollar Rolls) Risk |
| ■ | Stripped Securities Risk |
| ■ | Prepayment and Extension Risk |
| ■ | Reinvestment Risk |
| ■ | Depositary Receipts Risk |
| ■ | Changing Distribution Level Risk. |
| ■ | Geographic Focus Risk |
| ■ | Quantitative Models Risk |
| ■ | Rule 144A and Other Exempted Securities Risk |
| ■ | Counterparty Risk |
| ■ | Liquidity Risk. |
| ■ | Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk |
| ■ | LIBOR Replacement Risk. |
| ■ | Frequent Trading Risk |
| ■ | Leverage Risk |
| ■ | Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk |
The Fund is subject indirectly to the following risks of Portfolio Funds seeking returns that correspond to a stated market index.
| ■ | Passive Investment Risk |
| ■ | Index Fund Risk |
| ■ | Index Methodology Risk |
| ■ | Correlation/Tracking Error Risk |
The Fund is subject indirectly to the following risks of Portfolio Funds that are exchange-traded funds seeking investment results that, before fees and expenses, closely correspond to the performance of a stated index.
| ■ | Exchange-Traded Fund Risk |
| ■ | Secondary Market Trading Risk |
| ■ | Market Price Relative to NAV Risk |
| ■ | Authorized Participant Concentration Risk |
| ■ | Fund Shares Liquidity Risk |
| ■ | Early/Late Close/Trading Halt Risk |
| Prospectus 2023 | 7 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Performance Information
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the Average Annual Total Returns table below includes the Fund’s Class Inst 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 Fund’s performance prior to May 2018 reflects returns achieved following a principal investment strategy with a single form of asset allocation table. While the Fund now follows a principal investment strategy with two potential forms of asset allocation tables, as described above in the Principal Investment Strategies section, the form of the Fund’s currently effective asset allocation table was in place from the Fund’s inception in 2002 through April 30, 2020. The Fund's performance prior to May 1, 2020 and after April 30, 2021 reflects the current form of allocation table. The Fund’s performance from May 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021 reflects a different form of asset allocation table.
| 8 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
as of December 31 Each Year* |
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart | ||
 |
|||
| - | |||
| * |
Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2022)
| Share Class Inception Date |
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | |
| Class Inst | ||||
| returns before taxes | - |
|||
| returns after taxes on distributions | - |
|||
| returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares | - |
|||
| Class A returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Class Adv returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Class C returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Class Inst2 returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Class Inst3 returns before taxes | - |
|||
| Blended Benchmark (Secondary Benchmark; an equally weighted custom composite of the Fund's primary benchmarks for equity and debt securities, established by the Investment Manager; reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | - |
|||
| S&P 500® Index (Primary Equity Benchmark; reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | - |
|||
| Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (Primary Debt Benchmark; reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | - |
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
| Portfolio Management | Title | Role with Fund | Service with the Fund Since | |||
| Alex M. Rivas | Portfolio Manager of Columbia Management and Vice President of the Investment Manager | Portfolio Manager since 2022 |
2018 | |||
| Corey Lorenzen, CFA | Portfolio Manager of Columbia Management and Vice President of the Investment Manager | Portfolio Manager since February 2023 |
February 2023 |
| Prospectus 2023 | 9 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by contacting the Fund in the ways described below:
| Online | Regular Mail | Express Mail | By Telephone | |||
| columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/ | Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. P.O. Box 219104 Kansas City, MO 64121-9104 |
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. c/o SS&C GIDS, Inc. 430 W 7th Street, Suite 219104 Kansas City, MO 64105-1407 |
800.422.3737 |
You may purchase shares and receive redemption proceeds by electronic funds transfer, by check or by wire. If you maintain your account with a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, you must contact that financial intermediary to buy, sell or exchange shares of the Fund through your account with the intermediary.
The minimum initial investment amounts for the share classes offered by the Fund are shown below:
Minimum Initial Investment
| Class | Category of eligible account | For accounts other than Systematic Investment Plan accounts (as described in the Fund’s Prospectus) |
For Systematic Investment Plan accounts |
| Classes A & C | All accounts other than IRAs | $2,000 | $100 |
| IRAs | $1,000 | $100 | |
| Classes Adv & Inst | All eligible accounts | $0, $1,000 or $2,000 depending upon the category of eligible investor |
$100 |
| Class Inst2 | All eligible accounts | None | N/A |
| Class Inst3 | All eligible accounts | $0, $1,000, $2,000 or $1 million depending upon the category of eligible investor |
$100 (for certain eligible investors) |
More information about these minimums can be found in the Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares - Buying Shares section of the prospectus. There is no minimum additional investment for any share class.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders. These distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA. The use of a fund-of-funds structure could affect the timing, amount and character of distributions to you and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by you. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, you may be taxed upon withdrawals from that account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies – including the Investment Manager, the Distributor and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) – may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Fund over another investment. These potential conflicts of interest may be heightened with respect to broker-dealers owned by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial) and/or its affiliates. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
| 10 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Portfolio Funds Summary
The following provides a brief overview of the investment objectives and principal investments of the Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s NAV is calculated based on the NAVs of the Portfolio Funds.
You'll find more detailed information about each Portfolio Fund’s investment strategies and risks in its prospectus and SAI. Descriptions of the principal risks listed below for each of the Portfolio Funds are included in the More Information About the Fund section of this prospectus. The Portfolio Funds’ prospectuses also discuss the circumstances under which the Portfolio Funds use fair value pricing and the effects thereof. Refer to columbiathreadneedle.com/us or contact your financial advisor for details.
Columbia Contrarian Core Fund
| ■ | The fund seeks total return, consisting of long-term capital appreciation and current income. |
| ■ | 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, and 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 adviser believes are undervalued and have the potential for long-term growth and current income. |
| ■ | The fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in foreign securities directly or indirectly through depositary receipts. |
| ■ | The fund may at times emphasize one or more sectors in selecting its investments, including the information technology sector. |
| ■ | The principal risks of the fund include Active Management Risk, Changing Distribution Level Risk, Depositary Receipts Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, Growth Securities Risk, Issuer Risk (including Large-Cap Stock Risk), Market Risk, Sector Risk (including Information Technology sector), and Value Securities Risk. |
Columbia Corporate Income Fund
| ■ | The fund seeks total return, consisting primarily of current income and secondarily of capital appreciation. |
| ■ | Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in debt securities issued by corporate and other non-governmental issuers, including dollar-denominated debt securities issued by foreign companies. The fund also invests at least 60% of total assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are investment grade securities or in unrated securities determined to be of comparable quality. The fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in debt instruments that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high-yield” investments or “junk” bonds). Under normal circumstances, the fund’s average effective duration will be between three and ten years. |
| ■ | The fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis. |
| ■ | The fund may invest in privately placed and other securities or instruments that are purchased and sold pursuant to Rule 144A or other exemptions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, subject to liquidity determinations and certain regulatory restrictions. |
| ■ | The fund may invest in U.S. Government obligations, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities. |
| ■ | The principal risks of the fund include Active Management Risk, Changing Distribution Level Risk, Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, High Yield Investments Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Leverage Risk, Liquidity Risk, Market Risk, Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk, Reinvestment Risk, Rule 144A and Other Exempted Securities Risk, and U.S. Government Obligations Risk. |
Columbia Emerging Markets Fund
| ■ | The fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. |
| ■ | 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, but not limited to, common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common or preferred stocks) of companies located in emerging market countries. The fund may also gain exposure to such companies through investment in depositary receipts. The |
| Prospectus 2023 | 11 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Portfolio Funds Summary (continued)
| Fund may seek investment exposure to Chinese companies operating in certain sectors using a structure known as a variable interest entity (a VIE), rather than an equity ownership in the Chinese company. Emerging market countries include those countries whose economies are considered to be developing or emerging from underdevelopment. | |
| ■ | The fund may invest in a variety of countries, industries and sectors and does not attempt to invest a specific percentage of its assets in any given country, industry or sector. However, the fund has invested substantially in the consumer discretionary, financial services and information technology sectors and may continue to invest substantially in these or other sectors in the future. From time to time, the fund may focus its investments in certain countries or geographic areas, including the Asia/Pacific region. |
| ■ | The fund may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size. |
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | The fund may invest in securities that its investment adviser believes are undervalued, represent growth opportunities, or both. |
| ■ | The principal risks of the fund include Active Management Risk, Convertible Securities Risk, Depositary Receipts Risk, Emerging Market Securities Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, Geographic Focus Risk (including risk of investing in the Asia Pacific region and Greater China), Growth Securities Risk, Issuer Risk (including Small-Cap, Mid-Cap and Large-Cap Stock Risks), Liquidity Risk, Market Risk, Preferred Stock Risk, Sector Risk (including the Consumer Discretionary sector, Financial Services sector and Information Technology sector), Special Situations Risk, and Value Securities Risk. |
Columbia Diversified Fixed Income Allocation ETF
| ■ | The fund seeks investment results that, before fees and expenses, closely correspond to the performance of the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index. |
| ■ | The fund is an exchange-traded fund that seeks to track the performance of the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index. The fund invests at least 80% of its assets in securities within the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index or in securities, such as depositary receipts and “to-be-announced” (TBA) securities, that the fund’s investment adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially the same as the economic characteristics of the securities within the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index. For purposes of this policy, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in fixed income (or debt) securities. The fund may invest in cash, cash equivalents and money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by affiliates of the Investment Manager), that the fund’s investment adviser believes will help the fund track the performance of the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index. |
| ■ | The Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index is owned and calculated by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (Bloomberg), which is not affiliated with the fund or the Investment Manager and its affiliates. The Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index was developed by Columbia Management working with Bloomberg. |
| ■ | The Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index, and therefore the fund, will have exposure to the following six segments of the debt market in the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index, each focused on yield, quality, and liquidity of the particular segment. The Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index, and therefore the fund, will have exposure to the following six segments of the debt market (% amount noted is the index’s allocation to the particular segment at index rebalancing and reconstituted as described in the fund’s prospectus): U.S. Treasury securities (10%); global ex-U.S. Treasury securities (10%); U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities (15%); U.S. corporate investment grade bonds (15%); U.S. corporate high yield bonds (30%); and emerging markets sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt (20%). The Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index’s allocation to each of the six segments of the debt market, represented by the six sub-index models, is fixed as of each rebalancing and reconstitution, but may vary due to the performance of each segment between these events. The number of securities in each of the six sub-index models and the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index as a whole are |
| 12 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Portfolio Funds Summary (continued)
| subject to change. Each segment sub-index model is market value-weighted except for the global ex-U.S. Treasury securities segment sub-index model, which is equal-weighted. Please see the fund’s prospectus for additional information on the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index’s six sub-index models and generation of the component securities of the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index. | |
| ■ | The Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index is reconstituted and rebalanced monthly and will typically experience portfolio turnover in connection with the reconstituting and rebalancing. |
| ■ | The fund may invest in privately placed and other securities or instruments that are purchased and sold pursuant to Rule 144A or other exemptions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, subject to certain regulatory restrictions. |
| ■ | The fund’s investment adviser expects to utilize a “representative sampling” strategy whereby the fund invests in only some of the component securities of the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index that, collectively, are believed by the fund’s investment adviser to generally reflect the same risk and return characteristics of the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index. As such, the Fund may not track the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index with the same degree of accuracy as would a fund replicating the entire Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index. |
| ■ | The Fund expects to typically hold 500 to 800 holdings, which is a subset of the total number of holdings in the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index. The Fund may hold less than or more than the typical number of holdings with the fund portfolio management team applying investment experience and insight with the goal of seeking investment results that closely correspond to the performance of the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index. |
| ■ | The fund may sell securities or other holdings that are represented in the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index or purchase securities or make other investments that are not yet represented in the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond in anticipation of their removal from or addition to the index by Bloomberg. |
| ■ | The fund’s assets are not invested based on its investment adviser’s view of the investment merits of a particular security or company, neither does the fund’s investment adviser conduct fundamental investment research or analysis, nor seek to forecast or otherwise consider market movements, conditions or trends in managing the fund’s assets. The fund pursues its investment objective of correlating performance with the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index regardless of market conditions and does not take defensive positions. |
| ■ | To the extent the Beta Advantage® Multi-Sector Bond Index is concentrated in a particular segment, sector or industry, the fund will be concentrated in that segment, sector or industry. |
| ■ | The principal risks of the fund include Authorized Participant Concentration Risk, Changing Distribution Level Risk, Correlation/Tracking Error Risk, Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk, Depositary Receipts Risk, Early/Late Close/Trading Halt Risk, Emerging Market Securities Risk, Foreign Currency Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, Forward Commitments on Mortgage-Backed Securities (including Dollar Rolls) Risk, Frequent Trading Risk. Fund Shares Liquidity Risk, High-Yield Investments Risk, Index Methodology Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Liquidity Risk, Market Price Relative to NAV Risk, Market Risk, Mortgage Backed Securities Risk, Passive Investment Risk, Portfolio Turnover Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk, Reinvestment Risk, Rule 144A and Other Exempted Securities Risk, Secondary Market Trading Risk, Sector Risk, Sovereign Debt Risk, U.S. Government Obligations Risk, and Valuation Risk. |
Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund
| ■ | The fund seeks total return before fees and expenses that exceeds the total return of the S&P 500® Index. |
| ■ | 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 that comprise the S&P 500® Index, convertible securities that are convertible into stocks included in the S&P 500® Index, and derivatives whose returns are closely equivalent to the returns of the S&P 500® Index or its components. |
| ■ | The fund generally holds fewer stocks than the S&P 500® Index and may hold securities that are not in the S&P 500® Index. |
| Prospectus 2023 | 13 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Portfolio Funds Summary (continued)
| ■ | The fund’s investment adviser attempts to maintain a portfolio that generally matches the risk characteristics of the S&P 500® Index, but it will vary the number and percentages of the fund’s holdings in attempting to provide higher returns than the S&P 500® Index and to reduce the potential of underperforming the S&P 500® Index over time. |
| ■ | The fund at times emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the information technology sector. |
| ■ | The fund’s portfolio managers use quantitative analysis to evaluate the relative attractiveness of potential investments. |
| ■ | The fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures (including equity futures and index futures), for cash equitization and investment flexibility. |
| ■ | The principal risks of the fund include Active Management Risk, Convertible Securities Risk, Counterparty Risk, Derivatives Risk, Derivatives Risk – Futures Contracts Risk, Issuer Risk (including Large-Cap Stock Risk), Market Risk, Quantitative Model Risk, and Sector Risk (including the Information Technology sector). |
Columbia Large Cap Index Fund
| ■ | The fund seeks total return before fees and expenses that corresponds to the total return of the S&P 500® Index. |
| ■ | 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 that comprise the S&P 500® Index. |
| ■ | The fund’s investment adviser attempts to allocate the fund’s assets among common stocks in approximately the same weightings as the S&P 500® Index. This is referred to as a passive or indexing approach to investing. The fund’s portfolio will typically emphasize those economic sectors emphasized by the S&P 500® Index, such as the information technology sector. |
| ■ | The fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures (including equity index futures), for cash equitization purposes. |
| ■ | The fund attempts to achieve at least a 95% correlation between the performance of the S&P 500® Index and the fund’s investment results, before fees and expenses. |
| ■ | The fund may buy shares of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., an affiliate of the Investment Manager, which is currently included in the S&P 500® Index, subject to certain restrictions. |
| ■ | The principal risks of the fund include Correlation/Tracking Error Risk, Derivatives Risk, Derivatives Risk – Futures Contracts Risk, Issuer Risk (including Large-Cap Stock Risk), Market Risk, Passive Investment Risk, and Sector Risk (including the Information Technology sector). |
Columbia Quality Income Fund
| ■ | The fund seeks to provide shareholders with current income as its primary objective and, as its secondary objective, preservation of capital. |
| ■ | 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 mortgage-related securities, which include those that are either issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities (U.S. Government Securities), those issued by non-U.S. governments, as well as residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental entities. Mortgage-related securities that either are issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities include Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA or Ginnie Mae) mortgage-backed bonds, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government; and Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA or Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC or Freddie Mac) mortgage backed bonds. FNMA and FHLMC are chartered or sponsored by Acts of Congress; however, their securities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. |
| 14 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Portfolio Funds Summary (continued)
| ■ | The fund may invest in stripped mortgage-backed securities such as interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) securities. |
| ■ | Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 60% of its net assets in mortgage-related securities that are U.S. Government Securities and at least 80% of its net assets in securities rated investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in debt instruments that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as "high-yield” investments or “junk” bonds). |
| ■ | The fund may invest in debt instruments of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. |
| ■ | The fund may invest in privately placed securities and other securities or instruments that are purchased and sold pursuant to Rule 144A or other exemptions under the Securities Act of 1933 subject to liquidity determinations and certain regulatory restrictions. |
| ■ | The fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures (including interest rate futures) to manage interest rate exposure, swaps (including interest rate swaps and total return swaps) to manage credit and interest rate exposure and options on swaps (commonly known as swaptions) to manage interest rate exposure. The fund’s use of derivatives may result in leverage (market exposure in excess of the fund’s assets). The fund may hold a significant amount of cash, money market instruments (which may include investments in one or more affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or similar vehicles), other high-quality, short-term investments, or other liquid assets to meet its segregation obligations as a result of its investments in derivatives. |
| ■ | The fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis. Such securities may include mortgage-backed securities acquired or sold in the “to be announced” (TBA) market and those in a dollar roll transaction. |
| ■ | The fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. |
| ■ | The principal risks of the fund include Active Management Risk, Changing Distribution Level Risk, Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk, Derivatives Risk, Derivatives Risk – Futures Contracts Risk, Derivatives Risk – Options Risk, Derivatives Risk – Swaps Risk, Derivatives Risk – Swaptions Risk, Forward Commitments on Mortgage-Backed Securities (including Dollar Rolls) Risk, Frequent Trading Risk, High-Yield Investments Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Leverage Risk, LIBOR Replacement Risk, Liquidity Risk, Market Risk, Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk, Reinvestment Risk, Rule 144A and Other Exempted Securities Risk, Sovereign Debt Risk, Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk, and U.S. Government Obligations Risk. |
Columbia Research Enhanced Core ETF
| ■ | The fund seeks investment results that, before fees and expenses, closely correspond to the performance of the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index. |
| ■ | The fund is an exchange-traded fund that seeks to replicate the performance of the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index. The fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the securities of the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index. The Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index reflects a rules-based strategic beta approach to investing in the companies that comprise the Russell 1000® Index, designed to achieve stronger total return when compared to the Russell 1000® Index, which is a broad measure of the performance of U.S. large- and mid-cap growth and value companies. The Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index, like the Russell 1000® Index, and therefore the Fund, typically holds only common stocks. |
| ■ | The Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index was developed and is sponsored and administered by the fund’s investment adviser, Columbia Management. The Index is calculated and maintained by FTSE Russell. |
| ■ | The Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index is comprised of a subset of the companies within the Russell 1000® Index. With a starting point of the Russell 1000® Index, the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced |
| Prospectus 2023 | 15 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Portfolio Funds Summary (continued)
| U.S. Equity Index was designed to reflect the performance of U.S. large- and mid-cap growth and value companies through the application of a rules-based methodology, which typically results in approximately 325-400 holdings, but this range can fluctuate because the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index has no constraints on number of holdings. | |
| ■ | The Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index methodology applies the results of Columbia Management’s proprietary quantitative investment models to rate each company within the Russell 1000® Index on a 1- through 5- basis, where “1” is the strongest rating and “5” is the weakest rating, based on three main company factor composites: quality (such as earnings quality), value (such as cash flow yield), and catalyst (such as price momentum). A company’s rating is based on the relative ranking of its overall score from a multifactor model within its modeling sector. The distribution of the ratings within a given sector generally breaks down as follows: 1 – top 15% of companies; 2 – next 20% of companies; 3 – next 30% of companies; 4 – next 20% of companies; and 5 – bottom 15% of companies. The Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index is then systematically constructed to: exclude all companies rated a “4” or “5”; include all companies rated a “1” or a “2” in each sector as classified by the Global Industry Classification System (GICS); and include all GICS-classified Biotechnology companies, which are not rated. If, however unlikely, all companies in a GICS sector receive the same overall score from the multifactor model (and thus no ranking is possible), then all companies in such GICS sector are assigned a rating of “3” (neutral) and all such companies are included in the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index. The resulting companies are then weighted in the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index based on each company’s market capitalization in the Russell 1000® Index, with such weightings further adjusted pro rata to align the total weight of each sector in the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index, as well as the total weight of the Biotechnology companies in the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index, to the Russell 1000® Index’s sector weights and Biotechnology industry weight, respectively, as classified by GICS. The number of securities in each sector and the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index as a whole may change over time. The Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index is reconstituted and rebalanced semi-annually in June and December. |
| ■ | The fund uses a replication strategy to track the performance of the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index, whereby the fund invests in or has investment exposure to substantially all the component securities of the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index in approximately the same proportions as in the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index. However, under various circumstances, including circumstances under which it may not be possible or practicable to purchase all of the securities in the index, or in the same weightings, the fund may purchase or have investment exposure to a sample (large or small quantity) of the securities in the index in proportions expected to replicate generally the performance of the index as a whole. There may also be instances in which the fund may overweight (or underweight) a holding in the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index, purchase (or sell) instruments not in the index as a substitute for one or more securities in the index or utilize various combinations of other available investment techniques in seeking to replicate the performance of the index. |
| ■ | The fund may sell securities or other holdings that are represented in the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index or purchase securities or make other investments that are not yet represented in the index in anticipation of their removal from or addition to the index. |
| ■ | Columbia Management does not provide day-to-day management of the fund’s assets based on its view of the investment merits of a security or company, nor does it conduct fundamental investment research or analysis, or seek to forecast or otherwise consider market movements, conditions or trends in the day-to-day management of the fund’s assets. The fund pursues its investment objective of correlating performance with the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index regardless of market conditions and does not take defensive positions. |
| ■ | The methodology applied to select holdings in the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index and weightings does not set limits on sector or industry exposures. To the extent the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index is concentrated in a sector or industry, the fund will necessarily be concentrated in that sector or industry. |
| 16 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Portfolio Funds Summary (continued)
| ■ | The fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in other securities or instruments not included within the Index that Columbia Management believes will help the fund track the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index. |
| ■ | The principal risks of the fund include Authorized Participant Concentration Risk, Correlation/Tracking Error Risk, Early/Late Close/Trading Halt Risk, Fund Shares Liquidity Risk, Growth Securities Risk, Index Methodology Risk, Issuer Risk (including Mid-Cap Stock Risk and Large-Cap Stock Risk), Market Price Relative to NAV Risk, Market Risk, Passive Investment Risk, Quantitative Models Risk, Secondary Market Trading Risk, Sector Risk (including the Information Technology sector), and Value Securities Risk. |
Columbia Small Cap Index Fund
| ■ | The fund seeks total return before fees and expenses that corresponds to the total return of the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) SmallCap 600® Index. |
| ■ | 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 that comprise the S&P SmallCap 600 Index (the Index). |
| ■ | The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures (including equity index futures), for cash equitization purposes. |
| ■ | Different common stocks have different weightings in the Index, depending on the amount of stock outstanding and the stock’s current price. In seeking to match the performance of the Index, Columbia Management attempts to allocate the Fund’s assets among common stocks in approximately the same weightings as the Index. This is referred to as a passive or indexing approach to investing. As a result of the Fund’s indexing approach to investing, the Fund will typically emphasize within the portfolio those economic sectors emphasized by the Index, such as the financial services sector. |
| ■ | The Fund attempts to achieve at least a 95% correlation between the performance of the Index and the Fund’s investment results, before fees and expenses. |
| ■ | The principal risks of the fund include Correlation/Tracking Error Risk, Derivatives Risk, Derivatives Risk – Futures Contracts Risk, Issuer Risk (including Small-Cap Stock Risk), Market Risk, Passive Investment Risk, and Sector Risk (including the Financial Services Sector). |
Columbia Total Return Bond Fund
| ■ | The fund seeks total return, consisting of current income and capital appreciation. |
| ■ | Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds, notes and other debt instruments, including derivatives relating to such investments. |
| ■ | The fund may invest up to 35% of its net assets in debt instruments that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high-yield” investments or “junk” bonds). |
| ■ | The fund may invest in debt instruments issued by U.S. and non-U.S. governments, their agencies, authorities or instrumentalities, U.S. and non-U.S. corporate or other non-governmental entities, as well as mortgage- and other asset-backed securities. |
| ■ | The fund generally expects to maintain an effective duration of +/- 2 years relative to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. |
| ■ | The fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures (including interest rate futures) and swaps (including credit default swaps, credit default swap indexes, and interest rate swaps) for hedging and investment purposes, and to manage interest rate and/or credit exposure of the fund. |
| ■ | The fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis. Such securities may include mortgage-backed securities acquired or sold in the “to be announced” (TBA) market and those in a dollar roll transaction. |
| Prospectus 2023 | 17 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Portfolio Funds Summary (continued)
| ■ | The fund’s investments in mortgage-related securities include investments in stripped mortgage-backed securities such as interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) securities. |
| ■ | The fund may invest in privately placed and other securities or instruments that are purchased and sold pursuant to Rule 144A or other exemptions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, subject to certain regulatory restrictions. |
| ■ | The fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. |
| ■ | The principal risks of the fund include Active Management Risk, Changing Distribution Level Risk, Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk, Derivatives Risk, Derivatives Risk – Futures Contracts Risk, Derivatives Risk – Swaps Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, Forward Commitments on Mortgage-Backed Securities (including Dollar Rolls) Risk, Frequent Trading Risk, High-Yield Investments Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Leverage Risk, LIBOR Replacement Risk, Liquidity Risk, Market Risk, Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk, Reinvestment Risk, Rule 144A and Other Exempted Securities Risk, Sovereign Debt Risk, Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk, and U.S. Government Obligations Risk. |
Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund
| ■ | The fund seeks total return that corresponds to the total return of the FTSE USBIG Treasury Index, before fees and expenses. |
| ■ | Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in securities that comprise the FTSE USBIG Treasury Index, which is an unmanaged index composed of U.S. Treasury notes and bonds with remaining maturities of at least one year and outstanding principal of at least $5 billion and which are included in the FTSE U.S. Broad Investment-Grade Bond Index. |
| ■ | Different securities have different weightings in the FTSE USBIG Treasury Index and are weighted by market value; that is, the price per bond or note multiplied by the number of bonds or notes outstanding. |
| ■ | In seeking to match the performance of the FTSE USBIG Treasury Index, before fees and expenses, the fund’s investment adviser attempts to allocate the fund’s assets among securities in the FTSE USBIG Treasury Index. The fund will not hold all of the securities in the FTSE USBIG Treasury Index. |
| ■ | The principal risks of the fund include Correlation/Tracking Error Risk, Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Market Risk, Passive Investment Risk, and U.S. Government Obligations Risk. |
| 18 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
More Information About the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Thermostat FundSM (the Fund) seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy of the Fund and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board) without shareholder approval. There is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund is primarily managed as a fund that invests in other funds (i.e., a “fund-of-funds”) that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing its assets among a selected group of underlying stock and bond mutual funds and exchanged-traded funds (ETFs) for which Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser (the Investment Manager) or its affiliates, including Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management), serves as investment adviser or principal underwriter (the Portfolio Funds). Under normal circumstances, the Fund allocates at least 95% of its net assets (stock/bond assets) among the Portfolio Funds according to an asset allocation table based on the current level of the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500® Index.
Generally, the Fund’s allocation to stock funds increases as the S&P 500® Index declines and decreases as the S&P 500® Index rises. When the S&P 500® Index goes up in relation to trading range bands that are predetermined by the Investment Manager, the Fund sells a portion of its stock Portfolio Funds and invests more in the bond Portfolio Funds, and when the S&P 500® Index goes down in relation to the predetermined bands, the Fund increases its investment in the stock Portfolio Funds. Under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 5% of net assets plus any cash received that day in cash, high quality short-term paper and government securities.
Although many asset allocation funds follow a basic approach of moving assets from stocks to bonds when the equity market goes up, and from bonds to stocks when the equity market goes down, some are run by investment managers who allocate fund assets by making subjective decisions based on complicated economic and financial models and complex graphs of market behavior. By contrast, the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund are made according to a single predetermined allocation tableset forth below. The temperature in your house is run by a single rule: your thermostat turns on the furnace if your house is too cold or turns on the air conditioner if your house is too warm. This Fund works the same way, so it is named Columbia Thermostat Fund.
Just as a thermostat may be set at different ranges for different seasons, the structure and allocation ranges of the Fund’s asset allocation table may be changed from time to time between two forms, based on the Investment Manager’s determination of whether it expects the equity market to be moving over the next year in a side-ways or non-directional pattern, which the Investment Manager terms an “expensive” market, or to be trending upward, which the Investment Manager terms a “normal” market. The Investment Manager’s process and methodology for determining whether the current market is “expensive” or “normal” and the structure of each form of allocation table are described in more detail below under Determination of Current Market State. Such determination will be made on at least an annual basis and will be reflected in the asset allocation table disclosed in this prospectus. In general, the two different forms of allocation table are intended to maximize the capture of value under the two different sets of market conditions.
The Fund’s current form of asset allocation table, which is set forth below, has been in place since the Fund’s inception, except for the period from May 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021. The current form of asset allocation table reflects the Investment Manager’s determination that the equity market is currently “expensive.” The “expensive” form of table may result in equity investment allocations as low as 10% or as high as 90% of Fund assets. The Investment Manager evaluates the appropriate form of asset allocation table and updates the S&P 500® Index trading range bands within the table at least annually. From May 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021, the form of asset allocation table in place for the Fund reflected the Investment Manager’s determination that the equity market was “normal.” With the “normal” form of table, the Fund’s equity investment allocations could be no less than 50% of Fund assets.
| Prospectus 2023 | 19 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
More Information About the Fund (continued)
| Stock/Bond Allocation Table | ||
| How the Fund will Invest the Stock/Bond Assets | ||
| Level of the S&P 500® Index |
Stock Percentage |
Bond Percentage |
| over 4862 | 10% | 90% |
| over 4675 – 4862 | 15% | 85% |
| over 4495 – 4675 | 20% | 80% |
| over 4322 – 4495 | 25% | 75% |
| over 4156 – 4322 | 30% | 70% |
| over 3996 – 4156 | 35% | 65% |
| over 3842 – 3996 | 40% | 60% |
| over 3694 – 3842 | 45% | 55% |
| over 3549 – 3694 | 50% | 50% |
| over 3407 – 3549 | 55% | 45% |
| over 3271 – 3407 | 60% | 40% |
| over 3140 – 3271 | 65% | 35% |
| over 3014 – 3140 | 70% | 30% |
| over 2893 – 3014 | 75% | 25% |
| over 2777 – 2893 | 80% | 20% |
| over 2666 – 2777 | 85% | 15% |
| 2666 and under | 90% | 10% |
When the S&P 500® Index moves into a new band on the table, the Fund will rebalance the stock/bond mix to reflect the new S&P 500® Index price level by redeeming shares of some Portfolio Funds and purchasing shares of other Portfolio Funds. Any such rebalancing typically will be implemented promptly. However, there are two circumstances when a rebalancing may be implemented over a longer timeline. First, when a rebalancing or allocation table change would trigger a 10% point or greater change in stock and bond allocations or individual Portfolio Funds, the rebalancing may be implemented over a period of up to two weeks, if deemed by the Investment Manager to be in the best interest of shareholders. The second exception is a “31-day Rule;” in order to reduce taxable events and minimize short-term trading if the S&P 500® Index price moves back and forth across a band in the allocation table, after the Fund has increased its percentage allocation to either stock funds or bond funds, it will not decrease that allocation for at least 31 days. Following a change in the Fund’s stock/bond mix, if the S&P 500® Index remains within the same band for a while, normal market fluctuations will change the values of the Fund’s holdings of stock Portfolio Funds and bond Portfolio Funds. The Investment Manager will invest cash flows from sales (or redemptions) of Fund shares to bring the stock/bond mix back toward the allocation percentages for that S&P 500® Index band. For example, if the S&P 500® Index is in the 3014 band, and the value of the holdings of the stock Portfolio Funds has dropped to 68% of the value of the holdings of all Portfolio Funds, the Investment Manager would invest new cash in the stock Portfolio Funds (or cash for redemptions would come from the bond Portfolio Funds) to restore the 70% stock allocation. If the 31-day Rule is in effect, the Investment Manager will invest new cash at the stock/bond percentage allocation as of the latest rebalancing.
As another illustrative example, suppose the following:
| Date | Level of the S&P 500® Index |
How the Fund will invest the Stock/ Bond Assets(1) |
| Nov. 1 | We begin when the market is 3600 | 50% stocks, 50% bonds |
| Dec. 1 | The S&P 500® goes to 3700 | rebalance 45% stocks, 55% bonds |
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| Date | Level of the S&P 500® Index |
How the Fund will invest the Stock/ Bond Assets(1) |
| Dec. 6 | The S&P 500® drops back to 3625 | no reversal for 31 days |
| Jan. 2 | The S&P 500® is at 3650 | rebalance 50% stocks, 50% bonds |
| Jan. 20 | The S&P 500 drops to 3500 | rebalance 55% stocks, 45% bonds(2) |
| Jan. 30 | The S&P 500® goes to 3550 | no reversal for 31 days |
| Feb. 20 | The S&P 500® is at 3575 | rebalance 50% stocks, 50% bonds |
(1) For each rebalancing the Fund will trade the underlying stock and bond Portfolio Funds on the next business day.
(2) The market has made a continuation move by going through a second action level, not a reversal move, so the 31-day Rule does not apply in this case.
The Investment Manager chooses the Portfolio Funds to be generally consistent with the composition of the Fund’s primary stock and bond benchmarks and to allow the Fund to participate in strategies the Investment Manager believes can provide additional return due to active management.
The stock and bond Portfolio Funds that the Fund currently uses in its “fund-of-funds” structure, and the current target percentage for each Portfolio Fund within the stock or bond asset class, is set forth below. As described more fully below, the Investment Manager may substitute or add additional Portfolio Funds at any time, including funds introduced after the date of this prospectus. The target percentage within each asset class category is achieved by rebalancing the investments within the asset class whenever the S&P 500® Index moves into a new band on the allocation table, subject to the 31-day Rule described above. The Fund will not liquidate its investment in one Portfolio Fund in order to invest in another Portfolio Fund except in connection with a rebalancing due to a move of the S&P 500® Index into a new band (or due to a change by the Investment Manager in the Portfolio Funds or to the relative target percentages among them). Until a subsequent rebalancing, the Fund’s cash flows are invested in, or redeemed from, the Portfolio Funds in a manner that will reduce any deviation of the relative values of the Fund’s holdings of the Portfolio Funds from the percentages shown below.
| Allocation of Stock/Bond Assets Within Asset Classes | ||
| Stock Funds | Type of Fund | Allocation |
| Columbia Contrarian Core Fund | Large-cap blend | 25% |
| Columbia Emerging Markets Fund | Diversified emerging markets | 10% |
| Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund | Large-cap blend | 25% |
| Columbia Large Cap Index Fund | Large-cap blend | 20% |
| Columbia Research Enhanced Core ETF | Large-cap blend | 10% |
| Columbia Small Cap Index Fund | Small-cap blend | 10% |
| Total | 100% | |
| Bond Funds | Type of Fund | Allocation |
| Columbia Corporate Income Fund | Corporate bond | 10% |
| Columbia Diversified Fixed Income Allocation ETF | Multi-sector bond | 10% |
| Columbia Quality Income Fund | Government bond | 20% |
| Columbia Total Return Bond Fund | Intermediate core bond | 25% |
| Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund | U.S. Treasury notes/bonds | 35% |
| Total | 100% | |
See the Portfolio Funds Summary section of this prospectus for information about the Portfolio Funds’ investment objectives and principal investment strategies. Each of the Portfolio Funds is managed by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. The Fund does not pay any sales load on its purchases of shares of the Portfolio Funds.
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The Investment Manager has the authority to review the Portfolio Funds and to change the relative percentages among them or to add or eliminate funds. Such review will occur on at least an annual basis and will be reflected in the Portfolio Funds table disclosed in this prospectus.
Determination of Current Market State
Just as a thermostat may be set at different ranges for different seasons, the Fund’s allocation of assets between stock and bond funds is expected to be set at different range bands depending principally on the Investment Manager’s view of how expensive the equity market is compared to historical levels.
At least annually, the Investment Manager will conduct a review of the current equity market price levels compared to historical price levels, and will determine if the equity market is in an “expensive” state, or a “normal” state. This review will begin with a comparison of the S&P 500® Index’s cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings ratio for the prior seven years against a 40-year history, but the Investment Manager will also take into account additional quantitative or qualitative market factors, including for example, trends in equity price measures and comparisons of equity prices against prices for other asset classes. Based on its determination of the current market state, the Investment Manager will select the form of allocation table to be effective in the Fund’s current prospectus. Also as part of this review, the Investment Manager will update the median historical information used in the table, and the resulting S&P 500® Index levels used to create the bands around the median, regardless of the market state.
As noted below, the form of table used for an “expensive” market is expected to be different from that used for a “normal” market.
Generally, the Investment Manager will determine the current state of the equity market to be “expensive” when its analysis of the S&P 500® Index’s cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings ratio for the prior seven years is within the top quartile of ratio observations over a 40-year history. The “expensive” equity market form of allocation table for the Fund is structured around an implied S&P 500® Index trading range median of 50% stocks/50% bonds (the 50/50 Band), with allocations to bonds decreasing through stratified range bands below the 50/50 Band and allocations to bonds increasing through stratified range bands above the 50/50 Band, as shown by the following example:
| “Expensive” Equity Market Form of Stock/Bond Allocation Table | ||
| Level of the S&P 500® Index | Stock Percentage |
Bond Percentage |
| above top of trading range below | 10% | 90% |
| 4% trading range above top of range below | 15% | 85% |
| 4% trading range above top of range below | 20% | 80% |
| 4% trading range above top of range below | 25% | 75% |
| 4% trading range above top of range below | 30% | 70% |
| 4% trading range above top of range below | 35% | 65% |
| 4% trading range above top of range below | 40% | 60% |
| 4% trading range above top of range below | 45% | 55% |
| 4% trading range centered on implied median (50/50 Band)* | 50% | 50% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 55% | 45% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 60% | 40% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 65% | 35% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 70% | 30% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 75% | 25% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 80% | 20% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 85% | 15% |
| below bottom of trading range above | 90% | 10% |
*Implied median price level as calculated by the Investment Manager.
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The “expensive” form of table was in place from the Fund’s inception in 2002 through April 30, 2020 and is currently in place since May 1, 2021.
Generally, the Investment Manager will determine the current state of the equity market to be “normal” when its analysis of the S&P 500® Index’s cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings ratio for the prior seven years is outside the top quartile of ratio observations over a 40-year history. The “normal” equity market form of allocation table for the Fund is also structured around the 50/50 Band, with allocations to bonds decreasing through stratified range bands below the 50/50 Band, and allocations to stocks and bonds set at 50% stocks/50% bonds for all trading levels above the 50/50 Band, as shown by the following example:
| “Normal” Equity Market Form of Stock/Bond Allocation Table | ||
| Level of the S&P 500® Index | Stock Percentage |
Bond Percentage |
| above trading range that is 2% below implied median (50/50 Band)* | 50% | 50% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 55% | 45% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 60% | 40% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 65% | 35% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 70% | 30% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 75% | 25% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 80% | 20% |
| 4% trading range below bottom of range above | 85% | 15% |
| below bottom of trading range above | 90% | 10% |
*Implied median price level as calculated by the Investment Manager.
The “normal” form of allocation table was in place from May 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021.
The Investment Manager will conduct the market state review at least annually prior to the annual updating of this prospectus, and may, in its discretion, assess the market state on an “emergency” basis and make any changes deemed necessary to reflect, for example, a very significant move in market levels or a structural change affecting the markets.
Any such “emergency” changes by the Investment Manager, which are expected to be infrequent, would be disclosed in this prospectus.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risks, including general risks, as described below, relating to the Fund’s investment process and its “fund-of-funds” structure. An investment in the Fund also involves specific risks related to the individual Portfolio Funds, including but not limited to those in which it invests. These risks are listed below, which in the aggregate are considered principal risks of investing in the Fund. More information about the Portfolio Funds, including their principal risks, is available in their prospectuses. This prospectus is not an offer for any of the Portfolio Funds. 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. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Allocation Risk. The Investment Manager uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective, there is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes or investments will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Fund-of-Funds Risk. Determinations regarding asset classes or Portfolio Funds and the Fund’s allocations thereto may not successfully achieve the Fund’s investment objective, in whole or in part. The selected Portfolio 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 Portfolio Funds that could have been selected to represent the asset class. The
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Fund also is exposed to the same risks as the Portfolio Funds in direct proportion to the allocation of its assets among the Portfolio Funds. By investing in a combination of Portfolio Funds, the Fund has exposure to the risks of many areas of the market. The ability of the Fund to realize its investment objective will depend, in large part, on the extent to which the Portfolio Funds realize their investment objectives. There is no guarantee that the Portfolio Funds will achieve their respective investment objectives. The performance of Portfolio Funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same Portfolio Funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such Portfolio 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 Portfolio Fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in a Portfolio 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 a Portfolio Fund. This risk may be particularly important when one investor owns a substantial portion of a Portfolio 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 Portfolio Funds may be higher than the fees paid by other Portfolio Funds. Columbia Thermostat Fund currently invests only in affiliated Portfolio Funds.
The Fund is subject indirectly to the risks of the Portfolio Funds in which it invests. These risks are listed below. References to the “Fund” in the risk disclosures below refer to the Portfolio Funds and not Columbia Thermostat Fund. References to the “Investment Manager” in the risk disclosures below refer to the Fund's Investment Manager and/or Columbia Management as appropriate. Please see the Portfolio Funds Summary in this prospectus for information about the risks that apply to the Portfolio Funds.
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 seek to 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.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if interest rates rise, the values of loans and other debt instruments tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of loans and other debt instruments tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt instrument usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will generally affect the value of your investment in the Fund. Changes in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of the Fund’s investments in debt instruments. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt 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 (the risk that the Fund will have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields). Very low or negative interest rates may impact the Fund’s yield and may increase the risk that, if followed by rising interest rates, the Fund’s performance will be negatively impacted. The Fund is subject to the risk that the income generated by its investments may not keep pace with inflation. Actions by governments and central banking authorities can result in increases or decreases in interest rates. Higher periods of inflation could lead such authorities to raise interest rates. Such actions may negatively affect the value of debt 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 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 the Fund’s investments in debt instruments to decrease. Rising interest rates may prompt redemptions from the 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.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the value of loans or other debt instruments may decline if 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 issuer to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the financial condition of the issuer or in general economic conditions. Credit rating agencies, such as S&P Global Ratings,
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Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s), Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch), DBRS Morningstar (DBRS) and Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA), assign credit ratings to certain debt instruments to indicate their credit risk. A rating downgrade by such agencies can negatively impact the value of such instruments. Lower-rated or unrated instruments held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated instruments. Non-investment grade debt instruments may be subject to greater price fluctuations and are more likely to experience a default than investment grade debt instruments and therefore may expose the Fund to increased credit risk. If the Fund purchases unrated instruments, or if the ratings of instruments held by the Fund are lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that may pay dividends at a different rate than common stock of the same issuer, if at all, 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 (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
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.
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 Fund’s Investment Manager’s perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the Portfolio Fund’s Investment Manager believes 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 managers’ 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.
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. Growth securities may also be sensitive to movements 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 an industry or related group of industries within one or more economic sectors . Companies in the same 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 industry or group of industries or 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.
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| ■ | Consumer Discretionary Sector. The Fund is 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 economies, 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, and changing demographics and consumer tastes. |
| ■ | Financial Services Sector. The Fund is 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 one or more industries or sectors, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect such industries or sectors. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments, agreements and counterparties, including credit products 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 the interest rates and fees they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital. |
| ■ | Information Technology Sector. The Fund is more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the information technology sector 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 information 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. Some companies in the information technology sector are facing increased government and regulatory scrutiny and may be subject to adverse government or regulatory action, which could negatively impact the value of their securities. |
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to securities of foreign companies may involve heightened risks relative to investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities may also be less liquid, making them more difficult to trade, 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 (including, for example, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism and disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics), possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; 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.
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Economic sanctions may be, and have been, imposed against certain countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals. Economic sanctions and other similar governmental actions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate the Fund’s ability to purchase or sell securities, and thus may make the Fund’s investments in such securities less liquid or more difficult to value. In addition, as a result of economic sanctions, the Fund may be forced to sell or otherwise dispose of investments at inopportune times or prices, which could result in losses to the Fund and increased transaction costs. These conditions may be in place for a substantial period of time and enacted with limited advance notice to the Fund. 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. Additionally, investments in certain countries may subject the Fund to a number of tax rules, the application of which may be uncertain. Countries may amend or revise their existing tax laws, regulations and/or procedures in the future, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in or uncertainties regarding the laws, regulations or procedures of a country could reduce the after-tax profits of the Fund, directly or indirectly, including by reducing the after-tax profits of companies located in such countries in which the Fund invests, or result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund.
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 Portfolio Fund’s 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, and may be more susceptible to market manipulation, 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. Due to the
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differences in the nature and quality of financial information of issuers of emerging market securities, including auditing and financial reporting standards, financial information and disclosures about such issuers may be unavailable or, if made available, may be considerably less reliable than publicly available information about other foreign securities.
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 have an active trading market 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 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.
Sovereign Debt Risk. The willingness or ability of a sovereign or quasi-sovereign debtor 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 or quasi-sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which such debtor may be subject.
With respect to sovereign or quasi-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 or quasi-sovereign debt on a timely basis and that has led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness to the detriment of debt holders.
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. Restrictions on currency trading may be imposed by foreign countries, which may adversely affect the value of your investment in the Fund. Even though the currencies of some countries may be pegged to the U.S. dollar,
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the conversion rate may be controlled by government regulation or intervention at levels significantly different than what would normally prevail in a free market. Significant revaluations of the U.S. dollar exchange rate of these currencies could cause substantial reductions in the Fund’s NAV.
Liquidity and Trading Volume Risk. Due to market conditions, including uncertainty regarding the price of a security, it may be difficult for the Fund to buy or sell 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. The Investment Manager will fair value in good faith any securities it deems to be illiquid under consistently applied procedures established by the Fund’s Board. Market conditions are always changing and vary by country and industry sector, and investing in international markets involves unique risks. Although it is difficult to accurately assess trends in trading volumes in foreign markets, a reduction in trading volumes poses challenges to the Fund. This is particularly so because the Fund focuses on small- and mid-cap companies that usually have lower trading volumes and often takes sizeable positions in portfolio companies. As a result of lower trading volumes, it may take longer to buy or sell 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 portfolio securities in response to changes in share prices and fundamentals. If the Fund is forced to sell securities to meet redemption requests or other cash needs, or in the case of an event affecting liquidity in a particular market or markets, it may be forced to dispose of those securities under disadvantageous circumstances and at a loss. As the Fund grows in size or, conversely, if it faces significant redemption pressure, these considerations take on increasing significance and may adversely impact performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly or below expectations, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Underperformance of an issuer 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, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism, disease/virus outbreaks, epidemics or other events, conditions and factors which may impair the value of an investment in the Fund.
| ■ | Small- and Mid-Cap Stock 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. |
| ■ | Large-Cap Stock Risk. Investments in larger companies may involve certain risks associated with their larger size. For instance, larger companies may be less able to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in consumer tastes or innovation from smaller competitors. Also, larger companies are sometimes less able to achieve as high growth rates as successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion. |
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.
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Derivatives Risk. Derivatives may involve significant risks. Derivatives are financial instruments, traded on an exchange or in the over-the-counter (OTC) markets, with a value in relation to, or derived from, the value of an underlying asset(s) (such as a security, commodity or currency) or other reference, such as an index, rate or other economic indicator (each an underlying reference). Derivatives may include those that are privately placed or otherwise exempt from SEC registration, including certain Rule 144A eligible securities. Derivatives could result in Fund losses if the underlying reference does not perform as anticipated. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, risks, and tax planning different from those associated with more traditional investment instruments. The Fund’s derivatives strategy may not be successful and use of certain derivatives could result in substantial, potentially unlimited, losses to the Fund regardless of the Fund’s actual investment. A relatively small movement in the price, rate or other economic indicator associated with the underlying reference may result in substantial losses for the Fund. Derivatives may be more volatile than other types of investments. Derivatives can increase the Fund’s risk exposure to underlying references and their attendant risks, including the risk of an adverse credit event associated with the underlying reference (credit risk), the risk of an adverse movement in the value, price or rate of the underlying reference (market risk), the risk of an adverse movement in the value of underlying currencies (foreign currency risk) and the risk of an adverse movement in underlying interest rates (interest rate risk). Derivatives may expose the Fund to additional risks, including the risk of loss due to a derivative position that is imperfectly correlated with the underlying reference it is intended to hedge or replicate (correlation risk), the risk that a counterparty will fail to perform as agreed (counterparty risk), the risk that a hedging strategy may fail to mitigate losses, and may offset gains (hedging risk), the risk that the return on an investment may not keep pace with inflation (inflation risk), the risk that losses may be greater than the amount invested (leverage risk), the risk that the Fund may be unable to sell an investment at an advantageous time or price (liquidity risk), the risk that the investment may be difficult to value (pricing risk), and the risk that the price or value of the investment fluctuates significantly over short periods of time (volatility risk). The value of derivatives may be influenced by a variety of factors, including national and international political and economic developments. Potential changes to the regulation of the derivatives markets may make derivatives more costly, may limit the market for derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the value or performance of derivatives.
Derivatives Risk – Forward Contracts Risk. A forward contract is an over-the-counter derivative transaction between two parties to buy or sell a specified amount of an underlying reference at a specified price (or rate) on a specified date in the future. Forward contracts are negotiated on an individual basis and are not standardized or traded on exchanges. The market for forward contracts is substantially unregulated (there is no limit on daily price movements and speculative position limits are not applicable). The principals who deal in certain forward contract markets are not required to continue to make markets in the underlying references in which they trade and these markets can experience periods of illiquidity, sometimes of significant duration. There have been periods during which certain participants in forward contract markets have refused to quote prices for certain underlying references or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread between the price at which they were prepared to buy and that at which they were prepared to sell. 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 adverse movement in forward contract prices. The liquidity of the markets for forward contracts depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants make or take delivery, liquidity in the market for forwards could be reduced. A relatively small price movement in a forward contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund, exceeding the amount of the margin paid. Forward contracts can increase the Fund’s risk exposure to underlying references and their attendant risks, such as credit risk, market risk, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk, while also exposing the Fund to correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, inflation risk, leverage risk, liquidity risk, pricing risk and volatility risk.
| ■ | A forward foreign currency contract is a derivative (forward contract) in which the underlying reference is a country's or region’s currency. 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). |
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| Unanticipated changes in the currency markets could result in reduced performance for the Fund. 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. |
Derivatives Risk – Futures Contracts Risk. A futures contract is an exchange-traded derivative transaction between two parties in which a buyer (holding the “long” position) agrees to pay a fixed price (or rate) at a specified future date for delivery of an underlying reference from a seller (holding the “short” position). 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. Certain futures contract markets are highly volatile, and futures contracts may be illiquid. Futures exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices by imposing a maximum permissible daily price movement. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. At or prior to maturity of a futures contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been adverse movement in futures contract prices. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on the exchange on which they were entered into or through a linked exchange, and no secondary market exists for such contracts. Futures positions are marked to market each day and variation margin payment must be paid to or by the Fund. Because of the low margin deposits normally required in futures trading, it is possible that the Fund may employ a high degree of leverage in the portfolio. As a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund, exceeding the amount of the margin paid. For certain types of futures contracts, losses are potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Futures contracts executed (if any) on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. Futures contracts can increase the Fund’s risk exposure to underlying references and their attendant risks, such as credit risk, market risk, foreign currency risk, and interest rate risk, while also exposing the Fund to correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, inflation risk, leverage risk, liquidity risk, pricing risk and volatility risk.
| ■ | An interest rate future is a derivative that is an agreement whereby the buyer and seller agree to the future delivery of an interest-bearing instrument on a specific date at a pre-determined price. Examples include Treasury-bill futures, Treasury-bond futures and Eurodollar futures. |
Derivatives Risk – Swaps Risk. In a typical swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the return earned on a specified underlying reference for a fixed return or the return from another underlying reference during a specified period of time. Swaps may be difficult to value and may be illiquid. Swaps could result in Fund losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Swaps create significant investment leverage such that a relatively small price movement in a swap may result in immediate and substantial losses to the Fund. The Fund may only close out a swap with its particular counterparty, and may only transfer a position with the consent of that counterparty. Certain swaps, such as short swap transactions and total return swaps, have the potential for unlimited losses, regardless of the size of the initial investment. Swaps can increase the Fund’s risk exposure to underlying references and their attendant risks, such as credit risk, market risk, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk, while also exposing the Fund to correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, inflation risk, leverage risk, liquidity risk, pricing risk and volatility risk.
Derivatives Risk – Options Risk. Options are derivatives that give the purchaser the option to buy (call) or sell (put) an underlying reference from or to a counterparty at a specified price (the strike price) on or before an expiration date. When writing options, the Fund is exposed to the risk that it may be required to buy or sell the underlying reference at a disadvantageous price on or before the expiration date. Options may involve economic leverage, which could result in greater volatility in price movement. The Fund's losses could be significant, and are potentially unlimited for certain types of options. Options may be traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. At or prior to maturity of an options contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been adverse movement in options prices. Options can increase the Fund’s risk exposure to underlying references and their attendant risks such as credit risk, market risk, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk, while also exposing the Fund to correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, inflation risk, leverage risk, liquidity risk, pricing risk and volatility risk.
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| ■ | A credit default swap (including a swap on a credit default index, sometimes referred to as a credit default swap index) is a derivative and special type of swap where one party pays, in effect, an insurance premium through a stream of payments to another party in exchange for the right to receive a specified return upon the occurrence of a particular credit event by one or more third parties, such as bankruptcy, default or a similar event. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. Credit default swaps enable an investor to buy or sell protection against such a credit event (such as an issuer’s bankruptcy, restructuring or failure to make timely payments of interest or principal). Credit default swap indices are indices that reflect the performance of a basket of credit default swaps and are subject to the same risks as credit default swaps. 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 credit default swap 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 a credit default swap index may not match the return of the referenced index. Further, investment in a credit default swap index 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 the credit default swap index. 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 credit default swap index may permit the counterparty to immediately close out the transaction. In that event, the Fund may be unable to enter into another credit default swap index or otherwise achieve desired exposure, even if the referenced index reverses all or a portion of its intraday move. |
Derivatives Risk – Swaptions Risk. A swaption is an options contract on a swap agreement. These transactions give the purchasing 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 at some designated future time on specified terms, in return for payment of the purchase price (the “premium”) of the option. The 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.
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.
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
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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 the risk that the counterparty to the transaction may not perform or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument.
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 (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates) than traditional government securities with identical credit ratings.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a 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, that 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 risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or other 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.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk arises when the Fund is unable to reinvest income or principal at the same or at least the same return it is currently earning.
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 and/or Global Depositary Receipts. Depositary receipts involve risks similar to the risks associated with investments in foreign securities, including those associated with an issuer’s (and any of its related companies’) country of organization and places of business operations, which may be related to the particular political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events (including, for example, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism and disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics) occurring in the country and fluctuations in such country’s currency, as well as market risk tied to the underlying foreign company. In addition, holders of depositary receipts may have limited voting rights, may not have the same rights afforded to stockholders of a typical domestic company in the event of a corporate action, such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering, and may experience difficulty in receiving company stockholder communications. There is no guarantee that a financial institution will continue to sponsor a depositary receipt, or that a depositary receipt will continue to trade on an exchange, either of which could adversely affect the liquidity, availability and pricing of the depositary receipt. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect the value of depositary receipts and, therefore, may affect the value of your investment in the Fund.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The Fund normally expects to receive income which may include interest, dividends and/or capital gains, depending upon its investments. The distribution amounts paid by the Fund will vary and generally depend on the amount of income the Fund earns (less expenses) on its portfolio holdings, and capital gains or losses it recognizes. A decline in the Fund’s income or net capital gains arising from its investments may reduce its distribution level.
Geographic Focus Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to risks related 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.
| ■ | Asia Pacific Region. A number of 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 that country, other countries in the region or the region as |
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| 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 in a region with more developed countries and economies. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses for the Fund. Continued growth of economies and securities markets in the region will require sustained economic and fiscal discipline, as well as continued commitment to governmental and regulatory reforms. Development also may be influenced by international economic conditions, including those in the United States and Japan, and by world demand for goods or natural resources produced in countries in the Asia Pacific region. Securities markets in the region are generally smaller and have a lower trading volume than those in the United States, which may result in the securities of some companies in the region being less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities. Some currencies, inflation rates or interest rates in the Asia Pacific region are or can be volatile, and some countries in the region may restrict the flow of money in and out of the country. The risks described under “Emerging Market Securities Risk” and “Foreign Securities Risk” may be more pronounced due to the Fund’s focus on investments in the region. |
| ■ | Greater China. The Greater China region consists of Hong Kong, The People's Republic of China and Taiwan, among other countries, and the Fund's investments in the region are particularly susceptible to risks in that region. The Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and Chinese economies are dependent on the economies of other countries and can be significantly affected by currency fluctuations and increasing competition from other emerging economies in Asia with lower costs. Adverse events in any one country within the region may impact the other countries in the region or Asia as a whole. As a result, adverse events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified, which could result in greater volatility in the Fund’s NAV and losses. Markets in the Greater China region can experience significant volatility due to social, economic, regulatory and political uncertainties. Changes in Chinese government policy and economic growth rates could significantly affect local markets and the entire Greater China region. China has yet to develop comprehensive securities, corporate, or commercial laws, its market is relatively new and less developed, and its economy is experiencing a relative slowdown. Export growth continues to be a major driver of China’s economic growth. As a result, a reduction in spending on Chinese products and services, the institution of additional tariffs or other trade barriers, including as a result of heightened trade tensions between China and the United States, or a downturn in any of the economies of China’s key trading partners may have an adverse impact on the Chinese economy. The risks described under “Emerging Market Securities Risk” and “Foreign Securities Risk” may be more pronounced due to the Fund’s focus on investments in the region. Many Chinese companies to which the Fund seeks investment exposure use a structure known as a variable interest entity (a VIE) to address Chinese restrictions on direct foreign investment in Chinese companies operating in certain sectors. The Fund’s investment exposure to VIEs may pose additional risks because the Fund’s investment is not made directly in the VIE (the actual Chinese operating company), but rather in a holding company domiciled outside of China (a Holding Company) whose interests in the business of the underlying Chinese operating company (the VIE) are established through contracts rather than through equity ownership. The VIE (which the Fund is restricted from owning under Chinese law) is generally owned by Chinese nationals, and the Holding Company (in which the Fund invests) holds only contractual rights (rather than equity ownership) relating to the VIE, typically including a contractual claim on the VIE's profits. Shares of the Holding Company, in turn, are traded on exchanges outside of China and are available to non-Chinese investors such as the Fund. The VIE structure is a longstanding practice in China that, until recently, was not acknowledged by the Chinese government, creating uncertainty over the possibility that the Chinese government might cease to tolerate VIE structures at any time or impose new restrictions on the structure. In such a scenario, the Chinese operating company could be subject to penalties, including revocation of its business and operating license, or the Holding Company could forfeit its interest in the business of the Chinese operating company. Further, in case of a dispute, the remedies and rights of the Fund may be limited, and such legal uncertainty may be exploited against the interests of the Fund. Control over a VIE may also be jeopardized if a natural person who holds the equity interest in the VIE breaches the terms of the contractual arrangements, is subject to legal proceedings, or if any physical instruments or property of the VIE, such as seals, business registration certificates, financial data and licensing arrangements (sometimes referred to as “chops”), are used without authorization. In the event of such an occurrence, the Fund, as a foreign investor, may have little or no legal recourse. In addition to the risk of government intervention, investments through a VIE structure are subject to the risk that the China-based company (or its officers, directors, or Chinese equity owners) may breach the |
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| contractual arrangements, that Chinese law changes in a way that adversely affects the enforceability of the arrangements, or that the contracts are otherwise not enforceable under Chinese law. In any of these cases, a Fund may suffer significant losses on its investments through a VIE structure with little or no recourse available. The Fund will typically have little or no ability to influence the VIE through proxy voting or other means because it is not a VIE owner/shareholder. Foreign companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States, including companies using the VIE structure, could also face delisting or other ramifications for failure to meet the expectations and/or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or other U.S. regulators. Recently, China has proposed the adoption of rules which would affirm that VIEs are legally permissible, though there remains significant uncertainty over how these rules will operate. Any of these risks could reduce the liquidity and value of the Fund’s investments in Holding Companies or render them valueless. |
Quantitative Models Risk. Quantitative models used by the Fund may not effectively identify purchases and sales of Fund investments and may cause the Fund to underperform other investment strategies. Flaws or errors in the quantitative model’s assumptions, design, execution, or data inputs may adversely affect Fund performance. Quantitative models may not perform as expected and may underperform in certain market environments including in stressed or volatile market conditions. There can be no assurance that the use of quantitative models will enable the Fund to achieve its objective.
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 certain 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 adversely affect 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 risk that it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price). 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 information is not filed with the SEC. Further, issuers of Rule 144A eligible securities can require recipients of the offering 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.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a transaction in a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle invested in by the Fund may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations. As a result, the Fund may obtain no or limited recovery of its investment, and any recovery may be significantly delayed.
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, which means that when seeking to sell its portfolio investments, the Fund could find that selling is more difficult than anticipated, especially during times of high market volatility. 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 been subject to increased regulation. 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. Certain types of investments, such as lower-rated securities or those that are purchased and sold in over-the-counter markets, may be especially subject to liquidity risk. 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
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be more difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price, which may have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. Market participants attempting to sell the same or a 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 liquid or more liquid investments that it might otherwise prefer to hold (thereby increasing the proportion of the Fund’s investments in less liquid or illiquid securities), or forego another more appealing investment opportunity. The liquidity of Fund investments may change significantly over time and 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. 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 redemptions, which may negatively impact Fund performance and NAV, including, for example, if the Fund is forced to sell investments in a down market.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities including collateralized debt obligations and collateralized loan obligations, if any, 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. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, and some, but not all, are also insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. 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 entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to liquidity risk and prepayment risk. A decline or flattening of housing values may cause delinquencies in mortgages (especially sub-prime or non-prime mortgages) underlying mortgage-backed securities and thereby adversely affect the ability of the mortgage-backed securities issuer to make principal and/or interest payments to mortgage-backed securities holders, including the Fund. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
LIBOR Replacement Risk. The London Inter-bank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which has historically been used extensively in the U.S. and globally as a benchmark or reference rate for various commercial and financial contracts, among other “inter-bank offered” reference rates, is in the process of being discontinued as a global reference rate. The elimination of LIBOR may adversely affect the interest rates on, and value of, certain Fund investments that are tied to LIBOR. Such investments may include derivatives, and other assets or liabilities. On July 27, 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced that it intended to stop compelling or inducing banks to submit LIBOR rates after 2021. The FCA and the ICE Benchmark Administration have since announced that a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will cease publication after June 30, 2023. A subset of non-U.S. dollar LIBOR settings is continuing to be published on a “synthetic” basis and it is possible that a subset of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will also be published after June 30, 2023 on a “synthetic” basis. Any such publications are, or would be considered, non-representative of the underlying market. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market participants and their regulators), has begun publishing and promoting SOFR as the alternative reference rate to U.S. dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new reference rates. Uncertainty related to the liquidity impact of the change in rates, and how to appropriately adjust these rates at the time of transition, poses risks for the Fund. The effect of the discontinuation of LIBOR on the Fund will depend on, among other things, (1) existing fallback or termination provisions in individual contracts and (2) whether, how, and when industry participants develop and adopt new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new instruments and contracts.
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The discontinuation of LIBOR could have a significant impact on the financial markets in general and may also present heightened risk to market participants, including public companies, investment advisers, investment companies, and broker-dealers. The risks associated with this discontinuation and transition will be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. For example, current information technology systems may be unable to accommodate new instruments and rates with features that differ from LIBOR. Accordingly, it is difficult to predict the full impact of the transition away from LIBOR on the Fund until new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new products, instruments and contracts are commercially accepted and market practices become more settled.
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.
Leverage Risk. Leverage occurs when the Fund increases its assets available for investment using borrowings, derivatives, or similar instruments or techniques. Use of leverage can produce volatility and may exaggerate changes in the Fund’s NAV and in the return on the Fund’s portfolio, which may increase the risk that the Fund will lose more than it has invested. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet any applicable regulatory limits. Futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward contracts and other derivatives can allow the Fund to obtain large investment exposures in return for meeting relatively small margin requirements. As a result, investments in those transactions may be highly leveraged. 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. 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.
Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Stripped mortgage-backed securities are a type of mortgage-backed security that receive 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. The cash flows and yields on IOs and POs are extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. A rapid rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of IOs. A slow rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of POs. If prepayments of principal are greater than anticipated, an investor in IOs may incur substantial losses. If prepayments of principal are slower than anticipated, the yield on a PO will be affected more severely than would be the case with a traditional mortgage-backed security.
The Fund is subject indirectly to the following risks of Portfolio Funds seeking returns that correspond to a stated market index (the Index).
Passive Investment Risk. The Fund is not “actively” managed and may be affected by a general decline in market segments related to its underlying index. The Fund invests in securities or instruments included in, or believed by the Portfolio Fund’s Investment Manager to be representative of, its underlying index, regardless of their investment merits. The Fund does not seek temporary defensive positions when markets decline or appear overvalued.
Index Fund Risk. An index fund seeks to track the performance of the Index by using indexing strategies and, therefore, would not necessarily sell a security because the security’s issuer was in financial trouble or defaulted, or whose credit rating was downgraded, unless that security was removed from the Index. Except for Columbia Research
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Enhanced Core ETF, the decision of whether to remove a security from an index is made by an independent index provider who is not affiliated with the Fund or the Investment Manager or its affiliates. The index which Columbia Research Enhanced Core ETF seeks to track is owned and/or was developed by Columbia Management.
Index Methodology Risk. An index fund seeks performance that corresponds to the performance of the Index. There is no guarantee or assurance that the Index will achieve high, or even positive, returns. The Index may underperform more traditional indices. In turn, the Fund could lose value while other indices or measures of market performance increase in value or performance. In addition, the Fund may be subject to the risk that the index provider may make errors in Index computation, construction, reconstitution and/or rebalancing despite any index provider procedures designed to prevent such occurrences and despite due diligence conducted by the investment manager or the index provider. Errors may result in a negative performance impact to the Fund and its shareholders.
Correlation/Tracking Error Risk. An index fund’s value will generally decline when the performance of the securities within the Index declines. A number of factors may affect the Fund’s ability to achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index, and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation. Failure to achieve a high degree of correlation may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. The factors that may adversely affect the Fund’s correlation with the Index include, among others, the size of the Fund’s portfolio, fees, expenses, transaction costs, income items, valuation methodology, accounting standards, the effectiveness of sampling techniques (if applicable), changes in the Index and disruptions or illiquidity in the markets for the securities in which the Fund invests. While the Fund typically attempts to track the performance of the Index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the securities that make up the Index in approximately the same proportion as their weighting in the Index, at times, the Fund may not have investment exposure to all securities in the Index, or its weighting of investment exposure to securities may be different from that of the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in securities not included in the Index. The Fund may take or refrain from taking investment positions for various reasons, such as tax efficiency purposes, or to comply with regulatory restrictions, which may negatively affect the Fund’s correlation with the Index. The Fund may also be subject to large movements of assets into and out of the Fund, potentially resulting in the Fund being over- or under-exposed to certain components of the Index and may be impacted by Index reconstitutions and Index rebalancing events. Holding cash balances may detract from the Fund’s ability to track the Index. In addition, the Fund’s NAV may deviate from the Index if the Fund fair values a portfolio security at a price other than the price used by the Index for that security. The Fund also bears management and other expenses and transaction costs in trading securities or other instruments, which the Index does not bear. The Fund, unlike the Index, is subject to regulatory requirements that can limit the Fund’s investments relative to what the Index can hold. The Fund, unlike the Index, is subject to Office of Foreign Assets Control and other regulatory restrictions, including, for example, restrictions on the ability of the Fund to invest in or hold certain securities. If the Fund is restricted from investing in or holding a security or other instrument that was a component of the Index, and the Index did not remove such security or instrument, timely or at all, the Fund’s ability to track the Index could be negatively impacted. Accordingly, the Fund’s performance will likely fail to match the performance of the Index, after taking expenses into account, as well as regulatory restrictions. Any of these factors could decrease correlation between the performance of the Fund and the Index and may hinder the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
The Fund is subject indirectly to the following risks of Portfolio Funds that are exchange-traded funds seeking investment results that, before fees and expenses, closely correspond to the performance of a stated index (the Index).
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) Risk. ETFs are subject to, among other risks, tracking risk and passive and, in some cases, active investment risk. An ETF’s share price may not track its specified market index (if any) and may trade below its NAV. Certain ETFs use a “passive” investment strategy and do not take defensive positions in volatile or declining markets. Other ETFs are actively managed ETFs (i.e., they do not track a particular benchmark), which are subject to active management risk. An active secondary market in ETF 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 that an ETF’s shares will continue to be listed on an active exchange. In addition, shareholders bear their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses and, indirectly, the ETF’s expenses incurred through ownership of the ETF. Because the expenses and costs of an underlying ETF are shared by its investors,
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redemptions by other investors in the ETF could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such ETF. These transactions might also result in higher brokerage, tax or other costs for the ETF. This risk may be particularly important when one investor owns a substantial portion of the ETF. There is a risk that ETFs in which the Fund invests may terminate due to extraordinary events. For example, any of the service providers to ETFs, such as the trustee or sponsor, may close or otherwise fail to perform their obligations to the ETF, and the ETF may not be able to find a substitute service provider. Also, certain ETFs may be dependent upon licenses to use various indexes as a basis for determining their compositions and/or otherwise to use certain trade names. If these licenses are terminated, the ETFs may also terminate. In addition, an ETF may terminate if its net assets fall below a certain amount.
Secondary Market Trading Risk. Investors buying or selling Fund shares will pay brokerage commissions or other charges imposed by brokers as determined by that broker. Brokerage commissions are often a fixed amount and may be a significant proportional cost for investors seeking to buy or sell relatively small amounts of shares. In addition, secondary market investors will also incur the cost of the difference between the price that an investor is willing to pay for Fund shares (the bid price) and the price at which an investor is willing to sell Fund shares (the ask price). This difference in bid and ask prices is often referred to as the “spread” or “bid/ask spread.” The bid/ask spread varies over time for Fund shares based on trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally lower if the Fund’s shares have more trading volume and market liquidity and higher if the Fund’s shares have little trading volume and market liquidity. Further, increased market volatility may cause widening of bid/ask spreads.
Market Price Relative to NAV Risk. Shares of the Fund may trade at prices that vary from Fund NAV. Shares of the Fund are listed for trading on the Exchange (as defined in the Portfolio Fund’s prospectus) and are bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices that may differ, in some cases significantly, from their NAV. The NAV of the Fund will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of shares, however, will generally fluctuate in response to changes in NAV, as well as the relative supply of, and demand for, Fund shares on the Exchange. (as defined in the Portfolio Fund’s prospectus) The Investment Manager cannot predict whether Fund shares will trade below, at or above their NAV. Price differences may result because of, among other factors, supply and demand forces in the secondary trading market for Fund shares. It is expected that these forces generally will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the Fund’s holdings. In this regard, if a shareholder purchases Fund shares at a time when the market price is at a premium to the NAV or sells shares at a time when the market price is at a discount to the NAV, the shareholder may sustain losses. Different investment strategies or techniques, including those intended to be defensive in nature, including, as examples, stop loss orders to sell an ETF’s shares in the secondary market during negative market events or conditions, such as a “flash crash” or other market disruptions, may not work as intended and may produce significant losses to investors. Investors should consult their financial intermediary prior to using any such investment strategies or techniques, or before investing in the Fund.
Authorized Participant Concentration Risk. Only an Authorized Participant (as defined in the Portfolio Fund’s prospectus) may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the Fund. The Fund has a limited number of institutions that may act as Authorized Participants, none of which are or will be obligated to engage in creation or redemption transactions. To the extent that these institutions exit the business or are unable or unwilling to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders with respect to the Fund and no other Authorized Participant is able or willing to step forward to create or redeem Creation Units(as defined in the Portfolio Fund’s prospectus), Fund shares may trade at a greater premium or discount between the market price and the NAV of the Fund’s shares and/or wider bid/ask spreads than those experienced by other ETFs. Additionally, the Fund could possibly face trading halts and/or delisting from the Exchange. This risk is heightened in times of market stress, including at both the Fund share level and at the Fund holdings level.
Fund Shares Liquidity Risk. Although the Fund’s shares are listed on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active, liquid or otherwise orderly trading market for shares will be established or maintained by market makers or Authorized Participants, particularly in times of stressed market conditions. There is no guarantee that the Fund will be able to attract market makers and Authorized Participants. There is no obligation for market makers to make a market in the Fund’s shares or for Authorized Participants to submit purchase or redemption orders for creation units. Accordingly, if such parties determine not to perform their respective functions, this could, such as during
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times of market stress, in turn, lead to variances between the market price of the Fund’s shares and the underlying value of those shares and bid/ask spreads could widen. Trading in Fund shares on the Exchange also may be disrupted or even halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Fund shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Fund shares on the Exchange may be subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the Exchange “circuit breaker” rules. There also can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund’s shares will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.
Early/Late Close/Trading Halt Risk. An exchange or market may close early, close late or issue trading halts on specific securities, or the ability to buy or sell certain securities may be restricted, which may result in the Fund being unable to buy or sell these securities. In these circumstances, the Fund may be unable to rebalance and/or reconstitute its portfolio (as applicable), may be unable to accurately price its investments, may incur substantial trading losses and/or may be prevented from sufficiently tracking the performance of the Index.
Additional Investment Strategies and Policies
This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that the Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in the Fund. For information about risks associated with changing levels of Fund distributions, see the SAI.
Changing the Fund’s Investment Objective and Policies
The Fund’s investment objective and non-fundamental investment policies (including its principal and additional investment strategies) can be changed by the Board without shareholder approval, but may require notice to shareholders in certain instances. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies, as identified in the SAI, may be changed only with Board and shareholder approval in accordance with the voting requirements of the 1940 Act. For additional information about changing the Fund’s fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies, see the SAI.
Investment Guidelines
As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies in this prospectus, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of the 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 based on the characteristics of a company at the time of initial purchase, and subsequent changes in a characteristic are not taken into account.
Holding Other Kinds of Investments
The Fund may hold other investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the SAI. The 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 the Fund’s holdings can be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports or by visiting columbiathreadneedleus.com.
Transactions in Derivatives
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions or otherwise have exposure to derivative transactions through underlying investments. The Fund expects to enter into such transactions primarily in the form of stock index futures in order to obtain exposure to the overall sector of the market represented by a particular stock index or to invest the Fund’s uninvested cash balances in a manner that the Investment Manager believes aligns more closely with the Fund’s investment strategy than simply holding short-term fixed income investments or cash equivalents (known as cash equitization). 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 Secured Overnight Financing Rate (commonly known as SOFR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor’s 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 the Fund’s potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies typically expose the Fund to gains and losses in excess of the amount actually
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invested in the derivative. This characteristic of a derivative (known as "leverage") may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the 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 (including distressed) market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or the 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 the Fund’s potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund’s derivative positions at times when the 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. The 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 the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. The U.S. government and the European Union (and some other jurisdictions) have enacted regulations and similar requirements that prescribe clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These requirements are evolving and their ultimate impact on the Fund remains unclear, but such impact could include restricting and/or imposing significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. Additionally, in August 2022, regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies, such as the Fund, became effective. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, among other things, requires a fund that invests in derivative instruments beyond a specified limited amount to apply a value-at-risk-based limit to its portfolio and establish a comprehensive derivatives risk management program. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund is not required to maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program under Rule 18f-4 given its more limited use of derivatives. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.
LIBOR Phase-Out Risk. Many derivatives and other financial instruments utilize or are permitted to utilize a floating interest rate based on LIBOR. On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced its intention to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and the ICE Benchmark Administration have since announced that a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will cease publication after June 30, 2023. A subset of non-U.S. dollar LIBOR settings is continuing to be published on a “synthetic” basis and it is possible that a subset of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will also be published after June 30, 2023 on a “synthetic” basis. Any such publications are, or would be considered, non-representative of the underlying market. Uncertainty related to the liquidity impact of changes in reference rates, and how to appropriately adjust these rates at the time of transition, poses risks for the Fund. It is difficult to predict the full impact of the transition away from LIBOR on the Fund until new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new products, instruments and contracts are commercially accepted and market practices become more settled. The Investment Manager monitors the Fund’s LIBOR exposure risks, including the extent to which any derivative and/or debt investments allow for the utilization of alternative rate(s), such as the SOFR, which the U.S. Federal Reserve is promoting as the alternative reference rate to LIBOR.
Affiliated Fund Investing
The Investment Manager and its affiliate, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management), serve as investment advisers to mutual funds and ETFs using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including mutual funds that are structured as “fund-of-funds”, and provides asset-allocation services to (i) shareholders by investing in shares of other Columbia Funds (collectively referred to in this section as Portfolio Funds), and (ii) discretionary managed accounts (collectively referred to as affiliated products) that invest exclusively in Portfolio Funds. These affiliated products, individually or collectively, may own a significant percentage of the outstanding shares of one or more Portfolio Funds, and the Investment Manager and Columbia Management seek to balance potential conflicts of interest between the affiliated products and the Portfolio Funds in which they invest. The affiliated products’ investment in the Portfolio Funds may have the effect of creating economies of scale, possibly resulting in lower expense ratios for the Portfolio Funds, because the affiliated products may own substantial portions of the shares of
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Portfolio Funds. However, redemption of Portfolio Fund shares by one or more affiliated products could cause the expense ratio of the Portfolio Fund to increase, as its fixed costs would be spread over a smaller asset base. Because of large positions of certain affiliated products, the Portfolio Funds may experience relatively large inflows and outflows of cash due to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Portfolio Fund shares. Although the Investment Manager or Columbia Management 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, Portfolio Funds may experience increased expenses as they buy and sell portfolio securities to manage the cash flow effect related to these transactions. Further, when the Investment Manager or Columbia Management 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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, the Portfolio Fund may be forced to sell its liquid (or more liquid) positions, leaving the Portfolio Fund holding, post-redemption, a relatively larger position in illiquid investments (i.e., any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment) or less liquid securities. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Portfolio Fund to implement its investment strategy. The Investment Manager or Columbia Management also has a conflict of interest in determining the allocation of affiliated products’ assets among the Portfolio Funds, as it earns different fees from the various Portfolio Funds.
Investing in Money Market Funds
The Fund may invest cash, including cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending program, in shares of money market funds, including funds advised by affiliates of the Investment Manager. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which the Fund may invest.
Investing Defensively
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions. These investment positions may include, 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 the Investment Manager deems necessary. During these times, the Investment Manager may make frequent portfolio changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and taxes, and decreased Fund performance.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of Fund portfolio securities is available in the SAI. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings on the Columbia Funds’ website, columbiathreadneedleus.com, as described below. Once posted, the portfolio holdings information will remain available on the website until at least the date on which such Fund files a Form N-CSR or publicly available Form N-PORT (forms filed with the SEC that include portfolio holdings information) for the period that includes the date as of which the information is current.
The Fund considers changes in its portfolio holdings to be confidential information. Consequently, Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information only after a certain amount of time has passed. The Fund’s complete portfolio holdings are disclosed approximately 30 to 40 days after each month-end. The top 15 holdings may be available sooner, approximately 15 calendar days after each month-end. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information available on the website may not always be current.
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Cybersecurity
The Fund, like all companies, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks, including the risk of cyber attacks or failures. As a result, the Fund or its service providers, or the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, may experience disruptions in business operations that may potentially result in financial losses, the inability of the Fund or Fund shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. See the discussion of Cybersecurity Breaches and Technology and Related Systems Failure Risk in the SAI for further information.
Use of Benchmarks
Benchmarks are indices that provide some comparative guidance in assessing the Fund’s performance. The Investment Manager selects the benchmark(s) it believes provide meaningful comparisons for the Fund. However, there may be different or additional indices that more closely reflect the market sectors in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s benchmark(s) may change from time to time. The benchmarks included in this prospectus are intended only as guideposts for your assessment of the Fund’s performance.
FUNDamentals
Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks
The Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmarks, and accordingly the Fund's holdings may diverge significantly from those of the benchmarks selected by the Investment Manager. In addition, the Fund may invest in securities outside the industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmarks. The Fund's weightings in individual securities, and in industry and geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmarks.
eDelivery and Mailings to Households
In order to reduce shareholder expenses, the Fund may mail only one copy of the Fund’s 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, as well as quarterly statements and supplements, by logging into your account at columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/.
Additional Information on Portfolio Turnover
Because Columbia Thermostat Fund is a fund-of-funds that exchanges shares of the Portfolio Funds at net asset value, the costs associated with the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate are lower than the costs that would be associated with another fund that had the same portfolio turnover rate but directly bore the trading costs of its portfolio transactions. See the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus for the Fund's portfolio turnover rates for the past five years.
Cash Flows
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent the Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require the 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 the Fund’s performance.
Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund’s annual operating expenses, as presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, may vary by share class and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The expense ratios reflect the Fund’s fee arrangements as of the date of this prospectus and, unless indicated otherwise, are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year. The Fund’s assets will fluctuate, but unless indicated otherwise in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table, no adjustments have been or will be made to the expense ratios to reflect any differences in the Fund’s average net assets between the most recently completed fiscal year and the date of this prospectus or a later date. In general, the Fund’s expense ratios will increase as its net assets decrease, such that the 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 the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected, in part, to limit the impact of any increase in the Fund’s expense ratios that would otherwise result because of a decrease in the Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. The 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. Please see Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Arrangements below for information about commitments made by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates during the performance period covered by this prospectus.
FUNDamentals
Other Expenses
“Other expenses” consist of the fees the Fund pays to its administrator, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. Generally, these expenses are allocated on a pro rata basis across all share classes. These expenses include certain sub-transfer agency and shareholder servicing fees. Transfer agency 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 agency and shareholder servicing fees applicable to each share class. For more information on these fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Financial Intermediary Compensation.
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Arrangements
The Investment Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse certain expenses of the Fund so that ordinary operating expenses (excluding transaction costs and certain other investment-related expenses, interest and fees on borrowings and expenses associated with the Fund's investment in other investment companies, including the Portfolio Funds (acquired funds)) do not exceed the annual rates shown below through April 30, 2024. This arrangement may only be amended or terminated with approval from the Board and the Investment Manager.
The effective expense ratio for the Fund, gross of the contractual waiver/reimbursement discussed above, will vary in connection with the changes to the Portfolio Funds and to the allocation of the Fund’s assets among the Portfolio Funds, which the Investment Manager may make to from time to time, as described above under Principal Investment Strategies.
| Columbia Thermostat Fund | |
| Class A | 0.50% |
| Class Adv | 0.25% |
| Class C | 1.25% |
| Class Inst | 0.25% |
| Class Inst2 | 0.20% |
| Class Inst3 | 0.16% |
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Effect of Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements on Past Performance. The Fund’s returns shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus reflect the effect of fee waivers and/or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates that were in place during the performance period shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus. Without such fee waivers/expense reimbursements, the Fund’s returns might have been lower.
Board of Trustees
The Fund is governed by the Board. More than 75% of the Fund's Trustees are independent (Independent Trustees), meaning that they are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. The Independent Trustees bring backgrounds in business and academia to their task of working with the Fund's officers to establish the Fund's policies and oversee its activities. Among the Trustees' responsibilities are: selecting the investment adviser for the Fund; approving the advisory agreement; reviewing other contracts; approving investment policies; monitoring Fund operations, performance, compliance and costs; and nominating or selecting new Trustees.
Each Trustee serves the Fund for an indefinite term until his or her retirement, resignation, death or removal in accordance with the organizational documents of Columbia Acorn Trust (the Trust). The Trust's Bylaws generally require that Trustees retire at the end of the calendar year in which they attain the age of 75 years. The last meeting to elect Trustees was held on February 27, 2015. Any Trustee may be removed at a shareholders' meeting by a vote representing two-thirds of the net asset value of all shares of the Columbia Acorn family of funds (Columbia Acorn Funds). The mailing address for the Trustees and officers is 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
For more detailed information about the Board, please refer to the SAI.
Primary Service Provider Contracts
The Fund enters into contractual arrangements (Service Provider Contracts) with various parties, including, among others, the Investment Manager, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and the Fund’s custodian. The Fund’s Service Provider Contracts are solely among the parties thereto. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third-party beneficiaries of, any Service Provider Contracts. Further, this prospectus, the SAI and any Service Provider Contracts are not intended to give rise to any agreement, duty, special relationship or other obligation between the Fund and any investor, or give rise to any contractual, tort or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person, including any right to assert a fiduciary or other duty, enforce the Service Provider Contracts against the parties or to seek any remedy thereunder, either directly or on behalf of the Fund. Nothing in the previous sentence should be read to suggest any waiver of any rights under federal or state securities laws.
The Investment Manager, which also serves as the Fund's administrator (the Administrator), Columbia Management, which serves as the Fund's sub-administrator pursuant to an agreement with the Investment Manager (the Sub-Administrator), 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 the Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.
The Investment Manager
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC is located at 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60606. As of March 31, 2023, the Investment Manager had assets under management of approximately $6.8 billion. The Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Management, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to mutual funds, the Investment Manager acts as an investment manager for other private funds and institutional accounts.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Investment Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund, determining what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executing portfolio transactions. The Investment Manager may use the research and other capabilities of its affiliates and third parties in managing the Fund’s investments.
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The Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee for its investment advisory services. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the daily net assets of the Fund and is paid monthly. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, aggregate fees paid to the Investment Manager by the Fund amounted to 0.10% of average daily net assets of the Fund, before any applicable reimbursements.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the renewal of the Fund’s investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2022.
The Investment Manager and its investment advisory affiliates, including Columbia Management (Affiliates), around the world may coordinate in providing services to their clients. From time to time, the Investment Manager may engage its Affiliates to provide a variety of services such as investment research, investment monitoring, trading, and discretionary investment management (including portfolio management and proxy voting) to certain accounts managed by the Investment Manager, including the Fund. These Affiliates will provide services to the Fund and other accounts of the Investment Manager either pursuant to delegation agreements, personnel-sharing agreements or similar inter-company or other arrangements or relationships and the Fund will pay no additional fees and expenses as a result of any such arrangements or relationships. These Affiliates, like the Investment Manager, are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Ameriprise Financial and are registered with the appropriate respective regulators and, where required, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in the United States.
Pursuant to some of these arrangements or relationships, certain personnel of Columbia Management and other Affiliates may serve as “associated persons” or officers 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 this prospectus and the Fund’s SAI, and with the Investment Manager’s and the Fund’s compliance policies and procedures, may provide such services to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
| Portfolio Management | Title | Role with Fund | Service with the Fund Since | |||
| Alex M. Rivas | Portfolio Manager of Columbia Management and Vice President of the Investment Manager | Portfolio Manager since 2022 |
2018 | |||
| Corey Lorenzen, CFA | Portfolio Manager of Columbia Management and Vice President of the Investment Manager | Portfolio Manager since February 2023 |
February 2023 |
Mr. Rivas joined Columbia Management, an affiliate of the Investment Manager, in 2017. Mr. Rivas has served as Assistant Vice President of the Investment Manager since February 2018. Prior to joining Columbia Management, Mr. Rivas was a trading specialist with Blackrock Advisors, LLC. Mr. Rivas began his investment career in 2009 and earned a B.S. from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master’s degree in Finance from Princeton University.
Mr. Lorenzen joined Columbia Management, an affiliate of the Investment Manager, in 2012. Mr. Lorenzen began his investment career in 2012 and earned a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and an M.S. from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
The Administrator
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Fund’s operations, coordination of the Fund’s service providers, and the provision of office facilities and related clerical and administrative services. The Administrator retains the Sub-Administrator to perform many of these services (including fund accounting), and pays a fee for the services of the
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Sub-Administrator. The Fund pays the Administrator a fee for its services, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses. The fee is calculated as an annual percentage of the Trust’s aggregate average daily net assets and is paid monthly, as follows:
| Annual Administration Fee, as a % of Aggregate Daily Net Assets of the Trust: | |
| Up to $8 billion | 0.050% |
| $8 billion to $16 billion | 0.040% |
| $16 billion to $35 billion | 0.030% |
| $35 billion to $45 billion | 0.025% |
| $45 billion and over | 0.015% |
The Distributor
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. 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 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, 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 SS&C GIDS, 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. Depending on the type of account, the Fund pays the Transfer Agent a per account fee for each open account and compensates the Transfer Agent for certain out-of-pocket expenses, including certain payments to financial intermediaries through which shares are held. In addition, subject to certain limitations, the Fund compensates the Transfer Agent for payments made to financial intermediaries for the shareholder services that the intermediaries provide, in amounts that vary by share class and with the type of intermediary and the type of shareholder services provided. The Transfer Agent is contractually obligated to oversee such intermediaries for the purpose of reasonably assuring their compliance with applicable law and the terms of their agreements to provide the shareholder services. For more information about Shareholder Services fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Financial Intermediary Compensation.
Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest
This section describes certain actual and potential conflicts of interest that arise from the financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including: insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management and financial services. As a consequence of these activities, Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates may have interests arising from their other business lines that conflict with the interests of the Fund. These activities may also, from time to time, place certain investment constraints on the management of the Fund that might not otherwise arise.
As described in More Information About the Fund - Primary Service Provider Contracts, the Investment Manager, Administrator, Sub-Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial. In addition to the services that they provide to the Fund, they also provide substantially similar services (for which they are
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
compensated) to other clients and customers, including the Columbia Funds. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide services (for which they are compensated) to the Fund, other Columbia Funds or other clients and customers.
Examples of activities that could lead to conflicts of interest and/or impose limitations that could affect the Fund include the following:
| ■ | the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may receive compensation and other benefits related to the management/administration of the Fund and the other Columbia Funds and the sale of their shares; |
| ■ | there may be competition for limited investment opportunities that must be allocated among the Fund, the other Columbia Funds and other clients and customers of the Investment Manager (which can include affiliates of the Investment Manager) that may have the same or similar investment objectives as the Fund; |
| ■ | management of the Fund may diverge from other Columbia Funds or other clients and customers of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for example, advice given to the Fund may differ from, or conflict with, advice given to other funds or accounts; |
| ■ | there may be regulatory or investment restrictions imposed on the investment activities of the Investment Manager arising from the activities or holdings of other Columbia Funds or other clients or customers of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, for example, caps on the aggregate amount of certain types of investments or in holdings of particular portfolio companies that may be made by affiliated entities, including the Fund; |
| ■ | Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates may have potentially conflicting relationships with companies and other entities in which the Fund invests; and |
| ■ | there may be regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, for example, if an affiliated entity were in possession of non-public information, the Investment Manager might be prohibited by law from using that information in connection with the management of the Fund. |
The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no absolute 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 Advisory and Other Services – Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and Affiliates – Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Fund 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 are involved in the normal course of business in legal proceedings which include regulatory inquiries, arbitration and litigation, including class actions concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their activities as part of a diversified financial services firm. Ameriprise Financial believes that the 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 the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in the 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 sec.gov.
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The Funds
The Columbia Acorn Funds and the other Columbia Funds generally share the same policies and procedures for investor services, as described below. Together, the Fund and the other Columbia Acorn Funds, along with the Columbia Funds, are referred to herein as the Funds.
Funds Contact Information
Additional information about the Funds, including sales charges and other class features and policies, can be obtained, free of charge, at columbiathreadneedleus.com,* by calling toll-free 800.345.6611, or by writing (regular mail) to Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., P.O. Box 219104, Kansas City, MO 64121-9104 or (express mail) Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., c/o SS&C GIDS, Inc., 430 W 7th Street, Ste 219104, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407.
| * | 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
Financial Intermediaries
The term “financial intermediary” refers to the selling and servicing agents that are authorized to sell and/or service shares of the Funds. Financial intermediaries include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other firms in the financial services industry.
Omnibus Accounts
The term “omnibus account” refers to a financial intermediary’s account with the Fund (held directly through the Transfer Agent) that represents the combined holdings of, and transactions in, Fund shares of one or more clients of the financial intermediary (beneficial Fund shareholders). Omnibus accounts are held in the name of the financial intermediaries and not in the name of the beneficial Fund 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), and non-qualified deferred compensation plans governed by Section 409A of the Code and similar plans, but does not refer to individual retirement plans, such as traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. The term “omnibus retirement plan” refers to a retirement plan that has a plan-level or omnibus account with the Transfer Agent.
Networked Accounts
Networking, offered by the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation’s Wealth Management Services (WMS), is the industry standard IT system for mutual fund account reconciliation and dividend processing.
Summary of Share Class Features
Each share class has its own investment eligibility criteria, cost structure and other features. You may not be eligible to invest in every share class. Your financial intermediary may not make every share class available or may cease to make available one or more share classes of the Fund. The share class you select through your financial intermediary may have higher fees and/or sales charges than other classes of shares available through other financial intermediaries. An investor transacting in a class of Fund shares without any front-end sales charge, contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC), or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution, such as a Rule 12b-1 fee, may be required to pay a commission to the financial intermediary for effecting such transactions. Each investor’s personal situation is different and you may wish to discuss with your financial intermediary the share classes the Fund offers, which share classes are available to you and which share class(es) is/are appropriate for you. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as
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defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts. The Fund, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent do not provide investment advice or make recommendations regarding Fund share classes. Your financial intermediary may provide advice and recommendations to you, such as which share class(es) is/are appropriate for 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 fees (e.g., sales charge or “load”) and expenses for each share class. |
| ■ | Whether you may be eligible for a reduction or waiver of sales charges when you buy or sell shares. |
FUNDamentals
Front-End Sales Charge Calculation
The front-end sales charge is calculated as a percentage of the offering price.
| ■ | The net asset value (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 (or load) that applies. |
The dollar amount of any applicable front-end sales charge is the difference between the offering price of the shares you buy and the NAV of those shares. To determine the front-end sales charge you will pay when you buy Class A 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 financial intermediary notifies the Fund) and base the sales charge on the aggregate amount. For information on account value aggregation, sales charge waivers and other important information, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.
FUNDamentals
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
A contingent deferred sales charge (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 can vary 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 Fund distribution reinvestments 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 are not 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.
Share Class Features
The following summarizes the primary features of Class A, Class Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, Class Inst3, and Class R shares.
Not all Funds offer every class of shares. The Fund offers the class(es) of shares set forth on the cover of this prospectus and may offer other share classes through a separate prospectus. Although certain share classes are generally closed to new and/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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The sales charge reductions and waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. Appendix A describes financial intermediary-specific reductions and/or waiver policies. A shareholder transacting in Fund shares through a financial intermediary identified in Appendix A should carefully read the terms and conditions of Appendix A. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to a particular financial intermediary is not available to Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as defined below, or through another financial intermediary. The information in Appendix A may be provided by, or compiled from or based on information provided by the financial intermediaries identified in Appendix A. To obtain additional information regarding any sales charge reduction and/or waiver described in Appendix A, and to ensure that you receive any such reductions or waivers that may be available to you, please consult your financial intermediary.
| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| Class A | Eligibility: Available to the general public for investment Minimum Initial Investment: $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts (as described below)) |
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 | Reductions: yes, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges – Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Reductions Waivers: yes, on Fund distribution reinvestments. For additional waivers, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges – Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers, as well as Choosing a Share Class — CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C Financial intermediary-specific waivers are also available, see Appendix A |
Service Fee: 0.25% |
| Class Adv |
Eligibility: Available only to (i) omnibus retirement plans, including self-directed brokerage accounts within omnibus retirement plans that clear through institutional no transaction fee (NTF) platforms; 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 financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Adv eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (iv) 501(c)(3) charitable organizations; (v) 529 plans; (vi) health savings accounts; (vii) investors participating in a fee-based advisory program sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity that is not compensated by the Fund for those services, other than payments for shareholder servicing or sub-accounting performed in place | None | None | N/A | None |
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| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| of the Transfer Agent; and (viii) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform. Minimum Initial Investment: None, except in the case of (viii) above, which is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) |
|||||
| Class C | Eligibility: Available to the general public for investment Minimum Initial Investment: $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) Conversion Feature: Yes. Effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Prior to April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically converted to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 10-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date.(a) |
None | 1.00% on certain investments redeemed within one year of purchase | Waivers: yes, on Fund distribution reinvestments. For additional waivers, see Choosing a Share Class — CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C Financial intermediary-specific CDSC waivers are also available, see Appendix A |
Distribution Fee: 0.75% Service Fee: 0.25% |
| Class Inst |
Eligibility: Available only to certain eligible investors, which are subject to different minimum investment requirements, ranging from $0 to $2,000, including investors who purchase Fund shares through commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary holds the shares in an omnibus account and, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform; closed to (i) accounts of financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund | None | None | N/A | None |
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| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| trading platforms that have been given specific written notice from the Transfer Agent of the termination of their eligibility for new purchases of Class Inst shares and (ii) omnibus group retirement plans, subject to certain exceptions(d) Minimum Initial Investment: See Eligibility above |
|||||
| Class Inst2 |
Eligibility: Available only to (i) certain registered investment advisers and family offices that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Inst2 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (ii) omnibus retirement plans(d); (iii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst2 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (iv) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst2 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst2 shares within such platform. Minimum Initial Investment: None |
None | None | N/A | None |
| Class Inst3 |
Eligibility: Available to: (i) group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund(d); (ii) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; (iii) collective trust funds; (iv) affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); (v) fee-based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary they trade through) that have an agreement with the |
None | None | N/A | None |
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| Share Class | Eligible Investors; Minimum Initial Investments; Conversion Features(a) |
Front-End Sales Charges(b) |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)(b) |
Sales Charge Reductions/Waivers |
Maximum Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(c) |
| Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform, provided also that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vi) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (viii) bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor, may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement. Minimum Initial Investment: No minimum for the eligible investors described in (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) above; $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for the eligible investors described in (vi) above; and $1 million for all other eligible investors, unless waived in the discretion of the Distributor |
|||||
| 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 financial intermediaries approved by the Distributor Minimum Initial Investment: None |
None | None | N/A | Distribution Fee: 0.50% |
| (a) | For more information on the conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares, see Choosing a Share Class — Sales Charges and Commissions — Class C Shares —Conversion to Class A Shares. |
| (b) | 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. |
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| (c) | These are the maximum applicable distribution and/or service fees under the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 plan. 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 service fees. For more information on distribution and service fees, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees. |
| (d) | These share classes are closed to new accounts generally or to new accounts of certain categories of investors, subject to certain conditions, as summarized below and described in more detail under Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares — Eligible Investors: |
• Class Inst Shares: Financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares and omnibus retirement plans are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts, subject to certain exceptions. Omnibus retirement plans that opened and, subject to exceptions, funded a Class Inst account as of close of business on March 28, 2013, and have continuously held Class Inst shares in such account after such date, may generally continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst shares, open new Class Inst 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 Inst accounts. Accounts of financial intermediaries (other than omnibus retirement plans) that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts or make additional purchases of Class Inst shares (other than through reinvestment of distributions).
• Class Inst2 Shares. Shareholders with Class Inst2 accounts funded before November 8, 2012 who do not satisfy the current eligibility criteria for Class Inst2 shares may not establish new Class Inst2 accounts but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares in existing accounts. In addition, investment advisory programs and similar programs that opened a Class Inst2 account as of May 1, 2010, and continuously hold Class Inst2 shares in such account after such date, may generally not only continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares but also open new Class Inst2 accounts and add new shareholders in the program.
• Class Inst3 Shares: Shareholders with Class Inst3 accounts funded before November 8, 2012 who do not satisfy the current eligibility criteria for Class Inst3 shares may not establish new accounts for such share class but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst3 shares in existing accounts.
Sales Charges and Commissions
Sales charges, commissions, and distribution fees compensate financial intermediaries (typically your financial advisor) for selling shares to you, and service fees compensate financial intermediaries for maintaining and servicing the shares held in your account with them. Distribution and service fees are discussed in a separate sub-section below. Depending on which share class you choose and the financial intermediary through which you purchase your shares, you may pay these charges at potentially different levels 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 distribution and/or service fees. You may be required to pay brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries when transacting in any class of Fund shares, including those that do not assess any front-end sales charge, contingent deferred sales charge, or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution. Such brokerage commissions and other fees are set by the financial intermediary.
As described in more detail below, Class A shares have a front-end sales charge, which is deducted from your purchase price when you buy your shares, and results in a smaller dollar amount being invested in the Fund than the purchase price you pay (unless you qualify for a waiver or reduction of the sales charge). The Fund’s other share classes do not have a front-end sales charge, so the full amount of your purchase price is invested in those classes. Class A shares have lower ongoing distribution and/or service fees than Class C and Class R shares of the Fund. Over time, Class C and Class R shares can incur distribution and/or service fees that are equal to or more than the front-end sales charge and the distribution and/or service fees you would pay for Class A shares. Although the full amount of your purchase price of Class C and Class R shares is invested in a Fund, your return on this money will be reduced by the expected higher annual expenses of Class C and Class R shares. In this regard, note that effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date (prior to April 1, 2021, the 10-year anniversary of such date). The Fund may convert Class C shares held through a financial intermediary to Class A shares sooner in connection with the withdrawal of Class C shares of the Fund from the financial intermediary’s platform or accounts. No sales charge or other charges will apply in connection with such conversions, and the conversions are free from U.S. federal income tax. Once your Class C shares convert to Class A shares, your total returns from an investment in the Fund may increase as a result of the lower operating costs of Class A shares. Class Adv, Class Inst, Class Inst2 and Class Inst3 shares of the Fund do not have distribution and/or service fees.
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Whether the ultimate cost is higher for one share class over another depends on the amount you invest, how long you hold your shares, the fees (i.e., sales charges) and expenses of the class and whether you are eligible for reduced or waived sales charges, if available. You are responsible for choosing the share class most appropriate for you after taking into account your share class eligibility, class-specific features, and any applicable reductions in, or waivers of, 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. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information about services, fees and expenses, and other important information about investing in the Fund, as well as with any questions you may have about your investing options. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund Accounts, as defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts.
Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge
Unless your purchase qualifies for a waiver (e.g., you buy the shares through reinvested Fund dividends or distributions or subject to an applicable financial intermediary-specific waiver), you will pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class A shares, resulting in a smaller dollar amount being invested in a Fund than the purchase price you pay. The Class A shares sales charge is waived on Class C shares converted to Class A shares. For more information about sales charge waivers and reduction opportunities, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges and Appendix A.
The Distributor receives the sales charge and re-allows (or pays) a portion of the sales charge to the financial intermediary through which you purchased the shares. The Distributor retains the balance of the sales charge.
The front-end sales charge you will pay on Class A shares:
| ■ | depends on the amount you are 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 financial intermediary notifies the Fund). |
The table below presents the front-end sales charge as a percentage of both the offering price and the net amount invested.
| 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 financial intermediaries as a % of the offering price |
| Class A Shares | $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) | |
| (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 financial intermediary when you buy $1 million or more of Class A shares of a Fund, see Class A Shares — Commissions below. |
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Class A Shares — CDSC
In some cases, you'll pay a CDSC if you sell Class A shares that you purchased without a front-end sales charge.
| ■ | If you purchased Class A shares 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 the time periods noted above. |
Class A Shares — Commissions
The Distributor may pay your financial intermediary an up-front commission when you buy Class A shares. The Distributor generally funds the commission through the applicable sales charge you paid. For more information, see Class A Shares — Front-End Sales Charge above.
The Distributor may also pay your financial intermediary a cumulative commission when you buy Class A shares in amounts not subject to a front-end sales charge, according to the following schedules (assets initially purchased into Class A shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund that were purchased without the application of a front-end sales charge are excluded for purposes of calculating a financial intermediary’s commission under these schedules):
| Class A Shares — Commission Schedule (Paid by the Distributor to Financial Intermediaries) | |
| 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% |
| * | The commission level applies to the applicable asset level; therefore, for example, for a purchase of $5 million, the Distributor would pay a commission of 1.00% on the first $2,999,999 and 0.50% on the balance. |
Class C Shares — Front-End Sales Charge
You do not pay a front-end sales charge when you buy Class C shares, but you may pay a CDSC when you sell 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.
Class C Shares — Conversion to Class A Shares
Effective April 1, 2021, Class C shares of a Fund generally automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or the month following the 8-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Prior to April 1, 2021, Class C shares of a Fund generally automatically converted to Class A shares of the same Fund in the month of or in the month following the 10-year anniversary of the Class C shares purchase date. Class C shares held through a financial intermediary in an omnibus account will be converted (pursuant to the financial intermediary’s Class C conversion policy, including those disclosed in Appendix A, which may differ from the Fund’s policy described here) provided that the intermediary is able to track individual shareholders’ holding periods. It is the financial intermediary's (and not the Fund's) responsibility to keep records and to ensure that the shareholder holding period is calculated properly. Not all financial intermediaries are able to track individual shareholders' holding periods. For example, group retirement plans held through third-party intermediaries that hold Class C shares in an omnibus account may not track participant level share lot aging. Please consult with your financial intermediary about your
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Choosing a Share Class (continued)
eligibility for Class C share conversion. The Fund may convert Class C shares held through a financial intermediary to Class A shares sooner in connection with the withdrawal of Class C shares of the Fund from the financial intermediary's platform or accounts. Once your Class C shares convert to Class A shares, your total returns from an investment in the Fund may increase as a result of the lower operating costs of Class A shares.
The following rules apply to the automatic conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares:
| ■ | Class C share accounts that are Direct-at-Fund Accounts and Networked Accounts for which the Transfer Agent (and not your financial intermediary) sends you Fund account transaction confirmations and statements, convert on or about the 15th day of the month (if the 15th is not a business day, then the next business day thereafter) that they become eligible for automatic conversion provided that the Fund has records that Class C shares have been held for the requisite time period. |
| ■ | For purposes of determining the month when your Class C shares are eligible for conversion, the start of the holding period is the first day of the month in which your purchase was made. Your financial intermediary may choose a different day of the month to convert Class C shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information on calculating the holding period. |
| ■ | 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 C shares that were automatically converted. Class C shares that you received from an exchange of Class C shares of another Fund will convert based on the day you bought the original shares. |
| ■ | In addition to the above automatic conversion of Class C to Class A shares policy, the Transfer Agent seeks to convert Class C shares as soon as administratively feasible, regardless of how long such shares have been owned, to Class A shares of the same Fund for Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below) that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them. Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares; Class C share purchase orders received by Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund. |
| ■ | No sales charge or other charges apply in connection with these automatic conversions, and the conversions are free from U.S. federal income tax. |
Class C Shares — CDSC
You will 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 (e.g., the shares you are selling were purchased with reinvested Fund distributions). Redemptions of Class C shares are not subject to a CDSC if redeemed after 12 months. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges.
Class C Shares — Commissions
Although there is no front-end sales charge when you buy Class C shares, the Distributor makes an up-front payment (which includes a sales commission and an advance of service fees) directly to your financial intermediary of up to 1.00% of the NAV per share when you buy Class C shares. A portion of this payment may be passed along to your financial advisor. The Distributor seeks to recover this payment through distribution fees of up to 0.75% and shareholder service fees of up to 0.25% it receives under the Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan during the first 12 months following the sale of Class C shares, and any applicable CDSC when you sell your shares. For more information, see Choosing a Share Class — Distribution and Service Fees.
Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges
The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund (i.e., a Direct-at-Fund Account, as defined below) or through a financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales charge and/or CDSC waivers. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary or (for Direct-at-Fund
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Accounts, as defined below) the Fund at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts that may qualify you for sales charge waivers or discounts. In order to obtain waivers and discounts not available through a particular financial intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund (if permitted) or through a different financial intermediary. For a description of financial intermediary-specific sales charge reductions and/or waivers, see Appendix A.
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Reductions
The Fund makes available two means of reducing the front-end sales charge that you may pay when you buy Class A 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 (as described in the Eligible Accounts section below) maintained by you and members of your immediate family to reach a breakpoint discount level and apply a lower front-end sales charge to your purchase. To calculate the combined value of your eligible 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 and your “immediate family” members' ownership (as described in the FUNDamentals box below) of certain 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 of Class A 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 enough to reach the first (or next) breakpoint of the Fund. The required form of LOI may vary by financial intermediary, 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 and not current market value) of the shares held in each eligible account; reinvested dividends or capital gains, or purchases made through the reinstatement privilege do not count as purchases made under an LOI. For purposes of making an LOI to purchase additional shares, you may aggregate eligible shares owned by you or your immediate family members in eligible accounts, valued as of the day immediately before the initiation of your LOI.
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 financial intermediary 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 financial intermediaries. You and your financial intermediary are responsible for ensuring that you receive discounts for which you are eligible. Please contact your financial intermediary with questions regarding application of the eligible discount to your account. You may be asked by your financial intermediary (or by the Fund if you hold your account directly with the Fund) for account statements or other records to verify your discount eligibility for new and subsequent purchases, including, when applicable, records for accounts opened with a different financial intermediary and records of accounts established by members of your immediate family.
The sales charge reductions available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge reductions, see Appendix A.
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FUNDamentals
Your “Immediate Family” and Account Value Aggregation
For purposes of obtaining a breakpoint discount for Class A 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 retirement plan accounts are valued at the retirement plan level.
Eligible Accounts
The following accounts are eligible for account value aggregation as described above, provided that they are invested in Class A (excluding, in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts, Funds that do not assess a front-end sales charge, including Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund, unless such shares were purchased via an exchange from Class A shares of a Fund on which you paid the Class A share applicable front-end sales charge), Class C, Class E, Class Inst or Class V shares of a Fund, or non-retirement plan accounts invested in Class Adv, Class Inst2 or Class Inst3 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.
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 R shares of a Fund; and retirement plan accounts invested in Class Adv, Class Inst2 or Class Inst3 shares of a Fund.
Additionally, direct purchases of shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund may not be aggregated for account value aggregation purposes; however, shares of Columbia Government Money Market Fund acquired by exchange from other Columbia Funds that assess a sales charge may be included in account value aggregation.
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers
There are no front-end sales charges on reinvested Fund distributions. The Class A shares sales charge is waived on conversions of Class C shares to Class A shares. The Distributor may waive front-end sales charges on purchases of Class A shares of the Funds by certain categories of investors, including Board members, certain employees of financial intermediaries, Fund portfolio managers, certain partners and employees of outside legal counsel to the Funds or the Board, separate accounts of an insurance company exempt from registration as an investment company under Section 3(c)(11) of the 1940 Act, registered broker-dealer firms that have an agreement with the Distributor purchasing Fund shares for their investment account only, and qualified employee benefit plan rollovers to Class A
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shares in the same Fund (see Appendix S to the SAI for details). For a more complete description of categories of investors who may purchase Class A 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 shares may be made at NAV. The Distributor may waive front-end sales charges on (i) purchases (including exchanges) of Class A shares in accounts of financial intermediaries 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; (ii) exchanges of Class Inst shares of a Fund for Class A shares of the Fund; (iii) purchases of Class A shares on brokerage mutual fund-only platforms of financial intermediaries that have an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes the offering of Class A shares within such platform; (iv) purchases through certain wrap fee or other products or programs that involve fee-based compensation arrangements that have, or clear trades through a financial intermediary that has, a selling agreement with the Distributor; (v) purchases through state sponsored 529 Plans; (vi) purchases through banks, trust companies, and thrift institutions acting as fiduciaries; (vii) purchases through certain employee benefit plans and certain qualified deferred compensation plans; and (viii) purchases of Class A shares in Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below) that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them. For a more complete description of these eligible transactions, see Appendix S to the SAI.
The sales charge waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge waivers, see Appendix A.
CDSC Waivers – Class A and Class C
You may be able to avoid an otherwise applicable CDSC when you sell Class A or Class C 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; for which no sales commission or transaction fee was paid to an authorized financial intermediary at the time of purchase; purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions; that result from required minimum distributions taken from retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations; that result from returns of excess contributions made to retirement plans or individual retirement accounts (subject to certain conditions); initially purchased by an employee benefit plan (for Class A shares) and that are not connected with a plan level termination (for Class C shares); in connection with the Fund's Small Account Policy (which is described in Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Transaction Rules and Policies); held within Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them; and by certain other investors and in certain other types of transactions or situations. 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 a more complete description of the available waivers of the CDSC on redemptions of Class A or Class C shares, see Appendix S to the SAI.
The sales charge waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. For a description of such financial intermediary-specific sales charge waivers, see Appendix A.
Repurchases (Reinstatements)
As noted in the table below, you can redeem shares of certain classes (see Redeemed Share Class below) and use such redemption proceeds to buy shares of the Corresponding Repurchase Class without paying an otherwise applicable sales charge and/or CDSC (other than, in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts, redemptions from Funds that do not assess a front-end sales charge, including Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S.
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Treasury Index Fund, unless such shares were purchased via an exchange from Class A shares of a Fund on which you paid the Class A share applicable front-end sales charge) within 90 days, up to the amount of the redemption proceeds.
| Repurchases (Reinstatements) | |
| Redeemed Share Class | Corresponding Repurchase Class |
| Class A | Class A |
| Class C | Class C |
Any CDSC paid upon redemption of your Class A or Class C shares of a Fund will not be reimbursed.
To be eligible for the repurchase (or 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 financial intermediary within 90 days after the shares are redeemed. The purchase of the Corresponding Repurchase Class (as noted in the table above) through this repurchase (or reinstatement) privilege will be made at the NAV of such shares next calculated after the request is received in “good form.” 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 and/or the Distributor may change or cancel these terms and conditions at any time. Unless you provide your financial intermediary with information in writing about all of the factors that may count toward available reductions or waivers of an applicable sales charge, there can be no assurance that you will receive all of the reductions and waivers for which you may be eligible. To the extent your Fund account is held directly with the Fund, you should provide this information to the Fund when placing your purchase or redemption order. Please see Appendix A to this prospectus and Appendix S of the SAI for more information about sales charge waivers.
Distribution and Service Fees
The Board has approved, and the Columbia Acorn Funds have adopted, a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that sets 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 financial intermediaries for, with regard to distribution fees, selling Fund shares and, with regard to service fees, 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.
The table below shows the maximum annual distribution and/or service fees (as an annual percentage of average daily net assets) and the combined amount of such fees applicable to each share class of the Columbia Acorn Funds:
| Distribution Fee |
Service Fee |
Combined Total | |
| Class A | None | 0.25% | 0.25% |
| Class Adv | None | None | None |
| Class C | 0.75% | 0.25% | 1.00% |
| Class Inst | None | None | None |
| Class Inst2 | None | None | None |
| Class Inst3 | None | None | None |
| Class R | 0.50% | None | 0.50% |
The distribution and/or service fees for Class A, Class C, and Class R shares, as applicable, are subject to the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Distributor may retain these fees otherwise payable to financial intermediaries if the amounts due are below an amount determined by the Distributor in its sole discretion.
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Choosing a Share Class (continued)
For Class A shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees immediately after purchase, except in the following case, in which the Distributor begins to pay these fees 12 months after purchase: a purchase of Class A shares of $1 million or more that pay a Class A up-front commission to your financial intermediary and the financial intermediary has opted to receive such commission. The Distributor’s policy to otherwise begin to pay these fees immediately on Class A shares also applies to purchases of funds that do not pay an up-front sales commission on Class A shares, which includes Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund. For Class C shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees 12 months after purchase. However, for Class C shares, financial intermediaries may opt to decline the up-front payment described in Choosing a Share Class – Sales Charges and Commissions – Class C Shares – Commissions and instead may receive these fees immediately after purchase. If the intermediary opts to receive the up-front payment, the Distributor retains the distribution and service fee for the first 12 months following the sale of Class C shares in order to recover the up-front payment made to financial intermediaries and to pay for other related expenses. For Class R shares, the Distributor begins to pay these fees immediately after purchase.
If you maintain shares of the Fund directly with the Fund, without working with a financial advisor or other financial intermediary, 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 financial intermediaries for as long as the distribution plan continues in effect, which is expected to be indefinitely. However, the Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time. Your financial intermediary may also charge you other additional fees for providing services to your account, which may be different from those described here.
Financial Intermediary Compensation
The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates make payments, from their own resources, to financial intermediaries, 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 attributable to that financial intermediary; gross sales of the Funds attributable to that financial intermediary; reimbursement of ticket charges (fees that a financial intermediary charges its representatives for effecting transactions in Fund shares); or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each financial intermediary, Marketing Support Payments to any one financial intermediary are generally between 0.01% and 0.40% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the financial intermediary, 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 financial intermediary. The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates make payments with respect to a Fund or the Columbia Funds generally on a basis other than those described above or in larger amounts when dealing with certain financial intermediaries. Not all financial intermediaries receive Marketing Support Payments. The Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates do not make Marketing Support Payments with respect to Class Inst3 shares of the Columbia Acorn Funds.
In addition, the Transfer Agent has certain arrangements in place to compensate financial intermediaries, including other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, that hold Fund shares through networked and omnibus accounts, including omnibus retirement plans, for services that they provide to beneficial Fund shareholders (Shareholder Services). Shareholder Services and related fees vary by financial intermediary and according to distribution channel and 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, and are not intended to include services that are primarily intended to result in the sale of Fund shares. Payments for Shareholder Services vary by financial intermediary and according to distribution channel, but generally are not expected, with certain limited exceptions, to exceed 0.40% of the average aggregate value of the Fund’s shares. Payments to financial intermediaries in excess of the amounts paid by the Fund are borne by the Distributor, the Investment Manager and/or their affiliates.
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Choosing a Share Class (continued)
Generally, each of the Columbia Acorn Funds compensates the Transfer Agent for payments made for Shareholder Services, for each share class except Class Inst3. Effective July 1, 2017, the Columbia Acorn Funds compensate the Transfer Agent for payments made for Shareholder Services as follows:
| Financial Intermediary Distribution Channel | Fee Rate |
| Retirement | up to 0.18% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $18 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Fund supermarket transaction fee (TF) | up to 0.12% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $16 per account held for intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Fund supermarket no-transaction fee (NTF) | up to 0.18% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $18 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Bank | up to 0.10% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $20 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
| Broker-dealer | up to 0.13% of Fund assets held by intermediaries or platforms charging an asset-based fee, or $16 per account held by intermediaries or platforms charging a per account fee |
With respect to Class Inst2 and Class Inst3 shares of the Fund, total annual compensation payable to the Transfer Agent may not exceed, respectively, 0.07% and 0.02% of the average daily net assets of the Class. For additional details about the application of the Columbia Acorn Funds’ fee limits, please refer to the SAI.
The Transfer Agent does not pay financial intermediaries for Shareholder Services, and the Fund does not compensate the Transfer Agent for any Shareholder Services provided by financial intermediaries with respect to Class Inst3 shares of the Columbia Acorn Funds. The Fund believes that the fee levels paid to the Transfer Agent are reasonably related to the Shareholder Services provided, but payments may vary and there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify with specificity the costs or particular Shareholder Services for which compensation is paid.
In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates typically make other payments or allow promotional incentives to certain broker-dealers to the extent permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 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 financial intermediaries, 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 financial intermediary may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described in this prospectus. You should consult with your financial intermediary and review carefully any disclosure your financial intermediary provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a financial intermediary and its financial advisors may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive for recommending the Fund or a particular share class over others.
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares
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, with the value of the Fund's shares based on the total value of all of the securities and other assets that it holds as of such specified time. Any affiliated Portfolio Funds calculate their NAV in the same manner as the Fund calculates its NAV.
FUNDamentals
NAV Calculation
Each of the Fund's share classes calculates its NAV per share as follows:
NAV per share = (Value of assets of the share class) – (Liabilities of the share class)
Number of outstanding shares of the class
Number of outstanding shares of the class
FUNDamentals
Business Days
A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at (i) the scheduled close of the NYSE for such day (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or such other time as the NYSE may schedule), (ii) the scheduled close of the NYSE (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on any business day on which the NYSE has an unscheduled close or intraday trading halt or other disruption, regardless of the time of such unscheduled close, halt or disruption or whether trading resumes, or (iii) such other time as the Board may from time to time determine. 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 listed on an exchange are typically valued at the closing price or last trade on their primary exchange at the close of business of the NYSE. Equity securities without a readily available closing price or that are not listed on any exchange are typically valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices. Other equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are fair valued unless market quotations are readily available, 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 based on prices obtained from a pricing service, if available (which may represent market values or fair values). Investments in other open-end funds are valued at their published NAVs. The value of the Fund’s portfolio securities is determined in accordance with the valuation policy approved by the Board (the Valuation Policy). Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board has designated the Investment Manager as the Fund’s valuation designee. The Investment Manager, in turn, has authorized its Valuation Committee to make fair value determinations and to carry out supervisory and certain other functions relating to the valuation of Fund portfolio securities, pursuant to the Valuation Policy.
If a market price is not readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value for a portfolio security, the Investment Manager will determine the price based on a determination of the security's fair value pursuant to the Valuation Policy. In addition, the Investment Manager may use fair valuation techniques 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 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)
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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.
Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Investment Manager uses fair valuation to price equity securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund or manager would. Also, fair valuation of Fund holdings may cause the Fund's performance to diverge to a greater degree from the performance of various benchmark indices used to compare the Fund's performance because indices 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's NAV is calculated based on the NAVs of the Portfolio Funds in which it invests. The prospectuses of the Portfolio Funds explain the circumstances under which the Portfolio Funds used fair value pricing and the effects thereof.
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. Your financial intermediary may have rules and policies in place that are in addition to or different than those described below.
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 financial intermediary before the end of a business day are priced at the NAV per share (plus any applicable sales charge) 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 (plus any applicable sales charge). For Direct-at-Fund Accounts (as defined below), 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 transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), 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 financial intermediary has received payment (in the case of purchases) and all of the information and documentation it deems necessary to effect your order. For example, when you sell shares, “good form” means that your request (i) has complete instructions and written requests include the signatures of all account owners, (ii) is for an amount that is less than or equal to the shares in your account for which payment has been received and collected, (iii) has a Medallion Signature Guarantee for amounts greater than $100,000 and certain other transactions, as described below, and (iv) includes 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, including 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; or (vi) you are changing legal ownership of your account.
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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). For other transactions, the Transfer Agent may require a signature guarantee. 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.
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 C, and Class Inst 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. Any otherwise applicable CDSC will not be imposed on such an automatic sale of your shares. Generally, you may avoid such an automatic sale by raising your account balance to at least $250 or consolidating your multiple accounts you may have with the Funds through an exchange (so as to maintain at least $250 in each of your accounts). The minimum account balance varies among share classes and types of accounts, as follows:
| Minimum Account Balance | |
| Minimum Account Balance | |
| For all classes and account types except those listed below | $250 (None for accounts with Systematic Investment Plans) |
| Individual Retirement Accounts for all classes except those listed below | None |
| Class Adv, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R | None |
For shares held directly with the Funds’ Transfer Agent, if your shares are sold, the Transfer Agent will remit the sale proceeds to you. 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 to at least $250, consolidating your multiple accounts you may have with the Funds through an exchange (so as to maintain at least $250 in each of your accounts), or setting up a Systematic Investment Plan. For more information, contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary. 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.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, the Funds may instruct the intermediary to automatically sell your Fund shares if the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
Small Account Policy — Class A, Class C, and Class Inst 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 could be subject to a $20 annual fee. 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
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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 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 or for other reasons.
For shares held directly with the Funds’ Transfer Agent, 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 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 multiple accounts you may have with the Funds, or setting up a Systematic Investment Plan that invests at least monthly. For more information, contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary. 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.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, this fee could be assessed through the automatic sale of Fund shares in your account if instructed by the Fund and the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
Exceptions to the Small Account Policy (Accounts Below Minimum Account Balance) and Minimum Balance Fee
The automatic sale of Fund shares in accounts under $250 and the annual minimum balance fee described above do not apply to shareholders of Class Adv, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R shares; shareholders holding their shares through financial intermediary networked accounts; wrap fee and omnibus accounts; accounts with active monthly 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 — Financial Intermediary Networked and Wrap Fee Accounts
The Funds may automatically redeem, at any time, financial intermediary networked accounts and wrap fee accounts that have account balances of $20 or less or have less than one share.
For shares purchased and held for your benefit through a financial intermediary, the Funds may instruct the intermediary to automatically sell your Fund shares if the transaction can be operationally administered by the intermediary.
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 financial intermediaries, including participating life insurance companies and financial intermediaries that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, financial intermediaries 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.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy
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
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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 financial intermediaries.
Specific Buying and Exchanging Limitations — If the 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 purchase 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 reserves 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 financial intermediaries, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by financial intermediaries 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 financial intermediaries such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit financial intermediaries to aggregate their clients' transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identities of the financial intermediary clients that beneficially own Fund shares are often not known to the Fund.
Some financial intermediaries apply their own restrictions or policies to their clients’ transactions and 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 Fund 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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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
| ■ | 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.
The Columbia Acorn Funds may invest in thinly traded 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 as of the Fund's valuation time. 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 only, or significantly, in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling these particular investments 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 non-redeeming shareholders. The risks of excessive trading described above also apply to any Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests.
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 financial intermediary. 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 financial intermediaries or institutions, and through certain qualified and non-qualified plans, wrap fee products or other investment products sponsored by financial intermediaries. You may buy, sell, or exchange shares through your financial intermediary. If you maintain your account directly with your financial intermediary, you must contact that agent to process your transaction.
Not all financial intermediaries offer the Funds (or all classes of Fund shares) and certain financial intermediaries that offer the Funds may not offer all Funds on all investment platforms or programs. Please consult with your financial intermediary to determine the availability of the Funds. If you set up an account at a financial intermediary 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 financial intermediary or find another financial intermediary with a selling agreement.
Financial intermediaries 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. An investor transacting in a class of Fund shares without any front-end sales charge, CDSC, or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution, such as a Rule 12b-1 fee, may be required to pay a commission to the financial intermediary for effecting such transactions. The Funds are offered in a number of different share classes that have different fees and expenses and other features. Some differences in the policies of different financial intermediaries may include different minimum investment amounts, exchange privileges, Fund/class choices and cutoff times for investments. Additionally, recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to your account may be performed by the financial intermediaries 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 intermediary through which you
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
purchased or at which you maintain your shares of the Fund to make changes to your account, 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 any financial intermediary to carry out its obligations to its customers.
The Fund may engage financial intermediaries 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.
Direct-At-Fund Accounts (Accounts Held Directly with the Fund)
Fund shares can be held in a variety of ways. You can hold Fund shares through an account established and held through the financial intermediary through which you purchased Fund shares, or you or your financial intermediary can establish an account directly with the Fund, in which case you will receive Fund account transaction confirmations and statements from the Transfer Agent, and not your financial intermediary (Direct-at-Fund Accounts). Direct-at-Fund Accounts include accounts held at the Transfer Agent that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them.
To open a Direct-at-Fund Account, 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 columbiathreadneedleus.com 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 your transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), 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. 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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you have a Direct-at-Fund 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 your transaction request in “good form” at its transaction processing center (i.e., the Fund’s express mail address), not the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery.
Include in your transaction request letter: your name; the name of the Fund(s); your account number; the class of shares to be purchased, exchanged or sold; your SSN or other TIN; the dollar amount or number of shares you want to purchase, exchange or sell; specific instructions regarding delivery of any redemption proceeds or exchange destination (i.e., the Fund/class to be exchanged into); signature(s) of all 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.
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Telephone Transactions – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
For Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares, if you have a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may place orders to buy, sell or exchange shares by telephone through the Transfer Agent. 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 telephone and receive redemption proceeds: by electronic funds transfer via ACH, by wire, or by check to the address of record, subject to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account. You can buy Fund shares via telephone by electronic funds transfer via ACH from your bank account up to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account, or by wire from your bank account without a maximum. See below for more information regarding wire and electronic fund transfer transactions. Certain restrictions apply, so please call the Transfer Agent at 800.422.3737 for this and other information in advance of any need to transact via telephone.
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 – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
For Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares, if you have a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may be able to place orders to buy, sell, or exchange shares online. Contact the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611 for more information on certain account trading restrictions and the special sign-up procedures required for online transactions. You can also go to columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/ to sign up for online transactions. The Transfer Agent has procedures in place to authenticate electronic orders you send through the internet. You will be required to accept the terms of an online agreement and to establish an online account and utilize a password in order to access online account services. You can sell a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account through your online account if you qualify for internet orders. Wire transactions are not permitted online.
Wire Transactions – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you hold a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may purchase or redeem Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares of a Fund by wiring money from (or to) your bank account to (or from) your Fund account. You must set up this feature prior to your request unless you are submitting your request in writing, which may require a Medallion Signature Guarantee. Please contact the Transfer Agent by calling 800.422.3737 to obtain the necessary forms and requirements. The Transfer Agent charges a fee for shares sold by wire. 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. When selling Fund shares via a telephone request, the maximum amount that can be redeemed via wire transfer is $100,000 per day, per Fund account. Wire transactions are not permitted online.
Electronic Funds Transfer via ACH – Direct-at-Fund Accounts
If you hold a Direct-at-Fund Account, you may purchase or redeem Class A, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst3 and Class R shares of a Fund by electronically transferring money via Automated Clearing House (ACH) from (or to) your bank account to (or from) your Fund account subject to a maximum of $100,000 of shares per day, per Fund account. You must set up this feature prior to your request, unless you are submitting your request in writing, which may require a Medallion Signature Guarantee. Please contact the Transfer Agent by calling 800.422.3737 to obtain the necessary forms and requirements. Your bank may take up to three business days to post an electronic funds transfer to (or from) your Fund account.
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Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Buying Shares
Eligible Investors
Class A Shares
Class A shares are available to the general public for investment.
Class Adv Shares
Class Adv shares are available only to (i) omnibus retirement plans, including self-directed brokerage accounts within omnibus retirement plans that clear through institutional no transaction fee (NTF) platforms, (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 financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Adv eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements, (iv) 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, (v) 529 plans, (vi) health savings accounts, (vii) investors participating in a fee-based advisory program sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity 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, and (viii) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform.
Class C Shares
Class C shares are available to the general public for investment, except that Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares; Class C share purchase orders received from Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund.
Class Inst Shares
Class Inst shares are available only to the categories of eligible investors described below under Class Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments. Financial intermediaries that clear Fund share transactions through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares and omnibus retirement plans are not permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts, subject to certain exceptions described below.
Omnibus retirement plans that opened and, subject to certain exceptions, funded a Class Inst account with the Fund as of the close of business on March 28, 2013 and have continuously held Class Inst shares in such account after such date (each, a grandfathered plan), may generally continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst shares, open new Class Inst 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 Inst accounts in a Fund if the affiliated plan opened a Class Inst account on or before March 28, 2013. If an omnibus retirement plan invested in Class Inst shares changes recordkeepers after March 28, 2013, any new accounts established for that plan may not be established in Class Inst shares, but such a plan may establish new accounts in a different share class for which the plan is eligible.
Accounts of financial intermediaries (other than omnibus retirement plans, which are discussed above) that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries 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 Inst shares will not be permitted to establish new Class Inst accounts or make additional purchases of Class Inst shares (other than through reinvestment of distributions). Any such account may, at its holder’s option, exchange Class Inst shares of a Fund, without the payment of a sales charge, for Class A shares of the same Fund.
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Class Inst2 Shares
Class Inst2 shares are available only to (i) certain registered investment advisers and family offices that clear Fund share transactions for their client or customer accounts through designated financial intermediaries and their mutual fund trading platforms that have been granted specific written authorization from the Transfer Agent with respect to Class Inst2 eligibility apart from selling, servicing or similar agreements; (ii) omnibus retirement plans; (iii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst2 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (iv) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst2 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst2 shares within such platform. Prior to November 8, 2012, Class Inst2 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 Inst2 may not establish new Class Inst2 accounts but may continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares in accounts opened and funded prior to November 8, 2012; provided, however, that investment advisory programs and similar programs that opened a Class Inst2 account as of May 1, 2010, and continuously hold Class Inst2 shares in such account after such date, may generally not only continue to make additional purchases of Class Inst2 shares but also open new Class Inst2 accounts for such pre-existing programs and add new shareholders in the program.
Class Inst3 Shares
Class Inst3 shares are available to: (i) group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund (through the Transfer Agent); (ii) institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; (iii) collective trust funds; (iv) affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); (v) fee-based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary that they trade through) that have an agreement with the Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform, provided also that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vi) commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; (vii) health savings accounts, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account; and (viii) bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement.
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 financial intermediaries 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.
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, and may also waive certain eligibility requirements for operational and other reasons, including but not limited to any requirement to maintain Fund shares in networked or omnibus accounts.
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Minimum Initial Investments
The table below shows the Fund’s minimum initial investment requirements, which may vary by class and type of account.
The Fund reserves the right to redeem your shares if your account falls below the Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement.
| Minimum Initial Investments | ||
| Minimum Initial Investment(a) |
Minimum Initial Investment for Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans | |
| For all classes and account types except those listed below | $2,000 | $100 |
| Individual Retirement Accounts for all classes except those listed below | $1,000 | $100 |
| Group retirement plans | None | N/A |
| Class Adv and Class Inst | $0, $1,000 or $2,000(b) | $100(b) |
| Class Inst2 and Class R | None | N/A |
| Class Inst3 | $0, $1,000, $2,000 or $1 million(c) | $100(c) |
| (a) | If your Class A, Class Adv, Class C, Class Inst, or Class Inst3 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. There is no minimum initial investment in Class A shares for accounts held in an omnibus account on a mutual fund only platform offered through your financial intermediary. |
| (b) | The minimum initial investment in Class Adv shares is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customers, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Adv shares within such platform; for all other eligible Class Adv share investors (see Buying Shares – Eligible Investors – Class Adv Shares above), there is no minimum initial investment. The minimum initial investment amount for Class Inst shares is $0, $1,000 or $2,000 depending upon the category of eligible investor. See — Class Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments below. The minimum initial investment amount for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts is the same as the amount set forth in the first two rows of the table, as applicable. |
| (c) | There is no minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares for: group retirement plans that maintain plan-level or omnibus accounts with the Fund; collective trust funds; affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds (e.g., funds operating as funds-of-funds); and fee -based platforms of financial intermediaries (or the clearing intermediary that they trade through) that have an agreement with the Distributor or an affiliate thereof that specifically authorizes the financial intermediary to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform and Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares is $2,000 ($1,000 for IRAs; $100 for monthly Systematic Investment Plan accounts) for commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares within such platform and Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The minimum initial investment in Class Inst3 shares is $1 million, unless waived in the discretion of the Distributor, for the following investors: institutional investors that are clients of the Columbia Threadneedle Global Institutional Distribution Team that invest in Class Inst3 shares for their own account through platforms approved by the Distributor or an affiliate thereof to offer and/or service Class Inst3 shares within such platform; and bank trust departments, subject to an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst3 shares and provided that Fund shares are held in an omnibus account. The Distributor may, in its discretion, waive the $1 million minimum initial investment required for these Class Inst3 investors. In each case above where noted that Fund shares are required to be held in an omnibus account, the Distributor, may, in its discretion, determine to waive this requirement. |
Additional Information about Minimum Initial Investments
The minimum initial investment requirements may be waived for accounts that are managed by an investment professional, or for accounts held in approved discretionary or non-discretionary wrap programs. 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.
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Class Inst Shares Minimum Initial Investments
There is no minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors:
| ■ | Any health savings account sponsored by a third party platform. |
| ■ | Any investor participating in an account sponsored by a financial intermediary or other entity (that provides services to the account) that is paid a fee-based advisory 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. |
| ■ | Any commissionable brokerage account, if a financial intermediary has received a written approval from the Distributor to waive the minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares. |
| ■ | Any Trustee (or family member) of Columbia Acorn Trust. |
| ■ | Any employee (or family member) of the Investment Manager. |
The minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors is $1,000:
| ■ | Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) on commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares, provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform. |
| ■ | Any current 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 are eligible to invest in Class Inst shares through an individual retirement account (IRA). 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 Inst shares. If Class Inst shares are not available at your financial intermediary, you may consider opening a Direct-at-Fund Account. It is your obligation to advise your financial intermediary or (in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts) the Transfer Agent that you qualify for Class Inst shares; be prepared to provide proof thereof. |
The minimum initial investment in Class Inst shares for the following categories of eligible investors is $2,000:
| ■ | Investors (except investors in individual retirement accounts (IRAs)) who purchase Fund shares through commissionable brokerage platforms where the financial intermediary holds the shares in an omnibus account and, acting as broker on behalf of its customer, charges the customer a commission for effecting transactions in Fund shares provided that the financial intermediary has an agreement with the Distributor that specifically authorizes offering Class Inst shares within such platform. |
| ■ | Any current 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 are eligible to invest in Class Inst shares (other than individual retirement accounts (IRAs), for which the minimum initial investment is $1,000). 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 Inst shares. If Class Inst shares are not available at your financial intermediary, you may consider opening a Direct-at-Fund Account. It is your obligation to advise your financial intermediary or (in the case of Direct-at-Fund Accounts) the Transfer Agent that you qualify for Class Inst shares; be prepared to provide proof thereof. |
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | Bank trust departments that assess their clients an asset-based fee. |
| ■ | Any trustee or director (or family member of a trustee or director) of a fund distributed by the Distributor (other than the Columbia Acorn Funds). |
| ■ | Certain other investors as set forth in more detail in the SAI. |
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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 financial intermediary to set up the plan. Systematic Investment Plans may not be available for all share classes. With the exception of Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Systematic Investment Plan purchases will be confirmed on your quarterly account statement. Columbia Government Money Market Fund Systematic Investment Plan purchases will be confirmed at the time of the purchase. If establishing a Systematic Investment Plan to reduce the initial fund minimum, the plan needs to be established monthly to avoid the small account fee.
Dividend Diversification
Generally, you may automatically invest Fund distributions into the same class of shares (and in some cases certain other classes of shares) of another Fund without paying any applicable front-end sales charge. 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 financial intermediaries.
Other Purchase Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Once the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary receives your purchase order in “good form,” your purchase will be made at the Fund’s next calculated public offering price per share, which is the NAV per share plus any sales charge that applies (i.e., the trade date). |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your purchase request in “good form,” you cannot cancel it after the market closes. |
| ■ | You generally buy Class A 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 Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, Class Inst3 and Class R shares at NAV 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 request if the Fund does not receive payment within two business days of receiving your purchase order request. The Fund will return any payment received for orders that have been cancelled, but no interest will be paid on that money. |
| ■ | Financial intermediaries are responsible for sending your purchase orders to the Transfer Agent and ensuring that the Fund receives your money on time. |
| ■ | Shares purchased are recorded on the books of the Fund. The Fund does not issue certificates. |
| ■ | You generally may make a purchase only into a Fund that is accepting investments. |
Please also read Appendix A and contact your financial intermediary for more information regarding any reductions and/or waivers described therein.
Selling Shares
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,” (i.e., the trade date) 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 Adv, Class C, Class Inst, Class Inst2, and Class Inst3 share accounts. Contact the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary 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. Note that a Medallion Signature Guarantee may be required if this service is established after your Fund account is opened.
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
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 redemption proceeds 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.
Satisfying Fund Redemption Requests
When you sell your Fund shares, the Fund is effectively buying them back from you. This is called a redemption. Except as noted below with respect to newly purchased shares, the Fund typically expects to send you payment for your shares within two business days after your trade date. The Fund can suspend redemptions and/or delay payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven days. The Fund can also suspend redemptions and/or delay payment of redemption proceeds in excess of seven days under certain circumstances, including when the NYSE is closed or trading thereon is restricted or during emergency or other circumstances, including as determined by the SEC.
The Fund typically seeks to satisfy redemption requests from cash or cash equivalents held by the Fund, from the proceeds of orders to purchase Fund shares or from the proceeds of sales of Fund holdings effected in the normal course of managing the Fund. However, the Fund may have to sell Fund holdings, including in down markets, to meet heavier than usual redemption requests. For example, under stressed or abnormal market conditions or circumstances, including circumstances adversely affecting the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, the Fund may be more likely to be forced to sell Fund holdings to meet redemptions than under normal market circumstances. In these situations, the Fund’s portfolio managers may have to sell Fund holdings that would not otherwise be sold because, among other reasons, the current price to be received is less than the value of the holdings perceived by the Fund’s portfolio managers. The Fund may also, under certain circumstances (likely under stressed or abnormal market conditions or circumstances), borrow money under a credit facility to which the Fund and certain other Columbia Funds are parties. The Fund and the other Columbia Funds are limited as to the amount that each may individually and collectively borrow under the credit facility. As a result, borrowings available to the Fund under the credit facility might be insufficient, alone or in combination with the other strategies described herein, to satisfy Fund redemption requests. Please see About Fund Investments – Borrowings in the SAI for more information about the credit facility. The Fund is also limited in the total amount it may borrow. Please see About Fund Investments – Fundamental and Non-Fundamental Investment Policies in the SAI for more information about borrowing.
In addition, the Fund reserves the right to honor redemption orders in whole or in part with in-kind distributions of Fund portfolio securities instead of cash. Such in-kind distributions typically represent a pro-rata portion of Fund portfolio assets subject to adjustments (e.g., for non-transferable securities, round lots, and derivatives, if any). In the event the Fund distributes portfolio securities in kind, you may incur brokerage and other transaction costs associated with converting the portfolio securities you receive into cash. Also, the portfolio securities you receive may increase or decrease in value after they are distributed but 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. The Trust has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, which means that for each redeeming shareholder, the first $250,000, or 1% of the Fund's net asset value, whichever is less, will be paid in cash or cash equivalents and the remainder may be paid in kind.
While the Fund is not required (and may refuse in its discretion) to pay a redemption with an in-kind distribution of Fund portfolio securities and reserves the right to pay the redemption proceeds in cash, if you wish to request an in-kind redemption, please call the Transfer Agent at 800.345.6611. As a result of the operational steps needed to coordinate with the redeeming shareholder’s custodian, in-kind redemptions typically take several weeks to complete after a redemption request is received. The Fund and the redeeming shareholder will typically agree upon a redemption date. Since the Fund’s NAV may fluctuate during this time, the Fund’s NAV may be lower on the agreed-upon redemption date than on an earlier date on which the investment could have been redeemed for cash.
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Redemption of Newly Purchased Shares
You may not redeem shares for which the Fund has not yet received payment. Shares purchased by check or electronically by ACH when the purchase payment is not guaranteed will be considered in “good form” for redemption only after they have been held in your account for 6 calendar days after the trade date of the purchase (Collected Shares). If you request a redemption for an amount that, based on the NAV next calculated after your redemption request is received, includes any shares that are not yet Collected Shares, the Fund will only process the redemption up to the amount of the value of Collected Shares available in your account. You must submit a new redemption request if you wish to redeem those shares that were not yet Collected Shares at the time the original redemption request was received by the Fund.
Other Redemption Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Once the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary receives your redemption order in “good form,” your shares will be sold at the Fund’s next calculated NAV per share (i.e., the trade date). Any applicable CDSC will be deducted from the amount you're selling and the balance will be remitted to you. |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your redemption request in “good form,” you cannot cancel it after the market closes. |
| ■ | The Distributor, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to liquidate Fund shares (of any class of the Fund) held in an omnibus account of a financial intermediary that clears Fund share transactions through a clearing intermediary or platform that charges certain maintenance fees to the Fund if the value of the omnibus account, at the Fund share class (i.e., CUSIP) level, falls below $100,000 (a CUSIP Liquidation Event). The Distributor will provide at least 90 days’ notice of a CUSIP Liquidation Event to financial intermediaries with impacted omnibus accounts. Shareholders invested in the Fund through such omnibus accounts can request through their financial intermediary a tax-free exchange to Class A shares or shareholders can consider holding their Fund shares in a Direct-at-Fund Account, provided requirements to transfer the account are fulfilled. You should discuss your options with your financial intermediary. |
| ■ | If you sell your shares that are held in a Direct-at-Fund Account, we will normally send the redemption proceeds by mail or electronically transfer them to your bank account the next business day after the trade date. Note that your bank may take up to three business days to post an electronic funds transfer from your account. |
| ■ | If you sell your shares through a financial intermediary, the Funds will normally send the redemption proceeds to your financial intermediary within two business days after the trade date. |
| ■ | No interest will be paid on uncashed redemption checks. |
| ■ | 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 (subject to eligibility requirements), 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. 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. Please see Same-Fund Exchange Privilege below for more information.
You will be subject to a sales charge if, in a Direct-at-Fund Account, you exchange shares that have not previously paid a sales charge, including from Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia U.S.
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not charge a front-end sales charge, into a Columbia Fund that does assess a sales charge. If you hold your Fund shares through certain financial intermediaries, you may have limited exchangeability among the Funds. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.
Systematic Exchanges
You may buy Class A, Class C, Class Inst and Class Inst3 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 financial intermediary to set up the plan.
Exchanges will continue as long as your balance in the Fund you are exchanging shares from is sufficient to complete the systematic monthly exchange, 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.
Other Exchange Rules You Should Know
| ■ | Exchanges are made at the NAV next calculated (plus any applicable sales charge) after your exchange order is received in “good form” (i.e., the trade date). |
| ■ | Once the Fund receives your exchange request in “good form,” 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 Government 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 Government 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 Government Money Market Fund or Class A shares of any other Fund. |
| ■ | A sales charge may apply when you exchange shares of a Fund that were not assessed a sales charge at the time you purchased such shares. If you invest through a Direct-at-Fund Account in Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund, Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not impose a front-end sales charge and then you exchange into a Fund that does assess a sales charge, 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 Columbia Funds. |
| ■ | If you purchased Class A shares of a Columbia Fund that imposes a front-end sales charge (and you paid any applicable sales charge) and you then exchange those shares into Columbia Government Money Market Fund, Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Duration Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Ultra Short Term Bond Fund, Columbia U.S. Treasury Index Fund or any other Columbia Fund that does not impose a front-end sales charge, you may exchange that amount to Class A of another Fund in the future, 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. Any applicable CDSC charged 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 financial intermediary for more information. |
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Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares (continued)
| ■ | 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 Inst shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Class A or Class Inst shares of another Fund. In certain circumstances, the front-end sales charge applicable to Class A shares may be waived on exchanges of Class Inst shares for Class A shares. See Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares — Buying Shares — Eligible Investors — Class Inst Shares for details. |
Same-Fund Exchange Privilege
Shareholders may be eligible to invest in other classes of shares of the same Fund, and may exchange their current shares for another share class if deemed eligible and offered by the Fund. Such same-Fund exchanges could include an exchange of one class for another with higher expenses. Before making such an exchange, you should consider the expenses of each class. Shareholders should contact their financial intermediaries to learn more about the details of the same-Fund exchange privilege. Exchanges out of Class A and Class C shares will be subject to any applicable CDSC. Financial intermediaries that have a customized arrangement with regard to CDSCs are detailed in Appendix A.
Exchanges out of Class C shares to another share class of the same Fund are not permissible on Direct-at-Fund Accounts, except that the Transfer Agent seeks to convert Class C shares as soon as administratively feasible to Class A shares of the same Fund for Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not or no longer have a financial intermediary assigned to them. Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to them are not permitted to purchase Class C shares. Class C share purchase orders received by Direct-at-Fund Accounts that do not have a financial intermediary assigned to the account will automatically be invested in Class A shares of the same Fund. Exchanges out of Class C shares to another share class of the same Fund within commissionable brokerage accounts are permitted only (1) when the shareholder moves from a commissionable brokerage account to a fee-based advisory program or (2) when the exchange is part of a share class conversion (or a similar multiple shareholder transaction event) instituted by a financial intermediary and such conversion or similar type event is preapproved by the Distributor.
Ordinarily, shareholders will not recognize a gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon a same-Fund exchange. You should consult your tax advisor about your particular exchanges.
| Prospectus 2023 | 81 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Distributions and Taxes
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). |
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 (or be exposed to additional losses, if the Fund earns a negative return). 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 income or 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, the 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 NAV 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 financial intermediary 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
| 82 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
“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.
Taxes
You should be aware of the following considerations applicable to the Fund:
| ■ | 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 NAV 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. Certain events may require the Fund to sell significant amounts of appreciated securities and make large dividends relative to the Fund’s NAV. Such events may include large net shareholder redemptions, portfolio rebalancing or fund mergers. The Fund generally provides estimates of expected capital gain dividends (if any) prior to the distribution on columbiathreadneedleus.com. |
| ■ | From time to time, a distribution from the Fund could constitute a return of capital. A return of capital is a return of an amount of your original investment and is not a distribution of income or capital gain from the Fund. Therefore, a return of capital 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.” |
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | 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 capital gain or loss, as described further in the SAI. |
| Prospectus 2023 | 83 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
| ■ | Because most of the Fund's investments are shares of Portfolio Funds,the tax treatment of the Fund's gains, losses, and distributions may differ from the tax treatment that would apply if either the Fund invested directly in the types of securities held by the Portfolio Funds or the Fund shareholders invested directly in the Portfolio Funds. As a result, you may receive taxable distributions earlier and recognize higher amounts of capital gain or ordinary income than you otherwise would. |
| ■ | 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. |
| ■ | For sales, redemptions and exchanges of shares that were acquired in a non-qualified account after 2011, the Fund generally is required to report to shareholders and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cost basis information with respect to those shares. The Fund uses average cost basis as its default method of calculating cost basis. For more information regarding average cost basis reporting, other available cost basis methods, and selecting or changing to a different cost basis method, please see the SAI, columbiathreadneedleus.com, or contact the Fund at 800.345.6611. If you hold Fund shares through a financial intermediary (e.g., a brokerage firm), you should contact your financial intermediary to learn about its cost basis reporting default method and the reporting elections available to your account. |
| ■ | 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
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.
| 84 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The total return in the table represents the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total return does not reflect payment of sales charges, if any. Total return and portfolio turnover are not annualized for periods of less than one year. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated without regard to purchase and sales transactions of short-term instruments and certain derivatives, if any. If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate might be higher. The names of certain share classes may have changed during the periods shown below (see Appendix S to the SAI for details). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the Fund’s annual report, which is available upon request. The independent registered public accounting firm’s report and the Fund’s financial statements are also incorporated by reference into the SAI.
| Prospectus 2023 | 85 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, beginning of period |
Net investment income |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
Total from investment operations |
Distributions from net investment income |
Distributions from net realized gains |
Total distributions to shareholders | |
| Class A | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $17.01 | 0.26 | (2.49) | (2.23) | (0.28) | (0.14) | (0.42) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $18.31 | 0.24 | 0.89 | 1.13 | (0.26) | (2.17) | (2.43) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $15.12 | 0.26 | 4.13 | 4.39 | (0.27) | (0.93) | (1.20) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $13.85 | 0.27 | 1.79 | 2.06 | (0.26) | (0.53) | (0.79) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $14.63 | 0.24 | (0.26) | (0.02) | (0.28) | (0.48) | (0.76) |
| Advisor Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $16.81 | 0.29 | (2.45) | (2.16) | (0.32) | (0.14) | (0.46) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $18.12 | 0.28 | 0.88 | 1.16 | (0.30) | (2.17) | (2.47) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $14.97 | 0.36 | 4.04 | 4.40 | (0.32) | (0.93) | (1.25) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $13.72 | 0.31 | 1.77 | 2.08 | (0.30) | (0.53) | (0.83) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $14.50 | 0.28 | (0.27) | 0.01 | (0.31) | (0.48) | (0.79) |
| Class C | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $17.14 | 0.14 | (2.49) | (2.35) | (0.17) | (0.14) | (0.31) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $18.43 | 0.09 | 0.90 | 0.99 | (0.11) | (2.17) | (2.28) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $15.23 | 0.12 | 4.16 | 4.28 | (0.15) | (0.93) | (1.08) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $13.96 | 0.16 | 1.79 | 1.95 | (0.15) | (0.53) | (0.68) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $14.74 | 0.13 | (0.26) | (0.13) | (0.17) | (0.48) | (0.65) |
| Institutional Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $16.69 | 0.29 | (2.44) | (2.15) | (0.32) | (0.14) | (0.46) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $18.01 | 0.28 | 0.87 | 1.15 | (0.30) | (2.17) | (2.47) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $14.88 | 0.31 | 4.07 | 4.38 | (0.32) | (0.93) | (1.25) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $13.65 | 0.30 | 1.76 | 2.06 | (0.30) | (0.53) | (0.83) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $14.43 | 0.28 | (0.27) | 0.01 | (0.31) | (0.48) | (0.79) |
| Institutional 2 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $16.84 | 0.29 | (2.45) | (2.16) | (0.33) | (0.14) | (0.47) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $18.14 | 0.29 | 0.89 | 1.18 | (0.31) | (2.17) | (2.48) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $14.99 | 0.31 | 4.09 | 4.40 | (0.32) | (0.93) | (1.25) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $13.74 | 0.32 | 1.77 | 2.09 | (0.31) | (0.53) | (0.84) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $14.52 | 0.29 | (0.27) | 0.02 | (0.32) | (0.48) | (0.80) |
| 86 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, end of period |
Total return(a) |
Total gross expense ratio to average net assets(b) |
Total net expense ratio to average net assets(b) |
Net investment income ratio to average net assets |
Portfolio turnover |
Net assets, end of period (000's) | |
| Class A | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $14.36 | (13.14%) | 0.54% (c), (d) | 0.50% (c), (d), (e) | 1.70% | 88% | $450,566 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $17.01 | 6.16% | 0.54% (d) | 0.50% (d), (e) | 1.26% | 49% | $624,373 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $18.31 | 29.27% | 0.56% (d) | 0.50% (d), (e) | 1.53% | 97% | $505,238 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $15.12 | 14.94% | 0.58% (d) | 0.50% (d), (e) | 1.81% | 158% | $225,113 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $13.85 | (0.13%) | 0.56% | 0.50% (e) | 1.66% | 122% | $193,683 |
| Advisor Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $14.19 | (12.89%) | 0.29% (c), (d) | 0.25% (c), (d), (e) | 1.88% | 88% | $76,472 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $16.81 | 6.43% | 0.29% (d) | 0.25% (d), (e) | 1.51% | 49% | $172,162 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $18.12 | 29.58% | 0.32% (d) | 0.25% (d), (e) | 2.04% | 97% | $130,921 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $14.97 | 15.21% | 0.33% (d) | 0.25% (d), (e) | 2.08% | 158% | $16,208 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $13.72 | 0.12% | 0.31% | 0.25% (e) | 1.91% | 122% | $11,816 |
| Class C | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $14.48 | (13.75%) | 1.29% (c), (d) | 1.25% (c), (d), (e) | 0.93% | 88% | $126,802 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $17.14 | 5.40% | 1.29% (d) | 1.25% (d), (e) | 0.48% | 49% | $189,990 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $18.43 | 28.28% | 1.31% (d) | 1.25% (d), (e) | 0.72% | 97% | $208,937 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $15.23 | 14.02% | 1.33% (d) | 1.25% (d), (e) | 1.05% | 158% | $156,027 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $13.96 | (0.88%) | 1.31% | 1.25% (e) | 0.90% | 122% | $166,292 |
| Institutional Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $14.08 | (12.92%) | 0.29% (c), (d) | 0.25% (c), (d), (e) | 1.93% | 88% | $600,671 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $16.69 | 6.42% | 0.29% (d) | 0.25% (d), (e) | 1.52% | 49% | $902,841 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $18.01 | 29.63% | 0.31% (d) | 0.25% (d), (e) | 1.80% | 97% | $729,119 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $14.88 | 15.14% | 0.33% (d) | 0.25% (d), (e) | 2.06% | 158% | $285,444 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $13.65 | 0.12% | 0.31% | 0.25% (e) | 1.91% | 122% | $253,123 |
| Institutional 2 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $14.21 | (12.88%) | 0.25% (c), (d) | 0.20% (c), (d) | 1.94% | 88% | $90,290 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $16.84 | 6.53% | 0.25% (d) | 0.20% (d) | 1.53% | 49% | $169,246 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $18.14 | 29.59% | 0.27% (d) | 0.21% (d) | 1.82% | 97% | $129,197 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $14.99 | 15.25% | 0.28% (d) | 0.21% (d) | 2.16% | 158% | $40,759 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $13.74 | 0.16% | 0.26% | 0.21% | 1.97% | 122% | $16,478 |
| Prospectus 2023 | 87 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, beginning of period |
Net investment income |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
Total from investment operations |
Distributions from net investment income |
Distributions from net realized gains |
Total distributions to shareholders | |
| Institutional 3 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $16.80 | 0.31 | (2.45) | (2.14) | (0.34) | (0.14) | (0.48) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $18.11 | 0.36 | 0.82 | 1.18 | (0.32) | (2.17) | (2.49) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $14.96 | 0.33 | 4.08 | 4.41 | (0.33) | (0.93) | (1.26) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $13.72 | 0.32 | 1.76 | 2.08 | (0.31) | (0.53) | (0.84) |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $14.50 | 0.30 | (0.27) | 0.03 | (0.33) | (0.48) | (0.81) |
| Notes to Financial Highlights | |
| (a) | Had the Investment Manager and/or Transfer Agent not waived fees and/or reimbursed a portion of expenses, total return would have been reduced. |
| (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, if any. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund's reported expense ratios. |
| (c) | Ratios include Trustees’ fees deferred during the current period as well as any gains or losses on the Trustees’ deferred compensation balances as a result of market fluctuations. If these had been excluded, expenses would have been higher by 0.01%. |
| (d) | Ratios include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%. |
| (e) | The benefits derived from expense reductions had an impact of less than 0.01%. |
| 88 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Financial Highlights (continued)
| Net asset value, end of period |
Total return(a) |
Total gross expense ratio to average net assets(b) |
Total net expense ratio to average net assets(b) |
Net investment income ratio to average net assets |
Portfolio turnover |
Net assets, end of period (000's) | |
| Institutional 3 Class | |||||||
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | $14.18 | (12.82%) | 0.21% (c), (d) | 0.16% (c), (d) | 2.04% | 88% | $10,184 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2021 | $16.80 | 6.52% | 0.21% (d) | 0.17% (d) | 1.94% | 49% | $15,581 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2020 | $18.11 | 29.69% | 0.24% (d) | 0.17% (d) | 1.89% | 97% | $2,862 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | $14.96 | 15.24% | 0.25% (d) | 0.16% (d) | 2.13% | 158% | $837 |
| Year Ended 12/31/2018 | $13.72 | 0.21% | 0.22% | 0.16% | 2.04% | 122% | $461 |
| Prospectus 2023 | 89 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges
As noted in the Choosing a Share Class section of the prospectus, the sales charge reductions and waivers available to investors who purchase and hold their Fund shares through different financial intermediaries may vary. This Appendix A describes financial intermediary-specific reductions and/or waiver policies applicable to Fund shares purchased and held through the particular financial intermediary. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to a particular financial intermediary is not available to Direct-at-Fund Accounts and does not apply in any case to non-omnibus positions wherever held. These reductions and/or waivers may apply to purchases, sales, and exchanges of Fund shares. A shareholder transacting in Fund shares through a financial intermediary identified below should carefully read the terms and conditions of the reductions and/or waivers. Please consult your financial intermediary with respect to any sales charge reduction/waiver described below.
The financial intermediary-specific information below may be provided by, or compiled from or based on information provided by, the financial intermediaries noted. While the Funds, the Investment Manager and the Distributor do not establish these financial intermediary-specific policies, our representatives are available to answer questions about these financial intermediary-specific policies and can direct you to the financial intermediary if you need help understanding them.
Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (Ameriprise Financial Services)
The following information has been provided by Ameriprise Financial Services:
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers Available at Ameriprise Financial Services:
The following information applies to Class A shares purchases if you have an account with or otherwise purchase Fund shares through Ameriprise Financial Services:
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Ameriprise Financial Services brokerage account are eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the Columbia Fund family). |
| ■ | Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 7-year anniversary of the purchase date. To the extent that the Fund’s Class C Shares – Conversion to Class A Shares policy (stated outside this Appendix A) provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares or the conversion of Class C shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial Services or its affiliates and their immediate family members. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise financial advisor and/or the advisor’s spouse, advisor’s lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), advisor’s lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another fund in the Columbia Fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement). |
| A-1 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (Baird)
The following information has been provided by Baird:
Effective June 30, 2020, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Baird platform or account that maintains an omnibus position with the Fund will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to Baird will not apply to non-omnibus positions.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Baird:
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same Columbia Fund. |
| ■ | Share purchases by employees and registered representatives of Baird or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Baird. |
| ■ | Shares purchased with the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same accounts, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights of reinstatement). |
| ■ | A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares of the same Columbia Fund if the shares are no longer subject to CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Baird. |
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage account at Baird, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares Available at Baird:
| ■ | Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares purchased due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulations which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Baird. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Columbia Funds through Baird, over a 13-month period of time. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-2 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (Edward Jones)
Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
The following information has been provided by Edward Jones:
Effective on or after January 15, 2021, the following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in Columbia Fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as "shareholders") purchasing Columbia Fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as "breakpoints") and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder's responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings of Columbia Funds and Future Scholars Program, or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.
Breakpoints
| ■ | Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in this prospectus. |
Rights of Accumulation (ROA)
| ■ | The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of Columbia Funds and Future Scholars Program held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations ("pricing groups"). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible Columbia Fund assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a sales charge. |
| ■ | The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level. |
| ■ | ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares x NAV). |
Letter of Intent (LOI)
| ■ | Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts for purchases shareholders intend to make over a 13-month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total amount. The inclusion of eligible Columbia Fund assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted if LOI is not met. |
| ■ | If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the employer. |
| A-3 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Sales Charge Waivers
Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
| ■ | Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and their family members who are in the same pricing group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associate's life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones' policies and procedures. |
| ■ | Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of Columbia Funds so long as the following conditions are met: 1) the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, and 2) the sale and purchase are made in the same share class and the same account or the purchase is made in an individual retirement account with proceeds from liquidations in a non-retirement account. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Exchanges from Class C shares to Class A shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones. |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) Waivers
If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:
| ■ | The death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimum Balances, as described below. |
Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
Minimum Purchase Amounts
| ■ | Initial purchase minimum: $250 |
| ■ | Subsequent purchase minimum: none |
Minimum Balances
| ■ | Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion Fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy: |
| ■ | A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform. |
| ■ | A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform. |
| ■ | An account with an active systematic investment plan or LOI. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-4 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Exchanging Share Classes
| ■ | At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV a shareholder's holdings in the Fund to Class A shares. |
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (Janney)
The following information has been provided by Janney:
Effective May 1, 2020, if you purchase Columbia Fund shares through a Janney brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC, or back-end sales charge, waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI. A reduction and/or waiver that is specific to Janney does not apply to non-omnibus positions.
Front-End Sales Charge* Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Janney
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other Columbia Fund). |
| ■ | Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Janney. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within ninety (90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement). |
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Class C shares that are no longer subject to a CDSC and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Janney’s policies and procedures. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Janney
| ■ | Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged into the same share class of a different fund. |
Front-End Sales Charge* Discounts Available at Janney: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation, and/or Letters of Intent
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulation (“ROA”), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Janney. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within the Columbia Funds, over a 13-month time period. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Janney may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| A-5 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
* Also referred to as an “initial sales charge”.
Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch)
The following information has been provided by Merrill Lynch:
Shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI:
Front-End Load Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch:
Merrill Lynch makes available breakpoint discounts on shares of the Fund through:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts as described in this prospectus will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts (including 529 program holdings, where applicable) within the purchaser’s household at Merrill Lynch. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of Intent (LOI) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Columbia Funds, through Merrill Lynch, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable). |
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Merrill Lynch:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by a 529 Plan (does not include 529 Plan units or 529-specific share classes or equivalents). |
| ■ | Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program. |
| ■ | Shares exchanged due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
| ■ | Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynch’s platform. |
| ■ | Shares of funds purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform (if applicable). |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other Columbia Fund). |
| ■ | Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e., level-load) shares of the same fund pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members. |
| ■ | Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Eligible shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). Automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are automatically sold to pay Merrill Lynch’s account maintenance fees are not eligible for reinstatement. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Merrill Lynch:
| ■ | Death or disability of the shareholder. |
| Prospectus 2023 | A-6 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Merrill Lynch. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
| ■ | Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts, that are exchanged for a lower cost share class due to transfer to certain fee based accounts or platforms (applicable to Class A and Class C shares only). |
| ■ | Shares received through an exchange due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers. |
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC (Morgan Stanley Wealth Management)
The following information has been provided by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management:
Effective July 1, 2018, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Effective July 1, 2018:
| ■ | Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| ■ | Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s account linking rules. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund. |
| ■ | Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account. |
| ■ | Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a CDSC and are exchanged for Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class exchange program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Columbia Fund, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge. |
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and each entity’s affiliates (Raymond James)
The following information has been provided by Raymond James:
Intermediary-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies:
The availability of certain initial or deferred sales charge waivers and discounts may depend on the particular financial intermediary or type of account through which you purchase or hold Columbia Fund shares.
Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred (back-end) sales load (CDSC) waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any
| A-7 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Columbia Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts.
Raymond James:
Effective March 1, 2019, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account, or through an introducing broker-dealer or independent registered investment adviser for which Raymond James provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody services, will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Raymond James:
| ■ | Shares purchased in an investment advisory program. |
| ■ | Shares purchased within the Columbia Funds through a systematic reinvestment of capital gains and dividend distributions. |
| ■ | Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond James. |
| ■ | Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the Columbia Funds, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). |
| ■ | A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James. |
CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares Available at Raymond James:
| ■ | Death or disability of the shareholder. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account. |
| ■ | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James. |
| ■ | Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement. |
Front-End Load Discounts Available at Raymond James: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation and/or Letters of Intent:
| ■ | Breakpoints as described in this prospectus. |
| ■ | Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Columbia Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Raymond James. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of rights of accumulation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
| ■ | Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within the Columbia Funds, over a 13-month time period. Eligible Columbia Fund assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets. |
Stifel Financial Corp. (Stifel)
The following information has been provided by Stifel:
| Prospectus 2023 | A-8 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
Appendix A: Financial Intermediary-Specific Reductions/Waivers of Sales Charges (continued)
Effective June 30, 2020, Class C shares of Columbia Funds that were purchased through a Stifel platform or account that maintains an omnibus position with the Fund that are no longer subject to a CDSC are exchanged to Class A shares of the same Columbia Fund pursuant to Stifel’s policies and procedures. This does not apply to non-omnibus positions.
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. (USBI)
The following information has been provided by USBI:
Effective September of 2021, shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a USBI platform or who own shares for which USBI is the broker-dealer, where the shares are held in an omnibus account, will only be eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI.
All other sales charge waivers and reduction described elsewhere in this prospectus or the Fund’s SAI still apply.
USBI Conversion of Class C shares
Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge are systematically converted to the Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to USBI’s share class exchange policy.
Additional Sales Charge Reductions and/or Waivers Available at Certain Financial Intermediaries
Shareholders purchasing Columbia Fund shares through a platform or account of RBC Capital Markets, LLC are eligible for the following sales charge waiver:
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waiver Available at RBC Capital Markets, LLC:
| ■ | For employer-sponsored retirement plans held through a commissionable brokerage account, Class A shares are available at NAV (i.e., without a sales charge). For this purpose, employer-sponsored retirement plans include, but are not limited to, 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans. |
| A-9 | Prospectus 2023 |
Columbia Thermostat FundSM
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
Columbia Acorn Family of Funds
Additional Information About the Fund
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI also provides additional information about the Fund and its policies. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is legally part of this prospectus (incorporated by reference). To obtain these documents free of charge, to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries, please contact the Fund as follows:
By Mail: Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
By Telephone: 800.345.6611
Online: columbiathreadneedleus.com
Shareholder Communications with the Board
The Fund’s Board of Trustees has adopted procedures by which shareholders may communicate with the Board. Shareholders who wish to communicate with the Board should send their written communications to the Board by mail, c/o Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606, Attention: Secretary. Shareholder communications must (i) be in writing, (ii) identify the Columbia Acorn Fund to which the communication relates and (iii) state the particular class of shares and number of shares held by the communicating shareholder.
Obtaining Additional Information from the SEC
Reports and other information about the Fund are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can receive copies of this information, for a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
The investment company registration number of Columbia Acorn Trust, of which the Fund is a series, is 811-01829.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.
The Fund is distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.
The Fund is distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.
© 2023 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. All rights reserved.
PRO235_12_N01_(05/23)
