425 1 d158856d425.htm COLUMBIA FUNDS SERIES TRUST I Columbia Funds Series Trust I

Filing by Columbia Funds Series Trust I pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933,

and deemed filed under Rule 14a-12(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Subject Companies:

Columbia Funds Series Trust

(SEC File No. 811-09645)

 

Fund merger news and

proxy proposals

 

  

       
    Merger Resources  
   

 

Merger Questions & Answers (PDF)

 

Shortly after proxy materials were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, we began a period of proxy mailings and shareholder vote solicitations that for most funds concluded at our shareholder meeting on April 15, 2016. We are now pleased to announce that shareholders have approved many fund mergers as well as proposals relating to Columbia AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund. There are also some important dates and pieces of

information we would like to remind you of.

   

 

Potential lower fund operating expenses (PDF)

 

 

See the “How to vote” section below for voting instructions.

 

Fund merger approvals

As approved by shareholders, the following acquired funds are anticipated to merge into their corresponding acquiring fund on the date provided in the table below. All mergers are expected to be completed at the close of business on the anticipated merger date. Please remember, acquired funds are expected to remain open to additional purchases through the close of business on the day of the merger.

 

 

  Acquired fund

 

  

Acquiring fund

 

  

Anticipated merger date

(close of business)

 

 

  Columbia International Opportunities Fund

 

  

Columbia Select International Equity Fund

 

  

May 20, 2016

 

 

  Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV

 

  

Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

  

May 20, 2016

 

 

  Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund

 

  

Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

 

  

May 20, 2016

 

 

  Acquired variable portfolio

 

  

Acquiring variable portfolio

 

  

Anticipated merger date

(close of business)

 

 

  Columbia Variable Portfolio - International   Opportunities Fund

 

  

Columbia Variable Portfolio - Select International Equity Fund

 

  

April 29, 2016

 

 

  Columbia Variable Portfolio - Large Cap

  Growth Fund II

  Columbia Variable Portfolio - Large Cap

  Growth Fund III

 

  

Columbia Variable Portfolio - Large Cap Growth Fund

 

  

April 29, 2016

 

 

  Variable Portfolio - Loomis Sayles Growth

  Fund II

  

Variable Portfolio - Loomis Sayles

Growth Fund

 

  

April 29, 2016

 


Approved proxy proposal for Columbia AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (now known as Columbia Strategic Municipal Income Fund)

Shareholders of Columbia AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund approved changes to the fund’s investment objective and 80% investment policy to permit, among other things, investing, without limit, in AMT-generating securities, which became effective April 18, 2016. These and associated strategy changes are intended to provide Columbia Threadneedle with greater flexibility to invest the fund’s assets in a broader universe of fixed income securities and will enhance the fund’s investment flexibility to adjust to changing economic environments in an effort to more effectively manage risk and enhance performance.

Adjournments

At the same shareholder meeting mentioned above, it was decided to adjourn the following funds until June 13, 2016 to allow further time to solicit additional votes.

 

 

    Acquired fund

 

  

    Acquiring fund

 

 

    Columbia International Value Fund

 

  

    Columbia Overseas Value Fund

 

 

    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II

    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III

    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V

 

  

    Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund

 

 

    Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund

 

  

    Columbia Contrarian Core Fund

 

How to vote

Shareholders should use the voting instructions listed on their proxy card(s). Shareholders are encouraged to vote as early as possible to reduce fund expenses and unnecessary calls from the funds’ proxy solicitor. Shareholder voting options include:

 

By telephone:

 

  ¡ Beneficial shareholders should refer to their proxy card for specific phone numbers.

 

  ¡ Direct-at-fund shareholders should call:

o    Mutual funds: 800.337.3503

By internet:

 

  ¡ Beneficial shareholders should go to: proxyvote.com.

 

  ¡ Direct-at-fund shareholders should go to: proxy-direct.com.

By mail, using the postage prepaid envelope provided.

In person, at the shareholder meeting scheduled to occur at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA (31st Floor, Room 3100) on June 13, 2016.

 

Not sure if you’re a beneficial

or direct-at-fund shareholder?

 

Beneficial shareholders hold

shares through a broker/dealer or

financial intermediary and receive

account statements from that

financial firm.

 

Direct-at-fund shareholders

hold shares directly with the fund

and receive account statements

from Columbia Threadneedle.

 

 

 

  
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Proxy materials

For additional details, the proxy materials can be found online at:

 

    Mutual fund mergers: proxy-direct.com/col-27405

Proxy-related questions

If you have questions about any of the proxy proposals or about voting procedures, please call the funds’ proxy solicitor, Computershare Fund Services, toll free at 800.708.7953.

Restrictions and policies

Certificates of shares

If you currently hold any shares of an acquired fund in certificate form, those shares will be considered null and void upon completion of the fund merger. Shares will be held in book entry form in the corresponding acquiring fund.

New accounts

New account applications for the purchase of shares of an acquired fund, received in good order, will be accepted through the close of business on that acquired fund’s merger date. After that, any account application for shares of an acquired fund will be rejected.

Purchases, exchanges and redemptions of shares of an acquired fund

Purchases, exchanges and redemptions of an acquired fund will be accepted through the close of business on the acquired fund’s merger date. In addition, requests to purchase, exchange or redeem shares of an acquired fund received in good order within 30 days after the merger date, will automatically be treated as a purchase, exchange or redemption of the corresponding acquiring fund. After this 30-day period, any such requests will be rejected.

Systematic investment plan and systematic withdrawal plan transactions

If you are currently participating in the systematic investment plan or systematic withdrawal plan with an acquired fund, your current systematic transactions will be carried over to its corresponding acquiring fund.

Additional information about existing accounts, share transfer, taxes, services and distributions

Existing accounts

Account numbers will be carried over whenever possible. But, if an account number in an acquiring fund is already being used by another shareholder, a new account number will be created. We will also target existing accounts for the same shareholder in the acquiring funds whenever possible.

Share transfer

The full value of your account in an acquired fund will be exchanged for shares of the acquiring fund on the date of the mergers. While the number of shares may differ based on each fund’s net asset value, the value of your account will not change as a direct result of the merger transaction. If your shares are currently subject to a CDSC, the CDSC will carry over with the merger transaction. Any applicable CDSC will be assessed on redemptions based on the CDSC schedule applicable to shares of the acquired funds.


Taxes

Each retail mutual fund merger is intended to be a tax-free reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Shareholders of the funds are not expected to realize any gains or losses as a direct result of the mergers.

Services

Account-level features and options such as dividend distributions, dividend diversification, automatic investment plans, systematic withdrawals and dollar cost averaging will automatically carry over during the merger transaction. If a shareholder of an acquired fund also owns a pre-existing account in an acquiring fund, the account level features do not carry over.

Distributions

Prior to each acquired fund’s merger event, ordinary income and capital gains, if any, will be distributed to shareholders of record in the acquired funds and possibly in the acquiring funds.

The foregoing is not an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, shares of any Acquiring Fund. For information regarding an Acquiring Fund, or to receive a free copy of a prospectus/proxy statement relating to a proposed merger, please call the proxy solicitor or visit its website. The telephone number and website for the proxy solicitor is 800-708-7953 and proxy-direct.com/col-27405. The prospectus/proxy statement contains important information about fund objectives, strategies, fees, expenses and risk considerations. The prospectus/proxy statement is also available for free on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). Please read the prospectus/proxy statement carefully before making any decision to invest or when considering a merger proposal.

 

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